Washington Metropolitan Accordion Society Update - February 2026
Dear WMAS members and friends!
WMAS enjoyed an entertaining and stimulating presentation and workshop by Duffy Llama at last Sunday’s meeting, February 15. The topic was “musical pointillism,” but it could also have been called improvisation or working with a band. Duffy explained that he plays with two different rock or rock/Cajun/zydeco bands in Maine, where he spends most of the year, and the bands have specifically asked him not to provide power chords or the melody.
So … for the workshop, Duffy had us play some warmup exercises based on the C major, F major, and G major scales — first just a few notes, then the whole scale and variations. Next he set up a beat and melody line on a keyboard, advising us that we would be playing only two chords on the bass side: E and F. The goal was to follow what came out of the keyboard and play the appropriate chords. For the next step, we were supposed to improvise riffs and embellishments using the notes that are part of each of those chords: E - G# - B and F - A - C. We were playing in a modal key called E Phrygian Dominant, and these are the notes in it: E - F - G# - A - B - C - D - E. (More here, if you’re interested: https://www.songbirdsmusicartdancecenter.com/how-to-use-the-phrygian-mode/)
Duffy’s main points in his presentation were that accordionists should write their own music rather than cover other people’s compositions, and we should learn improvisation. As we got into the workshop, we probably all agreed that the latter is a useful and fun exercise — and it’s one that we might work on together during future meetings.
In addition to the above, Duffy talked about the debate over the 432 versus 440 pitch standard and the switch from one to the other, but things became very confusing with the introduction of some debunked conspiracy theories regarding the switch. It is a fascinating topic, though, so please check out these useful sites:
https://www.reuters.com/article/fact-check/debunking-social-media-claims-about-a432hz-and-a440hz-musical-pitches-idUSL1N2P915O/
https://www.sylviavillamusic.com/blog/440hz-432hz-an-investigation
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A440_(pitch_standard)
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11890291/
https://www.serendipitysounds.com/post/the-science-of-music-frequencies-432-hz-vs-440-hz-explained-and-why-frequencies-matter
Next Meeting
Please save the date! Our March 15 meeting will be an extra special one, as it will feature a guest-artist concert and a celebration of our 23rd anniversary. To start us off, the M&J Volksmusik duo (Michael and Jessie Leggett) will entertain us with Austrian and Bavarian songs. The concert will be followed by a workshop and birthday cake. Please invite your family and friends!
We will be asking for a $10 donation from nonmembers, but children under 12 and members enter free.
As usual, we’ll be meeting at Sleepy Hollow United Methodist Church, 3435 Sleepy Hollow Road, in Falls Church, Virginia.
Time to Renew!
Our membership year runs from January 1 to December 31, so it’s time to renew. Dues are $30 for individuals and $45 for families, and you can pay up at a meeting or by mailing a check to WMAS c/o Mara Cherkasky, 603 Rock Creek Church Road NW, Washington DC 20010. You can also pay via Venmo or Zelle. For details, please email Mara at [email protected].
Gray Sweater Found
Did you leave a gray (or black/white tweedy) sweater at the church on Sunday? If so, please email Lavera Hamidi at [email protected] to make arrangements to get it back.
Washington Metropolitan Accordion Society Update - April 7, 2026
Dear WMAS members and friends!
Our 23rd birthday celebration on Sunday, March 15, had all the right ingredients: lots of music, dancing, a delicious cake and other treats, and, of course, delightful company. Greeters Yimeng Huang and Mara Cherkasky set the mood with duets from various folk traditions. For the afternoon’s centerpiece: a concert by M&J Volksmusik—Michael and Jessie Leggett—he on Steirische Harmonika (buttonbox) and she on soprano and bass clarinet. Performing a selection of Bavarian polkas, waltzes, and other dance tunes, they explained as they went along that these were examples of authentic volksmusik (folk music), rooted in regional tradition and played on acoustic instruments. Typical Oktoberfest songs like “Roll Out the Barrel” and “Edelweiss,” by contrast, are “volkstudemlich” or folk-like popular entertainment. Nothing wrong with that, but it’s not M&J’s focus.
