2009 News Archive
WMAS NEWS UPDATE
January 21, 2009
Meeting Notes
Here we are more than halfway through January already! For our first meeting of the year, on January 11, Daniel Darrikhuma drove five hours from his home in (fittingly) Danville, Virginia, to present a program on how he uses the accordion in his work. Dan is a Seventh Day Adventist pastor with three small, varied congregations in southern Virginia.
Dan began learning the accordion at age 11 from Carmelo Pino at the Biviano Accordion School. After moving with his family from Takoma Park to Wheaton Dan switched to Merv Conn, who was teaching out of a trailer on Colesville Road. Dan set the instrument aside for several years when he got older, but then picked it back up again while living on the West Coast. In Washington State, where he served 15 years as a youth minister on an Indian Reservation, he played with a bluegrass band called Hand Picked (which he referred to Hen Pecked Minus One because all were married except for him). After returning to the East Coast, Dan pastored the children of well-to-do families of (Asian) Indian descent.
Dan plays a U.S.-made Bell accordion. He used to play a Petosa but found it too loud to accompany singing. The purpose of music in the church, he said, is to lead people in worship. When playing for worship services Dan uses the organ register and plays up an octave. Each of his churches is different in its ethnic mix and taste in music. For example, one prefers traditional organ hymns, while another likes more contemporary gospel music with a guitar and drums.
At the meeting Dan played examples of a variety of styles, including the old-time gospel song “I’ll Fly Away” (with a bellows shake), the contemporary “The Heat of Worship” using bass patterns from the Nunzio book, the 19th century hymn “Father Lead Me Day by Day” using a left-hand counterpoint and chords in the right hand, and “The Lord’s Prayer” arranged by Galla-Rini, Dan’s favorite arranger.
If you’d like to see Dan at work, contact him at [email protected]; he said he’d love to have WMAS visitors at his services.
NEXT MEETING
Our next meeting is February 8 at 4 pm at Sleepy Hollow United Methodist Church. We will hold a dance party to celebrate our 6th anniversary. We need musicians!!! Please sign up to play a polka, waltz, or other dance number or two.
Please bring friends and family, and refreshments to share. And don’t forget your dance shoes! We’ll show you the steps.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Commander Duke Easton RIP
It is with deep regret that we announce the passing of Commander Glen “Duke” Easton. Commander Easton took great pleasure in attending all our meetings and concerts, and he also supported the club by purchasing CDs and other items. He always had a good word to say about our musicians and the way the club is run. We will miss him.
Here’s a message from Commander Easton’s daughter:
I am Duke Easton's daughter who has lived across the street from him in Reston, Virginia for 25 years. I am sorry to report that Dad passed away on December 18. It was sudden and totally unexpected. He loved the Accordion Society meetings and said the people in the Society were very kind to an old guy who had trouble getting around and seeing. Please pass along my thanks to all your Society members. His grandmother gave him an accordion when he was a teenager and he always loved to play. As he lost his eyesight he was embarassed to play in public because he could not read the music anymore, but he did play at home for himself. He now has four accordions - his brother wants his original and I will keep his kid-size accordion but that leaves two others, including an Excelsior that he purchased, I think, from one of the Society members. We can sell them on eBay but perhaps there is a way to offer them for sale to the Society members first. Please let me know, or forward this to others who might know. Again, thank you for your kindness to my Dad. At 89 he lived a good long life but we miss him so much. He came to dinner at my house every night and our house seems empty without him.
Sincerely,
Michelle Easton
Reston, Virginia
work phone: 703 318-0730
Service for Commander Glen "Duke" Easton Monday, March 9, 11:00 am.
Arlington National Cemetery
Fort Myer Chapel
Frank Marocco Accordion Camp Concert
An orchestra of 50 accordionists will perform a wide variety of beautiful music arranged especially for accordion. The orchestra will be directed by world-renowned accordionist Frank Marocco. Widely-acclaimed accordionists Mary Tokarski and Stas Venglevski will be guest artists. Music by Henry Mancini, Leroy Anderson, Dimitri Shostakovich, Astor Piazzola, Stas Venglevski, and others will be performed. Solos and duets will also be performed by the guest artists and orchestra members. Talented local musicians Wes Anderson on percussion and Sean Brogan on bass will be joining the orchestra.
The concert will take place on Saturday, January 24, 2009 at 7:30 pm at the Best Western Dobson Ranch Inn ballroom, 1666 S. Dobson Road, Mesa, AZ 85202. There will be a small admission charge of $5. Plenty of parking is available on the premises. Call 480-831-7000 for directions, or use maps.google.com. This concert will be worth the drive, even if you're coming from far away!!!
For additional information, contact Dan & Joan Grauman at 301-806-5998 or by e-mail at [email protected]
Accordions at the Ballpark
WMAS will be putting together a demonstration CD to submit to the Nationals Ballpark, in hopes of being invited to play the National Anthem at a game this spring. Joan distributed sheet music at the January meeting, which you will need to memorize if you wish to play with the group. If we do get to play in the ballpark, we’ll be standing. No chairs, no sheet music!
Message from Lou Coppola
We are happy to tell you that the Gaylord Hotel at National Harbor has extended our run at Pienza's Italian Market restaurant indefinitely, so we will be there until notified otherwise.
Although they are not doing any promotions at this time, I think you'll find it's a great brunch. Everyone who comes really enjoys it. The hotel is amazing in itself with its 18-story glass atrium, a good place to wander through and explore. Sunday brunch starts at 11:30 and we play until 2:30. The food almost seems endless in variety and the atmosphere is most relaxing as well. Reservations can be made at 301-965-5200.
Accordions for Kids
Justin Zhou, whom most of you will remember from the past two holiday concerts, performed on TV recently. His dad posted the footage on YouTube, so you can see it, too. Here’s the link.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lf2sx0-2Ji8
Elise Malouf performed, too; photos of her and Justin will be posted on our web site.
Stas Venglevski-Misha Litvin Concert March 13 – save the date!
8:15 pm
Masonic Temple
410 University Boulevard West
Silver Spring, MD 20901
Tickets $15; refreshments will be served
More information: [email protected]
Accordionist and Bayanist to Perform for the Arlington Retired Teachers Association February 11
Jim Vandelly, a retired government teacher from Wakefield High School in Arlington, will perform at the February 11 meeting of the Arlington Retired Teachers Association.
Mr. Vandelly, a member of the Washington Metropolitan Accordion Society, has performed for a wide range of diplomatic and community organizations in the Washington metro area, as well as, on NBC TV in Upper Michigan. He has also performed at the Smithsonian Institution, and in 2001, played with an ensemble at one of the Inaugural Balls.
Vandelly will be playing the piano accordion and the Russian chromatic accordion (bayan). The program, which begins at 1 p.m., will feature Russian folk songs and American standards. It will take place in the Fellowship Hall of the Church of the Covenant, 2666 Military Road, in Arlington. Non-members of ARTA are also welcome to attend this musical program. For more information call 703-876-9693 or 703-534-4402.
Update from the Carolina Accordionists’ Association
By Rich Sterenczak - President C.A.A.
[email protected]
The C.A.A. January Jam (Jan. 17 in Winston-Salem, NC) was a wonderful success!
Like a garden filled with a variety of beautiful flowers, each and every one of you contributed a musical specialty that when displayed with others made for a magnificent exhibition of the versatility of our accordions.
If you were there you witnessed performances by accordionists playing button boxes, midi-equipped accordions, and 12-bass, 96-bass and 120-bass instruments. Some played music from the ‘50s and ‘60s; others played classical music, show tunes, Gospel, patriotic, and even music from Brazil. Some played the accordion and harmonica simultaneously! There were trios and duets, and also two jam sessions.
Among the highlights of the day were performances by newer players. They not only mustered the strength to pick up their accordion, they also had the courage to get up and play after only a few months’ lessons or a hiatus from playing. My hat is off to them, and I am looking forward to their return for many more jams.
I respectfully submit to you that the most significant performance came from a 93-year-old man who began playing the accordion at age 89. He played two songs for us. By the way, in his spare time he is learning to speak Russian!
Many accordionists came from far away; some drove up to three hours to join us. I am grateful to them and to everyone who participated.
The excitement of accordion music brought many members of the audience to their feet. Polkas were the choice of many of the dancers. The staff of the North Point Grill even joined in the dancing when the ever-popular “Chicken Dance” was played.
The owner-operators of the North Point Grill contributed to the success of the January Jam by advertising our free event on their outdoor marquee and also preparing a special European menu just for us!
A professional photographer took pictures of the performing accordionists for her personal art collection, and a columnist, a former woman Lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force, took notes for a story she is preparing to publish.
Our previous president, Bob Wilusz, and his wife Barbara were unable to attend the Jam. We are grateful for Bob’s past efforts creating the foundation of the C.A.A., upon which we will build and grow this terrific organization.
Memorable, notable and wonderful are among the words to describe the January Jam in Winston-Salem, NC. Thank you for being the festivities.
************************************************************************************************************************
January 21, 2009
Meeting Notes
Here we are more than halfway through January already! For our first meeting of the year, on January 11, Daniel Darrikhuma drove five hours from his home in (fittingly) Danville, Virginia, to present a program on how he uses the accordion in his work. Dan is a Seventh Day Adventist pastor with three small, varied congregations in southern Virginia.
Dan began learning the accordion at age 11 from Carmelo Pino at the Biviano Accordion School. After moving with his family from Takoma Park to Wheaton Dan switched to Merv Conn, who was teaching out of a trailer on Colesville Road. Dan set the instrument aside for several years when he got older, but then picked it back up again while living on the West Coast. In Washington State, where he served 15 years as a youth minister on an Indian Reservation, he played with a bluegrass band called Hand Picked (which he referred to Hen Pecked Minus One because all were married except for him). After returning to the East Coast, Dan pastored the children of well-to-do families of (Asian) Indian descent.
Dan plays a U.S.-made Bell accordion. He used to play a Petosa but found it too loud to accompany singing. The purpose of music in the church, he said, is to lead people in worship. When playing for worship services Dan uses the organ register and plays up an octave. Each of his churches is different in its ethnic mix and taste in music. For example, one prefers traditional organ hymns, while another likes more contemporary gospel music with a guitar and drums.
At the meeting Dan played examples of a variety of styles, including the old-time gospel song “I’ll Fly Away” (with a bellows shake), the contemporary “The Heat of Worship” using bass patterns from the Nunzio book, the 19th century hymn “Father Lead Me Day by Day” using a left-hand counterpoint and chords in the right hand, and “The Lord’s Prayer” arranged by Galla-Rini, Dan’s favorite arranger.
If you’d like to see Dan at work, contact him at [email protected]; he said he’d love to have WMAS visitors at his services.
NEXT MEETING
Our next meeting is February 8 at 4 pm at Sleepy Hollow United Methodist Church. We will hold a dance party to celebrate our 6th anniversary. We need musicians!!! Please sign up to play a polka, waltz, or other dance number or two.
Please bring friends and family, and refreshments to share. And don’t forget your dance shoes! We’ll show you the steps.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Commander Duke Easton RIP
It is with deep regret that we announce the passing of Commander Glen “Duke” Easton. Commander Easton took great pleasure in attending all our meetings and concerts, and he also supported the club by purchasing CDs and other items. He always had a good word to say about our musicians and the way the club is run. We will miss him.
Here’s a message from Commander Easton’s daughter:
I am Duke Easton's daughter who has lived across the street from him in Reston, Virginia for 25 years. I am sorry to report that Dad passed away on December 18. It was sudden and totally unexpected. He loved the Accordion Society meetings and said the people in the Society were very kind to an old guy who had trouble getting around and seeing. Please pass along my thanks to all your Society members. His grandmother gave him an accordion when he was a teenager and he always loved to play. As he lost his eyesight he was embarassed to play in public because he could not read the music anymore, but he did play at home for himself. He now has four accordions - his brother wants his original and I will keep his kid-size accordion but that leaves two others, including an Excelsior that he purchased, I think, from one of the Society members. We can sell them on eBay but perhaps there is a way to offer them for sale to the Society members first. Please let me know, or forward this to others who might know. Again, thank you for your kindness to my Dad. At 89 he lived a good long life but we miss him so much. He came to dinner at my house every night and our house seems empty without him.
Sincerely,
Michelle Easton
Reston, Virginia
work phone: 703 318-0730
Service for Commander Glen "Duke" Easton Monday, March 9, 11:00 am.
Arlington National Cemetery
Fort Myer Chapel
Frank Marocco Accordion Camp Concert
An orchestra of 50 accordionists will perform a wide variety of beautiful music arranged especially for accordion. The orchestra will be directed by world-renowned accordionist Frank Marocco. Widely-acclaimed accordionists Mary Tokarski and Stas Venglevski will be guest artists. Music by Henry Mancini, Leroy Anderson, Dimitri Shostakovich, Astor Piazzola, Stas Venglevski, and others will be performed. Solos and duets will also be performed by the guest artists and orchestra members. Talented local musicians Wes Anderson on percussion and Sean Brogan on bass will be joining the orchestra.
