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The Louisville Mandolin Orchestra (LMO) was organized in 1988 to offer Louisville area musicians an opportunity to participate in an orchestral ensemble of plucked instruments. The orchestration is comprised of mandolins, mandolas, mandocellos, guitars and bass, similar to the instrumentation of a traditional string orchestra, and is a carry-over from the mandolin orchestra tradition popular at the turn of this century.  Performances include instrumental music from early baroque and renaissance to classical and contemporary.
Besides numerous appearances in the region, the LMO has participated in international festivals in Germany, France and Spain. In 1994 the LMO became the first American mandolin orchestra to be invited to the Bundesmusikfest held in Germany every four years. The LMO received high critical acclaim for its performances at that prestigious festival. The LMO has welcomed the opportunity to represent Kentucky in these international festivals and as a result has forged many international friendships. Because of these friendships the LMO has been able to bring to Louisville audiences several international artists. Collaborative concerts have featured the Jack Lynn Frets Orchestra (England), The Duo Capriccioso (Germany), the Albeniz Guitar Duo (Germany) and Keith Harris (Germany / Australia).
Regional tours include performances at Mandofest in Lawrence, Kansas, the 6th Southeastern Mandolin Revue at Oglethorpe University in Atlanta, Georgia, the Fretted Instrument Guild Association National Convention in Ft. Mitchell, Kentucky, the Great American Brass Band Festival in Danville, Kentucky. The LMO has twice been host to the Classical Mandolin Society of America which brought the convention to Louisville along with highly acclaimed performers. The LMO has appeared twice on the Lonesome Pine Series of the Kentucky Center for the Arts as part of a program called Mando Magnificat. This show has been televised in a worldwide market. In addition, Mando Magnificat has been added to the permanent collection of The Smithsonian, making the LMO the first mandolin orchestra to be included.
Recordings of the LMO include Folkworks, (a collection of medley's from Russia, Hungary, Ireland and America). The New York Times (American newspaper marches), The Apollo Project (a recording project of National Endowment for the Arts composer A. Paul Johnson), and Mandoscapes (a collection of classical pieces that all in some way suggests a place or a type of geography). Through a long-standing relationship with the local public radio station partnership, the LMO has performed on numerous occasions for their Lunchtime Classics series.
It is the intention of the Louisville Mandolin Orchestra to continue to serve the Louisville community by providing a musical outlet for amateur musicians of the area, while bringing the world's best mandolinists and guitarists to Louisville audiences.
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