Joan Cochran Sommers was presented with the 2010 Lifetime Achievement Award at the Las Vegas Accordion Convention by Paul Pasquali, organizer of the Las Vegas International Accordion Convention in November 2010.

She received this prestigious award for her distinguished contributions to music education, accordion music, and culture. This is the third year that Joan returned to conduct the Las Vegas International Accordion Orchestra. Her dedicated work and spirit were apparent in the outstanding musical performance.

Professor Sommers has made numerous contributions to the advancement of the accordion. She established the only college-level accordion training program in the U.S. in Kansas City, at the University of Missouri Conservatory of Music in 1961.

During Joan’s career she designed and taught courses in accordion orchestra, arranging, chamber music, literature, and accordion history, while giving private lessons. She quickly became a full Professor and in 1988 was appointed Assistant Dean.

Additionally, she has taught and adjudicated in many countries and has held elective and appointed offices in both national and international accordion organizations. She has now retired from UMKC but continues to teach, something she loves.

Joan is a talented arranger for the accordion orchestra and says it is constantly in her mind, making it difficult for her to just listen to music as background. When she listens, she hears and analyzes the specific sounds, the techniques used, and the form of the composition. Joan was featured at the Thursday Gala Concert conducting the Las Vegas International Accordion Orchestra.