The concert will take place on Saturday, January 24, 2009 at 7:30 pm at the Best Western Dobson Ranch Inn ballroom, 1666 S. Dobson Road, Mesa, AZ 85202. There will be a small admission charge of $5. Plenty of parking is available on the premises. Call 480-831-7000 for directions, or use maps.google.com. This concert will be worth the drive, even if you're coming from far away!!!
For additional information, contact Dan & Joan Grauman at 301-806-5998 or by e-mail at [email protected]
Accordions at the Ballpark
WMAS will be putting together a demonstration CD to submit to the Nationals Ballpark, in hopes of being invited to play the National Anthem at a game this spring. Joan distributed sheet music at the January meeting, which you will need to memorize if you wish to play with the group. If we do get to play in the ballpark, we’ll be standing. No chairs, no sheet music!
Message from Lou Coppola
We are happy to tell you that the Gaylord Hotel at National Harbor has extended our run at Pienza's Italian Market restaurant indefinitely, so we will be there until notified otherwise.
Although they are not doing any promotions at this time, I think you'll find it's a great brunch. Everyone who comes really enjoys it. The hotel is amazing in itself with its 18-story glass atrium, a good place to wander through and explore. Sunday brunch starts at 11:30 and we play until 2:30. The food almost seems endless in variety and the atmosphere is most relaxing as well. Reservations can be made at 301-965-5200.
Accordions for Kids
Justin Zhou, whom most of you will remember from the past two holiday concerts, performed on TV recently. His dad posted the footage on YouTube, so you can see it, too. Here’s the link.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lf2sx0-2Ji8
Elise Malouf performed, too; photos of her and Justin will be posted on our web site.
Stas Venglevski-Misha Litvin Concert March 13 – save the date!
8:15 pm
Masonic Temple
410 University Boulevard West
Silver Spring, MD 20901
Tickets $15; refreshments will be served
More information: [email protected]
Accordionist and Bayanist to Perform for the Arlington Retired Teachers Association February 11
Jim Vandelly, a retired government teacher from Wakefield High School in Arlington, will perform at the February 11 meeting of the Arlington Retired Teachers Association.
Mr. Vandelly, a member of the Washington Metropolitan Accordion Society, has performed for a wide range of diplomatic and community organizations in the Washington metro area, as well as, on NBC TV in Upper Michigan. He has also performed at the Smithsonian Institution, and in 2001, played with an ensemble at one of the Inaugural Balls.
Vandelly will be playing the piano accordion and the Russian chromatic accordion (bayan). The program, which begins at 1 p.m., will feature Russian folk songs and American standards. It will take place in the Fellowship Hall of the Church of the Covenant, 2666 Military Road, in Arlington. Non-members of ARTA are also welcome to attend this musical program. For more information call 703-876-9693 or 703-534-4402.
Update from the Carolina Accordionists’ Association
By Rich Sterenczak - President C.A.A.
[email protected]
The C.A.A. January Jam (Jan. 17 in Winston-Salem, NC) was a wonderful success!
Like a garden filled with a variety of beautiful flowers, each and every one of you contributed a musical specialty that when displayed with others made for a magnificent exhibition of the versatility of our accordions.
If you were there you witnessed performances by accordionists playing button boxes, midi-equipped accordions, and 12-bass, 96-bass and 120-bass instruments. Some played music from the ‘50s and ‘60s; others played classical music, show tunes, Gospel, patriotic, and even music from Brazil. Some played the accordion and harmonica simultaneously! There were trios and duets, and also two jam sessions.
Among the highlights of the day were performances by newer players. They not only mustered the strength to pick up their accordion, they also had the courage to get up and play after only a few months’ lessons or a hiatus from playing. My hat is off to them, and I am looking forward to their return for many more jams.
I respectfully submit to you that the most significant performance came from a 93-year-old man who began playing the accordion at age 89. He played two songs for us. By the way, in his spare time he is learning to speak Russian!
Many accordionists came from far away; some drove up to three hours to join us. I am grateful to them and to everyone who participated.
The excitement of accordion music brought many members of the audience to their feet. Polkas were the choice of many of the dancers. The staff of the North Point Grill even joined in the dancing when the ever-popular “Chicken Dance” was played.
The owner-operators of the North Point Grill contributed to the success of the January Jam by advertising our free event on their outdoor marquee and also preparing a special European menu just for us!
A professional photographer took pictures of the performing accordionists for her personal art collection, and a columnist, a former woman Lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force, took notes for a story she is preparing to publish.
Our previous president, Bob Wilusz, and his wife Barbara were unable to attend the Jam. We are grateful for Bob’s past efforts creating the foundation of the C.A.A., upon which we will build and grow this terrific organization.
Memorable, notable and wonderful are among the words to describe the January Jam in Winston-Salem, NC. Thank you for being the festivities.
************************************************************************************************************************
WMAS NEWS UPDATE
February 10, 2009
Meeting Notes
Our sixth birthday party on February 8 was, in the words of member Mary Elizabeth Smith, “the nicest meeting ever.” Instead of the usual ring of chairs, which seems to intimidate would-be dancers and musicians alike, we set up the room cabaret-style. Then we added tablecloths and festive decorations: candles, and red and white balloons anchored by red-painted, heart-shaped weights made especially for the occasion by Ron Paulson. Door prizes, lots of snacks, and a delicious tres leches birthday cake added to the fun.
Our emcee, Ken Kunec, was at his entertaining best, and our members provided non-stop dance music of all varieties on squeezeboxes of all varieties. People danced the polka, waltz, fox trot, schottisch, and even the Charleston! A special treat was the English country dance, taught by Louise Neu to music played by by Barbara Gorin, even though we dancers sort of botched it. It was fun anyway, but it would be nice to try again another time when we have more time to learn it. From England we moved on to Israel and a circle dance, and then home again to the good old American chicken dance. (Some people seemed to have slipped out just before the chicken dance, but maybe they had a long drive home.)
Upcoming Meetings
The executive committee, at its February 1 meeting, decided we should make time for an organized group play-along at each meeting. We were able to squeeze this in at the end of the party, even though we didn’t announce it or encourage everyone to bring their accordions. Peter DiGiovanni passed out music for the play-along and will pass out a couple more pieces at the next meeting. Please bring your accordions to each meeting so you can participate
On March 15, Jim Vandelly will present a workshop on bass patterns. Please print out the attachments from the email; we will use them in the workshop.
At our April 19 meeting special guest Lenny Feldmann will play a concert, and on May 17 we’ll hold our annual spring concert, featuring our members. As you may have figured out, we are trying to schedule our meetings to avoid holidays and long weekends, so sometimes the meeting will fall on the second Sunday of the month, and sometimes on the third Sunday. See the calendar for more details.
Accordions on Stage and on the Air
The Army Strolling Strings with Accordionist Manny Bobenrieth
Thursday, March 12, 2009, 7:30 pm
Brucker Hall,
Fort Myer, VA
Free and open to the public
Stas Venglevski (accordion) and Misha Litvin (domra) in Concert
Friday, March 13, 2009, 8:15 pm
Masonic Temple
410 University Boulevard West
Silver Spring, MD 20901
Tickets at the door: $15
Reception afterwards
More info at [email protected]
Accordions on the Radio in Richmond
For any members who can tune in to Richmond public radio station WCVE-88.9 FM, Bob Jacobs willl be doing a show on swing/jazz accordion playing at 11 am on Feb. 28, 2009, on Steve Clark’s “Sound of Swing”
************************************************************************************************************************
February 10, 2009
Meeting Notes
Our sixth birthday party on February 8 was, in the words of member Mary Elizabeth Smith, “the nicest meeting ever.” Instead of the usual ring of chairs, which seems to intimidate would-be dancers and musicians alike, we set up the room cabaret-style. Then we added tablecloths and festive decorations: candles, and red and white balloons anchored by red-painted, heart-shaped weights made especially for the occasion by Ron Paulson. Door prizes, lots of snacks, and a delicious tres leches birthday cake added to the fun.
Our emcee, Ken Kunec, was at his entertaining best, and our members provided non-stop dance music of all varieties on squeezeboxes of all varieties. People danced the polka, waltz, fox trot, schottisch, and even the Charleston! A special treat was the English country dance, taught by Louise Neu to music played by by Barbara Gorin, even though we dancers sort of botched it. It was fun anyway, but it would be nice to try again another time when we have more time to learn it. From England we moved on to Israel and a circle dance, and then home again to the good old American chicken dance. (Some people seemed to have slipped out just before the chicken dance, but maybe they had a long drive home.)
Upcoming Meetings
The executive committee, at its February 1 meeting, decided we should make time for an organized group play-along at each meeting. We were able to squeeze this in at the end of the party, even though we didn’t announce it or encourage everyone to bring their accordions. Peter DiGiovanni passed out music for the play-along and will pass out a couple more pieces at the next meeting. Please bring your accordions to each meeting so you can participate
On March 15, Jim Vandelly will present a workshop on bass patterns. Please print out the attachments from the email; we will use them in the workshop.
At our April 19 meeting special guest Lenny Feldmann will play a concert, and on May 17 we’ll hold our annual spring concert, featuring our members. As you may have figured out, we are trying to schedule our meetings to avoid holidays and long weekends, so sometimes the meeting will fall on the second Sunday of the month, and sometimes on the third Sunday. See the calendar for more details.
Accordions on Stage and on the Air
The Army Strolling Strings with Accordionist Manny Bobenrieth
Thursday, March 12, 2009, 7:30 pm
Brucker Hall,
Fort Myer, VA
Free and open to the public
Stas Venglevski (accordion) and Misha Litvin (domra) in Concert
Friday, March 13, 2009, 8:15 pm
Masonic Temple
410 University Boulevard West
Silver Spring, MD 20901
Tickets at the door: $15
Reception afterwards
More info at [email protected]
Accordions on the Radio in Richmond
For any members who can tune in to Richmond public radio station WCVE-88.9 FM, Bob Jacobs willl be doing a show on swing/jazz accordion playing at 11 am on Feb. 28, 2009, on Steve Clark’s “Sound of Swing”
************************************************************************************************************************
WMAS NEWS UPDATE
March 28, 2009
Meeting Notes
Oom-pa-pa is out. Counterpoint is in. At our last meeting, on March 15, Jim Vandelly teamed up with Dan Darrikhuma to lead the group through a series of bass counterpoint patterns that they’d developed for a range of pieces, from “Yankee Doodle” to “Amazing Grace” to “I’ll Fly Away.”
Some of us will have to practice this for a while before we can make these patterns our own, but we all had to admit that these pieces sounded a lot better with Jim’s and Dan’s bass patterns, than they did with the old standby bass-chord-chord.
Following the workshop, Peter DiGiovanni led us through a few by-ear pieces and, for each, explained how to work out the chord progressions. Because this is rather complicated (for most of us), Peter will put together a worksheet, which we’ll post in the Lessons section of the web site.
Clay Bobrowski alerted us about another beautiful version of “Amazing Grace” with an interesting bass line. As it turns out this arrangement is by Frank Marocco and is available in his book, Religious Collection. The book comes with a CD of Frank playing all pieces. It can be ordered by calling Frank at (818) 781-2506 after April 5.
Next Month
At our next meeting, on April 19 at 4 pm, Lenny Feldmann will present a 45-minute hands-on workshop followed by a 45-minute concert. This is part of our guest-artist series, and we will be asking nonmembers for $8 at the door. Please help out by bringing family and friends, as well as a snack to share. Lenny is a true entertainer, and this will be a fun event for us.
Here’s how Lenny describes the workshop:
“It will be the Basics of Playing Improvisations on the Accordion.
Plus... I guarantee that (if you follow my musical formula) that
you will be able to have hours and hours of enjoyment improvising
and never ... I repeat ... NEVER... hit a wrong note. No Mistakes!!”
Please bring your accordions!
For the concert following the workshop Lenny will choose from his repertoire of pieces by the following composers:
Pietro Frosini
Frank Marocco
Claude Debussy
Jerome Kern
G. Rossini
Vincent Youmans
George Gershwin
Claude Thomain
Rimsky-Korsakoff
Charles Camilleri
Ferde Grofe
Aram Kachaturian
In addition, Lenny will do a piece by Dan Desiderio accompanied by Joan Grauman on piano, and two duets with Joan on accordion: one composed and arranged by Stas Venglevski and the other composed by Eric Maschwitz and arranged by Frank Marocco.
* * * * * * * *
New photos have been posted. Check them out!
