Video: Hollywood Central Performing Arts Center, Hollywood, Florida, 6th February 2018. Mary Mancini is performing with the orchestra from 11:00 minutes.
Mario Tacca is performing with the orchestra from 48:00 minutes
Accordionist Mario Tacca and vocalist Mary Mancini recently returned from their successful concert tour in Florida where they performed with the Hallandale Symphonic Pops Orchestra under the direction of Peter P. Fuchs (picture below with Mary and Mario).
Mario Tacca was born in the beautiful village of Assergi, Italy. During his childhood, his family moved to the Alsace Lorraine region of France where he began his musical studies. This is where his love and intense desire to play the accordion began. He loved the sound! He would pick up the accordion and imitate some of the songs his mother used to sing. The desire and love never diminished, despite having to walk three miles to and from his weekly lessons with his instrument strapped to his back!
He received his musical education in Italy, France and the U.S. While in France, he was the winner of many regional and national accordion competitions. He returned to Italy and graduated from the Anzaghi Conservatory of Music in Milan. He went on to become a world champion, winning the World Cup of Italy, the Grand Prix of Paris, the US National Competition and the International Accordion competition held at Carnegie Hall in New York City. Mario has been dazzling audiences across the U.S. and around the world for more than five decades. His unmatched virtuosity on the accordion and his exciting interpretations of international music, from the classics to pop, bring audiences to their feet!
Together with Mary Mancini, his wife of 40 years and an Internationally Acclaimed Vocal Artist, Mario has headlined numerous concert halls and festivals in North America, Europe and China. Some of the venues he has performed at include the Garden State Arts Center, Resorts International Casino Hotel, the Taj Mahal in Atlantic City, and the Gold Coast in Las Vegas. Among his many accomplishments, Mario has twice been the guest of the Chinese Minister of Culture. Along with Mary, he toured several cities in China, and performed with several symphony orchestras in many prestigious venues including the Golden Opera House in Chengdu, the capital of the Sichuan province. Others highlights from the tours include a performance at the True Color Supper Club in the booming city of Shenzhen, and performing the famous “Radetzky March” with 100 children on stage.
Mario has been featured in several television commercials and programs. They include a pilot Italian Food program for MTV; “Throw Down with Bobby Flay” on the Food Network; “No Reservations” with Anthony Bourdain on the Travel Channel; and “Lidia’s Italy” on PBS. Mario has served two terms as Second Vice President for the American Accordionists’ Association. During the past 25 years, Mario and Mary produced many “Accordion Spectacular” shows in concert halls and theaters in the tri-state area. These shows have featured world renowned accordionists, including the legendary Dick Contino.
In April 2009, Mario’s beautiful home region of Abruzzi, Italy experienced a catastrophic earthquake. In response, Mario and Mary gathered their friends from the entertainment world and produced a benefit show at the Paramount Center for the Arts in Peekskill, NY, which to date has raised over $30,000. The American Accordionists’ Association was instrumental in supporting this endeavor, making sure that all funds raised were distributed to needy families. In the fall of 2009, Mario and Mary completed a weeklong concert tour in Italy. While in Rome, they met with a representative from the U.S. Embassy to discuss their efforts. Afterwards, they travelled to Abruzzi to meet with the recipients of the fundraiser. In Mario’s hometown of Assergi, Mary and Mario surprised the people of the village with a concert at the National Institute of Nuclear Physics, National Laboratory of Gran Sasso Mountain.
Mario has performed for accordion clubs in the U.S. and Canada, notably in Milwaukee, WI; Chicago, IL; Grapevine, TX; Orlando, FL; The Long Island Accordion Alliance; and Tempe, AZ; and in Montmagny, Quebec. The Journal News calls Mario “one of the pre-eminent Accordion Virtuosi in the world” and The New York Times writes that he makes the instrument “sound like a gift from heaven.” Mario and Mary have also been featured in a cover story in the Westchester Business Journal as an outstanding and unique husband-and-wife duo who have shared their musical gifts and molded their careers over a span of 40 years.
In addition to performing, Mario owns and operates Tacca Music School and Recording Studio in Cortlandt Manor, NY. He maintains a full time position as organist at Assumption Church in Peekskill, NY. He is a composer, lecturer and arranger, and has several CD’s, books and compositions to his credit. He is an educator of the highest level, possessing the passion and desire to pass on the knowledge of music, the accordion, and all the experiences that life has brought to him because of his God-given talent. His determination to share all of this brings him love and respect from his students of all ages.
On a personal note, he was recently inducted into the 3rd degree of the Knights of Columbus, Peekskill Chapter 462. His hobbies include reading, crossword puzzles, taking long walks, and biking. Mario is the proud father of three children – Jeffrey, Daniel, and Nina. He relishes the precious moments, as time allows, that he spends with his seven grandchildren – Kate, Julia, Jackson, Adam, Nino, Marco, and Dominic!
Internationally acclaimed vocal artist Mary Mancini has been featured in the New York Times, the Forth Worth Star-Telegram, and the Journal News and has performed in a variety of venues around the world. Able to sing in eight different languages, Mary draws from a deep repertory reservoir. She is adept at pop, show tunes, operatic arias, and sacred music and has received worldwide acclaim. Le Republicain Lorrain, in Alsace-Lorraine, France, writes that the “purity of her voice, the ease with which she interpreted the most difficult pieces showed that she is a great artist.” The Spring City Evening News in Kunming, China, writes that “audiences were greatly impressed by Mary Mancini’s singing ability…Through her music, we see her heart is smiling.”
Mary has headlined numerous concert halls and festivals in North America, Europe, and China. She has performed at the Garden State Arts Center, Resorts International Casino Hotel, Taj Mahal in Atlantic City, and Mohegan Sun Resort Casino in CT. As a dynamic and popular performing duo, they have completed two concert tours of China. As guests of the China Ministry of Culture, they toured five cities in three weeks and performed with three symphony orchestras. Joining them on their tour was highly acclaimed Chinese tenor, Douglas Song. In addition to performing with the Symphony Orchestras, some of the most memorable moments included a performance held at the 1600 seat True Color Jazz Supper Club in the booming city of Shenzhen and in the 3500 seat Golden Opera House. In addition to their busy performance schedule, Mary and Mario have recorded 10 CD’s between them. For further information: www.gioiaproductions.com
One photo is Mary & Mario with Peter Fuchs, the conductor with the Hallandale Pops Orchestra. The other photo is of Mary and Mario with David Winograd, bassist, and Susie Hayes, Entertainment Director from their performance at the Highland Beach Library.
Wednesday, March 7, 2018
Long Island Accordion Alliance
La Villini Restaurant
286 Larkfield Rd, East Northport, NY 11731
(631) 261-6344
Both Mary and Mario will perform.
Mon., Tues., Wed., March 19, 20, 21, 2018
Feast of St. Joseph Italian Luncheon Show
The Brownstone
Patterson, NJ
For reservations, call 1-800-831-9801
Both Mary and Mario will perform.
Saturday, March 24, 2018
Mary and Mario will perform at the Ossining Elks Lodge.
For reservations, call 917-488-7189
