Central Florida Accordion Club Presents AccordionFest 2025 on February 8

Join the Central Florida Accordion Club on Saturday, Feb 8, 2025 from 11:AM-6:PM for a fun event! Accordion Fest, featuring great players, great food, dancing, show, bar available land FREE parking!  Only $15 at the door or in advance on Eventbrite. Don’t miss this unique experience.Location: German American Society of Central Florida, 381 Orange Lane, Casselberry, FL

Performers include Papa Joe De Clemente, Joe Cerrito, Schuhplattler Gruppe dance group, Chris Myers, drummer Ken Shadrake, Nick Rosaci, and Michael Mastroianni.

Papa Joe De Clemente is a seasoned professional singer, accordionist, and entertainer with over 50 years of performing experience. Papa Joe has appeared on TV News, Italian/American Long Island TV and has performed for many events, including NYC’s Italian Heritage Celebration.He is a member of several organizations including the American Accordionists Association. His great grandfather, Augusto Iorio, was the creator of the IORIO accordion. Email: PapaJoeD@Yahoo.com

Joe Cerrito began studying accordion at age 12 with Joseph Petteruti and then with Joseph Biviano and also Bob Wilbur. He began playing small jobs at age 14 and has played professionally ever since. Joe was a member of the 1st Army Jazz Band directed by Claude Thornhill and also played in the 56th Army Band while in Korea. Throughout his career, he backed up greats such as Sarah Vaughn, Steve Allen, Harry Belafonte, Bob Wilbur and most recently Dick Hyman.

Joe owned his own music studio “Cerrito School of Music” from 1960 until 1997. The studio was very active in both the AAA and ATAM competitions. Currently, Joe is an active accordionist performing with bands, doing theatre work and also performing as a strolling accordionist where he performs at restaurants and private parties. Although a noted Jazz accordionist, Joe also performs all kinds of other musical genres for a wide variety of events. Joe played with the orchestra in the movie, “True Lies.” 

Chris Myers is a diatonic button accordion player from the central Florida area. He began playing by performing the music for the local Bavarian schuhplattler dancers, which continues to this day. While he specializes in German / Bavarian / Austrian volksmusik, he also plays Oberkrainer style, Slovenian, and Cleveland Style polkas, waltzes, and more. His Stammtischler duo can be heard performing at various fests and parties in Florida. Chris enjoys showcasing the natural sounds of his various accordions without any electronics

The Central Florida Accordion Club was founded in 2002 by Thomas Yost and Joe Zalewski on the premise that accordion playing should be promoted and enjoyed. It is a 501c4 organization and all requirements are met on an annual basis. They offer student scholarships with a value of $300 (ten lessons at $30 each with a qualified instructor in our club). You are invited to join the club. Meetings are twice each month, from 2 to 5 PM, at the following locations: The Second Sunday of each month: German American Society of Central Florida, 381 Orange Lane Casselberry, FL and the last Sunday of each month: Cocoa Elks Lodge #1532, 315 Florida Ave, Cocoa, FL 32922

For more information: corkykh@bellsouth.net