* * * * * * * * *
YouTube accordion videos submitted by Jim Vandelly:
Science Channel video on how the accordion is made: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zcMHiAxB-jQ
Weltmeister factory video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYsSifiDapo
Nice video on the making of Cajun-type diatonic accordion: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQglJZFjUsc
* * * * * * * *
Two articles submitted by Dominic Karcic:
Accordion With A Big "A"
by Emilian Badea, Doctor of Musical Arts
Boston is one of those cities in which the musical arts have reached superlative levels in all genres. It is a city with an abundance of high quality musical performances. Let's remember some of the institutions involved: Boston Symphony Orchestra, Boston Lyric Opera, Boston Academy of Music, Handel and Haydn Society, New England Conservatory of Music, Boston Conservatory, Berklee College of Music, and many others. All of these are world standard quality institutions, with first class performers and teachers. And then there are many community music schools surrounding Boston, with thousands of enthusiastic youngsters "thirsty" to discover the inner beauties of the musical arts. Bostonians themselves are a highly knowledgeable and demanding audience.
In the midst of this wealth of musical activity, we were recently visited by one of the most brilliant musicians of our time. I do not use this term lightly. We were privileged to see and hear live one of the most exciting accordionists of our time. It is difficult to find the words to describe the impression the young French accordionist Jérémie Buirette, World Champion, in duet with his wife, the pianist Clémence, left here in the Boston area. The concert hall, generously provided by the New School of Music in Cambridge, (Pamela Curtis director), was packed with lucky "hand-picked" members in the audience, made up mostly by accordionists and aficionados, among them Frank Gaviani Jr, and Robert Paolo.
I have played many concerts in my life in a wide variety of musical genres. I have attended even more concerts performed by some great musical personalities. But what the audience and I heard on Sunday February 1st, was truly exceptional. We all know that the accordion is the most complex musical instrument and that it does not require an accompanist. Yet the Clémence and Jérémie Duo showed us a most refined dialogue between piano and accordion, each taking the leading role at times, and complementing each other with finesse in a perfect blend of sound colors. Their constant visual communication was a reassurance of the joy they spread in the audience. That gave us a sense of a perfect fusion of love and music! They really enjoy making music together.
Clémence and Jérémie had been invited to the United States by a private party for a concert in New York. I was already aware of Jérémie's almost mesmerizing musical personality, so as soon as I found out their schedule, a fire of desire ignited inside me. I said to myself "I have to bring them to Boston for a concert. It is a rare opportunity to offer my fellow Bostonians something they have not seen in a long time, or probably have never seen!" I prayed to Euterpe to help me, and she graciously granted me my wish.
Jérémie is a master of the accordion. He possesses a most brilliant right hand technique with 110 mile per hour fingers (no ticket yet!), and a creative and precise left hand. What makes Jeremie even more special is his masterful control of the bellows. I am sure that at home Jérémie spends most of his time (not practicing, but) filling up the accordion bellows with music, a lot of music, a lot of good music. Once he came here all he had to do was to open his accordion. And as soon as he did that, all that music hidden in the bellows came bursting out with joy and excitement! He had a lot of music hidden in there, and he so generously offered it to us. We understood immediately why he is a World Champion!
The Clémence and Jérémie Duo performed for us compositions by Vivaldi, Rossini, Brahms, Saint-Saëns, Khachaturian, Piazzolla, and much more. For this concert's grand finale, Jérémie offered us something that we were all craving: a medley of French Musette Waltzes. What a delight to the audience! That 130 year old genre sounded younger and fresher than ever, with scales and arpeggios running up and down at a delirious speed (no ticket again!), improvising on melodies so familiar to us. Among them were "Souvenir de Montmartre," "Le Retour des Hirondelles," "Reine de Musette," and my favorite "Flambée Montalbanaise." This concert could have not ended better. The audience erupted with euphoria and standing ovations several times during the concert.
After the concert Jérémie conducted a master-class with three of the students Robert Paolo nurtured in his studio in Johnston, RI. Anthony Falco, Lenore Del Ponte, and Anthony Federici, were the lucky students who received valuable instruction from Jérémie Buirette, Champion du Monde.
But all ended too soon. After the concert, some of my students went home and right away picked up the accordion and started practicing! What better motivation than that? I did the same. I hardly waited to finish dinner, and after that I played musette duets with Jérémie until late, late into the night.....electricity was running through me all this time.
The mere presence of Jérémie became contagious. He showed us that his musicianship encompasses all the qualities of a World Champion. He is a virtuoso of the highest caliber, and at the same time he is a gracious and eloquent shaper of melodic phrase. But what makes him even more special is his modesty, his humbleness, and his friendship. This makes him a true champion!
Not “just another accordion success story…..”By Enrico Romano
This year the Brockton Symphony Orchestra celebrates 60 years of music making. Throughout these years, the orchestra has been the main attraction for music lovers of the city of Brockton (Massachusetts) and the surrounding communities. The orchestra has performed with great success many works from the vast literature of the symphonic repertoire, including operas, symphonies, and concertos. Many great musicians, soloists, and conductors have started their careers as guests of the orchestra. Some of the current members have been performing with this orchestra for 45-50 years! One finds it hard to believe that music making has no limits of age or ability! The love for music has no borders.
This season the Brockton Symphony Orchestra again offered to their audience a special event, the traditional Holiday-Pops concert, which is the most popular performance of the year. But, what few members of the audience would ever know, is that the concert was almost cancelled. The orchestra was lacking the necessary resources for renting the concert hall, for hiring musicians, etc. That was when Emilian Badea, Doctor of Musical Arts, Accordionist, Bassoonist, Musicologist, and Conductor, stepped in and “crafted” a concert that would be a pleasure for performers and audience as well. He selected the pieces, invited the soloists, and conducted the orchestra. Few will ever forget this holiday concert, as the Brockton Symphony’s performance opened everyone’s soul to welcome the spirit of the season. Dr. Badea’s enthusiasm was contagious, and those who attended were the beneficiaries. There was music for all ages and tastes, representing every aspect of the holidays. But what brought everyone up on their feet, was the “musical surprise” brainchild of Dr. Badea.
He thought "if there is an instrument capable of 'bringing down the wall' between all people, that must be the accordion.” Therefore, he brought in his accordion to perform the lovely Hungarian Dance no. 5 by Johannes Brahms, with Robert Paolo guest conducting the orchestra. Next, he brought in two more accordionists as special guests of the Brockton Symphony Orchestra. He invited two of the most deserving young accordionists in the country for this performance, two talented young musicians who are well on their way to mastering the secrets of creating beautiful music with accordion, technically as well as emotionally. The two guest accordionists were Christopher Gorton and Anthony Falco, both of them students of Robert Paolo of Johnston, RI. Christopher and Anthony are only two of many great accordionists who have learned in Mr. Paolo’s studio. They were “discovered” by Robert Paolo when each was only 7 years old, in the St. Rocco Elementary School in Johnston. Through the years, Robert Paolo has guided them with his “encyclopedic” knowledge, and with his care and patience. Both of them earned New England Champion titles multiple times. Once you hear them playing the accordion, you can only say: "yes, these accordionists are the product of someone who really knows music and accordion!” The families of these students should be proud and thankful for the good luck they have had in their music education. Surely the parents were proud as the last chords of Four by Miles Davis, of Malaguena by Ernesto Lecuona, and Mazurka Variata by Augusto Migliavacca (in a Trio arrangement) were sounded. It is chillingly emotional to recall the frenzy of applause that followed the performance as the entire audience of more than four hundred people stood.
Perhaps any musical instrument could have accomplished that, but this time it was (again) the Accordion. As noted in a newspaper review, “the instrument in the right six hands can work magic.”
As the reviewer concluded in the newspaper, “In the lobby, hearing the praise and thanks of the departing audience, one could hardly believe this was the concert that almost wasn’t. The City of Champions was again home of 'beautiful music in Metro South.' As the doors opened, the very first snowflakes were falling …….. True holiday concert, true holiday spirit!"
************************************************************************************************************************
March 28, 2009
Meeting Notes
Oom-pa-pa is out. Counterpoint is in. At our last meeting, on March 15, Jim Vandelly teamed up with Dan Darrikhuma to lead the group through a series of bass counterpoint patterns that they’d developed for a range of pieces, from “Yankee Doodle” to “Amazing Grace” to “I’ll Fly Away.”
Some of us will have to practice this for a while before we can make these patterns our own, but we all had to admit that these pieces sounded a lot better with Jim’s and Dan’s bass patterns, than they did with the old standby bass-chord-chord.
Following the workshop, Peter DiGiovanni led us through a few by-ear pieces and, for each, explained how to work out the chord progressions. Because this is rather complicated (for most of us), Peter will put together a worksheet, which we’ll post in the Lessons section of the web site.
Clay Bobrowski alerted us about another beautiful version of “Amazing Grace” with an interesting bass line. As it turns out this arrangement is by Frank Marocco and is available in his book, Religious Collection. The book comes with a CD of Frank playing all pieces. It can be ordered by calling Frank at (818) 781-2506 after April 5.
Next Month
At our next meeting, on April 19 at 4 pm, Lenny Feldmann will present a 45-minute hands-on workshop followed by a 45-minute concert. This is part of our guest-artist series, and we will be asking nonmembers for $8 at the door. Please help out by bringing family and friends, as well as a snack to share. Lenny is a true entertainer, and this will be a fun event for us.
Here’s how Lenny describes the workshop:
“It will be the Basics of Playing Improvisations on the Accordion.
Plus... I guarantee that (if you follow my musical formula) that
you will be able to have hours and hours of enjoyment improvising
and never ... I repeat ... NEVER... hit a wrong note. No Mistakes!!”
Please bring your accordions!
For the concert following the workshop Lenny will choose from his repertoire of pieces by the following composers:
Pietro Frosini
Frank Marocco
Claude Debussy
Jerome Kern
G. Rossini
Vincent Youmans
George Gershwin
Claude Thomain
Rimsky-Korsakoff
Charles Camilleri
Ferde Grofe
Aram Kachaturian
In addition, Lenny will do a piece by Dan Desiderio accompanied by Joan Grauman on piano, and two duets with Joan on accordion: one composed and arranged by Stas Venglevski and the other composed by Eric Maschwitz and arranged by Frank Marocco.
* * * * * * * *
New photos have been posted. Check them out!
* * * * * * * * *
YouTube accordion videos submitted by Jim Vandelly:
Science Channel video on how the accordion is made: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zcMHiAxB-jQ
Weltmeister factory video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYsSifiDapo
Nice video on the making of Cajun-type diatonic accordion: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQglJZFjUsc
* * * * * * * *
Two articles submitted by Dominic Karcic:
Accordion With A Big "A"
by Emilian Badea, Doctor of Musical Arts
Boston is one of those cities in which the musical arts have reached superlative levels in all genres. It is a city with an abundance of high quality musical performances. Let's remember some of the institutions involved: Boston Symphony Orchestra, Boston Lyric Opera, Boston Academy of Music, Handel and Haydn Society, New England Conservatory of Music, Boston Conservatory, Berklee College of Music, and many others. All of these are world standard quality institutions, with first class performers and teachers. And then there are many community music schools surrounding Boston, with thousands of enthusiastic youngsters "thirsty" to discover the inner beauties of the musical arts. Bostonians themselves are a highly knowledgeable and demanding audience.
In the midst of this wealth of musical activity, we were recently visited by one of the most brilliant musicians of our time. I do not use this term lightly. We were privileged to see and hear live one of the most exciting accordionists of our time. It is difficult to find the words to describe the impression the young French accordionist Jérémie Buirette, World Champion, in duet with his wife, the pianist Clémence, left here in the Boston area. The concert hall, generously provided by the New School of Music in Cambridge, (Pamela Curtis director), was packed with lucky "hand-picked" members in the audience, made up mostly by accordionists and aficionados, among them Frank Gaviani Jr, and Robert Paolo.
I have played many concerts in my life in a wide variety of musical genres. I have attended even more concerts performed by some great musical personalities. But what the audience and I heard on Sunday February 1st, was truly exceptional. We all know that the accordion is the most complex musical instrument and that it does not require an accompanist. Yet the Clémence and Jérémie Duo showed us a most refined dialogue between piano and accordion, each taking the leading role at times, and complementing each other with finesse in a perfect blend of sound colors. Their constant visual communication was a reassurance of the joy they spread in the audience. That gave us a sense of a perfect fusion of love and music! They really enjoy making music together.
Clémence and Jérémie had been invited to the United States by a private party for a concert in New York. I was already aware of Jérémie's almost mesmerizing musical personality, so as soon as I found out their schedule, a fire of desire ignited inside me. I said to myself "I have to bring them to Boston for a concert. It is a rare opportunity to offer my fellow Bostonians something they have not seen in a long time, or probably have never seen!" I prayed to Euterpe to help me, and she graciously granted me my wish.
Jérémie is a master of the accordion. He possesses a most brilliant right hand technique with 110 mile per hour fingers (no ticket yet!), and a creative and precise left hand. What makes Jeremie even more special is his masterful control of the bellows. I am sure that at home Jérémie spends most of his time (not practicing, but) filling up the accordion bellows with music, a lot of music, a lot of good music. Once he came here all he had to do was to open his accordion. And as soon as he did that, all that music hidden in the bellows came bursting out with joy and excitement! He had a lot of music hidden in there, and he so generously offered it to us. We understood immediately why he is a World Champion!
