Accordionists & Teachers Guild, International (ATG) is launching a new quarterly Professional Development Series for Accordion Teachers in November. The first event will be presented on November 7 from 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM Central time, via zoom, with presenters Prof. Joan C. Sommers and Mary Ann Covone. Prof. Joan Sommers will discuss “First Lessons for the Beginner.” Mary Ann Covone will discuss “Business Operations of a 21st Century Accordion Studio.” Enrollment will be capped at 15 attendees to allow ample time for discussion and questions.

There will be a second presentation if necessary. The cost is $60 for ATG members and $85 for non-members. Scholarships are available based on financial need. Please write to Mary Ann Covone for more details.”

Please contact Mary Ann Covone, ATG President, at maryanncovone@gmail.com for enrollment information and watch the website www.atgaccordions.com for further information.

Wednesday Workshops have resumed via zoom for our membership. Our first workshop featured Murl Allen Sanders on September 22 discussing Accompaniment techniques and considerations for effective ensemble playing with your accordion. Listen, Listen, Listen

Dr. Helmi Harrington will offer presentations on diatonic accordions on September 29 and October 6. Gordon Kohl Will present new Oktoberfest music on October 29.

All previous workshops, including Michael Bridge, Joan Sommers, Liz Finch, Herbert Scheibenreif and more are available to members on our website. Membership for a year costs only $60. Any one of these workshops would be well worth that investment!

ATG will present a special one-time online workshop by Professor Friedrich Lips of Moscow on December 12th at 2:00 pm Central Time, US. Professor Lips will discuss the role of accordion in today’s general music culture. Globally, how does it interact with other instruments and groups?

Plans for our 2022 Festival are shaping up – July 20-24 at the Lisle Hyatt in the Chicago area. Featured artists are Michael Bridge, Stas Venglevski and Murl Allen Sanders.

We are celebrating our 80th anniversary, so we have rented a beautiful facility on the nearby campus of Wheaton College for our Friday and Saturday concerts. We are planning for an 80-member Festival accordion orchestra to celebrate 80 years. The orchestra will be conducted by Joan Sommers. Registration will soon be available on our website. This is not a function of Wheaton College.

Be sure to check the ATG website regularly for news: www.atgaccordions.com. We can also be found on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/74309904892/ and on Instagram.

To become an ATG member:
https://www.atgaccordions.com/new-member.
You will receive notices of all events.