Evan J. Marshall, Mandolin

Evan J. Marshall is an internationally renowned mandolin virtuoso, and is generally regarded as the world’s premier solo performer on mandolin in duo-style. By himself, he sounds like several of the world’s finest mandolinists performing together. His stylistic signature is classical, with strong influences from the Italian and American folk traditions. Country guitar legend Chet Atkins called Evan “One of the few great musicians of our time."

Inspired by Atkins and violinist Jascha Heifetz, Evan has created a uniquely recognizable approach to solo mandolin performance that combines bass lines, chords, rhapsodic runs and tremolo melodies. He started classical violin studies at age seven, and added the mandolin at age 14. In addition to solo performances throughout the country, Evan has been a featured guest artist in Pops concerts with a number of Symphony Orchestras, including Houston, Phoenix, Long Beach, Grand Rapids, Fort Worth, San Antonio, Jacksonville, and Pensacola.

Two of his solo mandolin recordings have been released by Rounder Records: Evan Marshall Is the Lone Arranger, which the Washington Post labeled "Truly dazzling," the Raleigh-Durham Independent called "Superhuman," and the Fresno Bee called "Mind-boggling"; and Mandolin Magic, which the St. Paul Pioneer Press applauded for a "Stunning mastery of interpretation." Evan also has recorded three solo CDs for his own label, Mandolin Conservatory.  

In 1995 Evan made his first appearance on A Prairie Home Companion with Garrison Keillor. Between 1993 and 2005 Evan was a featured soloist at Disneyland, performing his signature William Tell Overture: Finale for about two million visitors to the famous Golden Horseshoe Theater during the course of 10,000 shows. He has performed and taught at numerous regional and international conferences for mandolinists, who hold Evan in particularly high regard; Don Stiernberg has referred to Evan as “The Michael Jordan of the mandolin.”