Dr William Schimmel is a leading accordionist, composer and academic, based in New York, where he organizes the annual ‘Master Class and Concert Series (The Seminars)’ sponsored by the American Accordionists’ Association (AAA).
He received a Merit Award from the AAA for his contributions spanning fifty years plus the “Accordionist of the Year” Award in 1988. He has performed with many major symphony orchestras in the US, many chamber groups, as well as with rock), jazz, and avant-garde groups.
As a Juilliard trained musician, he is frequently asked to play with the Philharmonic and other orchestras around the country. He also performs in the pit orchestras on Broadway, his most recent performance being the accordionist for the award winning production of “An American in Paris.” Over the years Bill’s music has been included in television shows and films. His best known appearance is in the tango scene of “Scent of a Woman” starring Al Pacino. (See video above)
Bill Schimmel learned accordion as a child and attended Julliard School of Music where he received his doctorate in composition. While he was still a student at the school, his career was launched after he recorded songs of avant gard composer, Luiano Berio. An authority on Kurt Weill, Dr. Schimmel has recorded all of Weill’s music with accordion. Beginning in 1981, Schimmel’s Tango Project has released a string of acclaimed recordings on the Nonesuch and Newport Classic labels. The first Tango Project recording went to No. 1 on Billboard’s classical charts and was named Record of the Year by Stereo Review magazine.
Schimmel has described the accordion as having a “built-in ironic duality,” both “elegant and vulgar.” That dual quality is captured in the tango scene of “Scent of a Woman,” where it adds a spirit of fun and an undertone of raw sexuality. He has served and continues to serve as Artist in Residence of The American Accordionist’s Association (AAA) where he also serves as Distinguished Lecturer in Residence and member of the Governing Board.
Upcoming performances and projects in 2019 and 2020:
December 1 – National Gallery – Klezmer with Alicia Svigals – Washington D.C.
December 8 – Concert with Cristina Fontanelli – Carnegie Hall
December 14 – Klezmer with Alicia Svigals – Providence, Rhode Island
December 27 to January 22 – Wozzeck – Metropolitan Opera
January 12 – premiere of Dr. Schimmel’s Variations on a Waltz by Pee Wee King
North South Consonance Orchestra – at Christ and St Stephen’s Church, NY
January 12 – premiere of Dr. Schimmel’s MaterialSpirtualWorld – Kosavi World Salon
February 22 – premiere of Tipsy Steps by Noriko Koide – Music from Japan Festival
February 27, 28, 29 – Jorg Widmann – Babylon Suite – New York Philharmonic – Lincoln Center
May 21, 22, 23 – Mary Poppins in Concert – New York Philharmonic – Lincoln Center
June 6 – Not Entirely Schubert – Curated by Dr. Schimmel – Bruno Walter Auditorium – Lincoln Center
June 16 – The Met Orchestra – Jorg Widmann: Lied – Carnegie Hall
July 31, August 1, August 2 – 2020 AAA Seminars: Time Travel – Dr. Schimmel, curator – Tenri
New Video – Le Chat Noir – Dr. Schimmel and Micki Goodman – You Tube
New Digital Albums – What’s Tango about the Classics 1 – 2 – 3 – Available at
Amazon and CD Baby
New Books:
Milking your Accordion
Accordion Mixology – (The essential Dr. Schimmel)
New CD – DragonFly on Fence – new works by Peter Jarvis, percussion and Dr. Schimmel
Composers Concordance/Naxos Records
Blues, Hues and Views – William Schimmel/Elliott Sharp – Cavity Search Records
For further information email: accordionbill@gmail.com
