Welcome to the Peter Soave Music Academy, the International Music Academy for musicians and music lovers taking place from July 21 – August 4, 2019. The Peter Soave Music Academy generously offers a rich musical experience that plunges each participant into the depths of musical artistry.

The summer session includes workshops, intensive coaching, master classes, chamber music, and rehearsals culminating in concerts where participants and professionals will be playing side by side. Excerpts from the website: The exquisite picturesque setting for the Academy is Sauris, this tiny alpine village nestled in the Dolomite mountains of Italy, bordering Austria.

Peter shares, “My wife, Madeleine, and I have worked passionately to realize this project and create a multifaceted program and environment to equip instrumentalists from around the world with the knowledge and skills they need to perform music. We are delighted that friends and esteemed artists are on board every year: their presence and contributions bring a higher level of meaning and support to what we are striving for.

This year marks our 20th anniversary! We invite you to join us in celebrating the joy of music learning with highest level professionals. Once again Semionov (Russia), Tokarski (USA), Lavrov (Russia), Pividori (Italy), Šavron (Slovenia), and Bethke (Germany) will be with us. I especially welcome two more outstanding international personalities for their first visit: Joey Miskulin (USA) and Massimiliano Pitocco (Italy).”

Peter is happy to announce that Viatcheslav Semionov (Russia), renowned composer, concert artist, pedagogue, and pillar of the concert accordion world will be there. In 1995, Semionov was awarded the title of “Artist Of The People Of Russia” by President Boris Yeltsin. Professor at the Gnessin Institute of Music in Moscow, his students have won numerous gold medals in the most prestigious international competitions. Many of his compositions for accordion, namely “Don Rhapsody”, are becoming standard repertoire.

About the location: Sauris di Sotto, Italy, At an elevation of 3,976 ft, it is the highest municipality in the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region. This tiny alpine village is nestled deep within the Dolomite mountains of Italy, bordering Austria. Situated within the Carnia mountain area of Friuli, it is located about 37 miles northwest of the provincial capital Udine, 75 miles northwest of Trieste and 120 miles from Venice. The PSMA headquarters is at Albergo Morgenleit, a charming hotel resort. Guests will enjoy the fresh and clean mountain air, beautiful nature, regional culture and cuisine. Albergo Morgenleit provides rooms of 1, 2, 3 or 4 people, with private bathroom and fully furnished with toiletries, mini-fridge, telephone, television, and free Wi-Fi.

USA Faculty members for the 2019 session include:
Joey Miskulin, accordion, composer, producer, multi-instrumentalist, is a hall of fame accordionist and producer. In a music career spanning more than four decades, Joey Miskulin has collaborated with a range of artists including Paul McCartney, John Denver, Johnny Cash, Ricky Skaggs, Roy Rogers, Andy Williams, Ricky Van Shelton, Emmylou Harris, Frankie Yankovic,U2 and many others. He is a performer, studio musician, producer and pedagogue.

Joey, the child prodigy discovered by Chicago’s Roman Possedi, toured the United States with Yankovic – “America’s Polka King” – as his featured accordionist at age thirteen, writing and arranging songs between performances. Broadening his experience, Joey toured the Far East with the Hawaii International Revue, and, in the 1970’s became a studio musician and producer, performing on bass, piano, banjo, guitar, organ, accordion, and as a vocalist with the likes of Andy Williams, Doc Severinsen, and Charlie Daniels. Among his astounding list of credits are countless appearances on national television and radio, in the movies, and on video; hundreds of recording sessions; four Grammy-winning and several gold and platinum albums among scores of international hit recordings.

Joey has always represented Cleveland-Style Polkas with the utmost of class and dignity, befriending most everyone with his congenial and personable demeanor.

Mary Tokarski (Connecticut, USA) is an outstanding artist and dynamic educator who is dedicated to the accordion. Long time member of the “K” Trio, Mary is the former President of the American Accordionists’ Association (AAA). For over 20 years Mary served as Director of Music Education at Tokarski Music Center, where she taught piano and accordion, conducted the choral & ensemble programs, supervised the pre-school programs, and served as a Music Educator in the North Haven Department of Education’s Early Childhood Development Program at Green Acres Elementary School.

For further information: petersoavemusicacademy@gmail.com