The May issue of the Smithsonian Magazine included an article on “The 10 Best Small Towns in America”. On page 53, there is a wonderful photo of 13 year old Tor Stumo playing his accordion in Great Barrington, MA, a town featured in the article as a top small town.

Tor studies with AAA Board member, Mary Tokarski and is one of the young accordionists who will participate in the Youth Jazz Ensemble in July at the 2012 AAA Accordion Festival in Baltimore.

Beginning accordion at age 9, Tor is very enthusiastic about his accordion spending his time going to lessons, competitions, and places where he and his older siblings who play other instruments, can busk to earn money.

What do Tor’s friends say about his playing the accordion? Tor says, “All the kids I’ve shown it to, they think, ‘Oh my gosh, that instrument is really cool’.”

For further information: mary.tokarski@comcast.net