The purpose of the American Accordionists’ Association (AAA) Master Class and Concert Series is to present every aspect of accordion culture to the New York artistic community and to anyone else interested.
THE SEMINARS were founded, directed, curated and moderated by Dr. William Schimmel, an accordionist as well as a composer and philosopher who is Artist in Residence of The American Accordionists’ Association.
The AAA Master Class and Concerts are a series of master classes and concerts that take place yearly over a three day period and are sponsored by The American Accordionists’ Association. The first series of Seminars took place in 1995 and is now in its 16th year.
The Master Classes consist of lectures, workshops, discussions and intimate performances. The concerts are more formal: perhaps one evening: classics – another evening: theater and performance art and another evening: experimental and current – although nothing is completely carved in stone.
Participants prepare topics assigned to them by William Schimmel. Each year, the seminars are based around a single theme. This year’s seminar is called” “Don’t Like Opera?” Both participants and spectators come from a wide range of age groups, educational backgrounds and tastes. Although not exclusively academic, they are intellectually stimulating and require commitment from those who attend, but they are presented in a straightforward manner and can be easily understood – in other words, no cryptic shop talk.
The Confédération Internationale des Accordéonistes has awarded Dr. Schimmel the Distinguished Merit Award for his work in the international accordion movement especially by way of THE SEMINARS.
The Seminars will be held on July 30, 31 and August 1 2010 at The Tenri Cultural Institute of New York,43A West 13th St. between 5th and 6th Aves. The Master Classes are at 3 PM – Concerts at 7 PM. The fee is $20 per Master Class – $25 per Concert or $40 per day which includes the Master Class and Concert. $110 for entire weekend.
Reservations: 212-876-0827 or www.billschimmel.com
Those wishing to “take the hot seat” should reserve early.
