The young New Zealander who has recently burst forth as a musical phenomenon is a 22-year-old Kiwi, Grayson Masefield, who has established himself as a brilliant accordionist.
He will embark on a U.S. performance tour beginning with an April 11 appearance in the Boston area.
The handsome young musician has taken top titles for the astounding musical prowess he demonstrates with his instrument in serious classics as well as crossover music styles.
Masefield’s accordion boasts the ability to bypass the conventional pre-set chords and offers the complete range of single bass notes enabling the artist to perform accurate renditions of any music style including classics.
At the most recent Coupe Mondiale (World Accordion Championships which take place in a different country annually, much the same as the World Olympics), Grayson Masefield took top honors as the foremost accordionist in both classical and entertainment categories. These outstanding performances followed his first place award at the Primus Ikaalinen International TV Competition in Finland and preceded his acclaimed appearance with an electronic accordion. (Video of this is on Grayson’s Fan Club).
No other accordionist has taken such an array of titles by mastering this wide range of musical performance styles. Grayson began classical training at Auckland University with Stephanie Poole. His advanced study subsequently took place in France with renowned accordion educator Frédéric Deschamps. He has already given critically acclaimed performances in France, Spain, Germany, United Kingdom, Portugal, Slovakia, Italy, China, Lithuania, Monaco, New Zealand and Finland.
His musical heritage dates back to his maternal grandfather, Allan Jones of Auckland who is known as the “Father of Accordion” throughout Australasia, where he was a founding member of the New Zealand Accordion Association and the gentleman most responsible for bringing the 1980 World Accordion Championships, under the auspices of the Confédération Internationale des Accordéonistes (CIA), to Auckland. The instrument’s popularity was furthered by Grayson’s uncles, Harley and Maurice Jones as well as his mother, Heather Masefield, the children of Allan Jones who all became performers and teachers of the accordion. On his paternal side, Grayson traces his lineage back to the Maoris, the natives of New Zealand. His dad too, studied accordion as a youngster.
The concert schedule begins April 11 in Newton, MA and is followed by appearances in Kansas City, MO, Chicago, IL, New York City, Connecticut, Westchester, NY,, Sykesville, MD,, Silver Springs, MD, and Westchester, NY. Concert details are available from the American Accordionists’ Association (AAA), AAA1938@aol.com
Editor Rita Davidson:
Do not miss this special event, Grayson Masefield, in his USA concert tour! See the Grayson’s Fan Club for video of his performance, the most recent receiving a standing ovation in Lithuania from an audience of music teachers and accordion students.
CONCERT DATES:
1. Sunday, April 11, 2010 -Accordion Teachers Association of Massachusetts (ATAM), Boston
2. Sunday, April 18, 2010- Unity on the Plaza, 707 W. 47th St., Kansas City, Missouri
For more information: vivant@vivantsound.com
3. Sunday, April 25, 2010 – Connecticut Accordion Association, Connecticut
4. Tuesday, April 27, 2010- Mt.Vernon Senior Citizens Center at the Armory.
For further information: call Dr.Sal Febbraio 914-664-2455
5. Thursday April 29th, concert, Fairhaven Community Center, Sykesville, Maryland. Sponsored by Joan Grauman and Stella Allison, Private event.
6. Saturday, May 1, 2010 – Concert, Silver Spring, MD sponsored by Dan & Joan Grauman.For further information: joangrauman@comcast.net
7. Sunday, May 2, 2010- Carmen Carrozza Scholarship Dinner, New York.
For further information: drjciccone@aol.com
To arrange additional concert dates, please contact concert organizer, Faithe Deffner via e-mail: fdeffner@aol.com or the AAA office at AAA1938@aol.com.
