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WMAS NEWS UPDATE
December 24, 2005

Meeting Notes from the President

We had a modest turnout for our last meeting of the year, on Dec. 13. Because of a scheduling snafu, the program we had anticipated -- by Eric Schwarz -- did not take place, and Dale Wise stepped in with a lecture/demonstration on music theory. We hope to reschedule Eric for sometime in the new year (March). In addition, the board is thinking maybe we should drop our December meeting and make the annual concert the last get-together of the year. Any thoughts on this? The board will meet in the third week of January to plan our 2006 program.

Peter DiGiovanni, our membership chairman, is collecting dues for 2006 . The price is right: $15. Please make Peter's life easier by paying up soon. If you'd like to mail a check, please reply for more instructions.

We look forward to a presentation in January (the 10th) by Dr. Bob Duca on how to avoid injury when playing the accordion. Bob is both a chiropractor and an accordionist.

Dec. 4 Holiday Concert

The concert, once again, was a great success and lots of fun, as was the potluck that followed. Merv Conn warmed up the crowd as it entered the hall; then Karen introduced our conductor, Joan Grauman, and master of ceremonies, Dale Wise. The program looked like this:

WMAS Orchestra: God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen (arr. by Mike Surratt for WMAS) & Frosty the Snowman

Elise Malouf: Good King Wenceslas & Silent Night

Czarina Attipoe: Jingle Bells & When the Saints Go Marching In

Silvia Eberly (with Daniel McCharen & Czarina): German Christmas songs & Twinkle Twinkle Little Star

Phil Fox: Song of Music Medley

WMAS Orchestra: Angels We Have Heard on High (arr. by Mike Surratt for WMAS) & Santa Claus Is Coming to Town

Ronald Charvet: O Tannenbaum & an Ecuadoran song

Potomac Ensemble: Picnic Polka & Le Clochard de Paris

Dan Grauman: Minor Christmas Medley

Rick Nunno, Adam Carter Nafziger (guitar) & Mara Cherkasky: First Snow/Byrtnes Mazurka

Peter DiGiovanni: Christmas Oldies Medley

Nicolai Gamrasni: A Time for Cherries

Potomac Ensemble: Sandmannchen & Lovers' Waltz

Leone Monticone, Clare Cherkasky (guitar) & Mara Cherkasky: Ding Dong Merrily on High

Michael B. Rubin: O Hanuka, My Dredl & Who Can Retell?

Jim Vandelly: Kamarinskaya, Barinya & The Cossack Rides the Danube

Jim Vandelly, Vladimir Titarenko & Peter DiGiovanni: Podgorka

WMAS Orchestra: Silent Night & Joy to the World

Merv Conn, Joan Grauman, Dale Wise, Silvery Eberly and others entertained during dinner.

Announcements

We've gone international! Jim Vandelly has been sending news of our programs and activities to the Accordions Worldwide Web site (based in New Zealand) www.accordions.com. Please check it out when you get a chance.

Also, please make sure you check our own Web calendar frequently for accordion news and events around the DC area.

With that, we'd like to wish you and your families a wonderful Christmas, Hanuka and Kwanzaa -- and the happiest of new years. See you in 2006!