The AAA Open Meeting takes place on Sunday, March 17, 2013 at 2 pm at the Hanover Marriott, 1401 Route10 East, Whippany, New Jersey. This important and informative event takes place immediately following the AAMS Awards Ceremony. All are welcome. Free admission. Refreshments will be served.

At this time, AAA Historian, Joan Grauman will present a lively demonstration of “Nine Decades of the Accordion in the Media.” Joan will present little known facts about the early founders of the AAA, their important contributions and unique input into the development of the piano accordion as we know it today. Above: Photo of part of exhibit
Left: AAA Founding Fathers.
Right: AAA President Linda Soley Reed

Reflections: 75 Years of Accordion History
On March 9, 1938, twelve distinguished accordionists and colleagues convened to determine whether or not an association for accordionists should be formed. The meeting was presided over by Sam Roland and included Charles Magnante, Abe Goldman, Joe Biviano, Pietro Deiro, Pietro Frosini, Gene Von Hallberg, Anthony Galla-Rini, Charles Nunzio, Sydney B. Dawson, Sam Roland and Byron Streep (absent from meeting was John Gart). Upon motion made and seconded, the above-named, including John Gart, formed the charter membership and decided that the name of this association was to be The American Accordionists’ Association. See photo.

So much accordion history has been made since that meeting in 1938! Competitions were organized. Carnegie Hall Concerts featured top accordionists of the day. Composers were commissioned to expand the accordionists’ library. Colleges and Universities opened their doors to accordionists as music majors.

How many of you remember those competitions at Peter Stuyvesant High School and Charles Evans Hughes High School both in New York City? Or how about those concerts at Carnegie Hall with capacity crowds? Or looking at some of the early commissioned works and being excited over trying them for the first time? Or having the thrill of being accepted into a college music program and auditioning on your accordion?

We invite you to share your memories of AAA events through the years to be included in the AAA’s 75th Anniversary publication: “Reflections: 75 Years of Accordion History.”

Please e-mail copy as a word document or within an e-mail as well as jpeg photos to ameraccord1938@gmail.com or via US mail to: M. Kendrick, 120 Valley View Road, Stratford, CT 06615. If you wish to have photographs returned, please include a self-addressed, stamped envelope. Photographs will be scanned and returned promptly.
Updated information regarding the 75th AAA Festival to be held at the New Yorker Hotel, August 14-18th in New York City will be available at the Open Meeting.

We look forward to seeing you on Sunday, March 17.

For further information e-mail: ameraccord1938@gmail.com