Hello there, fellow accordionists! 2016 marks the beginning of my second year as President of the AAA. It has been an exciting year for me, with lots of remarkable progress and tremendous events in the plan for the coming year.
Be sure to stay tuned to the AAA website (www.ameraccord.com) – big changes are happening there with lots of updates and new posts. In addition, the AAA will launch our new YouTube Channel on or around February 10th.
Ever been to Russia? This year’s Coupe Mondiale will be held in Russia for the first time ever from September 11-17, 2016. If you (or someone you know) want to participate as a contestant, the AAA will hold a Qualifying Competition for all 7 categories at the MAMTG Festival in Whippany, New Jersey on April 2nd. Check out the Coupe Mondiale website (www.coupemondiale.org) for complete requirements for each division, and the AAA website for the entry forms.
More exciting news: New prizes for the Elsie M. Bennett Composition Competition – this year’s first place winners will receive $250! Full rules and regulations will be online within days, so be sure to hone up your composition skills for this event.
Plans are shaping up nicely for our Festival in Buffalo (July 6-10, 2016). Our “Buffalo SqueezeFest” will be an event to remember! Guest artists Grayson Masefield, Cory Pesaturo, Ginny Mac and Alexander Sevastian with Quartetto Gelato will head the performers list!
Our Gala Concert will be at a local Buffalo event center – The Tralf where we will enjoy Buffalo hospitality and experience fantastic accordion music in a contemporary concert venue. Rooms at the Adams Mark Hotel (single, double, triple or quad) are $127. The reservation desk can be reached at 716-845-5100. Be sure to mention “AAA”. See you in Buffalo!!
A highlight of the Buffalo event will be the unveiling of Guy Klucevsek’s newly AAA-commissioned work for solo accordion. The World Premiere will take place on the concert at The Tralf on Friday, July 8, 2016. You don’t want to miss this!
Hands On workshops and Jam sessions are in the plan for the “Buffalo SqueezeFest” so be sure to bring your accordion and learn great things from our Guest Artists – and each other!
There are more events for you to enjoy this year as well – April 17, 2016 – Lifetime Achievement Award Event for Mario Tacca at the Colonial Terrace in Cortlandt Manor, NY; the Annual Masterclass and Concert Series at the Tenri Cultural Center in NYC on July 29-31, 2016; and a Valtaro Celebration on November 26, 2016 at the Magnanini Winery in Wallkill, NY.
Don’t forget the Open Meetings on April 3, 2016 at the Marriott Hotel in Whippany, NJ (3:00 p.m), and July 10, 2016 at the Adams Mark Hotel in Buffalo, NY (9:00 a.m. at the Farewell Breakfast). This is your chance to network with artists and students alike, and contribute to our work at bringing the accordion into the 21st Century!
Hope to see you there!
