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Vancouver Mandolin Society
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The Vancouver Mandolin Society was formed in 1990 as a non-profit society dedicated to the preservation of the mandolin and classical mandolin music and to their furtherance in today's society.
The popularity of the mandolin and mandolin orchestras is on the increase all over the world. Each province in Germany has a state orchestra composed of the best players from the town orchestras. In Japan there are over 5000 mandolin orchestras.
Every year, at least two members of the V.M.S. attend conferences to increase their skills and to facilitate their ability to further the goals of the society. Educational and musical materials are being produced to encourage the understanding of the mandolin.
The V.M.S. supports beginners groups and various soloists, duos, and trios, as well as the Vancouver Mandolin Ensemble which has been playing together for 8 years. Anne Balzer conducts the group from the concert master's chair.
Anne Balzer learned to play the mandolin at the knee of her father, a sophisticated cosmopolitan from Europe. Anne has played in several of the local mandolin orchestras as well as belonging to the Portland Mandophonic Orchestra. Each year she plays with the Classical Mandolin Society of America in an orchestra which consists of approximately 150 instruments.
