If you are an accordion educator, player or simply an enthusiast, you’ll want to be in Orlando, Florida, this summer and attned the Roland V-Accordion Festival! The 2011 Roland U.S. V-Accordion® Festival finals will be held during the 71st Accordionists and Teachers Guild, International (ATG) Festival at the Renaissance Orlando Airport Hotel on July 29, 2011.

The Roland V-Accordion Festival, now in its fourth year, offers an opportunity for accordion players nationwide to showcase their talents, compete for amazing prizes and for the chance to represent the United States at the International V-Accordion Finals in Rome, Italy, held in October 2011.

Hopeful contestants began their quest by submitting audition videos that were reviewed by a panel of professional judges. Five lucky finalists in three competition categories — Senior (age 18 and older), Junior (age 17 and younger) and Diatonic (age 18 and older) – were then selected to continue on and compete at the National Finals.

Contestants and audience members alike are invited to attend workshops and master classes to be held during the Festival. Attendees will also be treated to performances featuring world-renowned accordion artist Maestro Sergio Scappini of Italy, seven-time diatonic accordion champion Danilo Di Paolonicola (Italy), 2010 Roland U.S. V-Accordion Festival winner Chris Gorton, father-and-son performers Alex and Peter Chudolij of Music Magic USA, GRAMMY® nominee Alex Meixner, and Roland U.S. V-Accordion Product Manager, Steve Albini.

The following finalists are listed in alphabetical order:
Youth Division: Brian Aucoin, Olivia Luey, Kassandra Patterson, Daniel Pavlotsky, Rachael Renzi.
Adult Division: Gregory Fainshtein, Anthony Federici, Svetlana Ivanchenko, Danielle Renzi, Tatiana Semichastnova.

For more information on the V-Accordion National Finals and the Accordionists and Teachers Guild, International (ATG) Festival, please visit http://www.rolandus.com/go/v-accordion_festival or contact Mr. Steve Albini at steven.albini@rolandus.com