The Board of Directors of the 2018 National Association of Music Merchants, (NAMM), has awarded Vincent Demor, a music student at St. Petersburg College, in St. Petersburg, Florida, the NAMM’s “President’s Innovation Award.”

Demor was selected for this award from entries of college music students throughout the nation. The criteria for selection best exemplifies their commitment to the music industry and has displayed a strong aptitude for business leadership and innovation in the music products industry.

As a recipient of this prestigious award, Demor is invited to attend the NAMM show in Anaheim, CA., 25-28 January 2018. Demor will be representing St. Petersburg College while attending seminars, roundtable discussions and receptions by the NAMM Foundation and hosted by The College Music Society. Sessions will focus on personal professional development and afford valuable opportunities to explore careers in the music industry.

Demor is currently attending St. Petersburg College, in St. Petersburg Florida and is studying the Music Industry / Recording Arts (MIRA) curriculum with a major in Accordion Performance.

Background:
The NAMM event is the largest, premier music products trade show in the U.S. and has a global reach. It is an industry trend setter in unveiling cutting-edge technologies; creating household product names; showcasing emerging brands; and uniting every segment – large and small- in the music products industry. It will showcase over 1,800 exhibits. In addition, NAMM also strives to identify and recognize outstanding college music industry students like Demor, and help prepare them to be future leaders in the music industry.

For further information: jimricevt@gmail.com

Born in Pittsburgh, PA on 22 April 1997, Vincent presently resides in St. Petersburg, Florida. From the ages of five to thirteen years old, Vince’s musical studies were concentrated on the cello and piano at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, PA. When he was seven, he started lessons on the accordion. Vince’s first performance on the accordion was at the Bulgarian Social Hall in West Homestead, PA.

In 2009 he moved from Pittsburgh, PA to Spartanburg, SC. His accordion instruction resumed under the tutelage of an accordion polka master, and also with – a multi national award-wining accordionist. His mentor was a national acclaimed master accordionist – Bill Cosby.

He played the cello in both his high school orchestra and the Carolina Youth Symphony Orchestra at Furman University. In 2010, he achieved the cello first chair position in the South Carolina All-State Orchestra. In 2011, he decided to focus his musical studies on the accordion.

In 2012, at the age of fifteen, Vincent joined The Foothills Oompah Band, as their accordionist and played with them for 4 years. With the band he played at every major Oktoberfest in the Carolina’s and Georgia. Hundreds of people throughout the Carolinas, Georgia and Pennsylvania have danced to, and been entertained by the music of Vince playing the accordion in the Oompah Band.

When not with the band he plays as a solo accordion performer. He has performed at numerous German and Italian restaurants, private parties, city festive events, farmers’ markets and cultural centers. He has volunteered in the community to play the accordion at hospitals and senior nursing facilities.

During the summer of 2014 he toured with the Alex Meixner Polka Band through out Pennsylvania. Vince is a member of the Southeast Accordion Association and a charter member of Accordion Heroes.

He is currently enrolled at St. Petersburg College in St. Petersburg, FL. His curriculum is Music Industry / Recording Arts with a major in Accordion Performance. He plays solo gigs in South Florida and is in a band, “The King Guys,” out of Orlando, FL. He plays the accordion for Busch Gardens Food and Wine Festival in Tampa, FL. He continues perform at senior retirement facilities, city festivals, private and corporate parties. Recently he performed at Disney’s Four Season Resort in Orlando, FL.