The 20th American Accordionists’ Association (AAA) Seminars and Master Class founded and directed by AAA Board member Dr. William Schimmel proved to be another successful event for the accordion in New York City.

On August 1, the 20 year participation Merit Awards were presented to: Micki Goodman, Dr. Robert Young McMahan, Paul Stein and Lee McClure. USA News Editor, Rita Barnea, spoke about the Accordion and Journalism during the event.

Erica Marie Mancini wrote the following review of the event:
The Seminars – by Erica Marie Mancini

Each year that I attend The American Accordionists’ Association (AAA) Master Class and Concert Series, I fall in love. It’€™s not the crisp white piano keys, the smooth varnish, and shiny metal adornment, nor is it the beeswax, wooden blocks, or little round buttons that make my heart ache. It’€™s not the physical object that enchants me, but rather the spirit of the accordion that captivates me.

One year ago, I had just graduated from NYU Gallatin, The School of Individualized Study. I was passionately looking for a job, wearing a sundress, and playing my accordion. Now, one year later, my job is my passion: €”wearing sundresses and playing accordion. While at Gallatin, my main focus delved deep into the study of subcultures, music, and identity.

I explored many fields, spanning from ethnographic research to critical theory to the accordion. I studied privately under Dr. William Schimmel, who mentored me through my whole college experience not only as an accordionist, but also as a scholar. He was able to bring cohesion to the wide breadth of my studies through his keen ability to piece together seemingly unrelated concepts, oftentimes through the familiar lens of the accordion. His pedagogy proved to be a perfect fit for my education because
of the vast amount of interdisciplinary knowledge needed to create challenge and innovation.

An oily and distorted reflection looks back at me from the slick, licorice lacquer of the accordion nestled on my lap. The shiny metal clasps are like miniature fun house mirrors, making my gazing face as well the surrounding room of The Tenri Cultural Institute distort, like a glass fishbowl.

It is at The Seminars, now celebrating it’€™s twentieth year, with Dr. Schimmel as a curator and moderator that the otherwise parallel tracks of our individual journeys collide, and the collective identity of the community has a chance to incubate. Though our paths only cross for a short moment in time, we have the privilege to share with one another valuable knowledge and experiences gleaned from the past year. We divulge secrets and dreams, questions and uncertainties to one another.

Without fail, I always leave the weekend of The Seminars injected with a magic tonic of inspiration that reawakens the spirit of self-motivation, education, passion,
experimentation, and determination that to me represents the spirit of the accordion that I love so much.”

On August 2, 2014, Erica premiered Dr. William Schimmel’s “Concerto Bullo”. Dr.Schimmel composed it for her. A commercial release is pending.

Photo above: Dr Schimmel with Denise Koncelik – Peter Flint – Mayumi Miyaoka and Robert Duncan.

For further information email: billschimmel@billschimmel.com