Dr. William Schimmel curated the 32nd year of The Accordion Seminars now sponsored by The Accordion Global Association on July 31, August 1 and 2, 2026.
The now virtual dimension gave way for a variety of artistic perspectives: Music Videos, Dance Videos, Performance art, Concert Archives, and live performances and commentaries by Dr. Schimmel himself.
As he states at the beginning of the weekend, “The Seminars were founded in 1994 and took place in a New York Art Gallery. The purpose was to establish a community of artists centered around the Accordion.
Most participants were accordionists, but artists from other disciplines also attended. Many of the non accordionists took up the accordion and started using it in new ways and the accordionists started to look at its tradition in new ways as a springboard in to the present and future. It produced sophisticated and original work.
Since Covid, we went virtual and of course it gave way to more and more possibilities. We enjoy being regarded as A New York School of Accordion Artists and we also enjoy our Global Perspective, hence, The Accordion Global Association.”
The 2026 Seminars can be viewed on You Tube – Type in William Schimmel and you’ll find the 2025 Seminars along with earlier years as well.
On August 21, 2026, Dr. William Schimmel performed “In Vain”, by Georg Friedrich Haas. He performed with the Contemporary group, Alarm will Sound at the Di Menna Center, NY. The 70 minute piece Is scored for 22 musicians has a large accordion part and the ensemble performs two large sections in total darkness.
The composer, from Vienna, now teaching at Columbia University, composed the work in 2000 and is a member of the Spectral School, started by the late Gerard Grisey, a former accordionist who Schimmel remembers from their accordion competition days. There will be another performance in October in Boston.
On September 22, 2026, (Schimmel’s 80th Birthday), he will perform at Bryant Park, NY, as part of The Accordions Around The World Festival. Look for him at Station 5 from 5:40 to 6:20 PM performing Classic Rock.
For more information: accordionbill@gmail.com
