Betty Jo Simon will perform Anthony Galla Rini’s “Accordion Concerto in G Minor (No.1)” three times with the Auckland Symphony Orchestra conducted by Gary Daverne during the August 2009 Coupe Mondiale.

The dates and places are:
August 16 – Auckland Town Hall, soloist with the Auckland Symphony Orchestra, Auckland, New Zealand (2:30 p.m.)

August 23 – Bruce Mason Center, soloist with the Auckland Symphony Orchestra, Auckland, New Zealand (2:30 p.m.)

August 25 – Bruce Mason Center, soloist with the Auckland Symphony Orchestra, opening concert of the 64th Coupe Mondiale, (World Championship Accordion Competition) Auckland, New Zealand (2:30 p.m.)

Betty Jo’s musical aptitude and love for the accordion appeared early. As a high school student, she became the first accordionist to win the instrumental division of the Youth Talent Auditions of the Topeka Civic Symphony. She performed the Galla- Rini “Concerto No. 1 in g minor” at that concert. Betty Jo is looking forward to have this opportunity again so many years later to play it with the Auckland Symphony Orchestra and to work with Gary Daverne. Betty Jo earned a Bachelor of Music in Accordion Performance from the University of Missouri–Kansas City (UMKC), where she played the world premiere of Paul Creston’s “Fantasy for Accordion and Orchestra” with the UMKC Civic Orchestra.

She participated in USO tours to Greenland, Newfoundland, Labrador and Germany, and did a two-year stint with Fred Waring and the Pennsylvanians. Betty Jo now performs as a soloist throughout the United States and internationally. In 2000 she appeared on a Chinese satellite TV musical variety program aired on Chinese New Year and went on to give concerts in Beijing and Shanghai. In 2007 she won the Maddalena Belfiore Entertainment Competition for Female Accordionst and currently leads a German polka band called The Alpen Spielers.

Betty Jo has recorded two CD’s: “Musically Yours” and “Mama Mia”. She strives to project a positive image of the accordion through her concerts and hope to encourage others to take up the instrument by demonstrating its versatility using MIDI technology.

For more info: Betty Jo Simon, wbsimon@earthlink.net