Bonnie Birch and Fortissimo will perform for the Leavenworth International Accordion Celebration in Washington, sponsored by the Northwest Accordion Society from June 16 – 19, 2022. Bonnie grew up surrounded by Italian relatives. Her maternal grandparents (Abramo and Adele Pennacchi) settled in Black Diamond, WA in 1909 from Garfagnana, Italy. When Bonnie first heard the accordion at the age of 6, she immediately knew she had to have an accordion. The next day, her father went out and got her first accordion from the Stancato accordion school. Italian music always came naturally to her.

Fortissimo! consists of Bonnie (and fellow musicians) and one or more opera singers usually tenors and baritone. They perform Neopolitan classics and other tunes which were popular during the early wave of Italian immigration.

Performing at LIAC this year will be tenor extraordinaire Stephen Wall. Stephen is a classically trained tenor and veteran Seattle Opera performer (where he also works as chorus personnel coordinator). At the beginning of the covid pandemic, Stephen began giving short concerts from his front yard for the Ballard neighborhood. Soon he became known as “The Ballard Opera Man” and has been featured on King TV and The Seattle Times. You can see more about Stephen on his Ballard Opera Man Facebook page.

For more information: bonniebirch@msn.com