The Clémence and Jérémie Duo performed for us compositions by Vivaldi, Rossini, Brahms, Saint-Saëns, Khachaturian, Piazzolla, and much more. For this concert's grand finale, Jérémie offered us something that we were all craving: a medley of French Musette Waltzes. What a delight to the audience! That 130 year old genre sounded younger and fresher than ever, with scales and arpeggios running up and down at a delirious speed (no ticket again!), improvising on melodies so familiar to us. Among them were "Souvenir de Montmartre," "Le Retour des Hirondelles," "Reine de Musette," and my favorite "Flambée Montalbanaise." This concert could have not ended better. The audience erupted with euphoria and standing ovations several times during the concert.
After the concert Jérémie conducted a master-class with three of the students Robert Paolo nurtured in his studio in Johnston, RI. Anthony Falco, Lenore Del Ponte, and Anthony Federici, were the lucky students who received valuable instruction from Jérémie Buirette, Champion du Monde.
But all ended too soon. After the concert, some of my students went home and right away picked up the accordion and started practicing! What better motivation than that? I did the same. I hardly waited to finish dinner, and after that I played musette duets with Jérémie until late, late into the night.....electricity was running through me all this time.
The mere presence of Jérémie became contagious. He showed us that his musicianship encompasses all the qualities of a World Champion. He is a virtuoso of the highest caliber, and at the same time he is a gracious and eloquent shaper of melodic phrase. But what makes him even more special is his modesty, his humbleness, and his friendship. This makes him a true champion!
Not “just another accordion success story…..”By Enrico Romano
This year the Brockton Symphony Orchestra celebrates 60 years of music making. Throughout these years, the orchestra has been the main attraction for music lovers of the city of Brockton (Massachusetts) and the surrounding communities. The orchestra has performed with great success many works from the vast literature of the symphonic repertoire, including operas, symphonies, and concertos. Many great musicians, soloists, and conductors have started their careers as guests of the orchestra. Some of the current members have been performing with this orchestra for 45-50 years! One finds it hard to believe that music making has no limits of age or ability! The love for music has no borders.
This season the Brockton Symphony Orchestra again offered to their audience a special event, the traditional Holiday-Pops concert, which is the most popular performance of the year. But, what few members of the audience would ever know, is that the concert was almost cancelled. The orchestra was lacking the necessary resources for renting the concert hall, for hiring musicians, etc. That was when Emilian Badea, Doctor of Musical Arts, Accordionist, Bassoonist, Musicologist, and Conductor, stepped in and “crafted” a concert that would be a pleasure for performers and audience as well. He selected the pieces, invited the soloists, and conducted the orchestra. Few will ever forget this holiday concert, as the Brockton Symphony’s performance opened everyone’s soul to welcome the spirit of the season. Dr. Badea’s enthusiasm was contagious, and those who attended were the beneficiaries. There was music for all ages and tastes, representing every aspect of the holidays. But what brought everyone up on their feet, was the “musical surprise” brainchild of Dr. Badea.
He thought "if there is an instrument capable of 'bringing down the wall' between all people, that must be the accordion.” Therefore, he brought in his accordion to perform the lovely Hungarian Dance no. 5 by Johannes Brahms, with Robert Paolo guest conducting the orchestra. Next, he brought in two more accordionists as special guests of the Brockton Symphony Orchestra. He invited two of the most deserving young accordionists in the country for this performance, two talented young musicians who are well on their way to mastering the secrets of creating beautiful music with accordion, technically as well as emotionally. The two guest accordionists were Christopher Gorton and Anthony Falco, both of them students of Robert Paolo of Johnston, RI. Christopher and Anthony are only two of many great accordionists who have learned in Mr. Paolo’s studio. They were “discovered” by Robert Paolo when each was only 7 years old, in the St. Rocco Elementary School in Johnston. Through the years, Robert Paolo has guided them with his “encyclopedic” knowledge, and with his care and patience. Both of them earned New England Champion titles multiple times. Once you hear them playing the accordion, you can only say: "yes, these accordionists are the product of someone who really knows music and accordion!” The families of these students should be proud and thankful for the good luck they have had in their music education. Surely the parents were proud as the last chords of Four by Miles Davis, of Malaguena by Ernesto Lecuona, and Mazurka Variata by Augusto Migliavacca (in a Trio arrangement) were sounded. It is chillingly emotional to recall the frenzy of applause that followed the performance as the entire audience of more than four hundred people stood.
Perhaps any musical instrument could have accomplished that, but this time it was (again) the Accordion. As noted in a newspaper review, “the instrument in the right six hands can work magic.”
As the reviewer concluded in the newspaper, “In the lobby, hearing the praise and thanks of the departing audience, one could hardly believe this was the concert that almost wasn’t. The City of Champions was again home of 'beautiful music in Metro South.' As the doors opened, the very first snowflakes were falling …….. True holiday concert, true holiday spirit!"
************************************************************************************************************************
WMAS NEWS UPDATE
April 23, 2009
Meeting Notes
Lenny Feldmann was our guest artist at the April 19 meeting, and the question now is: why did we wait so long?? About 80 people turned out for an excellent workshop and concert.
Many commented afterwards about how eager they were to go home and try out what they’d learned in the workshop: improvisation on the blues and pentatonic scales; and building chords such as major sevenths and ninths on the bass side.
During the concert Lenny played a variety of pieces:
Charming Waltz (C. Kinkel)
On the Trail, a tone poem from Grand Canyon Suite (F. Grofé)
Oblivion (A. Piazzolla)
Mexican Carnival (D. Desiderio) with Joan Grauman on piano
All the Things You Are (J. Kern)
Dark Side of the Moon (Pink Floyd, arr. by L. Feldmann as a Suite for Stradella Accordion)
Mademoiselle de Paris (arr. by F. Marocco) with Joan Grauman on accordion
Short Visit (S. Venglevski) with Joan Grauman on accordion
William Tell Overture (Rossini)
Three Coins in the Fountain (J. Styne)
As a bonus, Lenny provided copies of Charming Waltz, and he made his CDs available for $5. Everyone went home happy. More on Lenny is at www.cordeenman.com.
PS Lenny wrote us this email:
Thank you so much for having me. I really enjoyed your group. I have to say that they were the most attentive and responsive workshop audience I have ever had, plus they were very quick to pick up on all the new musical concepts I introduced to them
and they played their parts with excellence. Also, a pleasure to play the concert for them -- again, a very attentive and responsive group.
We would like to thank the members who helped make the day a success by showing up early to set up the room, running the “box office,” bringing snacks, and staying late to clean up.
However, we could use more people to help in the kitchen, especially afterwards when there are dishes to wash and put away, etc. Everyone wants to get home, so sharing the work will help all of us get there.
Also, we appreciate the snacks people bring but we’d appreciate them even more if the donors would do the final preparations on them, that is, get them ready to serve, and then also help clear them away afterwards.
A few more requests:
The church has asked us not to bring pets to our meetings/events unless they are service animals. Thanks for your cooperation!
If you haven’t yet paid your 2009 dues, please do so. The dues help us bring in two outside artists per year, and they cover the cost of the web site, any mailings, photocopying sheet music, coffee, birthday cake, door prizes, etc. We also ask that you throw a little money into the church donation basket each month. The church does not charge us rent, but we are expected to donate – an amount that is vastly smaller than rent would be. The member dues would have to be a lot higher if we didn’t have this separate donation basket.
Next month, May 17, is our member concert, and we are looking foward to hearing everyone’s latest tunes. Please let us know if you wish to be included on the program (5 minutes per person). Ken Kunec has agreed to be our emcee again – it’s always fun to see what sort of fun he’ll come up with -- so if you have anything you would like him to say about you, please write it on a piece of paper and have it ready to give him.
Announcements
Practices at Jammin Java
Gary Koerner would like to reconstitute the beginners practice group that used to meet at Jammin Java on Maple Avenue in Vienna, Virginia. He would like to meet Saturday mornings at 9 am over coffee on the front porch, so please contact him at [email protected] or 703-938-3193 if you are interested.
Accordion Cruises
My name is Donato Di Tullio and I am the administrator of the International Accordion Forum (http://www.accordionplanet.net/forum).
I am pleased to announce the first festival organized by the International Accordion Forum on a cruise ship. ACCORDIONS CRUISE FESTIVAL will take place April 17-24, 2010.
I am writing to invite all Washington Metropolitan Accordion Society members to this festival. We can offer a discount of 25 euros per passenger on 1° and 2° bed in a double cabin.
During the festival we will have the following events:
1) Concerts every day
2) Accordion competitions
3) Accordion Master Class directed by Romano Viazzani
4) Product presentations by Musictech, Vignoni Accordions, Beltrami
Accordion etc.
5) All regular events of other Costa Cruises
Please visit the English section of
http://www.fisarmonicheincrociera.com for details about ACCORDIONS CRUISE FESTIVAL.
************************************************************************************************************************
April 23, 2009
Meeting Notes
Lenny Feldmann was our guest artist at the April 19 meeting, and the question now is: why did we wait so long?? About 80 people turned out for an excellent workshop and concert.
Many commented afterwards about how eager they were to go home and try out what they’d learned in the workshop: improvisation on the blues and pentatonic scales; and building chords such as major sevenths and ninths on the bass side.
During the concert Lenny played a variety of pieces:
Charming Waltz (C. Kinkel)
On the Trail, a tone poem from Grand Canyon Suite (F. Grofé)
Oblivion (A. Piazzolla)
Mexican Carnival (D. Desiderio) with Joan Grauman on piano
All the Things You Are (J. Kern)
Dark Side of the Moon (Pink Floyd, arr. by L. Feldmann as a Suite for Stradella Accordion)
Mademoiselle de Paris (arr. by F. Marocco) with Joan Grauman on accordion
Short Visit (S. Venglevski) with Joan Grauman on accordion
William Tell Overture (Rossini)
Three Coins in the Fountain (J. Styne)
As a bonus, Lenny provided copies of Charming Waltz, and he made his CDs available for $5. Everyone went home happy. More on Lenny is at www.cordeenman.com.
PS Lenny wrote us this email:
Thank you so much for having me. I really enjoyed your group. I have to say that they were the most attentive and responsive workshop audience I have ever had, plus they were very quick to pick up on all the new musical concepts I introduced to them
and they played their parts with excellence. Also, a pleasure to play the concert for them -- again, a very attentive and responsive group.
We would like to thank the members who helped make the day a success by showing up early to set up the room, running the “box office,” bringing snacks, and staying late to clean up.
However, we could use more people to help in the kitchen, especially afterwards when there are dishes to wash and put away, etc. Everyone wants to get home, so sharing the work will help all of us get there.
Also, we appreciate the snacks people bring but we’d appreciate them even more if the donors would do the final preparations on them, that is, get them ready to serve, and then also help clear them away afterwards.
A few more requests:
The church has asked us not to bring pets to our meetings/events unless they are service animals. Thanks for your cooperation!
If you haven’t yet paid your 2009 dues, please do so. The dues help us bring in two outside artists per year, and they cover the cost of the web site, any mailings, photocopying sheet music, coffee, birthday cake, door prizes, etc. We also ask that you throw a little money into the church donation basket each month. The church does not charge us rent, but we are expected to donate – an amount that is vastly smaller than rent would be. The member dues would have to be a lot higher if we didn’t have this separate donation basket.
Next month, May 17, is our member concert, and we are looking foward to hearing everyone’s latest tunes. Please let us know if you wish to be included on the program (5 minutes per person). Ken Kunec has agreed to be our emcee again – it’s always fun to see what sort of fun he’ll come up with -- so if you have anything you would like him to say about you, please write it on a piece of paper and have it ready to give him.
Announcements
Practices at Jammin Java
Gary Koerner would like to reconstitute the beginners practice group that used to meet at Jammin Java on Maple Avenue in Vienna, Virginia. He would like to meet Saturday mornings at 9 am over coffee on the front porch, so please contact him at [email protected] or 703-938-3193 if you are interested.
Accordion Cruises
My name is Donato Di Tullio and I am the administrator of the International Accordion Forum (http://www.accordionplanet.net/forum).
I am pleased to announce the first festival organized by the International Accordion Forum on a cruise ship. ACCORDIONS CRUISE FESTIVAL will take place April 17-24, 2010.
I am writing to invite all Washington Metropolitan Accordion Society members to this festival. We can offer a discount of 25 euros per passenger on 1° and 2° bed in a double cabin.
During the festival we will have the following events:
1) Concerts every day
2) Accordion competitions
3) Accordion Master Class directed by Romano Viazzani
4) Product presentations by Musictech, Vignoni Accordions, Beltrami
Accordion etc.
