Music teacher Linda Holcomb shares, “At Public-School 203Q in Bayside, Queens, the students think the accordion is cool! Ever since Cory Pesaturo visited our school, everyone wants to be in the Accordion Club! It was a very special treat for our school, and he made the accordion seem so cool to play! Thanks to the generosity of several people who have donated accordions to our school, we now have the largest accordion club in P.S. 203’s history! We are proud of our eighteen members this year.”

There are so many students who want to be in the accordion club that she has a waiting list. The group is conducted by the school’s music teacher, Linda Holcomb, with the assistance of community member and professional accordionist, Papa Joe DeClemente. He inspires them to be better accordionists. Among the many things he does for them, he also fixes their accordions!

Photo Right: Accordion kids with Cory Pesaturo at their Spring Concert.

Linda said, “We enjoy performing for concerts and events in our school, and we love taking our show on the road, into our community. During December, the group will play holiday songs at several locations. The students always come home from those trips so excited, having experienced how their music can really be a blessing to others.”

The school’s Winter Concert will be held on December 17, 2023 at 7:PM. The accordions will be playing their rousing renditions of “Jingle Bells”, “Dreidel, Dreidel, Dreidel”, and maybe even a little “Silver Bells”.

The nine and ten year olds from Bayside, Queens, who make up “The Squeeze Box 18” are excitedly preparing for their holiday concerts! Their director, Linda Holcomb, is elated that this is the largest group the Oakland Gardens School (PS 203) has ever had! Linda shares, “We have 18 accordionists this year! It’s all thanks to “Papa Joe” DeClemente, who has looked tirelessly for 12 bass accordions for us. In the past, we were lucky to have 12 working accordions, but this year, I am delighted that we are able to give 18 students the opportunity to learn this wonderful instrument!”

“Papa Joe” DeClemente volunteers once a week early in the morning to assist the music teacher, Linda Holcomb, at the elementary school music program at Public-school 203Q, in Bayside, Queens which may be one of the only elementary schools in the five boroughs of New York City that has a student accordion band. The school started their accordion band fifteen years ago. They meet once a week, at the beginning of the school day to practice various songs that they will perform throughout the year.

“Papa Joe” volunteers his Monday mornings to help Mrs. Holcomb with the accordion club. “He is a huge asset to our program!”, remarks Holcomb. “The children love him, and so far, he’s been able to fix just about anything that a 9 year-old can break on an accordion!”

“The Squeeze Box 18” will be performing at the following holiday events:
* Sunday, Dec. 10th at 5:00 PM at the Bayside Hills Civic Association Outdoor Holiday Lighting Celebration on Bell Blvd & the 53rd Ave Mall in Bayside, Queens.
* Tuesday, Dec. 12 at 7:00 PM at the Oakland Gardens School Winter Concert,
53-11 Springfield Blvd, Bayside, NY. (Suggested donation $10)
* Thursday, Dec. 14th at 11:00 AM at the Bayside Senior Center,
221-15 Horace Harding Expy, Bayside, Queens.

Editor Rita Barnea said, “Having visited the school and heard them perform at their Spring Concert, I can assure you that you will be amazed by the students’ performance, their focus, joy and commitment to learning the accordion. The group received a very enthusiastic response from the audience. I encourage you to attend their performances.”

For further information: lindaholcomb203@gmail.com