Mary Tokarski will perform “Rhapsody for Accordion and Orchestra” by Gary Daverne with the Auckland Symphony Orchestra at the Coupe Mondiale 2009 World Accordion Championship Concert. The concert will take place at the Bruce Mason Centre, Auckland, NZ on August 25, 7:30PM.
Mary Tokarski performs as a soloist, and as a member of “Buttons & Keys” (a piano/accordion duo). Mary was United States Champion twice, and represented the U.S. in the 1971 and 1973 Coupe Mondiale events in Belgium and France.
Mary serves on the Board of Directors for both the American Accordionists Association and the Accordionists and Teachers Guild, Intl. Mary also teaches and travels throughout the U.S. presenting workshops and Master Classes on improving musical skills, and coaches on all aspects of performance.
The Auckland Symphony is Auckland’s most popular orchestra. The ASO is a community-based orchestra formed in 1975 by its musical director, Gary Daverne. The players are drawn from all parts of Auckland and from all walks of life.
The orchestra provides an opportunity to musicians who have chosen a career outside music, to enjoy weekly rehearsals of symphonic music, playing without payment and purely for the pleasure of making good music together.The orchestra also supports local young soloists, giving them the opportunity to perform with a full symphony orchestra, in concert.
The orchestra’s main philosophy is that music should be fun and enjoyed by players and audiences alike – hence the regular, Free Family concerts that are offered in Auckland with out-of-town concerts in areas where a live performance by a Symphony Orchestra is a rare event.
The Auckland Symphony Orchestra, with over eighty players, has developed an excellent following and reputation for its high quality performances of popular classics, film and show music, often playing to capacity and turn-away audiences.Regular annual features of the orchestra are the two sell-out performances of Last Night of the Proms and the Free Christmas Sing Along with local Pacific Island youth choirs.
For further info about the concerts: Mary Tokarski, mary.tokarski@comcast.net
