On August 21, 2015, twenty three accordionists and a percussionist gathered before a full house in St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, Spokane, WA, to play a concert in honor of Ilmar Kuljus and his life-time devotion to the accordion and to teaching the accordion.

The core of the orchestra consisted of the Spokane Accordion Ensemble who were joined for this event by several of Ilmar’s present and past accordion students. Ilmar was guest conductor for the evening.

The program consisted primarily of Ilmar’s own accordion ensemble arrangements of a wide variety of music. There were also solos by Barry Smith and Sam Thomas as well as a duet by those two fine accordionists.

After the concert, to the delighted surprise of the orchestra members and the audience, soloist Rev. Barry Smith announced that Ilmar would surely remember this August 21st forever, because it was about to become his anniversary.

He then asked Susan Graham to come forward and presided over a lovely wedding ceremony for Ilmar and Susan. Following the concert there was a champagne reception for all in attendance.