We’ve followed Michael’s music career for a while. He was, as he says, born into the local Bavarian folk community, and learned to play the accordion as a young child. But he soon fell in love with the Steirische Harmonika and was lucky enough to find Silvia Eberly as a teacher. He and Jessie met in high school band, complementing one another musically and seemingly made for each other.
Check out the short video and photos from the concert on our Facebook page, and take a look at M&J’s page as well.
Following the concert, the duo played—and the rest of us sang—“Happy Birthday,” as WMAS founders Karen Uribe and Mara Cherkasky blew out the candles on the cake. (Anne Johnson, the third founder, now lives in Minnesota.) It’s hard to believe we’re 23 years old!
Gathering again after the break, we strapped on our accordions for Michael’s workshop, which included further discussion of the elements of Bavarian volksmusik and sightreading a few Bavarian tunes. They’re keepers!
April Meeting
The April 19 meeting will be an open mic, so polish up a few pieces to perform for us. We also need a greeter or greeters, to start playing around 3:40-3:45 pm for the enjoyment of people arriving early and setting up the room. Please let us know if that’s something you’d like to do.
Next Zoom Meeting
For our next zoom meeting, we’re looking at April 12 or 26—both are Sundays—at 4pm. Please let us know which of those dates work for you.
Summer Orchestra?
We are considering organizing an orchestra to perform at the June or July meeting—and featuring easier music than we played in the Holiday Concert. Depending on whether Peter DiGiovanni has the time to put together a playlist, would you be interested? Please let us know. We would have short rehearsals at the regularly scheduled meetings, and possibly one other.
Invitation from Don Vierimaa
You are invited to:
America’s 250th and Don Vierimaa’s 88th birthday party!
When: Saturday, April 11, 2026, from noon to 3:30 pm
Where: Green Spring Gardens, 4603 Green Spring Road, Alexandria, VA 22312 (off Witch Hazel Road), 703-642-5173
Traveling north on Braddock Road, cross Little River Turnpike, keep right, take fourth right turn onto Witch Hazel Road.
Parking along the road with a drop-off circle and six handicap spots.
Enter main building and take a left turn down a ramp to the multi-purpose room.
No presents, just your presence. Children are welcome.
Hanzhi Wang in Concert April 25
Accordionist/composer Hanzhi Wang will perform a concert on April 25 at the Octagon Museum. Hanzhi is the only accordionist in history selected for Young Concert Artists. Hosted by Chamber Music Maryland.
DETAILS:
Hanzhi Wang, Accordionist and Composer
Saturday, April 25, 2026, 4:00PM
The Octagon Museum /Architects Foundation
1799 New York Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20006
More information here.
Ticket questions
Washington Metropolitan Accordion Society Update - April 22, 2026
Dear WMAS members and friends!
Happy Earth Day!
We had a small but enthusiastic group for our open mic on Sunday, April 19. Greeters Peter DiGiovanni and Halina Banas-Jones kicked off the afternoon, then were joined by Joyce Palmer, Chuck Silio, Joe Kulick, and Ken Kunec, who entertained an engaged audience for an hour and a half. In addition to playing some of their own repertoire, the musicians took requests.
Zoom Meeting this Sunday
Please join us at our next zoom meeting at 4 pm on Sunday, April 26
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86901411159?pwd=0MmvAvSABZDaFoYEIHpQMk7bTHMS4x.1
If you have trouble joining, call or text Peter DiGiovanni at 703-919-5701.
May Meeting
Robert Ford will lead our May 17 meeting, the Mexican-themed Fiesta Diecisiete; more information to follow. (FWIW May 17 is also the Norwegian national holiday.) We’ll need a greeter, too.
Spring Concert April 30, 7:30 pm
Halina Banas-Jones will be participating in a free choral concert on April 30 and invites everyone to attend:
NOVA Choirs
NOVA Nighthawks Jazz Ensemble
The NOVA Alexandria Band
Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall
4915 East Campus Drive
Alexandria, VA 22311
Free admission, free parking
Hanzhi Wang in Concert April 25
Accordionist/composer Hanzhi Wang will perform a concert on April 25 at the Octagon Museum. Hanzhi is the only accordionist in history selected for Young Concert Artists. Hosted by Chamber Music Maryland.
DETAILS:
Hanzhi Wang, Accordionist and Composer
Saturday, April 25, 2026, 4:00PM
The Octagon Museum /Architects Foundation
1799 New York Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20006
More information here.
