The History of the Aurora
Mandolin Orchestra

Gino Pellegrini, called a “Bay area legend” by those who knew him, has played in several orchestras in the San Francisco area since 1936, including the original Aurora Mandolin Orchestra of the 1920s and 30s, concertmaster for “Music for Fun” and the “Peninsula Mandolin Orchestra;” played weekly on the Italian radio station with a quintet called “I Gondolieri” (The Gondoliers), and had his own Trio for 20 years. He was privileged to be asked to play solo mandolin in the California Hall at the 1939 World’s Fair.

Gino spent many years playing for dignitaries and clubs, including the Bolshoi Orchestra and dancers. Self-taught to a great extent, he attributed much of his success in learning technique on the mandolin to the world-famous Andrini Brothers. Gino’s musical friends in San Francisco included people like Nick Sfarzo, Rudy Cipolla, Peter Tarzia, Pasquale Gianuario, Marco De Natale, and Matteo Casserino and many others. Gino was a vigorous and intrepid player who has spread the enjoyment of this almost forgotten instrument with infectious enthusiasm to thousands of audiences. He has taught and coached many people on the mandolin, including his wife, Josephine.

Gino and Josephine (both widowed) met at a FIGA (Fretted Instrument Guild of America) Convention in Kansas City in 1986 They married in 1994 when she then relocated to California. Jo was born and lived in Long Island, New York most of her life where she raised her three children. She played with the Long Island Mandolin & Guitar Orchestra for a brief time before relocating to California. Gino and Jo spent many hours playing mandolin together. Although she is classically trained on the piano and comes from a musical family, Jo’s exposure to Gino’s extensive library of mandolin music opened up a whole new world for her. They attended many conventions throughout the U.S. with CMSA (Classical Mandolin Society of America) and FIGA and have made friends from around the world.

Gino’s musical legacy prevails under Josephine’s leadership along with the support and encouragement of the many dedicated “Aurora” members.

Aurora, “the Roman goddess of the dawn with
magnificent phenomenon and swirling bands of illumination.”

. . .

*Click to read article
By Correspondent, Joan Aragone.

Carole R. Brown
Webmistress
Rio Vista Graphics
riovi@sbcglobal.net
August 5, 2008