ATG (Accordionists and Teachers Guild, International) invites everyone to join in its Festival celebrating the accordion and ATG’s 80+ years as a premier organization for accordion teachers, professional accordionists, and other accordionists and students.
The Festival includes four separate concerts; a unique “Petting Zoo” open without charge to the general public, giving the curious and youngster a hands on experience with an accordion; the opportunity to play in an 80 musician orchestra on a magnificent concert stage; Exhibitors; Competitions with prize money and trophies; proficiency examinations; Workshops; a Gala Banquet, and, most importantly, the renewed opportunity to meet with and enjoy the company of fellow accordionists from across the county.
The Festival takes place July 20 through July 24, 2022, in Lisle, Il. (Chicago) at two locations: The Lisle Hyatt Regency and the Wheaton College campus’ Armerding Center for Music and Arts and Barrows Auditorium. The three evening concerts will be at the college campus. Thursday evening’s concert at Barrows Auditorium features the exquisite UMKC Accordion Ensemble directed by Joan Cochran Sommers.
Members in photo:
Seated L to R: Betty Jo Simon (former ATG President), Samantha Jarquio Wagner, Joan Cochran Sommers (Director, former ATG President), Christine Jarquio Nichols, Jane Christison
Standing back row L to R: Mary Ann Covone, (current ATG President), Ron Dake, Ron Barrow, Kevin Friedrich (former ATG President), Cathy Sue Weiss;
The Thursday evening concert includes Italian virtuoso Mirco Patarini; jazz accordionist/World Champion, Nikolay Bine; and modern accordionist, composer, recording artist, Murl Sanders.
Two evening concerts will be performed from the beautiful stage of acoustically acclaimed Armerding Center for Music and Arts. Friday’s concert is an evening with the highly regarded Canadian accordionist Michael Bridge, skilled on both acoustic and digital accordions. The finale concert on Saturday begins with the 80 musician Festival orchestra under the baton of internationally respected Joan Cochran Sommers. You can play in this historic orchestra, too. However, over 60 chairs in the orchestra have already been reserved! To assure there is a place for you, reserve your chair NOW at www.atgaccordions.com
The culmination of the festival, following the orchestra’s performance, will be the Bayan virtuoso Stas Venglevski playing a full program including Anthony Galla-Rini’s Second Concerto for accordion with the Racine Symphony Orchestra under the baton of guest conductor William Morse. Friday afternoon is a separate accordion orchestra directed by Prof Joan Sommers who will perform a concert of original accordion music at the hotel ballroom.
All four concerts are included in the Festival registration package. Additional tickets for the evening concerts may be purchased separately through the Wheaton College Arts Series ticket office. The public is invited to all concerts.
The Festival registration form and hotel information, for members and for nonmembers, can be found at www.atgaccordions.com . If you would like to be an advertiser (or simply to give your best wishes and congratulations to ATG) in the Festival Brochure/Schedule for this historic event, contact the ATG through its website. ATG hopes to see you ALL at the Festival.
