Silvia Eberly lights up every room she enters with her lovely smile, her genuine Austrian accent and the constant twinkle in her eyes. Then, like magic, she opens the bellows of her gorgeous four-row Steirische Harmonika (an Austrian musette diatonic accordion with brilliant “tuba” bass reeds), and one is instantly and blissfully transported to the luscious green hills of Austria.

A natural entertainer, Silvia fills each performance with playful surprises including yodeling (which she does quite well!) and, when performing with her very talented young student, Michael Leggett, she may put down her accordion and play the “spoons”. Silvia’s spoons, which are handmade ornamental “percussion instruments”, delight the audience as she skillfully hits them on her hip, her head, under her arms and other… surfaces.

Silvia was born and raised in Vienna, Austria. On weekends, her aunts, uncles and cousins would get together to sing and play music. Her grandmother, mother and father all played the accordion. “Now, you know – I just HAD to learn it!” Silvia says with a smile.

She studied piano accordion in Vienna with the world-renowned accordionist, Prof. Walter Maurer, and she became quite good. As a teenager, Silvia was asked to become the accordionist for a local folk dance club. One day, the club purchased a Steirische Harmonika. After two lessons, Silvia taught herself to play this accordion.

When Silvia moved to the United States, she settled, with her family, in the Washington, DC area. Silvia regularly entertains at Café Mozart in DC, the Euro Bistro in Herndon, VA, occasionally at the Biergarten Haus in DC and the Ram’s Head Tavern in Annapolis, MD. She is eagerly awaiting the re-opening of her beloved Old Stein Inn in Edgewater, MD, where she was a regular performer since 1999. The restaurant is currently being rebuilt after a fire in late 2010.

Silvia teaches both piano accordion and Steirische Harmonika. Her student on Steirische Harmonika, Michael Leggett, received the first place trophy in April at the MAMTG/AAMS convention in Whippany, NJ, in the ethnic solo category.

Silvia also owns and operates the popular puppet show company, “Magic Mountain Puppets, Inc.” She plays accordion during her puppet shows, of course.  Silvia was recently chosen to represent the accordion manufacturers, “Strasser Brand Steirische Harmonika” and the “Original Kaerntnerland Harmonika”. She is now a US dealer for these accordions. Silvia has released several solo CDs, as well as one with Michael Leggett.

“So, I am breathing Harmonikas and fulfilling my strong desire to revitalize young people to learn their grandparents’ traditions by learning the accordion and harmonica – and to have fun with it!”

Silvia can be reached at 571-241-0730 or by email at harmonika777@gmail.com.

Photos:
1. Silvia at the Old Stein Inn
2. Silvia and the Leggetts
3. Silvia and the guys
4..Young Silvia Eberly