Video: Nathan Chapeton representing the USA as a competitor in the 2016 Coupe Mondiale Junior International Competition for Virtuoso Entertainment Music on 14 September 2016 in Rostov-on-Don, Russia. Picture left.
Program:
V. Mollov Waltz
K. Fremar Sapphire
F. Marocco Take Ten
A. Astier Divertimento
You can view videos of all the competitors in this category at:
http://www.coupemondiale.org/2016/video14jnv.htm
A student of Mary Tokarski for seven years, Nathan Chapeton is a young accordionist that performs and competes locally. He was chosen to represent the United States{AAA} this September 2016 in Rostov-Don, Russia, competing with the best players around the world in the Coupe Mondiale. Nathan has won the Virtuoso Championship at the Mid-Atlantic Music Teachers Guild for the third time.
Nathan Chapeton was inspired to play music at the age of eight after hearing his teacher, AAA President Mary Tokarski, play the accordion. Currently he performs with the jazz ensemble at Middleown High School in Conncecticut. In addition to the accordion he plays the electric bass, piano, and now is studying the upright bass.
He has attended many music festivals such as MAMTG where he won first place in the virtuoso solo division. Not only does he perform as a soloist but he also collaborates with other young musicians and plays contemporary music, tangos and concert compositions.
Recently, Nathan performed for the show “Around the World” with his longtime duet partner, Tor Stumo. He has performed at the AAA with other accordionists and musicians during which his interest in jazz was sparked.
Along with his teacher, Mary Tokarski, Nathan has been a guest performer at many concerts including performances in Long Island, New York, and Connecticut. He has represented the USA in the Coupe Mondialein Salzburg Austria and regularly competes.
Nathan plans to major in music in college. His plans for the future include introducing the accordion to young people around the United States through performances and workshops on the qualities of the accordion and its music.
Nathan shares his thoughts: “The 69th Coupe Mondiale was a great experience for me. I got to meet amazing musicians around the world, hear them play, and had a wonderful time getting to know a different culture.
The Russian committee organized this event very well and was almost flawless. The concerts that took place every night were absolutely wonderful, with different kinds of music and other weird stuff … even metal bending.
One of the perks of the trip was the food, especially the local restaurants. In one of them, they served pizza and sushi at the same time! I’ve never been to a place that does that.
Every day, I would go to the Youth Theatre and listen to other contestants. Hearing other styles of music and different techniques of playing was amazingly educational. However, by far the best part of the trip were the local volunteers. They helped us with translating and organizing the delegates and jury to where they needed to be. This was the first time the Coupe had volunteers to help out. Whoever that came up with that idea is the best and I give them my thanks.
The only way this trip could have been any better is if it was free. I hope to return to the Coupe Mondiale next year in Italy and see more of our fellow AAA members! If you’ve never been to the Coupe, please do yourself a favor and go. No questions asked, just do it! ” Sincerely, Nathan A. Chapeton
Mary Tokarski, Nathan’ s teacher said, “Nathan is a pleasure to work with. A truly gifted young man who is totally consumed in everything musical.
His abilities are quite “special”, and his goal in life is to bring the accordion to young people, and become a driving force behind the accordion movement in the United States.”
AWW extends our sincerest congratulations to Nathan on his excellent performance, representing not only the USA with pride, but also serving as a wonderful ambassador for young accordionists from around the world. We hope that this will be the beginning of a long and illustrious career both in music and with the accordion, and that he is able to continue his competition work on an international level.
2016 Coupe Mondiale Daily Reports (pictures and information) and a Video Center with videos of all the Coupe Mondiale competitors is online at: http://www.coupemondiale.org/2016/ru_coupemain.htm
On August 27, a funeral was held in Fanna, Italy where Roberto was born and raised. A special memorial in Boston will be planned and announced in the coming months. The Roberto Cassan Memorial Campaign has been launched on Generosity.com, with 100% of the proceeds directly supporting Roberto’s wife and daughter.
https://www.generosity.com/memorial-fundraising/phase-ii-lasting-impact-roberto-cassan-memorial–2
