The American Accordion Musicological Society in conjunction with the Mid Atantic Music Teachers Guild presents Accordion Extravaganza 2014 honoring Accordionist Jim Vandelly on Saturday, March 29, 2014 at The Hanover Marriott Hotel, 1401 Route 10 East, Whippany, NJ.
In 1948, a traveling representative of the Rosita Lee Studios knocked on the door of the Vandelly family in Townsend, Massachusetts. He showed Jim a twelve-base accordion, and that started his adventures in the accordion world. The representative was George Janis, and he was Jim’s teacher until 1955, when the Vandelly’s moved to Los Angeles.
Jim continued taking lessons in Alhambra from Sam Petrone for two years. But it was George Janis who will be remembered fondly in Jim’s memory. Many years later, in 1961, Janis and his combo played at Oak Hill Country Club, in Fitchburg—and Jim was working there for the summer. Jim bought Janis’ private accordion, and played it for 30 years.
While in the USAF in Texas, Jim began to play solo gigs at the Officer’s Club at Goodfellow AFB, and at the River Club in San Angelo. When Jim and his wife Kathy moved to the D.C. area in 1968, Jim played several gigs on both piano accordion and Russian balalaika at private parties and at the Smithsonian Institution’s ethnic music weeks in Decembers in the early 1980s.
In 1993, the Balalaika Domra Society of America went on a floating music tour from Moscow to St. Petersburg. Many members of the Washington Balalaika Society were also members of the BDAA. Jim played at Moscow’s Tchaikovsky Hall, Yaroslavl Concert Hall, and Glinka Hall in St. Petersburg. In 1997, when Jim retired from his 28-year teaching career, he met Stan and Joanna, and took a few lessons to improve his playing, the then joined the AAMS. He competed in a few AAMS conventions thereafter.
In 1989, Jim joined the newly-formed Washington Balalaika Society, as its first accordion player. He remained with WBS through 2001. He joined with several members of the WBS, and they were the Beltway Balalaikas ensemble. Jim played Russian bayan and piano accordion with the BB’s for several years. The ensemble played at an Inaugural Ball for President George W. Bush in January of 2001. Thereafter, the “BB’s” played at the British and Russian embassies on several occasions.
Jim travelled to Stockholm, Sweden in 2000 and 2001, as a guest accordionist with the Kazbek Russian Orchestra. His Swedish friends were also members of the Balalaika/Domra Association of America. While continuing membership in the AAMS, Jim joined the newly-formed Washington Metropolitan Accordion Society in 2004, and has been a continuing member of both organizations.
Accordionists Bruce Gassman and Lou Persic will provide music during the dinner. Following the banquet, there will be an exciting concert which includes: Featured Guest and Honoree Jim Vandelly, Westmont Philharmonia Accordion Orchestra and Westmont Accordion Club, Potomac Accordion Ensemble conducted by Joan Grauman, Mary Tokarski, Lenn Feldmann, Dr. Robert McMahan, Bernie Gardzalla, and Suzy Andrew.
At this time, the US premiere of Bjorn Bolstad Skelbred’s composition “ConVerGence” for which will be performed by Dr. David Bebe (cello) and Rocco Anthony Jerry (accordion).
Honorees of the American Accordion Musicological Society:
2014 Jim Vandelly
2013 Beverly Roberts Curnow – PA
2012 Dan Desiderio-PA
2011 Mary Tokarski – CT
2009 Dr. Robert McMahan- NJ
2008 Rik Kaplan – D.C.
2007 Lenn Feldmann & Stan Darrow
2006 Dr. Lou Persic — PA
2005 Anthony Ettore — NY
2004 Joe Axsmith — PA
2003 Carmelo Pino – Wash. DC
2002 Charles Nunzio —NJ
2001 Sherrie Darrow -NJ
2000 Dr. J. C. Neupauer—PA
1999 Carmen Carrozza —NY
1998 Mervin Conn—Wash. DC
1997 Samuel Fire—PA
1996 Msg. Stanley Kloskowski—NJ
Reservations deadline is March 10, 2014.
For more information and reservations:
Joanna Arnold Darrow
(856)-854-6628
acmeaccordionschoolmusikgarten@verizon.net
