Concert Accordionist, Mary Tokarski will be the featured soloist with the Hamden Symphony Orchestra at 3:00 PM on November 6, 2011 at the Hamden High School Auditorium, 2040 Dixwell Avenue, Hamden, CT – Vesna Mehinovic, Conducting.
Mary will perform “Rhapsody for Accordion and Orchestra” by Gary Daverne, O.N.Z.M. from Auckland, New Zealand. Mary has recorded and performed this magnificent, lyrical music score several times with the composer conducting both the Auckland Symphony and the Moravian Symphony in the Czech Republic.
Gary is New Zealand’s most prolific and successful composer who has become a great supporter and arranger of music for the accordion, although he does not play the accordion. His arrangements and compositions for accordion orchestras and solo accordion are used extensively around the world.
Also included on the concert will be music by Wolf-Ferrari’s Secret of Suzanne Overture, selected arias from Mozart’s Don Giovanni featuring Daniel Schlorff, bass, and Beethoven’s Wellington’s Victory.
In October 2011 , Mary will visit China to serve as a United States Delegate to the Confederation Internationale des Accordeonistes (CIA) World Accordion Congress, and as a member of the International Jury Panel for the 2011 Coupe Mondiale. Mary was selected to perform at the 2009 Coupe Mondiale (World Championship) events in New Zealand as a soloist with the Auckland Symphony Orchestra and has judged at the Coupe Mondiale since 2008.
Along with accordionists from around the world, Mary served as Principal of her section in the World Accordion Orchestra since its inception in the United States in 2007.
Among her many awards, she was recently presented with the prestigious “Artist in Residence” position by the American Accordionists’ Association at a Lifetime Achievement Ceremony in New Jersey.
Performing both nationally and internationally as a soloist, with symphony orchestras and string quartets, Mary has traveled extensively this year within the United States, and also to China for a 5 city tour with the Mantovani Orchestra.
As a workshop presenter, Mary is sought out by numerous associations for presentations on all aspects of music, performance, and Master Classes.
For 20 years Mary served as Director of Music Education at Tokarski Music Center in North Haven, Connecticut, where she taught piano and accordion, as well as conducted the choral and ensemble programs, and supervised the pre-school programs.
Mary currently teaches piano and accordion at her home in Northford, Connecticut. She also served for many years as a Music Educator in the North Haven Department of Education’s Early Childhood Development Program at Green Acres Elementary School, is currently 2nd Vice President of the Accordionists and Teachers Guild, International (ATG) as well as on the Board of Directors with both The American Accordionists’ Association (AAA) and the ATG which are the two national member organizations of the Confederation Internationale des Accordeonistes, (IMC-UNESCO).
For more HSO information: info@hamdensymphony.org .
For further information: Mary can be reached at 203-484-5095 or by email at mary.tokarski@comcast.net .
CD’s and music by Gary Daverne available online
CD’s of K Trio and Mary Tokarski available online
