Accordion Pops Orchestra in Concert
August 30th 2024
Rita Davidson Barnea, Editor Accordion USA News
The Accordion Pops Orchestra, conducted by Al Terzo, will present a concert on Saturday, September 7, 2024 at 7:30 PM at 1515 The Fairway, Jenkintown, PA. Guest soloists will be accordionist Elena Stenkina and flautist Renee Chase.
A Russian accordionist solo player and composer, Elena has developed her own unique style. Her concerts include not only the accordion and unique arrangements, they also have a dance movements, combined storyline and video installations. In 2009 she graduated the College of Arts in Khabarovsk. (Teacher N.A. Lebedinskaya). She studied at Ippolitov-Ivanov in Moscow, where she graduated in 2014 (Professor Y.A.Sidorov)
From 2010-2012 Elena works in a circus-varette Teatro Bazillium. From 2012-2014 she was part of The Emotions Trio. Together they traveled all over Europe, India, USA. They worked with such renowned companies as Princess Cruises and Glow Show World Events. She was a part of show “Besponyatie” in the Great Moscow State Circus named Vernadsky. Elena has her own Youtube channel.
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.
There are about 30 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. Mr.Terzo is a member of the Music Teachers National Association, the New Jersey Music Teachers Association, and the National Association of Music Educators. He 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.
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