5) All regular events of other Costa Cruises
Please visit the English section of
http://www.fisarmonicheincrociera.com for details about ACCORDIONS CRUISE FESTIVAL.
************************************************************************************************************************
WMAS NEWS UPDATE
May 21, 2009
Meeting Notes
Guests and members alike enjoyed the latest edition of our annual spring concert, on May 17. The array of styles – from Mozart to musette and from folk to rock – was proof that our instrument can do it all. Soloists included Bob Juszczyk, Phil Fox, Yimin Zhuang, JoAnn Pankow, Peter DiGiovanni, and newcomer Marcy Stech. In addition several duos performed: Joan Grauman and JoAnn; Peter and Joan; and Lee Paulson and Peter; and Joan’s Potomac Ensemble played three new pieces.
We missed Karen Uribe, our president and Potomac Ensemble member, who was sick at home.
Followup to May Meeting
After the April meeting Dick Dangel submitted a couple of pages that he thought might interest people who enjoyed Lenny Feldmann’s presentation. One page shows a blues progression that is slightly different from the one Lenny presented, but it elaborates into many useful keys. It also presents a slightly different blues scale. The scales are written in bass clef because this was originally intended for guitarists and bassists.
The other page, from jazz musician Jamey Aebersold, shows how to view scales when you play jazz. It tells you how to construct the various scales in terms of whole and half tones. If you would like PDFs of these pages, please email your request to [email protected].
Classes with Mary Tokarski
Would you like to take a master class with Mary Tokarski? Back by popular demand, Mary will be staying at Joan and Dan’s house and giving one-hour classes on Saturday, June 13. Each one-hour session will be $60.00. If two or more people want to take a class together, it will be the same price: $60.00 per hour. As most of you know, Mary is a concert accordionist who performs both nationally and internationally as a soloist and as a member of the delightful "K" Trio. She has just returned from a tour of China with the Mantovani Orchestra.
Please check your calendars and contact Joan at (301) 279-8716 or [email protected] to reserve your master class with Mary.
If necessary, she can hold two classes on Sunday late morning and early afternoon, June 14.
June Meeting
Speaking of June 14, don't miss our WMAS meeting that day! We will be treated to a concert by the accordionist of the U.S. Air Force Strolling Strings, Frank Busso, Jr. Frank will also talk to us about growing up in an accordion school environment. His father, Frank Busso, Sr., owns the Staten Island Music School where he teaches accordion.
As an added bonus, Frank, Sr., will join his son for some duets. Mark your calendars!
Fairlington Church
Karen has been asked to play for the Fairlington Church’s 10:30 am service on August 23, and has assembled a set of easy hymns. If you would like to join Karen, please contact her at [email protected]. Thanks!
How to Submit a Calendar Item or Classified Ad
When you submit an item for posting on the WMAS web site, please be sure to provide complete information. If it’s an event, include the location, date, time, ticket price, how to buy tickets or make reservations, a contact phone number and email address, web site, and perhaps a description of the event.
For classified ads, include a description of the item – and a photo if you like (in JPEG format) – along with the price and seller’s contact information.
The webmaster thanks you!
The Strolling Strings
As you may be aware, the Strolling Strings are now performing Sunday brunch at the Gaylord Resort and Convention Center at National Harbor (http://www.gaylordhotels.com/gaylord-national). The management is offering a special promotion until the end of June to friends of Stereo Strings only. If you are interested and would like to receive a coupon, please contact Lou Coppola at [email protected]. Whether you come for brunch or not, you should visit this location and marvel at the soaring 18-story glass-enclosed atrium (always a perfect 72 degrees inside!) with an expansive and breathtaking view of the bridge, harbor and Potomac River.
Hope to see you soon!
AAA TO SPONSOR FUNDRAISER FOR EARTHQUAKE VICTIMS IN ITALY
On Monday, April 6, 2009, the Abruzzi region of Italy -- including the capital city, L’Aquila, and 26 villages -- was struck by a violent earthquake.
It is almost impossible to imagine the devastation that has occurred to this beautiful region of Italy. The tiny villages are nestled into the majestic mountains, and you can sometimes see the peaks covered with crystal white snow, even in June. In the summer you can hike into the mountains and pick snow-white mushrooms or a flower that you have never seen before. The silence of these mountains brings solace and peace to anyone who has been there.
But everything changed April 6. Village upon village has been destroyed, homes and churches demolished; the Piazza, a gathering place where fresh mountain water springs from the fountains, no longer exists. Hundreds of tents cover the grassy fields and gardens where the people once harvested their crops.
On Monday, June 22, 2009, at 7:30 pm, internationally acclaimed artists Mary Mancini, vocalist, and Mario Tacca, accordionist, will perform at the Paramount Center for the Arts, 1018 Brown St., Peekskill, New York, for the benefit of the people in Abruzzi. Also performing will be radio and TV personality/comic “Uncle Floyd” Vivino; vocalist Steve Ritrovato, offering songs of Frank Sinatra and Bobby Darin; and the Philadelphia-based big band, City Rhythm Orchestra.
For ticket information, call Paramount Center for the Arts: 1-877-840-0457 Additional information is available at www.gioiaproductions.com or 914-737-8872; or American Accordionists’ Association - www.ameraccord.com.
Donations can also be made by check payable to “Abruzzi Earthquake Fund” and mailed to 175 King St. Chappaqua, NY 10514 – Attn: Dr. Joseph Ciccone.
Faithe Deffner Tribute - Save the Date
On Sunday, September 20, at 12:30 pm at Tavern on the Green in New York City, AAA will honor long-time member and former AAA president Faithe Deffner for her extraordinary contributions to the accordion world. The event planning committee, headed by Dr. Salvatore Febbraio, includes Frank Busso, Sr., Dr. Joseph Ciccone, Kevin Friedrich, Joan Grauman, Marilyn O’Neil, Dr. William Schimmel, and AAA President Linda Soley Reed. The committee is organizing a star-studded concert that will start immediately following dinner. Artists and program will be announced shortly.
New AAA Logo Silver Necklace
The AAA board commissioned Joan Grauman to design a sterling silver necklace featuring the AAA logo, and the necklaces are now for sale. The design is suitable for men or women. Only a limited number are available, so they will become collectors’ items. The price per necklace is $35.00 (plus $2.00 shipping), which according to Joan is an amazingly low price for this weight of sterling jewelry. Order now and pick up at the AAA Festival to save the shipping and handling. Make checks payable to AAA and mail to Linda Reed, 152 Home Fair Drive, Fairfield, CT 06825 - MasterCard or Visa also accepted. LOCALS may order necklaces directly from Joan and pick them up at the June 14 club meeting. Again, make your check for $35.00 per necklace payable to AAA.
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May 21, 2009
Meeting Notes
Guests and members alike enjoyed the latest edition of our annual spring concert, on May 17. The array of styles – from Mozart to musette and from folk to rock – was proof that our instrument can do it all. Soloists included Bob Juszczyk, Phil Fox, Yimin Zhuang, JoAnn Pankow, Peter DiGiovanni, and newcomer Marcy Stech. In addition several duos performed: Joan Grauman and JoAnn; Peter and Joan; and Lee Paulson and Peter; and Joan’s Potomac Ensemble played three new pieces.
We missed Karen Uribe, our president and Potomac Ensemble member, who was sick at home.
Followup to May Meeting
After the April meeting Dick Dangel submitted a couple of pages that he thought might interest people who enjoyed Lenny Feldmann’s presentation. One page shows a blues progression that is slightly different from the one Lenny presented, but it elaborates into many useful keys. It also presents a slightly different blues scale. The scales are written in bass clef because this was originally intended for guitarists and bassists.
The other page, from jazz musician Jamey Aebersold, shows how to view scales when you play jazz. It tells you how to construct the various scales in terms of whole and half tones. If you would like PDFs of these pages, please email your request to [email protected].
Classes with Mary Tokarski
Would you like to take a master class with Mary Tokarski? Back by popular demand, Mary will be staying at Joan and Dan’s house and giving one-hour classes on Saturday, June 13. Each one-hour session will be $60.00. If two or more people want to take a class together, it will be the same price: $60.00 per hour. As most of you know, Mary is a concert accordionist who performs both nationally and internationally as a soloist and as a member of the delightful "K" Trio. She has just returned from a tour of China with the Mantovani Orchestra.
Please check your calendars and contact Joan at (301) 279-8716 or [email protected] to reserve your master class with Mary.
If necessary, she can hold two classes on Sunday late morning and early afternoon, June 14.
June Meeting
Speaking of June 14, don't miss our WMAS meeting that day! We will be treated to a concert by the accordionist of the U.S. Air Force Strolling Strings, Frank Busso, Jr. Frank will also talk to us about growing up in an accordion school environment. His father, Frank Busso, Sr., owns the Staten Island Music School where he teaches accordion.
As an added bonus, Frank, Sr., will join his son for some duets. Mark your calendars!
Fairlington Church
Karen has been asked to play for the Fairlington Church’s 10:30 am service on August 23, and has assembled a set of easy hymns. If you would like to join Karen, please contact her at [email protected]. Thanks!
How to Submit a Calendar Item or Classified Ad
When you submit an item for posting on the WMAS web site, please be sure to provide complete information. If it’s an event, include the location, date, time, ticket price, how to buy tickets or make reservations, a contact phone number and email address, web site, and perhaps a description of the event.
For classified ads, include a description of the item – and a photo if you like (in JPEG format) – along with the price and seller’s contact information.
The webmaster thanks you!
The Strolling Strings
As you may be aware, the Strolling Strings are now performing Sunday brunch at the Gaylord Resort and Convention Center at National Harbor (http://www.gaylordhotels.com/gaylord-national). The management is offering a special promotion until the end of June to friends of Stereo Strings only. If you are interested and would like to receive a coupon, please contact Lou Coppola at [email protected]. Whether you come for brunch or not, you should visit this location and marvel at the soaring 18-story glass-enclosed atrium (always a perfect 72 degrees inside!) with an expansive and breathtaking view of the bridge, harbor and Potomac River.
Hope to see you soon!
AAA TO SPONSOR FUNDRAISER FOR EARTHQUAKE VICTIMS IN ITALY
On Monday, April 6, 2009, the Abruzzi region of Italy -- including the capital city, L’Aquila, and 26 villages -- was struck by a violent earthquake.
It is almost impossible to imagine the devastation that has occurred to this beautiful region of Italy. The tiny villages are nestled into the majestic mountains, and you can sometimes see the peaks covered with crystal white snow, even in June. In the summer you can hike into the mountains and pick snow-white mushrooms or a flower that you have never seen before. The silence of these mountains brings solace and peace to anyone who has been there.
But everything changed April 6. Village upon village has been destroyed, homes and churches demolished; the Piazza, a gathering place where fresh mountain water springs from the fountains, no longer exists. Hundreds of tents cover the grassy fields and gardens where the people once harvested their crops.
On Monday, June 22, 2009, at 7:30 pm, internationally acclaimed artists Mary Mancini, vocalist, and Mario Tacca, accordionist, will perform at the Paramount Center for the Arts, 1018 Brown St., Peekskill, New York, for the benefit of the people in Abruzzi. Also performing will be radio and TV personality/comic “Uncle Floyd” Vivino; vocalist Steve Ritrovato, offering songs of Frank Sinatra and Bobby Darin; and the Philadelphia-based big band, City Rhythm Orchestra.
For ticket information, call Paramount Center for the Arts: 1-877-840-0457 Additional information is available at www.gioiaproductions.com or 914-737-8872; or American Accordionists’ Association - www.ameraccord.com.
Donations can also be made by check payable to “Abruzzi Earthquake Fund” and mailed to 175 King St. Chappaqua, NY 10514 – Attn: Dr. Joseph Ciccone.
Faithe Deffner Tribute - Save the Date
On Sunday, September 20, at 12:30 pm at Tavern on the Green in New York City, AAA will honor long-time member and former AAA president Faithe Deffner for her extraordinary contributions to the accordion world. The event planning committee, headed by Dr. Salvatore Febbraio, includes Frank Busso, Sr., Dr. Joseph Ciccone, Kevin Friedrich, Joan Grauman, Marilyn O’Neil, Dr. William Schimmel, and AAA President Linda Soley Reed. The committee is organizing a star-studded concert that will start immediately following dinner. Artists and program will be announced shortly.
New AAA Logo Silver Necklace
The AAA board commissioned Joan Grauman to design a sterling silver necklace featuring the AAA logo, and the necklaces are now for sale. The design is suitable for men or women. Only a limited number are available, so they will become collectors’ items. The price per necklace is $35.00 (plus $2.00 shipping), which according to Joan is an amazingly low price for this weight of sterling jewelry. Order now and pick up at the AAA Festival to save the shipping and handling. Make checks payable to AAA and mail to Linda Reed, 152 Home Fair Drive, Fairfield, CT 06825 - MasterCard or Visa also accepted. LOCALS may order necklaces directly from Joan and pick them up at the June 14 club meeting. Again, make your check for $35.00 per necklace payable to AAA.
