The AAA seminars were a great success. We received great press in “Time Out New York” including a three minute promo video spot on their blog. There was an overflow crowd on Friday, a capacity house on Saturday and, due to storm conditions on Sunday, a small house.

We held the curtain quite a long while and due to a late finish – well over our time limit, I didn’t get to say what I needed to say which is first, and most of all, I want to thank my wife, Micki for her support. The seminars would not happen without her. She contributes artistically with a new video and performance each year as well as direction in many of the Saturday night dramatic works and contributes kind encouraging words and valuable information to the participants.

Micki also oversees the dramatic flow of the entire weekend. Thanks to our son, Michael whose enjoyment and presence gives me more strength than one could ever imagine. I can’t imagine the seminars without him.

I want to again apologize for a few errors on the program. Some performers were not listed. They were announced twice with full apologies by me on the spot. We had a few rough moments in some of the workshops. To avoid chaos and an uncolleagial spirit, I made decisions that may seem unusual in my tone and in my vibe but that’s my job – to make those decisions and we navigated the rough waters to shore.

I want to thank the loyal AAA seminars participants: Paul Stein – whose heartfelt performances and social conscience gives us much to enjoy and ponder; Dr. Robert Young McMahan – whose lectures and performances always inspire; Dr. Mark Birnbaum – the true king of ragtime and brilliance beyond; Kathleen Tipton – adding her beauty to the dimension of theatre; Rachid Eladlouni – putting us in cyberspace; Godfrey Nelson – always fresh, always edgy, always current; Lorraine Nelson Wolf – otherworldly vocals, harp, piano and accordion; Lee Mc Clure – composer and digital flutist and director of eclectix; Mary Tokarski – virtuoso accordion personified; David Stoler – whose composing and accordion playing gets better and better each year; David First – guitarist and composer – always getting to the essence and basics of things; Will Holshouser – jazz accordionist and composer; Brian Dewan – performance artist supreme (the funniest person alive); and to non-attending participants: Degorah Magocsi – video editor; Cristina Speligene – installation artist.

I would also like to thank our new AAA seminars participants:
Mr. Fukui, from Tenri – sho player; Doug and Diane Makofka – accordion and violin duo team; John Foti – rock accordionist and composer – also with Dan Zanes; Carl Riehl – accordionist and arranger; Ken Laufer – pianist and humorist; Art Bailey – concert and jazz accordionist and composer; Michael Century – composer/accordionist – also willing to take the hot seat; Hugo Goldenzweig – concert pianist from Argentina; Ingrid Kvale- bajan player from Norway; Dr. Rocco Jerry – bajan player from Troy, New York; George Balog – clarinetist; and the brave souls who took the hot seat: Martina Li – a firefly from China; Marty Hill – yes, it really was planned – it really was; Father Tim Lyons – hopefully finding the mystical grace in “La Vien Rose”.

Thanks to the American Accordionists’ Association, the Tenri Cultural Institute and to I-Park. We will see you next year – and thanks again! William Schimmel