Ticket questions
Washington Metropolitan Accordion Society Update - June 1, 2026
Dear WMAS members and friends!
As a follow‑on to the area's annual “Cinco de Mayo” festivities, WMAS celebrated “Diecisiete de Mayo” this past May 17th. Greeter Dan Darrikhuma opened the program with a selection of music, including traditional hymns. Our club vice president Robert Ford then welcomed everyone and invited the performers to introduce themselves by sharing a bit about how they began playing the accordion—giving us a wonderful chance to get to know them better.
Mona Berch, Robert Ford, Joe Kulik, Ken Kunec, and Michael Rubin performed a variety of music, mostly from Spain, Mexico, and Bolivia. Luis Uribe and Robert Ford joined Ken in singing “Cielito Lindo,” with the whole room chiming in on the joyful “ay yay yay yay.” Luis also sang “El Rey” accompanied by Robert.
Adding to the fun, Michael Jones contributed lively spoon percussion, and Mimi Lippold and Tom Adams danced. We had about 20 attendees.
After the music, everyone enjoyed a delicious spread of taquitos, chips, guacamole, salsa, mango juice, and more.
June Meeting
Our June meeting, on the 14th, will be our annual member concert and open mic, so polish up a few pieces to perform for the group. If possible, Peter will choose some multi-part pieces we can play together afterwards. Please let us know if you’d like to receive PDFs ahead of time.
One more thing: We still need a greeter.
ISO Accordionist for September Event
We have received an email from the Secretary of the American Austrian Cultural Society (AACS), a DC-area nonprofit dedicated to promoting Austrian culture, traditions, and heritage.
"We are seeking an accordionist for our annual Heurigen, a traditional Austrian wine and food gathering, to be scheduled for one of the last two weekends of September 2026. The exact date will be determined based on the musician's availability; the musical portion of the event will run from about 3 pm to 5:30 pm.
"The event is held outdoors at the Terrace Room complex at 5600 Wisconsin Avenue in Chevy Chase, Maryland, and typically attracts 50 to 60 attendees. Guests include AACS members, members of the local Austrian and German-speaking community, and friends of the organization. Representatives of the Austrian Embassy, including the Ambassador, occasionally attend as well.
"This is a casual cultural and social event rather than a formal concert. Guests will be eating, drinking, and socializing, so we are primarily seeking pleasant background music that complements the atmosphere. Traditional Austrian, Viennese, German, and familiar folk melodies would be ideal, and a few informal sing-alongs would be welcome. We would love to conclude the event with “Wien, Wien, nur du allein.”
"No amplification is available or necessary given the size and layout of the venue. We are primarily interested in a solo accordionist but would also consider a duo. Our budget is approximately $300 total. Complimentary parking is available on site.
"Photos from our 2024 Heurigen event may be viewed here to provide a sense of the atmosphere and audience: https://american-austrian-cultural-society.wildapricot.org/page-18184
"We would also welcome any musicians with experience in Austrian or German-language repertoire.
"Interested parties are welcome to contact me directly at [email protected]. Please provide the dates you are available, a brief description of your general musical experience/repertoire, and any information that may help us assess fit for this event.
"Please respond by Friday, June 19."
Signed, Andrea Bauerfeind
Recipe Corner
Sergio Fresco’s contribution to the refreshments table in March had a few people asking for the recipe, so here it is:
From Maria Fresco, Panettone Muffins
Ingredients:
- 200 grams panettone, cubed
- 1 egg
- 80 mL milk
- 50 grams melted butter, slightly cooled
- 20-40 grams sugar (optional, depending on the sweetness of the panettone)
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- Prepare a 6-muffin tin with paper cupcake/muffin liners. (Optional: Maria sprays the paper cups lightly with cooking spray to ensure the liners peel easily from the baked muffins).
- Combine the cubed panettone and baking powder.
- In another bowl whisk the egg, milk, melted butter (and the sugar, if using).
- Add the wet ingredients to the dry and mix with a large spoon just until combined.
- Divide the mixture among the muffin cases.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the muffins are golden brown and risen. Check doneness with a toothpick.
- Let cool in pan before serving.
NOTE: The recipe can be doubled to make 12 muffins.