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WMAS NEWS UPDATE
June 28, 2009
Meeting Notes
This week’s Smithsonian Folklife Festival features accordionists from Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, and Texas, and some of them described growing up in a household where their first toy was an accordion. (More on the festival below.) That’s not quite U.S. Air Force Strolling Strings accordionist Frank Busso, Jr.’s story, but there are certain parallels.
At age four Frank was asked whether he wanted to start accordion lessons, as his older sister Christina had. He answered, no, he’d like to wait until he was five. So that’s what he did. His first and only teacher was his father, Frank Busso, Sr., who still teaches music in Catholic schools and has run his Staten Island Music School for 32 years.
Frank, Jr., a WMAS member who has served his country as an accordionist for four years now, talked about his life in music at our June 14 meeting. We were happy also to have Mary Tokarski at the meeting, and Frank’s USAF predecessor, Lou Coppola. As an extra treat Frank brought along his father. The two Bussos performed a number of duets for us, starting with the very first one they ever played together: “Batter Up” and “Kick Off” from Palmer-Hughes Book 1. From there they jumped to several pieces from the Busso Trio repertoire, including “Dance Bohème” from Carmen, “Masquerade Waltz,” and Tony Dannon’s arrangement of “Maria Rosa.”
Competitions and festivals organized by American Accordionists’ Association and other groups were a big part of his childhood, Frank said. He set out to win and often succeeded. In fourth grade he learned the trumpet, and later the piano and electric bass, playing the various instruments in a high school jazz band and Staten Island community theater. At age 16 he began teaching accordion at his father’s school, and he also joined the Staten Island Accordion Club, whose members were mostly former students of the school.
Frank studied business at Boston University and played with various BU bands, mostly trumpet. After graduation he taught music at BU and played with several non-college bands.
The Busso Trio, whose third member is Christina Busso, made its debut at the 2001 AAA festival in Cleveland. (You may remember that WMAS celebrated its fourth birthday and switch to Sunday afternoons with a March 2007 concert by the Bussos.)
In 2004 the Air Force Strolling Strings decided to refill their accordionist position, which had been vacant for some time (they had been using a keyboard instead). Frank auditioned and got the job. Big things continued to happen. AAA asked him to join its board of directors, and Faithe Deffner asked him to distribute Deffner products. About two years ago Frank opened the Busso Music School in Alexandria (www.bussomusic.com), which now teaches 10 instruments, sells accordions, and offers repair services.
The 22-member Strolling Strings have hundreds of songs in their repertoire, all memorized, and a full-time arranger. Members’ tenures range from two and a half years to 27 years.
In his four years with the USAF Frank has never performed at the White House but last Christmas played six parties at the vice president’s house and has played solo as a strolling accordionist at the Pentagon. His favorite Strolling Strings gig -- besides the public concerts – was an early December concert one year at Blair House. Guests included Henry Kissinger, Condoleezza Rice, Colin Powell and members of the National Security Council.
For a concert schedule, see www.USAFBand.af.mil.
Next Meeting
Ken Kunec will entertain (and you know he knows how to entertain!) at our July 12 meeting. He plans to perforom a concert of contemporary music, old time songs, international numbers, some audience participation, and one or two numbers being premiered for the first time. There MAY be SOME vocals! There will be a few songs you may never have heard done on the accordion.Ken says: Given an hour or two of spare time the night before the concert, I will include the some of the lousiest jokes I can find on Internet.
Don’t miss it. The usual: 4 pm at Sleepy Hollow United Methodist Church, 3435 Sleepy Hollow Road, Falls Church, Va.
Accordion Events
Smithsonian Folklife Festival
There’s still time to catch some of the great accordionists from Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, and Texas who are part of this year’s Folklife Festival. They will participate in an accordion workshop at 4 pm today (Sunday, June 28) and another July 4 at about 12:30 pm. In addition, most play several times each day with their bands. Not all will stay for the second week of the festival, though. Check online at http://www.festival.si.edu/, or check the Washington Post each day for that day’s schedule.
Sunday, June 28, at Blob’s Park with Mike Surratt and the Continentals
Summer is finally here !! We had a blast performing at Blob’s Park in May -- so -- come out and enjoy the new Blob's! Still the best "Polka Dance" location of all time !!
Today -- Sunday 6/28 – BLOB’S PARK * Jessup, MD (4:00-8:00pm) – Call Blob’s Park Office (410) 799-7130 For reservations NOW !!
Klezmer Web Site
Joan Grauman found a useful article on producing chords on an accordion plus some other, well-written tips at www.klezbros.com. Here’s how to find the article: Under “The Music” on the left side of the home page, click on “accordion.”
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WMAS NEWS UPDATE
July 26, 2009
Meeting Notes
Everyone knows they’ll have a good time if Ken Kunec has anything to say about it. Even though it was the height of vacation season, more than 50 people turned out to hear Ken’s concert at the July 12 WMAS meeting.
In introducing the concert, Ken stated his goal: to play songs that people don’t usually think of as accordion songs. Many of these fell into a broad genre he invented called “rockordion”: Ritchie Valens’s hit “La Bamba” (before that it was a standard in the Mexican genre known as Jarocho, from Vera Cruz); Roy Orbison’s (and later Linda Ronstadt’s) hit, “Blue Bayou”; Simon and Garfunkel’s “The Boxer” and “Bridge Over Troubled Waters”; Billy Joel’s “She’s Got a Way About Her”; the Drifters’ “Under the Boardwalk”; and Eric Clapton’s “Wonderful Tonight,” among others. In addition, Ken treated the audience to a Calypso song (Harry Belafonte’s “Down the Way Where the Nights Are Gay”); a Broadway hit (“Memories”); a country and western hit (Hank Williams’s – and later Charlie Pride’s -- “Kalija”); a Greek song (about flying the description of a love dream from the mast of a boat); an Italian song (“We’ Marie”); and the Mexican classics “Volver Volver Volver” and “Cielito Lindo” (for the latter, accompanied by Robert Ford and Luis Uribe). There was even an original polka named “Oh Boy, Oh Boy, Oh Boy” in honor of Ken’s one-time teacher Lefty, who later hosted a radio show and often uttered that phrase.
Ken was accompanied by his sense of humor and, on most numbers, his usually trusty Alesis drum machine, “Al.” Al offers 50 different rhythms, and Ken can adjust the speed on each.
We hope portions of the concert make it onto YouTube. Stay tuned!
Next Meeting
Please remember we will not be meeting in August. Our next meeting, on September 13, will be a concert by guest artist Anthony “Tip” Ciotti, from Virginia Beach. Here’s his story:
Anthony “Tip” Ciotti, DMD
I was born and raised in Wilmington, Delaware, and began my accordion studies with the Laravela Music School. I played in my first recital at age 5 at the Children's Theater on Delaware Avenue and met the famous Charles Magnante, who was our guest artist. Shortly afterward, I completed my studies with Magnante's friend and fellow premiere artist, composer, and director Dan Desiderio of Parkside, Pennsylvania. During this time I competed in and won several local and national competitions while also playing with my quartet throughout the Wilmington area.
After graduating from Salesianum School, St. Joseph's College, and the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine, I had the privilege of serving a full career as a dentist in the U.S.Navy. Throughout this time, I performed in a wide range of venues including solo concert work as well as television throughout the United States, Europe, and the Far East.
Since retiring from the Navy, I have lived in Virginia Beach with my wife Caroline, also a retired Navy dentist, and our three children. My wife and I perform locally in the Tidewater Virginia area where she accompanies me on variety of percussion instruments including a unique bass instrument called a marimbula.
In October 2007, a fellow local accordionist and I established the Accordion Lovers Club of Virginia here in Virginia Beach. We are an informal group that meets on the first Sunday of the month at my home from 2 to 5PM. Currently it's a small but dedicated group that always welcomes anyone who shares our joy in the accordion.
If anyone from WMAS is interested in joining us for a visit they may contact me at [email protected].
Announcements
Accordionist Needed
Hi everyone,
My friend Carol Collins is looking for an accordionist on September 19 from 3 to 6 pm for her Octoberfest in Dumfries. Please contact her directly at 703-283-5771 or www.partyco-op.com. Thanks!
Silvia Eberly
* * * * * * * * * *
Bandoneonista at Rumberos in Columbia Heights, DC
Bandoneon Virtuoso Emmanuel Trifilio
Wednesday, July 29, 8 pm - midnight
Rumberos
3345 14th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20010
202-232-6006
www.rumberos-dc.com
See him now because he’ll be returning home to Argentina August 3 and won’t be back in DC until October.
* * * * * * * * * *
Faithe Deffner to Be Honored September 20
Faithe Deffner will be honored at a very well-deserved “AAA Lifetime Achievement Award Dinner” on September 20, at the famous Tavern on the Green, in Manhattan. The elegant meal (afternoon) will be followed by a star-studded concert. Please join us! Several WMAS members will be attending the event, so car-pooling is possibility. Please see: http://www.letspolka.com/calendar/2009/09/20/concert-for-faithe-deffner for more information.
* * * * * * * * * *
Thoughts on Buying Accordions by Jim Vandelly
I took my Russian-made bayan to Frank Busso for repairs. Before I left, I had a chance to play a new PIGINI Super-Bayan Sirius. Price: $25,000. The Euro is killing us with imported goods. But that PIGINI has changed my mind about whether PIGINI's are the same quality as BUGARI's. No question that the PIGINI is the superior accordion. FAR SUPERIOR to my conservatory model BUGARI.
Now I'm trying to figure out if I can come up with more than $20,000+ before I die of old age.
I pity the folks who need to buy a new Italian-made accordion at present prices. So, our members should consider buying used instruments, and if SELLING them, consider asking much MORE for their instruments.
* * * * * * * * * *
From Dominic Karcic of AAA
The young man in this video was part of the AAA Festival in Memphis, TN in mid-July.
Please see:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eKLeaVhDba8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w8XbDpbPk5A
These performances look to be about two years old. He has improved quite a bit since these were made. He is currently 19 years old. Check it out.
Dominic
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WMAS NEWS UPDATE
July 26, 2009
Meeting Notes
Everyone knows they’ll have a good time if Ken Kunec has anything to say about it. Even though it was the height of vacation season, more than 50 people turned out to hear Ken’s concert at the July 12 WMAS meeting.
In introducing the concert, Ken stated his goal: to play songs that people don’t usually think of as accordion songs. Many of these fell into a broad genre he invented called “rockordion”: Ritchie Valens’s hit “La Bamba” (before that it was a standard in the Mexican genre known as Jarocho, from Vera Cruz); Roy Orbison’s (and later Linda Ronstadt’s) hit, “Blue Bayou”; Simon and Garfunkel’s “The Boxer” and “Bridge Over Troubled Waters”; Billy Joel’s “She’s Got a Way About Her”; the Drifters’ “Under the Boardwalk”; and Eric Clapton’s “Wonderful Tonight,” among others. In addition, Ken treated the audience to a Calypso song (Harry Belafonte’s “Down the Way Where the Nights Are Gay”); a Broadway hit (“Memories”); a country and western hit (Hank Williams’s – and later Charlie Pride’s -- “Kalija”); a Greek song (about flying the description of a love dream from the mast of a boat); an Italian song (“We’ Marie”); and the Mexican classics “Volver Volver Volver” and “Cielito Lindo” (for the latter, accompanied by Robert Ford and Luis Uribe). There was even an original polka named “Oh Boy, Oh Boy, Oh Boy” in honor of Ken’s one-time teacher Lefty, who later hosted a radio show and often uttered that phrase.
Ken was accompanied by his sense of humor and, on most numbers, his usually trusty Alesis drum machine, “Al.” Al offers 50 different rhythms, and Ken can adjust the speed on each.
We hope portions of the concert make it onto YouTube. Stay tuned!
Next Meeting
Please remember we will not be meeting in August. Our next meeting, on September 13, will be a concert by guest artist Anthony “Tip” Ciotti, from Virginia Beach. Here’s his story:
Anthony “Tip” Ciotti, DMD
I was born and raised in Wilmington, Delaware, and began my accordion studies with the Laravela Music School. I played in my first recital at age 5 at the Children's Theater on Delaware Avenue and met the famous Charles Magnante, who was our guest artist. Shortly afterward, I completed my studies with Magnante's friend and fellow premiere artist, composer, and director Dan Desiderio of Parkside, Pennsylvania. During this time I competed in and won several local and national competitions while also playing with my quartet throughout the Wilmington area.
After graduating from Salesianum School, St. Joseph's College, and the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine, I had the privilege of serving a full career as a dentist in the U.S.Navy. Throughout this time, I performed in a wide range of venues including solo concert work as well as television throughout the United States, Europe, and the Far East.
