The (University of Missouri-Kansas City) UMKC Community Accordion Orchestra celebrates its 50th year at the UMKC Conservatory of Music and Dance with a special anniversary concert on Sunday, May 22, 2011 at 2:30 PM at the White Recital Hall at the James C. Olson Performing Arts Center, UMKC Campus, 4949 Cherry Street, Kansas City, Missouri.
This is a free concert, no tickets required, however you can call 816-235-2799 for information and directions.
The concert will be directed by Joan C. Sommers, with a special guest choir comprising of approximately 70 members made up from singers from both Pleasant Lee Middle School and The Heartland Academy, directed by Dr. Verna Brummet, coordinated by Christine Jarquio.
Special artists on the program include:
Suzanne Boucard (Soprano); Louis Barr (Dancer); Laura Cantu (Dancer) and virtuoso MIDI accordionist, Betty Jo Simon.
The program includes:
ROSSINI: “Overture from L’italiana in Algeri”
JOSIPOVIC: “Ditiramb”
ANDERSON: “Serenata”
DELIBES: “Les filles de Cadix”
LOEWE: “I Could Have Danced All Night” from My Fair Lady
LECUONA: “Malagueña” from Andalucía (“Suite Española”)
VERDI: “Triumphal March” from Aida
PIAZZOLLA:” Adiós Nonino
”
FRANCESCHINA: “Iconosphere” *composed for director Joan Cochran Sommers
SAWYER: “Recuerdos” *composed for the UMKC Community Accordion Orchestra for the 50th Anniversary Concert
RODGERS: “Medley from The Sound of Music”
JACKSON: “Let There Be Peace on Earth”
Joan C. Sommers has directed the world famous UMKC Community Accordion Orchestra since it formed almost 50 years ago, when she established the accordion program at UMKC in 1961. During its long history the UMKC Accordion Orchestra has won many national titles in the USA, and toured to such places as Germany, Switzerland, Austria, England, Scotland, Sweden, Denmark, Russia, Estonia, New Zealand, Australia, Hungary, Czech Republic and Italy.
The orchestra presents regular concerts at the University and has made guest appearances at national festivals and other important engagements throughout the United States. Highlights include appearances with the Kansas City Symphony, the Kansas City Civic Symphony Orchestra, and at the American Accordionists’ Association (AAA), the Accordionists and Teachers Guild, International (ATG) and the Accordion Federation of North America Annual Festivals.
Concert repertoire includes original accordion orchestra music, orchestral transcriptions, Broadway Music, Jazz and popular favorites. The UMKC Accordion Orchestra members consist of UMKC students, graduates, alumni and special guests who accompany the orchestra when on tour.
The Annual Spring Concert of the UMKC Accordion Orchestra on April 29th, 2001 marked the 40th Anniversary of the UMKC Accordion Orchestra which gave its first University Recital in the Spring of 1961. This landmark concert also marked the retirement of Joan C. Sommers from the Conservatory therefore making this concert the last official concert of the UMKC Accordion Orchestra.
The orchestra continues to rehearse and perform at the University, however, it is now called the UMKC Community Accordion Orchestra. In conjunction with this 40th Anniversary Concert, the UMKC Accordion Orchestra released a set of six CD’s highlighting the 40 years of accordion greatness.
The UMKC Community Accordion Orchestra performed at the 100th Anniversary Celebrations of the UMKC Conservatory of Music and in 2007 at the 60th Anniversary Coupe Mondiale in Washington DC, where they performed at both the festival headquarters Hotel and also at the famed Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
Joan C. Sommers is very busy as an adjudicator, clinician, and conductor at many musical events. In July 2010, she and several members of the orchestra were busy performing or assisting during the Annual Music Festival held by the Accordionists and Teachers Guild, International where she served as Chair and Coordinator of The Anthony Galla-Rini International Competition for Classical Accordion held in honor of one of her early teachers.
In October 2010, she adjudicated at the 4th V-Accordion International Competition in Rome sponsored by the Roland Corporation, after which she traveled to Verazdin, Croatia to adjudicate at the Coupe Mondiale, participate in many CIA meetings and to conduct the “World Accordion Orchestra IV” in a world premiere performance of ICONOSPHERE, a new piece written by the well-known American composer-playwright-author, John Franceschina, and dedicated to her.
Upon her return, she presented workshops and conducted the International Orchestra at the 2010 Las Vegas International Accordion Convention. She is looking forward to this concert of the UMKC Community Accordion Orchestra since it will be a celebration of 50 years for the accordion group concerts at the UMKC Conservatory of Music under her direction. She hopes you will join in that Celebration!
One of the pieces to be performed on that concert will be ICONOSPHERE, which was written for Joan Sommers by renowned American composer John Franceschina while accordionist and composer and jazz musician Amy Jo Sawyer composed “Recuerdos” especially for Joan Sommers and the UMKC 50th Anniversary concert. Joan Sommers is sought after as a performer, conductor, clinician, adjudicator and musical director for major accordion festivals throughout the world, such as those in China, Poland, Norway, Europe, New Zealand and Australia.
Joan is a Past President of the Accordionists and Teachers Guild, International, marking the third time she has led this esteemed International organization which is affiliated with the International Music Council (IMC) – UNESCO. Internationally, Joan serves as Vice President of the Confédération Internationale des Accordéonistes (CIA) where she has at various times led or been an officer in the Music Committee, and where she also serves as an jury member on many occasions.
Joan earned the right to represent the USA in the CIACoupe Mondiale in both 1955 and 1956, which undoubtedly developed her interest in worldwide accordion activities. Joan has since been honored numerous times by both national and international accordion organizations, as well as other musical organizations for her ongoing dedication and contributions to the field of music. As a performer, she uses the piano accordion, but she teaches all types of systems. Her students play both chromatic and keyboard instruments with various configurations.
Her students have won numerous top awards, including the United States Championship Competitions and have been candidates to the CIACoupe Mondiale World Accordion Championships on many different occasions over a long period of time. Some of the most outstanding accordion professionals, both men and women, have been her students and have earned music degrees at the UMKC Conservatory of Music.
Joan C. Sommers was presented with the 2010 Lifetime Achievement Award at the Las Vegas International Accordion Convention by organizer Paul Pasquali in November 2010. She received this prestigious award for her distinguished contributions to music education, accordion music, and culture. This was the third year that Joan returned to conduct the Las Vegas International Accordion Orchestra. Her dedicated work and spirit were apparent in the outstanding musical performance.
Joan Sommers has made numerous contributions to the advancement of the accordion. She established the only college-level accordion training program in the U.S. in Kansas City, at the University of Missouri Conservatory of Music in 1961. During Joan’s career she designed and taught courses in accordion orchestra, arranging, chamber music, literature, and accordion history, while giving private lessons. She quickly became a full Professor and in 1988 was appointed Assistant Dean.
Additionally, she has taught and adjudicated in many countries and has held elective and appointed offices in both national and international accordion organizations. She has now retired from UMKC but continues to teach, something she loves.
Joan is a talented arranger for the accordion orchestra and says it is constantly in her mind, making it difficult for her to just listen to music as background. When she listens, she hears and analyzes the specific sounds, the techniques used, and the form of the composition.
For further information email: joansommers@kc.rr.com
Purchase 6 CD’s from UMKC Accordion Orchestra.
Purchase 2 CD’s from Amy Jo Sawyer
Purchase 2 CD’s from Betty Jo Simon
