Video above of the CIA World Accordion Orchestra X performance in Lithuania.

Original music by ATG former President and current executive board member, Amy Jo Sawyer, was performed at the “Coupe Mondiale” World Championships and Festival in Kaunas, Lithuania, Sept. 29, 2018 by sixty accordionists and percussionists from around the world.

The CIA World Accordion Orchestra X was directed by Prof. Joan Sommers who had selected the Amy Jo composition “Recuerdos” (Memories) as one of three compositions by American composers for this international event.

Other compositions by Amy Jo Sawyer are available online:
sawyer01 – Diggin’ Dorian
sawyer02 – Elida
sawyer03 – Juntos (“Together”)
sawyer04 – La Fiesta
sawyer05 – Opus 5-6-4
sawyer06 – Recuerdos (Memories)

Amy Jo Sawyer has released two CD’s:
catalog amy01 According to Amy
catalog amy02 Classically Amy

The other two compositions performed were “Serenata” by Leroy Anderson, and music from “West Side Story” by Leonard Bernstein. Amy Jo performed with the orchestra as well as ATG members Kevin Friedrich, Liz Finch, and Beverley Fess.

Amy Jo Sawyer began her study of the accordion at the age of ten under the tutelage of Henri Milano, in Mesa, Arizona. She came from musical parents, Marlin & Virginia McLaws, who played trumpet and piano respectively in their own Dance Orchestra for fifty years in the Phoenix area. Amy Jo started piano lessons at the age of five and during her grade and high school years played the baritone horn in the school bands. The accordion became her “first love” and at age fourteen she entered the National Accordion Competition, in Chicago, placing 2nd in her age category.

At age nineteen she won first place in the Western States Accordion Competition in Long Beach, California and competed in the “Coupe Mondiale” (World Accordion Competition) in Biel, Switzerland, establishing herself as one of the world’s foremost accordionists. She continued her studies under the direction of Anthony Galla-Rini, in Los Angeles, and represented Arizona in the National Accordion Competition in New York City.

Amy Jo said, ”One of the greatest compliments I have received was from Mr. Galla-Rini, as he included my name with those he considered his most talented students in the book, ‘Anthony Galla-Rini on His Life and the Accordion’ written by Swedish author Ove Hahn.” In 1964 she won a competition sponsored by the Sacramento Symphony Orchestra, the winner of which to perform in solo with the symphony. The other contestants were violinists and pianists. The Symphony Conductor, Sandor Salgo, exclaimed, “she is a musical genius, and just happens to play the accordion!” She performed “Fantasia for Accordion & Orchestra”, by Paul Creston.

Amy Jo has written music for, and performed with, the University of Missouri at Kansas City Accordion Orchestra, under the direction of Joan Sommers, on four of their international tours. Amy Jo received a BA degree in Composition in 1988 and a Master’s Degree in Jazz Performance in 1989 from Southern Illinois University – Edwardsville. While there she composed several jazz originals that were performed by the SIU-E Concert Jazz Band, with her on keyboards. An original, “Just You,” was also performed by the Brigham Young University “Synthesis” Jazz Band. Amy Jo has performed accordion parts with the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra on numerous occasions, including accompanying world renowned Italian Tenor, Luciano Pavarotti. Amy Jo has served as President of the Accordionists & Teacher’s Guild, International, Inc.

For further information: AmyJo@apci.net