Remembering and Honoring Eugene Ettore on His 100th Birthday
June 1st 2021
Rita Davidson Barnea, Editor Accordion USA News

Video 1: “Rhapsodie Espagnol” composed by Eugene Ettore, performed by Rita Barnea at the 80th Anniversary AAA Festival in Washington DC.
Video 2: “Prelude & Scherzo” composed by Eugene Ettore, performed by Rita Barnea.
June 2, 2021 would have been Eugene Ettore’s 100th Birthday. In honor of his birthday, I am posting the link to the website which I created to educate all about a unique, versatile and talented individual who made great contributions to the accordion world and musical world in general. I encourage you to visit this page at: Eugene Ettore
During this year, I will include articles on his music, musicians who perform his music, and scheduled programs featuring his compositions.
I was extremely fortunate to be his student. Eugene Ettore prepared me for my long career as a music teacher in the public schools. I played the accordion every day for my students! The accordion is a fabulous asset to any music teacher! Anyone who has a mentor who positively encourages and reinforces his interests is a very fortunate person. Lifelong interpersonal skills are developed because of an influential teacher.
Eugene Ettore inspired all of his students with an approach which included discipline, encouragement, and kindness. Those of you who had a music teacher as a guiding light in their lives will understand the importance of having a teacher/mentor. The lifelong benefits and influence branch out into so many other areas of life.
Eugene Ettore was well known as a fabulous composer for the accordion. He performed as both soloist and in the duet team, “Concert Duo” with Carmen Carrozza, his great friend. As a Renaissance man, Eugene Ettore also played the French Horn, and wrote method books for the accordion and French Horn. He was an artist, inventor, piano tuner/rebuilder and Braille transcriber etc. He was President of the AAA (American Accordionists’ Association) three times!
I presented a lecture/concert workshop, “The Life and Music of Eugene Ettore” at the 2018 AAA Festival in Alexandria, Virginia. In honor of Eugene Ettore’s birthday, I am offering a free download of the recording of his original compositions:
http://www.musicforaccordion.com/eTracks/inform/davidson/index.htm
If you would like to see recent performances of some of his works, please visit:
1. Eugene Ettore: “Spanish Holiday, for Accordion”:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bFhxhXcb7pQ
2. Rita Barnea Workshop “Accordion Miniatures”:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tPyCpSxiT8E
3. Rita Barnea Workshop “Five O’Clock Rush”:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-7JMjGdU1c
If you wish to learn any of his music including his method books, please email me at Ritabelll@aol.com and I will send it to you as a free download.
I hope that you will enjoy learning about Eugene Ettore. He greatly deserves to be remembered and recognized for his important contributions. I would love to see more accordionists learn and perform his works. I welcome any comments sent to me, Rita Barnea at Ritabelll@aol.com. Cell/text: 201-675-4861