Andover Concert Series

Simon Mayor's Mandolinquents

Simon Mayor's Mandolinquents

A riot of virtuoso music and a delicious sense of fun!

Simon Mayor is one of the world’s leading mandolinists as well as a fine fiddle player, guitarist, composer and wit. His live performances are a riot of humorous anecdotes and off-the-cuff humour alongside dazzling musicianship.

His many-faceted career includes two nights at Wembley Arena with the BBC Concert Orchestra, his own series on BBC Radio 2, an album in the Classic FM Top Ten chart, causing mayhem at a Canadian humour festival, and most memorably, a trip through the square window on BBC’s iconic Play School!

He’s joined by an illustrious cast of virtuoso musicians playing everything from a Vivaldi mandolin concerto to a beautiful Irish ballad, a tempting tango, some hot-swing fiddle and a bluegrass banjo classic.

The Friends include Hilary James ‘one of Britain’s finest voices’ (BBC Radio 4) and wielder of the mighty mandobass; French-born award winning cellist Florence Petit; ukulele-maestro and multi-instrumentalist Elias Sibley and, fresh from West End shows,three-time UK banjo champion and fellow Mandolininquent, Richard Collins. If you’ve heard them on Radios 2, 3 or Classic FM you’ll know just what a treat is in store!

Simon Mayor

Simon Mayor (mandolin, mandola, violin, guitar) is one of the world’s leading mandolinists as well as a fine fiddle player, guitarist, composer and wit. His live performances are a riot of humorous anecdotes and off-the-cuff wit and dazzling musicianship. In 2023 Simon has played two nights at Wembley Arena as guest of the BBC Concert Orchestra, appeared on In Tune Radio 3, played the Vivaldi Mandolin Concerto with the London Mozart Players. He’s also writes humorous anecdotes and witty ditties for adults and children one of which featured on The Simpsons (USA TV).

Hilary James

Hilary James (vocals, mandolbass and guitar) ‘One of Britains’s finest voices’ BBC Radio 4 also plays the mighty mandobass and is a fine guitar picker. Her voice defies categorisation and has featured everywhere from the BBC’s Folk on 2 to Radio 1 and Classic FM.

Richard Collins

Richard Collins (mandola, guitar, bassa and three time UK banjo champion) first picked up a guitar at the age of nine and within a couple of years was stunningly adept on a number of stringed instruments. Now in great demand as a mandolinist and guitarist, he's also one of the hottest and subtlest 5 string banjo players in the world. A regular performer on the West End Stage he’s appeared ‘Oklahoma’ and ‘Dolly Parton’s Christmas show.

Elias Sibley

Given his consumate skill as a classical guitarist, it’s easy to overlook that Elias (mandolin, guitar, ukulele) is one of the finest finger-style ukulele players of his generation. And if that’s not enough, he excels too on classic banjo: pre-bluegrass styles of ragtime and early jazz. He also contributes many an amusing turn of phrase!

Florence Petit

Franco-British cellist Florence Petit is an innovative and exciting young musician with a warm, engaging stage manner. The recipient of a diverse host of awards and in demand as a soloist, Florence is a fine exponent of Baroque music and has appeared many times on Radio 3 with The Hesperi Ensemble who are busy recording with the prestigious Bis classical record label.