Since retiring from the Navy, I have lived in Virginia Beach with my wife Caroline, also a retired Navy dentist, and our three children. My wife and I perform locally in the Tidewater Virginia area where she accompanies me on variety of percussion instruments including a unique bass instrument called a marimbula.
In October 2007, a fellow local accordionist and I established the Accordion Lovers Club of Virginia here in Virginia Beach. We are an informal group that meets on the first Sunday of the month at my home from 2 to 5PM. Currently it's a small but dedicated group that always welcomes anyone who shares our joy in the accordion.
If anyone from WMAS is interested in joining us for a visit they may contact me at [email protected].
Announcements
Accordionist Needed
Hi everyone,
My friend Carol Collins is looking for an accordionist on September 19 from 3 to 6 pm for her Octoberfest in Dumfries. Please contact her directly at 703-283-5771 or www.partyco-op.com. Thanks!
Silvia Eberly
* * * * * * * * * *
Bandoneonista at Rumberos in Columbia Heights, DC
Bandoneon Virtuoso Emmanuel Trifilio
Wednesday, July 29, 8 pm - midnight
Rumberos
3345 14th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20010
202-232-6006
www.rumberos-dc.com
See him now because he’ll be returning home to Argentina August 3 and won’t be back in DC until October.
* * * * * * * * * *
Faithe Deffner to Be Honored September 20
Faithe Deffner will be honored at a very well-deserved “AAA Lifetime Achievement Award Dinner” on September 20, at the famous Tavern on the Green, in Manhattan. The elegant meal (afternoon) will be followed by a star-studded concert. Please join us! Several WMAS members will be attending the event, so car-pooling is possibility. Please see: http://www.letspolka.com/calendar/2009/09/20/concert-for-faithe-deffner for more information.
* * * * * * * * * *
Thoughts on Buying Accordions by Jim Vandelly
I took my Russian-made bayan to Frank Busso for repairs. Before I left, I had a chance to play a new PIGINI Super-Bayan Sirius. Price: $25,000. The Euro is killing us with imported goods. But that PIGINI has changed my mind about whether PIGINI's are the same quality as BUGARI's. No question that the PIGINI is the superior accordion. FAR SUPERIOR to my conservatory model BUGARI.
Now I'm trying to figure out if I can come up with more than $20,000+ before I die of old age.
I pity the folks who need to buy a new Italian-made accordion at present prices. So, our members should consider buying used instruments, and if SELLING them, consider asking much MORE for their instruments.
* * * * * * * * * *
From Dominic Karcic of AAA
The young man in this video was part of the AAA Festival in Memphis, TN in mid-July.
Please see:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eKLeaVhDba8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w8XbDpbPk5A
These performances look to be about two years old. He has improved quite a bit since these were made. He is currently 19 years old. Check it out.
Dominic
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WMAS NEWS UPDATE
September 25, 2009
Meeting Notes
Our group took a break in August, so it felt like we had some catching up to do at the September 13 meeting. We got right down to business with an excellent and delightful concert by an accordionist most of us were unfamiliar with: Anthony “Tip” Ciotti.
Ciotti has performed throughout the world while also pursuing a full career as a dentist in the U.S. Navy. Since retiring he and his family have lived in Virginia Beach, Va. He and his wife Carol, also a retired Navy dentist, perform locally in the Tidewater Virginia area; she plays a variety of percussion instruments including a unique bass instrument called a marimbula, and a little dancing puppet.
The Ciottis’ program included Italian and Celtic medleys; Piazolla’s beautiful “Adios Nonino”; a couple of pieces by Leroy Anderson; pieces by, or arranged by, Frank Marocco; and much more.
Dick Dangel was inspired, after hearing the Ciottis perform Hoagy Carmichael’s “Stardust” (Frank Marocco arrangement), to send along a transcription of his own “Stardust” tag. Click here to request a copy.
New Business
In the business portion of the meeting President Karen Uribe appointed a committee consisting of Vic Aijala, Sue Smith, and Eugene Kruysse to nominate candidates for our annual election of officers, in January. She mentioned that all current officers (the others are Joan Grauman, vice president, and Mara Cherkasky, secretary/treasurer) are willing to continue serving. Please let a committee member know if you wish to be a candidate (your reply to this email update will be forwarded). According to our bylaws,
A nominating committee of three members shall be appointed by the president at the regular September meeting. It shall be the duty of this committee to nominate candidates for the offices to be filled at the general meeting in January. The nominating committee shall report their nominations at the regular meeting in October. Nominations from the floor shall be permitted at the November meeting preceding the general meeting in January whereby the elections will be held.
The officers shall be elected at the January meeting of the organization, by the method determined by the executive committee, and shall, except in case of death, resignation, or removal, serve for one year or until their successors shall be elected. The term of office of the officers shall begin on the first day following their election. Upon election of a new president, the new president shall then appoint the various committee chairpersons that will be part of the executive committee.
Next Meeting
Get out your dirndls and lederhosen! The next WMAS meeting, at 4 pm on Sunday, October 18, will be an Oktoberfest. Please sign up to play – dance tunes preferred – and please bring appropriate food/snacks. Dress in German garb if you wish, and don’t forget your dance shoes. Even though beer won’t be on the menu we’ll set up cabaret style as we did for our birthday dance party in February. As always we’d appreciate your help in setting up and cleaning up afterwards.
One more thing: toward the end of the October meeting Joan will run us through the music for the December 13 holiday concert. If you’d like to play in the concert orchestra please bring your instrument and music stand to the meeting – and plan to come to the five rehearsals: Sunday, November 1 at 6:45 pm; at the end of the November 15 regular WMAS meeting; Sunday, November 29 at 6:45 pm; Sunday, December 6, at 6:45 pm; and 2 pm Sunday, December 13, just before the concert. All rehearsals take place at Sleepy Hollow United Methodist Church.
Let us know if you would like to play a solo (or duet, etc.) in the holiday concert, now is the time to start planning. Thanks!
Upcoming Accordion Events
Balalaika Society Concert
“RUSSIAN REVELRY” -- The Washington Balalaika Society will present their Fall Concert on Sunday, November 22 at 3pm, at the wonderful Kenmore Center for Performing Arts located at 200 S. Carlin Springs Road, Arlington VA (one block south of Route 50). This performance will feature Russian xylophone virtuoso Alexander Chernobaev in an exciting program of Russian and Eastern European music. There is more information at www.balalaika.org.
Florida Accordion SMASH - Coming up in November
Karen Adam of the FL Acc Assoc and SE Acc Assoc
Has announced that her clubs’ annual “SMASH” will take place November 13-15 at the Holiday Inn International Resort on International Drive, Orlando, Florida. Details, as well as a link to the registration form, are at http://www.accordions.com/florida
Accordion Cruise with Frank Marocco Next April
See details at
http://www.accordionplanet.net/ac/index.php?code=AC10
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Steve Tchamouroff
We were saddened to learn of the September 18 death of Steve Tchamouroff, a former WMAS member. A passionate musician, Steve presented a bal musette workshop/concert for us in January 2005; meeting notes are at news_12jan05.htm
In addition you can read Steve’s article on bal musette on this site.
Accordionists Needed
For a fundraiser for Gilchrist Hospice Care to be held at Turf Valley Resort in Ellicott City, MD on October 18th. The event typically attracts about 700 attendees.
The group is looking for a couple of musicians who can be playing as people enter the resort and for a short time thereafter in order to “set the Oktoberfest theme”. The total time that requires musicians is less than two hours and they are welcome to enjoy the wonderful food and drink of over 20 of the finest restaurants in Howard County. There will also be extensive silent and live auctions.
Jerry Anderson
443-535-0510
www.AndersonKinsella.com
Video of Performance at Faithe Deffner’s Lifetime Achievement Award Dinner” (held September 20)
Check this out:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=T98L0G-g7G4
[The others have been removed.]
Submitted by Ken Kunec: excerpts from a column by Dave Barry
"While I'm at it, I also want to apologize to the accordion community for a recent column in which I encouraged people to throw accordions into ponds. That statement earned me a stern rebuke from James O'Brien, Ph.D., a professor of music at the University of Arizona. Dr. O'Brien informed me that making fun of the accordion is "inappropriate," and concluded his letter with this menacing statement: "Gary Larson did this years ago, and quality accordionists still boycott his 'Far Side' calendars as a result."
As a humorist, I am all too aware of the devastating effects of being targeted for a boycott by quality accordionists. I don't want to wind up like poor Gary Larson, who today is penniless, dressed in rags, holding a cardboard sign that says he will draw talking cows for food. So I apologize to O'Brien, who has two CDs for sale: "Accordion Accord" and "Reason for Squeezin'."
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WMAS NEWS UPDATE
October 25, 2009
Meeting Notes
First off, if you are playing in the holiday concert orchestra, please, please, please come to the November 1 rehearsal at Sleepy Hollow United Methodist (6:45 pm). During this rehearsal Joan will give us the “road map” for each piece, set dynamics, and correct rhythmic errors. Please attend so we don’t have to waste time going through this again at subsequent rehearsals.
Second: we will NOT be meeting at Sleepy Hollow United Methodist Church for our November 15 meeting because the church has something else going on in the hall that day. Instead we will meet at the VFW Post at 7118 Shreve Road, Falls Church, VA, just off Route 7. (The hall is ¼ mile from exit 66A off Route 66: head back into Falls Church, away from Tyson’s Corner, and take a right onto Shreve Road at the McDonald’s.) This will be a fun program. Lee Paulson & Vic Aijala will start us off with one piece (or maybe two?), and then Jim Vandelly will offer us a short concert. Afterwards we will rehearse for the holiday concert. Don’t miss it!
Now, back to our October 18 meeting, our Oktoberfest celebration. We actually had some real Germans in attendance, friends of Paul Aebersold. However, they were from Berlin, which does not celebrate Oktoberfest, so this was their first!! Alas we did not have any beer, and hardly any dancing. What we did have, though, was delicious sausages, sauerkraut, potato pancakes, and other treats -- and accordions, of course. Someone remarked afterwards that maybe we should hold our next Oktoberfest at a VFW hall so we can have beer, which might result in more dancing. We may look into that. In any case we’ll be testing out a VFW hall in November.
Ken Kunec was our emcee – and full of tricks as usual. Several people wore Bavarian outfits, or some semblance of Bavarian, and one even wore what looked like leprechaun headgear. Photos will be posted on the web site, so no names need be mentioned here. A number of WMAS members played polkas, waltzes, and other dance numbers, but the floor remained empty until finally a few couples were inspired by Mary Smith and Her Random Band on “Schneewalzer.” Once the ice was broken many people joined in on the chicken dance, which followed.
Thanks to everyone who offered music and brought food. A special thanks to Lee and Ron for the decorations, and to Joan and Dan, Karen and Luis for setting up the room.
* * * * * * * *
Yimeng Huang brought a friend to the Oktoberfest, which in itself is hardly extraordinary. However, the story of their friendship is so amazing that we asked her to share it with the group. Here it is:
The Accordion – A Reconnection to Younger Days
A couple of years ago when I started playing the accordion again after a hiatus of 30-some years, I thought I was unique. But looking around our accordion club, I saw that half of the members have had a similar experience, picking up the accordion again after raising a family or pursuing a career. I joined the Washington Metropolitan Accordion Society in 2007 and was enchanted by the friendly atmosphere and just the sight of so many accordions in the same room. There one day I met a fellow Chinese accordionist, Yimin Zhuang, and we soon realized that we both had studied at Ren Min University in Bejing in the 1970s. What a coincidence!! Well, that’s not even half of the surprise.
Yimin mentioned a small group of Chinese accordionists who get together regularly to play music. He asked if I’d like to join them. Of course I would. I asked if there were any women in the group. He said, yes, there was one. Months later, I was delighted to go to their meeting one Friday evening, in the basement of one member’s house in Herndon, VA. I was eager to meet my potential, future accordion “girl friend.” Then she arrived; I heard her talking as she walked down the stairs. Oh my god, that was unmistakably the voice of my best friend in high school! Impossible! I just had to see her face to confirm. Finally, she came into full view, and I shouted out “Ren Ling!!” That startled her. She turned toward me with a “huh??” expression on her face. I must have changed more than she had. To save embarrassment, I said “Wo Shi Huang Yimeng!” Still, it took her two seconds to realize that was true! Imagine the shock for both of us.
That evening, we probably spoiled the meeting, for the two of us just talked and talked, trying to catch up. We were best friends in high school but drifted apart after college. We both came to the U.S. in the mid-1980s. I’ve been in the DC area since 1990 and she, since 2003: 30 minutes from each other for years without knowing it. When I was 16, it was at her house in Bejing that I touched an accordion for the first time. Who could imagine that 30-some years later the accordion would bring us together again on the other side of the earth!
To me, playing the accordion again is a nostalgic experience. This miracle certainly brought back a lot of memories from our younger days! Now Ling is a cancer research scientist at NIH in Bethesda, MD, and I am a research librarian at the World Bank in DC. All of our kids are in college. We look forward to many years of playing the accordion together!
