This is the article which appeared in the 3rd Annual ACCORDIONS NOW! 2010 Souvenir Program & Festival Schedule, August 6-7, 2010:
ACCORDIONS NOW! 2010 Featured Composer ALDO DeROSSI
Aldo John DeRossi, composer, arranger, performer, conductor, and music educator, was born to Emil and Julia [Laurenti] DeRossi on February 3, 1917 in Springfield, Massachusetts. His family moved to the New Bedford area, where Aldo attended public school in Dartmouth and New Bedford. His father was a very accomplished accordionist and became Aldo’s first teacher.
Aldo began formal study with Frank Gaviani, Sr. in 1936. In 1938 he launched the DeRossi Accordion School (now DeRossi Music) and joined the American Accordionists’ Association [A.A.A.] where he later served on the Board of Governors.
With one leg permanently damaged by a youthful bicycle accident, Aldo’s disability disqualified him from active service in the military. However, he provided entertainment for U.S. Armed Forces from 1940 to1945 through the United Services Organization (USO).
1945 was a fortuitous year for Aldo. He married Ida Margaret Pires, whose sparkling personality, unceasing dedication, hard work and sense of humor proved invaluable to his achieving a hugely successful career. While Aldo concentrated primarily on the musical aspects, Ida managed the studio office and most of the business side. She also served as mistress of ceremonies at their many concerts and festivals. Their sons, Steven and Barry, also musical, were born in 1946 and 1948, respectively.
In 1949, Aldo entered the A.A.A. championships in New York City for the first time and won first place with a 10-member junior band performing Pietro Deiro’s Trieste Overture. Aldo’s March of the Accordionaires, published the following year, and performed today, is dedicated to this award-winning group.
In 1953, the DeRossi School became the first accordion studio ever to win first place at the A.A.A. national competition in the senior, intermediate, and junior band categories – all in the same year.
According to Helmi Harrington, Ph.D., curator of A World of Accordions Museum [Superior, WI], Aldo DeRossi’s “lifetime of significant accomplishments in the accordion industry,” including the unsurpassed record of his students’ winning more than 4000 awards at local, state, and national competitions, “were decisive factors in his selection as a museum honoree.”
To return to Aldo’s impressive timeline, he conducted his symphonic accordion ensemble at Town Hall, Philadelphia in 1949, and again in 1954 at New York City’s Carnegie Hall, performing Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue. In 1958, he served as president of the Music Teachers Association of Greater New Bedford and until 1965 was chairman of the city’s annual Music Week Festival. He founded the Accordion Teachers Association of Massachusetts in 1964 and the following year conducted his orchestra in the United States Pavilion at the New York World’s Fair.
During the U.S. Bicentennial, 1976, Aldo conducted his accordion show band at the A.A.A. U.S. championship competition in Constitution Hall, Washington, DC, achieving what he considers his proudest career accomplishment – a perfect score.
In 1992, Aldo’s Whaling City Concerto was published by Ernest Deffner Publications. Today’s performance by his former student, Roger Allen, of all three movements of the work marks the world premiere of the piece in its entirety.
Named to the Advisory Board of the American Accordionists’ Association in 1997, Aldo was granted a place of honor in the World of Accordions Museum in 2002. The exhibit includes a handsome photo representing the three generations of DeRossi accordionists – father Emil, Aldo, and sons Steven and Barry.
On July 14, 2004, Aldo DeRossi was presented with the American Accordionists’ Association Outstanding Achievement Award for lifelong dedication to the accordion.
Music of Aldo DeRossi performed at ACCORDIONS NOW! 2010 [from the Souvenir Program & Festival Schedule]:
1:00 – 2:20 p.m. Daytime Concerts…Ballroom
A Tribute to Aldo DeRossi and His Original Music…Roger Allen
Whaling City Concerto [World Premiere Performance]
Dedicated to the rich history of the Whaling City – New Bedford, Massachusetts
I. Molto Allegro – con fuoco
II. Andante Maestoso
III. Molto Allegro – con fuoco
Trickling Keys, Novelty
4:15 – 5:20 p.m. Late Afternoon Concert…Ballroom
Performances by New Hampshire Accordion Association Small Ensemble Members Lynda Fish, Dorean Kimball, Phil Minichiello, Steve Pszenny, and Donna Maria Regis
Quintet arrangements performed by Lynda, Dorean, Phil, Steve, and Donna Maria
Two Portuguese Fados…Medley arr. Regis based on unpublished manuscripts of Aldo DeRossi
Fizeste Mal…Canelhas
Coimbra [April in Portugal]…Ferrão
Solos performed by Donna Maria:
Dark Eyes (with Modern Variations)…Russian Folk Song arr. DeRossi
“Star” Medley based on a DeRossi concert arrangement…
Stairway to the Stars, Stars Fell on Alabama, Stardust
Duet performed by Lynda & Donna Maria:
Chestnut Street Polka…DeRossi original solo, Regis duet arrangement
Orchestated Works performed by ACCORDIONS NOW! 2010 Festival Orchestra
Donna Maria Regis, Conductor
DeRossi March Medley…DeRossi original solos, Regis ensemble arrangement
March of the Accordionaires…dedicated to the National AAA Champions 1949
The Touchdown
For further information: regisdonna@yahoo.co
