Cody McSherry performed on June 17th in Newark, Delaware for the Delaware Accordion Association. Cody will perform at the 2012 AAA Festival in Baltimore on Thursday evening, July 12th, for the Italian Cabaret night entertainment. He will also participate in the AAA Jr. Festival Orchestra in addition to entering the competition.

Cody McSherry just celebrated his ninth birthday last week but he already is an accomplished musician. Cody and I were the featured performers at the June 17th meeting of the Delaware Accordion Association. And you know who the audience loved and raved over…… Cody, of course! Cody thoroughly charmed the audience with his sparkling personality and poised, spirited performance.

Cody has a musical background. He is going into 4th grade at the Resurrection Catholic School in Lancaster, PA. His busy daily routine includes school, the after school program, and then home to practice. He practices four instruments each day! It takes about an hour and half each day to do this. Cody takes lessons on and plays the piano accordion, button box accordion, piano and his newest instrument…… the pipe organ! His favorite instrument now is the button box accordion.

Cody has played the piano and organ since the age of four. He has played the piano accordion for three years and started the button box accordion about one year ago! I asked Cody what inspired him to learn the accordion. He said, “I saw my music teacher (piano teacher), Mary Koenig, play the accordion at a German restaurant and I liked the sound, the way the polkas sounded” When I asked him how his friends react to his playing the accordion, Cody said, “My friends like it a lot! I play at my school concerts and I am the only soloist each year. My principal likes my accordion playing and gives me time on the program.” It is wonderful that the principal is so encouraging of Cody’s musical gifts.

Coby comes from a musical family. His Grandpa Jack plays the trombone in a community band in Conestoga, PA. His brothers also play instruments. One plays the trumpet and the other plays the viola. They all play together at Christmas gatherings each year. His mother, Dianna, said, “It is amazing. I never would have imagined that he could have accomplished so much in a short time. He read at the age of four. When I asked him if he wanted to play the piano, he cried because he was so happy to learn music.”

Cody’s program on June 17th included: Piano accordion… “Beer Barrel Polka”, “Alley Cat”, “Radetzky March”, “Bella Notte”, “La Spagnola” and he sang and played “Chattanooga Choo Choo.” He also performed several solos on the button box accordion. And, he walked around to each table as he played!

Cody’s hobby is Archeology. His favorite subjects are Science, Chemistry and Physics. What does he want to do when he grows up? Cody explains, ” I want to play the accordion in the Andre Rieu orchestra.” I would not be surprised if he does this in his promising future. He is talented, motivated, and determined. Cody shares his musical gifts by playing for organizations including senior citizen centers.

For further information: DMcSherr@mwn.com