The Bachtopus Accordion Ensemble performs at 4:PM on Sunday, May 6, 2018, at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church at 346 W 20th St, New York, NY 10011 (between 8th and 9th Ave.) as part of the Music in Chelsea series. The proceeds go to the St. Peter’s food pantry. The program theme is “Bach to Basics,” in which the music of J.S. Bach will be featured. Also included will be a composition by Arvo Pärt, a new arrangement from Jeanne Velonis, and a premier of new work by Peter Flint. $10 suggested donation

Bachtopus is an accordion ensemble from New York City that performs music by contemporary composers and Johann Sebastian Bach. The ensemble was borne out of a fruitful musical duet between Robert Duncan and Mayumi Miyaoka, who partnered during the Winter of 2011. Denise Koncelik and Peter Flint, who were members of the Brooklyn Accordion Club, joined the duet to play Bach’s organ music, which is well suited to the accordion.

The group soon shifted focus to become one of the few accordion ensembles in the United States that focuses on new music. Having established a large repertoire in just a few years, Bachtopus seeks to play more original compositions, commissioned works, and contemporary music that is interesting, accessible, and grounded in traditional folk music.

The ensemble has performed for diverse audiences, and previous performance highlights include: Make Music New York, Bach in the Subways, The New Museum, Accordions Around the World, the United Nations, and the American Accordion Association Seminars.

Bachtopus performs music by and is inspired by the Accordion Tribe, Motion Trio, the Kronos Quartet, the Bang On a Can All-Stars, and Jacques Cousteau. The group features original compositions by Bratko Bibič, Peter Flint, Philip Glass, Lars Hollmer, Guy Klusevsek, Sy Kushner, Arvo Pärt, Elliot Roman, and Stas Venglevski.

Bachtopus is an accordion quartet from New York City that focuses on music by contemporary composers and Johann Sebastian Bach. Having established a large repertoire in just a few years, Bachtopus seeks to play more original compositions, commissioned works, and contemporary music that is interesting, accessible, and grounded in traditional folk music. The ensemble has performed for diverse audiences, and previous performance highlights include: Make Music New York, Bach in the Subways, The New Museum, Accordions Around the World, the United Nations, and the American Accordion Association Seminars.

Bachtopus performs music by and is inspired by the Accordion Tribe, Motion Trio, the Kronos Quartet, the Bang On a Can All-Stars, and Jacques Cousteau. The group features original compositions by Bratko Bibič, Peter Flint, Philip Glass, Lars Hollmer, Guy Klucevsek, Sy Kushner, Ryan O’Donnell, Arvo Pärt, Elliot Roman, William Schimmel, and Stas Venglevski.

Robert Duncan, is an Associate Professor of Behavioral and Cognitive Neuroscience at the City University of New York, and he received a BA in Music Humanities at the University of California at San Diego. He is a recovering jazz pianist and swing dancer who spent eight years directing a traditional jazz band and Lindy Hop dance ensemble in California. He is the founder and director of Bachtopus.

Members of the ensemble: Peter Flint, comes from a musical family and has degrees in electronic music, history, and composition from Oberlin College and Conservatory and New England Conservatory. He has studied accordion with Walter Kuehr, William Schimmel, and Rob Curto. He has also studied composition with Conrad Cummings, Michael Gandolfi, Scott Wheeler, and Lee Hyla. He is deeply interested in Afro-Cuban music and recently had an orchestral composition performed in Havana, Cuba by the Camerata Romeu. He performs with Reggae-Son, an Afro-Latin fusion group, and is the founder of the Avian Orchestra, a contemporary chamber ensemble. He is on the board of directors at the Third Street Music School Settlement and likes to travel with his family, play soccer, and sail small boats.

Mayumi Miyaoka, is an Academic Librarian/Archivist by day, and accordionist by night. She is the founder/organizer of Brooklyn Accordion Club, and is the compiler/editor of a self-published magazine, SqueeZine! – Chronicles of Accordionists. Mayumi studied with Stanley and Joanna Darrow at ACME Accordion School in NJ, and with Dr. William Schimmel in NYC.

Jeanne Velonis, is a classical recording engineer and producer who has worked on hundreds of albums, including those of contemporary music icons like the Kronos Quartet, Terry Riley, Steve Reich, John Adams, Philip Glass, and Guy Klucevsek. Initially self-taught, she has studied accordion with Leah Barkan and Mary Tokarski, and serves on the board of Directors of the American Accordionists’ Association. She lives with her husband, three children, and several accordions.

For more information: sinolev@yahoo.com