Since 2003, Oberlin challenges himself to the ultimate task of playing solo mandolin shows. With many solo albums to mark his journey, he delves into the genres of swing, western swing, bluegrass, original music, Italian classical and contemporary classical; crooning all the while.
The orchestra’s 16 members are professional musicians, music teachers, arrangers, composers, and musical hobbyists. They perform their music on mandolins, mandolas, octave mandolins, mandocellos, guitars and contrabass, with some orchestra members adept at several of the instruments.
Oberlin is a founding member of the esteemed Ger Mandolin Orchestra. Conceived in 2011 by Israeli-American Avner Yonai and directed by renowned multi-instrumentalist Mike Marshall, the Ger Mandolin Orchestra resurrects a little-known musical form that was once-widely popular across eastern Europe and in North American immigrant communities. The group brings to life a unique repertoire of Jewish, East European folk and light classical music, using the complete range of mandolin family instruments (mandolin, mandola, octave mandolin, mandocello, mandobass). Their rare and moving concert appearances over the last dozen years have been met with overwhelming audience and critical acclaim.
Sweethearts since 2019, Sallie and Brian play classical music for upright bass and mandolin. From the Bach two -part inventions to Rossini, Paganini and Elgar, the duo stretches into any music suitable for bass clef and treble clef. The pair also plays a few swing and bluegrass songs when the mood strikes.
