Nathan Troxell, 15 years old, is the newest member of the Euro Express Band. Please join them Sunday, May 1, 2022 in Lake Villa, when Nate makes his debut with them. Band members include John Gunther on drums, lead vocals & yodeling and Martin Bappert on 6 and 12 string guitars and vocals.

Nathan is an accordionist from a suburb of Chicago. He has been playing the accordion since he was 4 years old. When Nate isn’t playing the accordion he enjoys baseball, biking, and playing video games. Nate has won several awards at the Accordion Teacher’s Guild (ATG) competitions. Nate has performed several solo gigs, but this is the first time he has performed in a band. He also plays the tuba in his high school band, marching band and pep band. Nate’s favorite German song to perform is “Im Gamsgebirg”.

Nathan’s dad, Jim, shares,“We dance at a German community club. Nathan was exposed to accordions there at an early age. At a young age he started dancing. He would go onstage and play his button box accordion. He also performed as a dancer. At age 3, we moved to Chicago area. We did some research and found Kenn Baert who lives 15 minutes from us. The lead person John Gunther, is our friend and he reached out to us because the band needed an accordion player to replace the one who retired. Nate agreed to help out and after practicing with the group. joined the group. We are very proud of him”

Nate shares his thoughts about the accordion:
1.What do you like about the accordion?
I enjoy the bass on the accordion, because I think of it as the foundation of the accordion, without it the accordion is just a piano with reeds. I couldn’t possibly imagine an accordion without the bass. Before I sight read I go through the bass cleft and play it before I look at the treble cleft.

2. Do you have a favorite piece/pieces to play on the accordion and if so, what is the title and why?     
My favorite piece always varies, because I play a song and enjoy it, but then I start learning a new song and get completely wowed on how amazing the piece is. It’s a never ending circle of receiving new music and falling in love. Currently my favorite song is Rhapsody in C Minor which is a competition piece I am going to be playing at the ATG., I enjoy it because it is an up and down roller coaster of emotions with quiet, fast, loud, and slow parts within, I guess I enjoy it because it keeps me on my toes.

3. Do you have a favorite accordionist?
My favorite accordionist is probably Weird Al Yankovic, he brought fun to the accordion during a struggling time for the instrument in the light 90s and early 2000s. He exclaimed that the accordion doesn’t have to be used for certain Genres. A close second would be Alex Meixner for his ability to transfer any rock song into a polka.

4. What kinds of music do you like to listen to? Any favorite type or bands etc?
 German music from Bavaria, I love listening to waltzes and polkas. Since I was born in the Bavarian community I have always had a spot in my heart to that fun music, not just because its fun to dance, but its amazing to play the music on the accordion and watch members of the community enjoy and embrace it.

5. What would you like to do in the future If you have some ideas now?
What I would do in the future is to practice and keep my fingers spry. I still don’t know what to do with my life, but the accordion I still intend to keep playing regardless of what happens to me. Even if it is going to be the end on the world I would continue with the accordion strapped to my back.

6. How do you feel when you play the accordion?
While I play the accordion I feel a million emotions ranging from joy, to sadness, and to rage. It depends on the piece and what I feel in the moment before I play. I use the accordion to convey my feelings, to provide enjoyment, and of course to have fun.

Kenn Baert, Nathan’s teacher, began his accordion studies in the second grade through a music program at St. Bavo School in Mishawaka, IN. conducted by Gene Van. Kenn enrolled in private lessons, studying with Laura Van, and progressed very quickly winning numerous state and national awards. In 1983, he won the Indiana Virtuoso Solo Championship. Kenn performed at Carnegie Hall in New York as a member of the Gene Van Virtuoso Ensemble, after the group won the American Accordionists’ Association (AAA) U.S. Virtuoso Championship. In 1984, Kenn was first runner-up in the AAA Midwest Cup Regional Championship and second runner-up in the 1984 AAA United States Virtuoso Championship. In 2009, Kenn won the United States Roland V-Accordion Championship in Los Angeles, CA. Kenn is a 1989 graduate of Marquette University, in Milwaukee, WI, where he received a BS degree in Computer Science. In 2014, Kenn retired from his Principal Technical Architect position in Information Technology at AT&T. Kenn is also a former Vice President of the Accordionists & Teachers Guild, International (ATG) and has a small number of accordion students that he teaches from his home in Barrington Hills, IL.

AWW wishes Nathan continuing successes with his accordion!

Photo right: Gene Van and Nate at ATG when he was five years old
Photo: Nathan in the Euro Express Band
Photo: Nathan at age three