Two of the world’s finest mandolinists, American Mike Marshall and Bulgarian Caterina Lichtenberg take us on a journey from Europe of the early 1700s through the great 19th Century Italian mandolin heyday to the shores of the present-day Americas. This meeting of musical virtuosos will sure to be one of the sweetest collaborations in the long and colorful history of their chosen instrument.

Bay Area mandolin virtuoso Mike is a leading proponent of an ebullient hybrid of folk-jazz-classical music that explores territory stretching from Brazil through Appalachia to Europe and Africa, by way of Manhattan and the Florida swamps. From his early groundbreaking “newgrass” work with the David Grisman Quintet to his founding of the Modern Mandolin Quartet, and his acclaimed work with bluegrass whiz kid Chris Thile and Brazilian virtuoso Hamilton de Holanda, Mike continues to close the gaps caused by tradition and geography while creating a seamless and inspired musical vision.

The winner of numerous international music competitions, Bulgarian mandolinist Caterina Lichtenberg has performed around the globe, as a soloist and in numerous other musical settings, from her work with the duo Duetto Giocondo to performances with the Dresden Symphony Orchestra. She chairs the mandolin department at the music academy in Wuppertal, Germany, and is a delight on stage with an elegance and beauty of sound that is only matched by her stunning virtuosity.

Mike and Caterina will be teaching a Mandolin Master Class here at the Freight on Sunday, January 3 from 1:00 to 4:30 pm.

Visit Mike's website

Visit Caterina's website