The American Accordion Musicological Society will present their 2016 Testimonial Banquet and Concert on Saturday, April 2, 2016 at 6:PM at the Hanover Marriott in Whippany, New Jersey. The following information is from the artists websites.

You will hear wonderful accordionists, both solo and in ensembles. Manny Bobenrieth is the Master of Ceremonies. Pre-Dinner music will be provided by Don Gerundo. Groups performing will be Lou Coppola and the Stereo Strings, The Westmont Philharmonia Orchestra conducted by Stanley Darrow, The AAMS Festival Orchestra conducted by Honoree Linda Soley Reed.

Guest artists are Joe Natoli, Mary Tokarski, and Eddie Monteiro. Joe lives in Ohio and has been a performer and advocate of the accordion since the age of seven. Joe started his studies with prominent Ohio accordion teacher, the late Mickey Bisilia of Youngstown, Ohio. Under Mickey’s tutelage, Joe won his age division in the American Accordionists’ Association national competitions each year until finally capturing its coveted Open Virtuoso national title at the age of 18 in Washington, D.C.

Later that year (1972), Joe became the AAA United States representative in the Coupe Mondiale world accordion competition held in Caracas, Venezuela, where he was chosen first runner up, missing the world title by 17 hundredths of a point.

More recently, Joe was the winner in the first Roland US V-Accordion national competition (held in Los Angeles in September 2008). Joe subsequently represented Roland US in the Roland International V-Accordion competition held in Rome, Italy in Nov 2008.

Since Joe possesses Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in music composition from the University of Toronto, he tries to use his orchestrational knowledge to exploit all the best coloristic and orchestrational possibilities on the FR7X. Joe’s arrangements traverse a diverse set of musical styles (including classical, light classical, jazz, and ethnic).

Concert Accordionist, Mary Tokarski performs both nationally and internationally as a soloist, with Symphony Orchestra and as a member of The ‘K’ Trio. For 20 years Mary served as Director of Music Education at Tokarski Music Center in North Haven, Connecticut, where she taught piano and accordion, as well as conducted the choral & ensemble programs, and supervised the pre-school programs.

Mary currently teaches piano and accordion at her home in Northford, Connecticut.

Currently, Mary serves as a Board of Director with The American Accordionists’ Association (AAA) a national member organization of the Confederation Interntaionale des Accordeonistes, (IMC- an official NGO partner of UNESCO).
 

Eddie Monteiro has over 30 years of musical performance in classical, jazz, dance, theater, cabaret and choral ensembles. Eddie is also the youngest honoree elected to American Accordionists’ Association Hall of Fame, November 1994. Member of Bobb Rosengarden, Skitch Henderson, Peter Duchin, Ray Bloch, Michael Lanin and Marty Ames, orchestras from 1971 to present, performing in the New York Metropolitan area and worldwide. Eddie has been a featured member of pit orchestra on stage in Broadway revival performance of “Carnival” and recently “Evita” and recording of radio and television jingles for Sesame Street, General Foods, Colgate Palmolive, Anheuser-Busch, AT&T, Bennigan’s Restaurants, Pontiac and more.

Lead artist of innumerable society bands performing throughout the world at social events, political gatherings and corporation conventions. Eddie serves currently as the Music Teacher, Choral Director, Vocal and Instrumental Music Director for the Ann Street Elementary School and is on the Board of the AAA.

Don is an active accordionist and pianist performing in the New York metropolitan area.  He is a versatile keyboardist who plays various styles ranging from popular American Standards from the American Songbook, Jazz and Rock ‘n’ Roll.  He works with the Bensen-Scott Big Band, an 18 piece Jazz Band, has worked with a Rockabilly small group as well as society combos and Top 40 groups.   He has performed and accompanied Lenny Welch (hit record “Since I Fell For You”), Joe Piscopo and has performed at Swing 46 in New York City, White Plains Theatre for the Arts, Coney Island Park and other large venues.

Don Gerundo starting playing the accordion at age 10.  During his later teens he studied with Tony Mecca (a native of Waterbury, CT.)  Tony introduced him to popular and Jazz music and worked with him on harmony, theory, voicing’s and improvisation. During this time he started to perform club dates with some of the local leaders in the New York metropolitan area, as well as working at resorts in the New York Catskill area.  

This “On the job” training helped hone his Jazz skills, as well as build his repertoire.  He continued to perform during his college years, while attending Ithaca College where he joined the national music fraternity Phi Mu Alpha as the first accordionist to be offered an invitation in that chapter. 

Don is an active teacher of piano and accordion and focuses on jazz improvisation, harmony and chord voicings.  He studied with advanced improvisation with Adolph Sandole, the brother of Dennis Sandole from Philadelphia who mentored many Jazz greats such as John Coltrane, James Moody, Michal Brecker and Pat Martino.

An accomplished classical accordionist, Mr. Coppola won numerous titles on his instrument & was the first accordionist to win three consecutive national championships. He was also the first American to represent our country, at age eighteen, in the Coupe Mondiale world accordion competition in Brighton, England.

He performed with the acclaimed United States Air Force Strolling Strings for over 28 years, ultimately becoming the leader of the organization. His Air Force career took him to the palace of Anwar Sadat, to the Far East & all over the globe. He has played at the White House for hundreds of heads of state & performed for nine U.S. Presidents in the course of his years in the military.

Mr. Coppola had managed his own company, Stereo Strings, for over twenty years. He provided music entertainment for the Washington, DC area as well as throughout the country. Stereo Strings performed with 28 violinists at the opening of the new Ronald Reagan National Airport. Now he performs with his group, The Strolling Strings.

Lou and his ensemble had one of the longest consecutive engagements in the country, having performed dinner music every weekend at the Officers’ Club in Fort Myer, VA. for an astounding 44 years.

You are welcome to attend the Saturday evening event. More information in AAMS article in this publication.