Brian Oberlin
From Rockford, Michigan, Brian Oberlin is an internationally acclaimed mandolin player and educator. Brian plays a Northfield 4th Gen. F5 mandolin and sings lead for the Michigan based bluegrass band, Full Cord, who won the 2022 Telluride bluegrass band contest and the 2022 IBMA momentum band of the year award. Now entering the third decade of his professional career, Brian continues to play swing, bluegrass, and Italian classical as a solo mandolinist and vocalist. This long tenure was celebrated at the release of his 20th album in 2016; Troubadour. Along with the myriad of award-winning bands and ensembles he has collaborated with throughout the United States and Europe (Full Cord, Grasshoppah, GER Mandolin Orchestra with Mike Marshall and Twin Mandolin Slingers with Evan J. Marshall), Brian is also the founder/director of the River of the West Mandolin Camp, the Great Lakes Mandolin Camp, the Michigan Mandolin Orchestra and the Oregon Mandolin Orchestra. As a soloist, he was a finalist at the esteemed 2013 Telluride Troubadour Contest. Brian was an instructor/performer at the 2012, 2013 and 2017 International Mandolin Academy in Italy, a featured soloist at the 2014 & 2018 EuroFest Plucked String Festival in Bruchsal, Germany, a featured soloist at the 2015 Mandolin Upgrade festival in Berlin, Germany and a featured song-writer at the 2021 IBMA awards. When he is not performing, Brian teaches music to children and adults at art centers, cultural events, festivals, camps, music schools and academies. Brian’s website, MandOberlin.com is a great resource for not only his appearances but features FREE content for budding mandolinists on the Lesson Hub.
“I acquired my new Northfield 4th gen F-Style mandolin in September, 2023 and I am now 5 weeks into playing this beauty. From day one, the tone has been clear, bright, and clean from the open strings up to the neck joint. In these 5 short weeks, the lows and mids have opened with a pleasing darker tone while the upper end is maturing into its clear reaches. I’m delighted to discover how this mandolin will sound in just one year with this rate of ripening. Consider me a highly satisfied mandolin player with my Northfield #48, with its power and clear tone. And yes, it can be loud but not irritatingly loud. The craftsmanship is stellar!! Everyone is welcome to come to any of my Full Cord, bluegrass or swing gigs and you’ll hear the Northfield 4th gen tradition in action. ”
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