Accordionists Gabe Hall-Rodrigues, Ray Harris, Micah Bisson and Jamie Maschler performed with the Seattle Symphony Orchestra on February 2, 2019 at 2:PM at Benaroya Hall in “Tchaikovsky’s Suite No. 2” which has parts for 4 accordions in the 3rd movement. See Top Photo.

Ray Harris said, “The accordion section of the Seattle Philharmonic! The Tchaikovsky was a stunning performance. The conductor insisted the accordions stand for their parts in the Scherzo and the audience erupted in vigerous applause after the movement. (Full disclosure: probably because the orchestra rocked(!!!!) as well did the accordion section.) What a blast!!”

Excerpts from the Seattle Symphony Orchestra website: Although Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s four orchestral suites are exemplars of everything that is loved about his music, they still remain relatively unknown to audiences in spite of their great potential appeal. This concert features a rare performance of the Orchestral Suite No. 2, a boistrous, tuneful and joyous work deserving of more popularity.

Joseph Haydn is represented by two contrasting works: the rousing overture to his opera L’incontro improvviso, and a tempestuous dramatic “scene”, Berenice, che fai?, featuring soprano Linda Tsatsanis. The concert also includes music by French composer Elsa Barraine, whose Symphony No. 2 was given its second U. S. performance during the Philharmonic’s 2017-18 season; her Funeral Music for “The Entombment” of Titien will receive its U. S. premiere. The soloist will be pianist Sophie Lippert, a former winner of the Philharmonic’s Don Bushell Competition.

The entire program consists of
Haydn Overture, L’incontro improvviso
Haydn Berenice, che fai? (Scena di Berenice) Linda Tsatsanis, soloist
Barraine Musique funèbre pour La Mise au tombeau du Titien
Sophie Lippert, soloist
Orchestral Suite No. 2 in C, Op. 53
The Play of Sounds”: Tchaikovsky’s Suite No. 2

Founded in 1944 by George M. Ross, the Seattle Phil is a mainstay in Seattle arts and culture. The Phil is a member-owned orchestra, and draws talent from throughout our Puget Sound community to create engaging and memorable classical music. Recognized for creative programming which marries time honored classics and lesser known master-pieces, a concert with the Phil is something that you won’t experience anywhere else in the Northwest.

Current Music Director Adam Stern joined the SPO for the 60th anniversary season in 2003. With a heart driven by music and a life steeped in its study, Stern has brought a new energy to the Seattle Philharmonic story. He has been active in the local music community since 1992. He is currently an Adjunct Faculty member at Cornish College of the Arts, where he teaches composition and orchestral studies. Stern also serves as the Music Director and Conductor for the Sammamish Symphony Orchestra.

More than six decades after it was founded, the SPO continues to thrive as an assembly of professional and non-professional performers bringing affordable performances of classical music to the community. The orchestra is still composed of accountants, physicians, teachers, homemakers… people from all walks of life who share a love of music.

Gabe has been teaching privately for over 10 years as an in-home instructor and at Arizona Piano Lessons. In 2016, he became Music Director for Gateway Academy after working as a music teacher and therapist since 2006. He developed a rock band and music technology curriculum with fellow music therapist Mike Plunkett. Gateway Academy is a private school in Scottsdale, Arizona for K-12 students on the autism spectrum.

Gabe has presented workshops at the American Accordionists’ Association and the Frank Marocco Accordion Event highlighting the use of the accordion in music therapy as well as elements of jazz language and harmony for accordionists. He is a Petosa artist and was featured in 2014 in their monthly newsletter. Gabe also currently works at the Petosa shop at their new location in Lynwood, WA.

Gabe Hall-Rodrigues is an Arizona-native accordionist, pianist and vocalist currently residing in Seattle, WA. He began playing the piano at age 7 and quickly realized his love for music and performing. In 2010, after only studying the accordion for a year, Gabe won the American Accordionists’ Association’s Virtuoso Solo Competition. In 2011 he graduated from Arizona State University with his Bachelor’s Degree in Music Therapy. In 2013, Gabe graduated from ASU with a Master of Music in Jazz Piano Performance under the award winning pianist, composer and professor, Mike Kocour. During his time at ASU, Gabe received the Special Talent Award and Jazz Bird scholarships. He was a frequent guest vocalist with the ASU Concert Jazz Band and Jazz Repertory Band. Gabe was also fortunate to study with world-renowned professor and tubist Sam Pilafian during his time on accordion with the traditional jazz ensemble, the ASU Dixie Devils.

Carving her name in the music scene as Sanfoneira or accordionist, Jamie Maschler is among Seattle’s few female lead instrumentalists. Jaimie said, “Hello friends, Gabe and I are releasing an album which is now available on iTunes. This project has been dreamy to say the least and captures the shared love we have for the accordion. Take a listen, I bet you’ll like it”

Maschler, accordionist for the forró band En Canto in Seattle, WA., has played in venues all over the world including St. Lucia, Canada, Brazil, and Mexico. She has played with the Seattle Symphony, Port Angeles Symphony, Lake Union Orchestra, and the Pueblo Symphony. In December, Maschler took a nine city tour of Alaska with the performance group Letters Aloud. Jamie’s original music has been aired on the Radio in Seattle, Austin, Salvador BR, and Canada.

Jamie has been featured performer and presented workshops on stylized Brazilian and Tango music for the Leavenworth Accordion Convention, National Accordion Association, Accordion Teachers Guild (ATG), American Accordion Association (AAA), Port Townsend Accordion Festival, Seattle Flute Society and the Fairbanks Summer Arts Festival in AK.

In January 2019 Jamie and Gabe played Brazilian music for the Museum of Making Music at the NAMM Convention in Anaheim, California.

For further information:
gabehallrod@gmail.com
Jamie.maschler@gmail.com