A World of Accordions will be celebrating World Accordion Day 2024 and the Dr. Willard A. Palmer Festival on Saturday and Sunday, May 4 and 5, 2024, at A World of Accordions Museum, in Superior, Wisconsin. We will be honoring George Curletto, an accordion innovator, Willard A. Palmer III, son of Dr. Willard A. Palmer, and Professor Emerita Joan Cochran Sommers.

The weekend will include a free concert on Thursday, May 2, 2024, 6:00 p.m. by Kansas City children’s musician, Janie Next Door® – also known as accordionist Jane Christison. www.musicwithasmile.com
The concert is A World of Accordion’s way to celebrate the local Home Grown Festival.

Friday night, May 3, 2024, 7:30 p.m., the Accordion & Concertina Music Band and Friends (anyone who wants to bring an accordion and play), will rehearse some world accordion music. Please email info@worldofaccordions.org if you’re coming and would like music to be emailed to you.

Saturday, May 4, 2024, starts at 10:00 a.m. with a welcome, presentations, and a chance to ask Helmi Harrington, Ph.D., any and all accordion-related questions as well as find out how she started the A World of Accordions Museum. The afternoon includes a world premiere of the ATG (Accordionists & Teachers Guild Int’l.) sponsored documentary, “A World of Accordions . . . a Harrington Legacy.”  There will be a workshop by by Joan C. Sommers, https://www.accordions.com/jcsommers/ a performance by the Chicagoland Accordion Academy, directed by Mary Ann Covone, and a performance by the ACM Band and Friends before breaking for dinner. The dinner will be capped off with a performance by Mike Middleton & the Middletones, which is sure to be a fun evening.

Sunday, May 5, 2024, is a non-denominational polka service with Mike Middleton & the Middletones. If you’ve never been to one of these, familiar hymns are played as polkas or waltzes. Dance in the aisle, sing along, or bring your accordion and join in on the performance. Willard A. Palmer III will talk about his Dad, Dr. Willard A. Palmer of Palmer-Hughes fame. After lunch, George Curletto will talk about innovative accordion concepts. Jane Christison – Music With A Smile® – will play music from around the world along with Kevin Friedrich. Dee Langley will lead a rehearsal of Beatles music, so bring your accordion and join us. After the rehearsal, there will be a short performance to perform the pieces just learned. The event will be topped off with a celebration toast.

Here is the link to purchase tickets:
https://worldofaccordions.app.neoncrm.com/nx/portal/neonevent

Hope you can join us!!