AAA 75th Festival August 14-18th in NYC

June 1st 2013

Rita Davidson Barnea

Media display - Maddalena Belfiore, AAA Posters - Joan Grauman

Make sure you plan to join the AAA in celebrating the 75th Anniversary of the AAA at the Hotel New Yorker in New York City August 14-18th, 2013. You will want to be there at this historic event featuring former accordion champions, new and future ones. Many special guest artists will perform during this special celebration.

On left: AAA-ATG-Carnegie – Program – concert co-sponsored by AAA & ATG
Above right: Media display – Maddalena Belfiore, AAA Posters contributed by AAA Archivist Joan Grauman

The list of performing artists and activities is continually growing and there is a wonderful, diversified array of talent planned for your enjoyment. Performers include everyone from classical artists to jazz giants to entertainment to the avant garde – all the very best in their genre.

Guest Artist, Alexander Poeluev, winner of the 2002 Coupe Mondiale, has been a frequent guest at the AAA events, most recently at the Lifetime Achievement Banquet honoring President Emerita, Faithe Deffner. Alexander is also a delegate to the CIA representing his homeland of Russia. Alex’s program will include not only a classical repertoire, but some surprising twists utilizing video effects. You will delight in some of Alex’s jazz stylings.

Past AAA Champions, Lou Coppola (1955), Mario Tacca (1961), Beverly Roberts Curnow (1965), Joe Natoli (1972), The “K” Duo –Julie Kasprzyk Cardona (1967-1969) and Mary Kasprzyk Tokarski (1971) – and Sam Thomas (2006 and 2007) are just a few of the guest artists scheduled. Workshops featuring the history of our founding fathers, a panel of past AAA Champions spearheaded by Monica Slomski (1975) will share their experiences in music and discuss careers in music and alternative music-related careers.

On Thursday, August 15th, New York City will virtually explode with accordionists…key subway stops and train stations will have accordionists entertaining the commuters. An International Concert at 2:00 pm in the Crystal Ballroom at the Hotel New Yorker will feature The Old Aker Band Players from Norway, the Musikforum Olching from Germany, as well as Australia’s Cathie Travers and New Zealander, Lionel Reekie. At 5:00 p.m., Bryant Park will be the focal point with individual and group entertainment scheduled until 9:00 pm followed by an all-accordion group JAM until 10.

Workshops highlighting the lives of the founding fathers of the AAA will be presented by former students and colleagues. Daily presentations will be made in the exhibit room featuring the display of the AAA Archives. Back by popular demand will be the Finale workshop – Part I for beginners; Part II for the more advanced. Don’t miss the presentation by the New England Accordion Museum complete with unique “stories” and histories of the instruments on display.

The 75th Anniversary Festival Orchestra will be conducted by none other than the diva of the accordion world, Joan Sommers. The highlight of this performance will be Paul Creston’s “Fantasy for Accordion and Orchestra, Op. 85” with Mary Kasprzyk Tokarski as soloist. The accordion orchestra portion was arranged by Joan Sommers.

Accordion exhibitors will include:
Accordion Gallery – Sliwa & Figli accordions – Super Quattro Artist, Super Quinta, and Super Cobra; Busy Fingers – Indialantic, FL – accordions and accessories; Emilio Accordions – Stamford, CT – Bugari, Dino Baffetti accordions and accessories; Gioia Productions – music, CDs and videos; JANPress & Roxy’s Music (Roland) – original accordion music and method books; Liberty Bellows – Philadelphia, PA – Borsini, Hohner, Scndalli, Victoria and more; MusicMagic USA – Roland, Ottavianelli & Pietro Accordions, plus Midis; Squeezin’Art – accordion-related gifts; Titano Accordion Company, PANcordion, Inc., Pigini Accordion Company, Roland V-Accordions, Ernest Deffner Publications. PLUS visit the display from the New England Accordion Museum presented by Paul Ramunni, as well as the AAA Archives,

“75 years of Accordion History” will be presented by AAA Archivist, Joan Grauman who will hold two informal 30 minute workshops in the exhibit room on Thursday and Friday mornings (Aug. 15 and 16). The topics are:
1. The 1939 accordion extravaganza in Carnegie Hall in 1939 along with subsequent performances there.
2. The women of AAA then and now, starting with our first female member of the AAA: Addie Ruggiero Cere.

The Junior Festival Orchestra is adding members, and if you’re 18 or under, I hope you will consider joining us for this FUN event. We have 2 great pieces planned, and rehearsals will not interfere with the competition schedule, making everything at the Festival reachable for every participant – young or old! Come join the fun! Contact Mary at mary.tokarski@comcast.net for information and parts.

A reminder concerning the Festival Orchestra: The music for the Festival Orchestra is ready for distribution. Selections include: “Pietro’s Return March” (Deiro), “Fantasy for Accordion and Orchestra” (Creston; accordion orchestra arranged by Joan Sommers, Mary Tokarski, soloist) and selections from “Les Miserables” (arranged by Joan Sommers). We encourage you to listen to recordings of these selections which can be found online as follows: Pietro’s Return (YouTube recording by Littleton High School band); Creston (YouTube recordings of solo performances) and the music from “Les Miserables “(full soundtrack is available on YouTube). There will be a vocalist as well for the “Les Miserables” performance.

Orchestra participants are requested to email ameraccord1938@gmail.com with ORCH in the subject line and include your full name, contact information, performance level and type of instrument (i.e., acoustic, midi, other electronic). If you have performed in previous Festival Orchestras, indicate the part(s) you played (i.e., 1st, 2nd, EZ, bass, midi), If you are performing in the World Orchestra at the Coupe Mondiale in Victoria, BC, please advise so that we can supply you with the same orchestra part for Les Miserables.
For further information about the 2013 festival, performers, with frequent updates please visit: www.ameraccord.com. Future issues of the USA News will contain additional information, bios, etc. related to the festival. You can also email: ameraccord1938@gmail.com