On behalf of the CIA, the Lithuanian National Accordionist’s Union and Musical Director Joan Cochran Sommers, welcomed all to World Accordion Orchestra X.

Excerpts from CIA website: On 30 September 2018, the CIA World Accordion Orchestra X conducted by Musical Director Joan Cochran Sommers performed three works from three diverse American composers. 
The first piece “Serenata” is a classic gem from renowned American composer Leroy Anderson. The second work “Recuerdos” is by accordionist and composer Amy Jo Sawyer.

Amy Jo and WAO conductor Joan C. Sommers were among the first accordionists to represent the USA at the Coupe Mondiale. Amy Jo has written numerous works for accordion orchestra and her lovely work Recuerdos was featured this year. The program culminated in the magnificent “West Side Story” as the CIA joined the global centennial celebration in honor of Leonard Bernstein’s 100th anniversary.

Amy Jo Sawyer has devoted much of her musical career to the accordion. Her concertizing, composing, arranging, and administrative activities (currently President of The Accordionists and Teachers Guild, International) have enhanced recognition of the accordion as a concert and popular/jazz instrument. Her Jazz CD “According to Amy” and her Classical CD “Classically Amy” demonstrate her virtuosity and the versatility of the accordion. She began piano at age five and accordion by age ten.

She represented the Western US in the Coupe Mondiale (World Accordion Championship) in Biel, Switzerland and is a Nationally Certified Piano Instructor (Music Teacher’s Nat’l Assoc.) with award winning students.  She earned BA Degrees in Composition and Keyboard Performance, and a MA in Jazz Keyboard Performance.  She has composed and arranged for Stage Band, Vocals, Choir, Piano; plus Accordion solos, duets and ensembles.

Amy Jo has written music for, and performed with, the University of Missouri at Kansas City Accordion Orchestra, under the direction of Joan Sommers, on four international tours. She has performed with the Sacramento and St. Louis Symphonies, including accompanying tenor Luciano Pavarotti.  Her orchestra compositions have been performed at many notable accordion events
 
Conductor Joan C. Sommers, founder of the CIA World Accordion Orchestra was awarded the title of Professor Emerita upon her retirement from the University of Missouri – Kansas City Conservatory of Music (USA), where she established and taught the accordion degree program for forty years.

She has arranged innumerable works for the accordion orchestra over many years, often for the UMKC Accordion Orchestra, a large symphonic accordion orchestra, which, under her direction, competed in and won more First Prizes in Virtuoso Accordion Orchestra Competitions than any other similar American group. This is a record still unbroken today.

In both 1955 and 1956 she earned the right to represent the USA in the Coupe Mondiale and, although she didn’t win, it was those experiences which opened her eyes to the tremendous opportunities available to accordionists; perhaps it also fixed her life-long interest in worldwide accordion activities. Most recently, she celebrated the 50th Anniversary of her UMKC Accordion Orchestra when they presented their 50th Gala Concert at the University.

As the arranger, Joan has had many years of experience as a teacher, a conductor, and an arranger for accordion orchestras at all levels. Many of these arrangements were used by her own orchestras in competitions held throughout the USA and on the many tours made by her groups overseas as well.

Joan C. Sommers has held positions in several music organizations, including the Accordionists & Teachers Guild International (ATG) and the Confédération Internationale des Accordéonistes (CIA – IMC-UNESCO). Today, Professor Sommers enjoys performing with fellow accordionists in duo, with other instrumentalists and with the UMKC Chamber Accordion Ensemble. In addition to her performing, she continues to adjudicate, coach soloists, prepare accordion orchestra arrangements, and conduct accordion orchestras regularly. After her retirement as CIA Vice President, she was unanimously awarded the status of CIA Honorary Member.