Video: See FOX TV local news report about the World Accordion Day program at A World of Accordions Museum. TV report by Ken Slama

A World of Accordions Museum presented a unique,educational and entertaining event to honor World Accordion Day May 6-8. 2021. This article includes links to all the events that happened. Learn, enjoy and be inspired!

Dr. Helmi Harrington thanks everyone that participated in the World Accordion Day, Willard A. Palmer Festival and Polka Service at A World of Accordions Museum in Superior, Wisconsin. The tables below have links to video recordings for each performance for all three days. Helmi shares, “If you would like us to continue to broadcast live streams and post videos like this, we need your financial support.  Please consider making a donation at the following link: Support Live Streams and Videos “

Accordionists from all over the country congregated in Superior, Wisconsin for World Accordion Day May 6-8, 2021. The three day event held at the Harrington Arts Center on the 14-hundred block of Belknap St., featured original music by some of the most world renowned accordionists and as tributes to others.

“It was a fabulous event and I’m so glad to say that it expands and grows with prestige and with name recognition every year. We’re very proud of it, and it draws people from all around the nation, and very often from around the world,” said Helmi Harrington, founder, owner and curator of the World of Accordions Museum. While some of the international musicians performed virtually, most of the music was live by local accordionists and many who made the trip from across the country.

You can enjoy viewing the entire 3 day event by choosing the links below:
World Accordion Day:
Performance Link
Introduction and Opening Remarks https://youtu.be/KW_gChSQ0Ho?t=158
Stas Venglevski: Premiere of “Full Moon” Suite in Four Movements In honor of Joan Cochran Sommers https://youtu.be/KW_gChSQ0Ho?t=3634
Judy Campbell Contino:   Dick Contino Legacy https://youtu.be/g1VqKS20S0c?t=54
Mike Middleton Concert:   Honoring Dick Contino https://youtu.be/g1VqKS20S0c?t=3435
Joan Cochran Sommers and Stas Venglevski: Original Duets https://youtu.be/g1VqKS20S0c?t=7348
Accordion Trio from Kansas City – Joan Cochran Sommers, Betty Jo Simon, Jane Christison https://youtu.be/g1VqKS20S0c?t=10543
Japanese Guest Artists: Mihoko Goto and Chiharu Ebihara https://youtu.be/fQAZKj_WMhQ?t=114
William Susman: “Three for Keyboard”: Stas, Dr. Brett Jones (UWS Music Dept. Chair), UWS pianist Hector Landa https://youtu.be/e6HpgceGuUY

Dr. Willard A. Palmer Festival:
Performance Link
Festival Introduction: Willard A. Palmer III  “Growing Up Bill Palmer” https://youtu.be/3j3_TZuRKlA?t=20
Paul Vargason: Concert in Honor of Lorren Lindevig https://youtu.be/3j3_TZuRKlA?t=3625
Demos of Special Instruments of the Museum https://youtu.be/NHPZ2vtmN1Q?t=228
Willard Palmer, III: Family Music developments mid-19th Century https://youtu.be/NHPZ2vtmN1Q?t=3726
Dee Langley Workshop: Balkan Experience: Music from Bosnia, Bulgaria, Kosovo, Serbia, and Slovenia https://youtu.be/NHPZ2vtmN1Q?t=7760
Dance Attic: Suzi and Jimi Concert https://youtu.be/NHPZ2vtmN1Q?t=10879
Roundtable Discussion: Composing and Arranging Music for Accordion https://youtu.be/lktV-HOGCc8?t=158
World Accordion Music Band: Tracey Gibbens Conductor https://youtu.be/jthp4kIiZ00?t=19

Polka Service
Performance Link
The Norsk Høstfest Polka Service Band Sponsored by Yvonne Marts https://youtu.be/v9JKdhLZcoQ

We are all very fortunate to have the opportunity to visit A World of Accordions Museum. Thank you and great appreciation go to Dr. Helmi Harrington, founder, owner, and curator.

Photos by Jane Christison:
Right: Joan Sommers and Stas Venglevski rehearsing for their duet performance. Stas Venglevski is the new Artistic Director for A World of Accordions.
Top: Official Photo by Hanni Wrencher of the 2021 AWAM Band.Tracey Gibbens is the director.
Left: Jim Payne, Mayor of Superior, Wisconsin, with an official decree for World Accordion Day. He also mentioned that the City Council would be offering financial support to the museum.
Down: The Kansas City Accordion Trio made it’s debut at World Accordion Day 2021.