At Public School 203Q in Bayside, Queens, the students think the accordion is cool! Ever since Cory Pesaturo performed at their school, everyone wants to be in the Accordion Club! Thanks to the generosity of several people who have donated accordions, they now have the largest accordion club in P.S. 203’s history!
The Squeeze Box 18, in existence for about 15 years, presently has 18 members consisting of 4th and 5th graders ages 8, 9, and 10 years old!
Music teacher Linda Holcomb and Squeezebox 18
Assisting the group weekly for the past two years is volunteer “Papa Joe” DeClemente, who is a local professional Accordionist/Entertainer from Bellerose, NY. Papa Joe volunteers his time to join the students for rehearsals and he inspires them to be better accordionists. Among the many things he does for them, he also fixes their accordions!
Linda Holcomb, the school’s music teacher shares, “Our teachers and parents and community love this club! There may be other accordion clubs in New York City Public schools, but I sure don’t know of one. We will also perform at the Bayside Senior Center on Tuesday, Dec 17, 2024 at 11:AM. The center’s address is 221-15 Horace Harding in Bayside, Queens, NY. Our group will also perform at the PS 203 Winter Concert on Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024 at 7:PM. The school address is 53-11 Springfield Blvd in Bayside.”
Excerpts from an (Long Island Accordion Alliance) LIAA publication: Public-School 203Q, in Bayside, Queens may be one of the only elementary schools in the five boroughs of New York City that has a student accordion band. It is made up of 18 4th and 5th graders and is conducted by the school’s music teacher, Mrs. Linda Holcomb.
The school started their accordion band over fifteen years ago. They meet once a week, at the beginning of the school day to practice various songs that they will perform throughout the year. “We enjoy performing for concerts and events in our school, and we love taking our show on the road, into our community,” says Holcomb. During December, the group braved the frigid weather and played holiday songs outdoors for the Bayside Hills community holiday lighting celebration. They also entertained at the Clearview Senior Center located in that same area.
Squeezebox 18
Holcomb adds, “Performing for nursing homes and Senior Centers brings such joy to the people there. They love to see the children play their accordions. Our students always come home from those trips so excited, having experienced how their music can really be a blessing to others.”
I attended their concert a few years. The enthusiasm for the accordion was apparent and more students have signed up thanks to Joe DeClemente and Linda Holcomb. Future publications will announce more concerts. I recommend attending to witness young people enjoying the accordion!
For further information: lindaholcomb203@gmail.com
