The Accordion Pops Orchestra, conducted by Al Terzo, will perform in concert on Sunday, November 24, 2024 at 3:PM at the Conlon Hall Auditorium, 29 North William Street, Bergenfield, NJ.
The orchestra’s roots can be traced to 1970 when it was organized by the Accordion Teachers Association of New Jersey. Its first conductor was Dr. Jacob Neupauer of Philadelphia. In 1980 the orchestra was reorganized under well-known accordionist and composer Eugene Ettore.
In 1985 the orchestra was again reorganized under Daniel Desiderio and the name was formally changed to the Accordion Pops Orchestra. The membership was expanded beyond the original members from New Jersey to include performers from Pennsylvania, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Delaware, Maryland, and Rhode Island. Maestro Desiderio retired in 2011 and turned the reins over to the current conductor, Al Terzo.
The orchestra consists entirely of accordions plus percussion instruments. The accordions are divided into five main sections (first through fifth accordion), each playing different parts. In addition, there is a bass accordion with special deep reeds and a midi accordion with electronic capabilities to simulate hundreds of other instruments.
“Raiders of the Lost Ark Afternoon of Music”: Accordion Pops Orchestra performing at the Siminski Theater in Basking Ridge NJ on June 23rd, 2024
There are now over 50 members including professionals, teachers, and amateur musicians. The orchestra performs a repertoire taken from a wide range of music categories, including Broadway, popular music, movie themes, and light classical compositions. The orchestra performs in concert halls, festivals, playhouses, clubs, churches, and retirement homes.
Conductor Al Terzo is a music teacher, arranger, and conductor. He has been a member of the orchestra since its inception in 1970. He is a member of the Music Teachers National Association, the New Jersey Music Teachers Association, and the National Association of Music Educators. Al is a member of the governing board of the American Accordionists’ Association and a founding member of the Mid Atlantic Music Teachers Guild. He has performed at the Garden State Arts Center and Newark Symphony Hall. Mr. Terzo currently teaches accordion and piano in New Jersey.
APO members include: Conductor Al Terzo, First Accordion: Joanna Darrow, Phyllis Edamatsu, Joyce Gandenberger, Michael Koziupa, Paul Koslowski,Annette Marinelli,Diane Squillace, Elena Stenkina, Kalman Zilberman, Second Accordion: Diane Ashenfalder, Anne Marie Egan, Ray Haines, Denise Koncelik, John Modrowsky, Nadine Roth, Walter Syzonenko, Grace Wu, Third Accordion:, Dante Giammarco, Kathy Haywood, Carol Lingo, Sandra Perez,Teresa Rehberg, Tatiana Slowik, Jingbo Wang, String Bass: John Andrews, Keyboard/Percussion: Anna Rene Jeremiah, Fourth Accordion: Juliette Amerman, John Andrews, Ysabel Gonzalez, Don Nowicki, Barbara Snyderman, Denise Szabo, Mary Thomas, Fifth Accordion: Nan Andrews, Jennifer Bednar, Connie Compito, Marta Jaremko, Stephanie Mangioglu, Mario Pires, Mike Redler, Patti Selikoff, Joanne Squillace, Wendy Weill, Bass Accordion: Erika Brito, Renee Chase, Kelly Grove, Cello Accordion: Josephine Sarica, Video: Dean Ratzin, Midi Accordion/Webmaster/Repairs/Video/Second Accordion (when no midi):Robert Patterson
Al shares,”Referring to our new website, several orchestras from around the world have asked for some of our arrangements listed on the repertoire link. Groups from the United Kingdom, Germany, Australia, Belgium, South Korea, and Malta.”
You can enjoy previous concerts on their Accordion Pops Orchestra Youtube website.
For further information: webmaster@accordionpops.com
