As the Michigan Accordion Society (MAS) celebrates its 20th year anniversary, they have made significant financials donation commitments within their community and beyond to help promote youth  Accordion programs.  They have already issued $4,000.00 in scholarship programs with both the National and America Accordion Association earlier this year and on June 21st, 2016 MAS issued another $3,500.00 in student music scholarships to seven lucky Accordion students in Michigan. 

The June 21st Scholarship event was located at Cripsellis Bakery & Pizzeria in Berkley, MI in their Club Room which was made possible by Crispelli’s proprietor Mr. Joe Morrelli who loves the instrument and graciously supports the MAS organization. Each scholarship winner performed a number of various music selections to a large audience.   

The scholarship was made possible through the “Tony Dannon Music Student Scholarship Fund” in which MAS manages, proceeds of that funs were generously provided through the “Tersigini Family Foundation” as well as many musicians throughout the US who helped make the donation possible during a Tony Dannon dinner tribute (http://www.michiganaccordion.org/dannon.html).

Accordion Students (some who drove all the way from Grand Rapids, MI) were selected to participate were, Vincent Volpone , Jessica Fligger , Piper Teasdale,  Anthony Wiederhold,  Stevan Krstevski, Emilia Jasinski, & Lukas Stachurski.  Students ranged in age from 5 years to 15 years old. Eachstudent received $500.00 to be used for future Accordion Lessons.  Proceeds were payable directly to their instructors, Pavel Vasliv from the Music Authority School of Music in Dearborn Heights, MI., Yakov Todoromovich private instructor from Troy, MI & Michael Schaffer Private Instructor from Grand Rapids, MI.The instructors will use the funds as credit towards their future music lessons.

Joe Recchia, MAS president who hosted the event told us “This kind of event just does not happen overnight, a lot of up front planning is required which includes making our society a 501c3 tax deductible organization, then working with generous financial supporters who unconditionally donate to our organization, then work at securing accordion& music  donations, instructors and accordion students as well as working with community business leaders to find a location to host our events.  It’s a huge undertaking and our MAS Board and MAS members, teachers, students and their parents are a very big part in making this annual event successful………and we still have more money to give out this year as we try to bring the total to Scholarship funding to $10,000.00 and this will be the most our organization has ever issued within a 1 year period.”

John Orischak from Dearborn, MI was also present at the event as a featured Accordion soloist. He volunteered his time to share his talent with the other students. John was a past MAS Scholarship award recipient who has benefited from our program. John has become a very busy accordionist’s performing a variety of events in the Detroit area and is heading to Wayne State University to earn 2 degrees in both music and business.   

Joe Recchia adds…”this is one of the main reasons why our Society exists, our Scholarship program does work and its there to benefit students like John, we are very proud of his accomplishments and he has a very bright future ahead of him and it’s great to know that the Michigan Accordion Society helped just a little to make a difference”. 

For more information on the Michigan Accordion SocietyScholarship program and upcoming events, please visit their website at www.michiganaccordion.org

In July 2016 MAS will be bringing in three time world accordion champion Cory Pesaturo from Rhode Island, to hold an Accordion workshop and perform at several events….on July 14th at Stahls Auto Museum in Chesterfield Township, MI, then on July 15 at the Detroit Italian Festival at Freedom Hill in Sterling Heights, MI, then at Jenuwine’s with Michele Ramo on July 19, 2016 in Sterling Heights, MI. Cory will also be recording with international renowned Bassist Mr. Ralph Armstrong

Photos:
Photo Left– Former Scholarship Winner John Orischak performs for MAS
Photo Top – Michigan Scholarship Winner’s From left to right:  Emilia Jasinski, Vincent Volpone , Stevan Krstevski, Jessica Fligger, Piper Teasdale with their scholarship certificates and MAS president Joe Recchia with the $3,500 Scholarship award check
Photo Right – Michigan Scholarship Winner Lucas Stachurski receiving his scholarship award from MAS president Joe Recchia