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Musica Nostra consists of:

• Dick Hull -- mandolin, guitar
• Bob Kogut -- mandolin, violin
• Joseph Hasty -- guitar, bass
  and sometimes
• Brandon Miller -- bass

We play traditional Italian music, jazz & swing standards and old-time fiddle tunes.  We draw upon a wealth of arrangements for mandolin orchestra from the first half of the 20th Century, most of which were compiled by Dick's grandfather, Giovanni (John) Napoleone and his brother Domenico (Dominic).  (Click here for a Napoleone Brothers photo.)   These arrangements include old Italian pieces, classical selections, opera overtures, ragtime numbers, original compositions, marches and novelty pieces, played on two mandolins and guitar.  We also perform our own arrangements of popular standards, jazz & swing, and traditional American music on violin, guitar and bass.

In our home area of western North Carolina, the mandolin is probably best known as a bluegrass instrument.  One of the goals of Musica Nostra is to present the mandolin in other settings, including reprising its American heyday in the early 20th Century.  To this end, the group is available for educational concerts and school performances demonstrating the wide range of the mandolin.

The group is also interested in swing and jazz standards and performs these on violin, guitar(s) and bass.  As such, we are available for small clubs, dances and dinners.  Guitarist/Bassist Joseph Hasty has long performed for events such as these and has been joined often by Dick Hull for the past few years.  Bob Kogut is the new, welcome addition to this configuration, having joined in 2003.

Bob Kogut is an experienced fiddler who performs regularly at contra dances in the area and throughout the southeast.  He is also known for the violins he builds.  Satisfied customers include Darol Anger , Mike Marshall, and Vassar Clements.  Bob and Dick met in 2002 when performing in the on-stage band for a local production of the musical "Cotton Patch Gospel" (music by the late Harry Chapin).

The three members of Musica Nostra bring years of experience playing jazz, swing, rock, folk, old-time fiddle music, bluegrass, and contra dances.  This varied background serves them well when attempting the widely varied repertoire described above.  All three have performed several times at MerleFest in various capacities.

Contact us via email at musicanostra@charter.net for booking and other information.

There was a previous incarnation of Musica Nostra with Dick and the late Larry Hipps.  Check out our original web site.  There is also another Musica Nostra on Mallorca.  Check them out if you're in the area.