Video: excerpts from the concerts by the Tamburitzans featuring accordionist Cody McSherry

WOW, what a show! I just had the pleasure of watching a two-hour performance of vocal and instrumental music and dance by the Tamburitzans, a group that has been performing for over 80 years. This year’s program, “Phoenix: A New Dawn”, features music from Croatia, Bulgaria, the Alpine Region and Israel in the first half, and music from Serbia, Italy, Romania, Greece and Ukraine in the second half. There were large and small dance ensembles, instrumental and vocal solos and duets, and creative choreography.

This outstanding group combines talent, high energy, with joy of entertaining and connecting with the audience. These performers, who are also full-time students at Pittsburgh-area universities, are doing shows around the country, while keeping up with their studies. One of these performers is accordionist, Cody McSherry, a second year student with triple major at the University of Pittsburgh. I have known Cody since the age of 9, when he showed up with a small accordion at an American Accordionists’ Association festival and impressed everyone with his talent and enthusiasm. Cody plays many instruments besides the piano accordion and its chromatic and diatonic cousins. He is not only featured on the accordion in this show, he also sings, dances, and performs on other instruments.

Tha Tamburitzans will be performing five shows in five days:
Wednesday, March 1st, 2023, 7:00 PM, St. Petersburg, FL.
Thursday, March 2nd, 2023 7:30 PM, Miami, FL.
Friday, March 3rd, 2023 7:00 PM, Mt. Dora, FL.
Saturday, March 4th, 2023, 6:00 PM, Atlanta, GA.
Sunday, March 5th, 2023, 3:00 PM, Monroe, NC.

There are more shows in various states around the US later in March and April. Details can be found on the Tamburitzans’ website (https://www.thetamburitzans.org/). If you are anywhere near one of the venues, you owe it to yourself to see the show. Tickets are available online and at the door.