-- Yimeng Huang
Upcoming Events
Accordionist Rob Curto and John La Barbera: A Musical Passagiatta
Friday, November 13, 7:30 p.m.
Baird Auditorium, National Museum of Natural History (on the National Mall)
Imagine yourself somewhere in Italy, taking your evening passagiatta (stroll) through a moonlit piazza, listening to music being played nearby. This evening, go there with Italian- American musicians Rob Curto (accordion) and John La Barbera (guitar, mandolin) — along with La Barbera’s quartet—as they perform traditional Italian music. Drawing on the accordion's role in world music, Curto has earned the instrument many new fans. La Barbera is recognized as one of the first transcribers of Southern Italian folk music in America.
For tickets or more information, please call (202) 633-3030 or visit www.residentassociates.org
“RUSSIAN REVELRY” -- The Washington Balalaika Society's Fall Concert
Sunday, November 22, at 3 pm
Kenmore Center for Performing Arts
200 S. Carlin Springs Road
Arlington, VA (one block south of Route 50)
This performance will feature Russian xylophone virtuoso Alexander Chernobaev in an exciting program of Russian and Eastern European music. (Not to mention several WMAS members!)
More information at www.balalaika.org.
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October 25, 2009
Meeting Notes
First off, if you are playing in the holiday concert orchestra, please, please, please come to the November 1 rehearsal at Sleepy Hollow United Methodist (6:45 pm). During this rehearsal Joan will give us the “road map” for each piece, set dynamics, and correct rhythmic errors. Please attend so we don’t have to waste time going through this again at subsequent rehearsals.
Second: we will NOT be meeting at Sleepy Hollow United Methodist Church for our November 15 meeting because the church has something else going on in the hall that day. Instead we will meet at the VFW Post at 7118 Shreve Road, Falls Church, VA, just off Route 7. (The hall is ¼ mile from exit 66A off Route 66: head back into Falls Church, away from Tyson’s Corner, and take a right onto Shreve Road at the McDonald’s.) This will be a fun program. Lee Paulson & Vic Aijala will start us off with one piece (or maybe two?), and then Jim Vandelly will offer us a short concert. Afterwards we will rehearse for the holiday concert. Don’t miss it!
Now, back to our October 18 meeting, our Oktoberfest celebration. We actually had some real Germans in attendance, friends of Paul Aebersold. However, they were from Berlin, which does not celebrate Oktoberfest, so this was their first!! Alas we did not have any beer, and hardly any dancing. What we did have, though, was delicious sausages, sauerkraut, potato pancakes, and other treats -- and accordions, of course. Someone remarked afterwards that maybe we should hold our next Oktoberfest at a VFW hall so we can have beer, which might result in more dancing. We may look into that. In any case we’ll be testing out a VFW hall in November.
Ken Kunec was our emcee – and full of tricks as usual. Several people wore Bavarian outfits, or some semblance of Bavarian, and one even wore what looked like leprechaun headgear. Photos will be posted on the web site, so no names need be mentioned here. A number of WMAS members played polkas, waltzes, and other dance numbers, but the floor remained empty until finally a few couples were inspired by Mary Smith and Her Random Band on “Schneewalzer.” Once the ice was broken many people joined in on the chicken dance, which followed.
Thanks to everyone who offered music and brought food. A special thanks to Lee and Ron for the decorations, and to Joan and Dan, Karen and Luis for setting up the room.
* * * * * * * *
Yimeng Huang brought a friend to the Oktoberfest, which in itself is hardly extraordinary. However, the story of their friendship is so amazing that we asked her to share it with the group. Here it is:
The Accordion – A Reconnection to Younger Days
A couple of years ago when I started playing the accordion again after a hiatus of 30-some years, I thought I was unique. But looking around our accordion club, I saw that half of the members have had a similar experience, picking up the accordion again after raising a family or pursuing a career. I joined the Washington Metropolitan Accordion Society in 2007 and was enchanted by the friendly atmosphere and just the sight of so many accordions in the same room. There one day I met a fellow Chinese accordionist, Yimin Zhuang, and we soon realized that we both had studied at Ren Min University in Bejing in the 1970s. What a coincidence!! Well, that’s not even half of the surprise.
Yimin mentioned a small group of Chinese accordionists who get together regularly to play music. He asked if I’d like to join them. Of course I would. I asked if there were any women in the group. He said, yes, there was one. Months later, I was delighted to go to their meeting one Friday evening, in the basement of one member’s house in Herndon, VA. I was eager to meet my potential, future accordion “girl friend.” Then she arrived; I heard her talking as she walked down the stairs. Oh my god, that was unmistakably the voice of my best friend in high school! Impossible! I just had to see her face to confirm. Finally, she came into full view, and I shouted out “Ren Ling!!” That startled her. She turned toward me with a “huh??” expression on her face. I must have changed more than she had. To save embarrassment, I said “Wo Shi Huang Yimeng!” Still, it took her two seconds to realize that was true! Imagine the shock for both of us.
That evening, we probably spoiled the meeting, for the two of us just talked and talked, trying to catch up. We were best friends in high school but drifted apart after college. We both came to the U.S. in the mid-1980s. I’ve been in the DC area since 1990 and she, since 2003: 30 minutes from each other for years without knowing it. When I was 16, it was at her house in Bejing that I touched an accordion for the first time. Who could imagine that 30-some years later the accordion would bring us together again on the other side of the earth!
To me, playing the accordion again is a nostalgic experience. This miracle certainly brought back a lot of memories from our younger days! Now Ling is a cancer research scientist at NIH in Bethesda, MD, and I am a research librarian at the World Bank in DC. All of our kids are in college. We look forward to many years of playing the accordion together!
-- Yimeng Huang
Upcoming Events
Accordionist Rob Curto and John La Barbera: A Musical Passagiatta
Friday, November 13, 7:30 p.m.
Baird Auditorium, National Museum of Natural History (on the National Mall)
Imagine yourself somewhere in Italy, taking your evening passagiatta (stroll) through a moonlit piazza, listening to music being played nearby. This evening, go there with Italian- American musicians Rob Curto (accordion) and John La Barbera (guitar, mandolin) — along with La Barbera’s quartet—as they perform traditional Italian music. Drawing on the accordion's role in world music, Curto has earned the instrument many new fans. La Barbera is recognized as one of the first transcribers of Southern Italian folk music in America.
For tickets or more information, please call (202) 633-3030 or visit www.residentassociates.org
“RUSSIAN REVELRY” -- The Washington Balalaika Society's Fall Concert
Sunday, November 22, at 3 pm
Kenmore Center for Performing Arts
200 S. Carlin Springs Road
Arlington, VA (one block south of Route 50)
This performance will feature Russian xylophone virtuoso Alexander Chernobaev in an exciting program of Russian and Eastern European music. (Not to mention several WMAS members!)
More information at www.balalaika.org.
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WMAS NEWS UPDATE
November 29, 2009
Meeting Notes
Jim Vandelly was the headliner at the November 15 meeting, and as usual he did not disappoint, performing some of our old favorites as well as some pieces we hadn’t heard before. Jim first took up the piano accordion 60 years ago, and the bayan 15 years ago, and he is more than at home on both. Lee Paulson and Vic Aijala provided the warm-up act, performing two pieces they had been practicing for the holiday concert. Unfortunately Vic’s plans suddenly changed, taking him to Florida during the holiday concert. Anyway, they were a delight as well.
The meeting took place at VFW Post 9274 in Falls Church because the church where we usually meet had another event that day. Everyone seemed to agree that the VFW worked out well; however, we had to pay rent there: $300. People were generous with the donations, so we defrayed that fee by about $60, but obviously the VFW is not an option we can use often. If anyone has other ideas – such as a church or school that will charge less than $300 (preferably a lot less) – please let us know.
After Jim’s mini-concert the WMAS Holiday Concert Orchestra and Potomac Ensemble rehearsed. PLEASE NOTE THAT ANOTHER REHEARSAL IS SCHEDULED FOR THIS SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 29, AT 6:45 PM AT SLEEPY HOLLOW UNITED METHODIST.
Holiday Concert
The Holiday Concert is coming up fast: 4 pm on Sunday, December 13. If you are playing in the orchestra, please attend all the rehearsals. Besides the one this Sunday we will be rehearsing the following Sunday, December 6, at 6:45 pm at Sleepy Hollow UMC, and at 2 pm December 13, just before the concert. Even if you are a sightreading whiz and virtuoso soloist, please do not plan to show up and play in the concert without participating in the rehearsals. Playing with a group involves different skills from playing solo, for example following (i.e., watching) the conductor and playing according to the plan (i.e. dynamics, roadmap) worked out with the group during the rehearsals.
If you would like to play a solo (or duet, etc.) in the concert, please let us know so we can include you on the written program. So far the following people have signed up: Nancy Leonard, Yimeng Huang, Silvia Eberly and students, Dick Dangel, Phil Fox, Mark Nejako, and Joan Grauman/JoAnn Pankow.
A potluck will follow the concert. Please sign up to bring a dish, and help with setup starting at 2 pm, and cleanup afterwards. It takes many hands to bring off an event like this, so please pitch in. Thanks!
Announcements
Article on Dr. Carmelo Pino
An article on the life and work of Dr. Carmelo Pino, by Joan Grauman, will be posted on www.accordionusa.com on December 1. This was the feature article in the 2009 AAA Festival journal this past July. Dr. Pino has lived and performed in the Washington, DC area for most of his life and was on the stage of the Kennedy Center, as an accordion soloist, under the batons of 12 conductors, for more than 40 years.
Accordionist Needed in Lexington, VA
I'm Synthia Smout, the University-Shenandoah Symphony Orchestra Manager. Washington and Lee University (Lexington, VA) will be putting on the musical Chicago in March 2010. I'm trying to find a professional-quality accordion/keyboard player to perform in the show. We need someone who can play both keyboard and accordion. The musician would be involved in rehearsals/performances every evening March 4 to March 14 with only Sunday, March 7, off. The fee would be $750 plus $150 gas stipend. Do you know of anyone you can recommend who would be good for this position who doesn't live at too far a distance to come so many days in a row? If not, do you have any other ideas how I could find such a musician?
I appreciate any help you can give.
Thank you,
Synthia Smout, [email protected]
Manager
University-Shenandoah Symphony Orchestra Washington and Lee University
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WMAS NEWS UPDATE
December 20, 2009 - Happy Holidays!
Meeting Notes
“This was our best one yet,” many of us agreed after last Sunday’s holiday concert and potluck. The music was polished, varied, and plentiful; we had a standing-room-only crowd; and the buffet table groaned under the weight of all the dishes. Thanks to all who helped set up and clean up (and took care of all those miscellaneous tasks that went into producing this event), who performed, who brought food, and who came to listen and eat.
And thank you, Mother Nature, for not choosing last weekend to dump snow on us!
From the President, Karen Malan-Uribe
It is with much love and affection I deliver this message. Being the president/co-founder of WMAS has been truly a labor of love. It was an idea that came from playing a song that had a second part, and wishing for a partner to play with. From that idea this club has grown into a strong, thriving 70-member organization.
We put on a Christmas concert that drew an excited crowd of 130 people. The band sounded fantastic, having practiced hard and rehearsed every Sunday for what seemed like months. The ensemble was also equally wonderful. Showing the heights one could climb through dedication and the willingness to learn, study, and spend money on top-class instruments. I can’t say enough about the soloists, duets, and of course our dear emcee and conductor. Without the steady, consistent helping hand of the Executive Committee and a vast number of volunteers this would not have ever happened.
This is not the organization that was started in 2003. It has grown into a sophisticated group of musicians that have bonded together and found a common ground. Together everyone has improved their musical skills and deepened their love for the instrument.
This is the right time for new leadership. I have decided to withdraw my name from the nominating committee to run for president. Luis and I have been running the kitchen together and that spot will also have to be filled. I am confident, however, that people will step up with ideas, and volunteer to fill the gap. [New development: Peter DiGiovanni has agreed to run for president, and JoAnn Pankow has agreed to handle the kitchen.] Luis and I will continue to be supportive members of the club. We, however, look forward to sitting in the audience and enjoying the events.
Next Meeting – 4 pm, January 10, 2010, Sleepy Hollow United Methodist Church
Agenda
1. Elect Officers
The slate of candidates is as follows:
Peter DiGiovanni – president
Joan Grauman – vice president
Mara Cherkasky – secretary/treasurer
Once elected, the president will appoint committee chairs.
2. Open Mic – Movie and Show Tunes
Please sign up to play!
Or just show up with something prepared.
3. Group Play-Along/Jam Session
Band ISO Accordionist
A DC-based band called The Nice Trys is looking for an accordionist to join the band. The first gig would be January 10.
Please see www.myspace.com/thenicetrys and respond to Joe Harris at [email protected]
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