“Chock full O’ Learnin’” was the theme of the annual AAA Seminars.  Celebrating the 21st annual production, this highly interesting and educational event took place from August 7th to 9th in New York City.

The annual three day Master Class and Concert Series featured a diverse array of accordion performances from artists such as Dr Robert Young Mc Mahan, Micki Goodman Schimmel, Paul Stein, Will Holshouser, Benjamin Ickies, John Foti, Art Bailey, Doug Makofka, Erica Marie Mancini, and members of the Brooklyn Accordion Club including Mayumi Miyaoka, Peter Flint, Denise Koncelik, and a performing group called Bachtopus.

In addition to accordionists the concerts showcased other instrumentalists such as theremin player Elizabeth Brown, Sho player Michael Dames, a trombonist, violinist, concert pianist, harpist, guitarist and others.

The event included world premieres by Dr. McMahan, Dave Soldier, David First, David Stoler, Elizabeth Brown, Normali Fenn, Peter Flint, Milica Paranosic, Gene Pritsker, Dan Cooper, Peter Jarvis, Art Bailey, and works from Dr Schimmel’s new CD: ‘The Theatre of the Accordion’.

The initial intent of the Seminars, starting with the first one back in 1994, was: to build a strong artistic accordion community in the New York area, a community of artists that could communicate on an equal level to the rest of New York’s diverse artistic community, reflected in the event’s workshops and performances. 

Moderator and organizer Dr. William Schimmel states that the Seminars are not just a series of workshops and concerts: “it’s an experience, a total immersion into a weekend where judgements are suspended, competition comes to a halt and the steady flow of ideas can almost make one’s head spin.”

For further information on the 2016 event, please email: billschimmel@billschimmel.com or visit www.ameraccord.com