Accordions Worldwide sadly reports the passing of accordion virtuoso Daniel Desiderio on March 3, 2025.
Daniel J. Desiderio was a renowned accordion teacher, composer, arranger, and recording artist. He is regarded by many as a great accordionist of our time. Mr. Desiderio was a student of Pietro Deiro, the “Daddy of the Accordion.” He was a featured soloist in the United States Air Force Band from 1951 to 1955, where he performed for many dignitaries, including President and Mrs. Eisenhower at the White House.
Video 1: “A Tribute to Daniel Desiderio”
Here is a video tribute to accordion virtuoso Daniel Desiderio presented at the Mid Atlantic Music Teachers Guild / American Accordion Musicological Society Festival at the Marriott Hotel in Whippany, New Jersey on March 31, 2012. The video was created by Robert Patterson.
Video 2: Accordion virtuoso Daniel Desiderio performs on the Eugene Ettore Memorial Concert, Livingston, NJ. on October 5, 1986. Renowned accordionist Daniel Desiderio performs “Scherzo Tarantelle” by Henri Wieniawski and “Five O’Clock Rush” by Eugene Ettore.
Daniel J. Desiderio was one of the United States’ important accordion artists. Well-known in the accordion field for his compositions and arrangements, Mr. Desiderio recorded on the Ampco and Cormack labels. He performed in concert throughout Europe, Japan, and America, appearing at Longdon’ Royal Festival Hall, Copenhagen’s Radio House, Munich’s Congress Hall, New York’s Carnegie Hall and Town Hall, Philadelphia’s Academy of Music and Kimmel Center, and the White House.
He was the Air Force Band’s first accordionist and was a featured soloist during his military service. Following his military service he returned home to open his own accordion school in the Philadelphia area to pursue his lifelong love of music education. In his spare time he performed on radio and television and in numerous concert halls, including twice at New York’s Carnegie Hall. He was a former board member of the American Accordionists’ Association and a founding member of the Pennsylvania Accordion Teachers Association.
Daniel Desiderio Performing “Accordion Miniatures” by Eugene Ettore. Video created by Robert Patterson
In 1985 Daniel took over as conductor of the Accordion Pops Orchestra and built it into what it is today: the largest continuously operating accordion orchestra in the United States. The orchestra reached new heights under his leadership, perhaps never more so than the four concerts performed at Philadelphia’s Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts from 2004-2010.
Daniel Desiderio began his formal musical training at the age of nine and studied under the late Pietro Deiro, Sr. He also studied arranging and composition with Dr. William Hoppich. While attending the University of Pennsylvania, he began his concert career at the age of seventeen.
He was a former member of the Board of Directors of the American Accordionists Association and one of the founders of the Pennsylvania Accordion Teachers’ Association. He also served as the conductor of the Accordion Pops Orchestra from 1985 to 2011.
He arranged the music for the Ensemble of Hope, an accordion ensemble in the New Jersey/Pennsylvania area. Danny operated a private music studio in the Philadelphia area for accordion and piano students.
Daniel Desiderio, accordionist and conductor of the Accordion Pops Orchestra, performing at the Festival of Accordions — a Musical Tribute to Pietro Deiro, Jr., Hunterdon Hills Playhouse, Hampton, New Jersey, April 2, 2000:
- Edward Elgar, “La Capricieuse”
- Nicolo Paganini, variations on “Caprice No. 24”
- Pablo de Sarasate, “Zapateado”
- Rafael Hernández Marín, “El Cumbanchero” (accompanied by Mike Beswick, percussion)
The accordion and musical world mourns the loss of a unique individual who will always be remembered for his kind nature, generosity and talents as a performer, teacher, and composer.
Those of us who knew him were so fortunate. May his memory inspire all future musicians.
