Mike Marshall & Alessandro Penezzi

Mike Marshall is one of the world's most accomplished and versatile string instrumentalists and a three-time Grammy nominee. A master of mandolin, guitar, mandocello, and violin, he blends American roots with classical, jazz, pop, and Brazilian music. At 19, he joined the David Grisman Quintet and has since produced over 40 recordings while collaborating with Bela Fleck, Edgar Meyer, and Chris Thile. Deeply committed to education, Mike directed the Acoustic Music Seminar at SMF and teaches globally. With his wife, German mandolinist Caterina Lichtenberg, he co-founded the Mandolin World Retreats and continues to tour internationally, inspiring musicians worldwide.

Born in Piracicaba, Brazil, Alessandro Penezzi is one of the great virtuosos of Brazilian guitar. He graduated in Popular Music from Unicamp with a specialization in Creative Processes from Faculdade Souza Lima, and has been teaching courses, workshops, and seminars at various music festivals in Brazil and abroad. Penezzi is a multi-instrumentalist and prolific composer and has toured extensively worldwide. He plays the seven-string guitar, tenor guitar, cavaquinho, mandolin, and flute, and has received numerous honors and nominations for his performances as an instrumentalist and composer. He has also been highlighted in the Visa MPB Instrumental, Tim de Música Brasileira, and Shell de Teatro and Prêmio da Música Brasileira awards.