with Robert Wilson
Mario de Pietro and his Estudiantina are one of the most popular broadcast features. Fifteen strong, including Mario himself, the Estudiantina all play string instruments-mandolins, banjos, and guitars.
Mario de Pietro himself took up the banjo by way of a joke. In 1924 he gave one or two banjo recitals for fun. Shortly afterwards, drifting into Clifford Essex's showrooms in Bond Street, and picking up a banjo, he began idly to play. This caused a sensation. Clifford Essex asked him why he didn't play banjo solos, and presented Mario on the spot with the tenor banjo he was playing.
Previously his instrument had been the mandolin and it is interesting to recall that when he first appeared at the Winter Gardens, Bournemouth, playing this instrument, he received a letter of congratulation from Sir Dan Godfrey saying that he (Sir Dan) had never heard anyone playing such classics as Chopin's ' Nocturne ' on a mandolin before.
The band is shortly to start on a tour of the music-halls.