Joanna Darrow and the Acme Accordion School were featured April 11, 2025 on the program, YOK, “You Oughta Know” which is your guide to what’s happening in the Philadelphia region. The program is affiliated with PBS and NPR. The convention mentioned at the end of the 5-min video is the American Accordion Association convention which takes place in Conshohocken, PA. From July 10-13, 2025. Find out more: www.ameraccord.com
The Acme Accordion School is seeing an uptick in the instrument’s popularity according to Director/Owner Joanna Darrow. Founded in 1948 and home of the Westmont Philharmonia Accordion Orchestra, the Acme Accordion School is the place for everything accordion.
https://whyy.org/episodes/acme-accordion-school-sees-rise-in-popularity/
Joanna Arnold Darrow began studying the accordion at the age of 8 with Stanley Darrow. During her studies at Acme Accordion School, she covered a broad spectrum of musical training; specializing in music of the baroque period and chamber music. While Joanna is the personal protege of Stanley Darrow, she also studied with Guy Klucevsek, Dr. Edwin Avril, and Betty Jo Simon.
She has concertized through Europe as soloist and duo partner of “Stanley Darrow. Performing in conjunction with bassoon, harp, harpsichord, strings, piano and organ, she has brought capabilities of the accordion to the attention of professional musicians. She performed with the Philadelphia Orchestra in performances of the David Argento “Tango”, and “The Godfather” series.
Joanna is on the Board of Directors of the American Accordionists Association (AAA), the Accordionists and Teachers Guild (ATG), and the A World of Accordions Museum (AWAM). She is Director of The American Accordion Musicological Society (AAMS), Acme Accordion School, and the Westmont Philharmonia Accordion Orchestra. Joanna is an adjunct accordion instructor for Rowan University. Joanna is dedicated to the furtherment of accordion education and original accordion literature.
Joanna Darrow is a dedicated accordion teacher and devoted to encouraging people of all ages to study and enjoy the instrument.
Acme Accordion sells new and used button box and piano accordions, CDs, DVDs and sheet music. Accordion lessons and handle accordion repair. Acme is also the home of the Musik Garten, a music and art program, where children from birth to 6 years old can come to develop their sense of rhythm, coordination and social skills.
Acme Accordion School is located
322 Haddon Ave.
Westmont, NJ 08108
(856) 854-6628
For further information: acmeaccordion@gmail.com
