The World Premiere of “Black Swan” by Dr. William Schimmel took place on February 23, 2024 at The DiMenna Center Concert hall in New York. It was premiered by the North South Consonance Chamber Orchestra conducted by Max Lifchitz, Denise Koncelik on accordion.

The composer, Dr. William Schimmel trained at The Juilliard School, where his mentors included Elliott Carter and Roger Sessions. A virtuoso accordionist, Schimmel is well-known for his many recordings with the Tango Project and for his work in numerous popular movies and television series including Sesame Street, Scent of a Woman and Sex and the City.

Keyboard Magazine cited him as “the figure who has done the most to promote the accordion in mainstream art forms including classical, jazz, rock, world music and avant-garde.”

Concerning his recently completed work, Schimmel writes: “Black Swan is a single-movement composition for accordion and ensemble written to mark North/South Consonance.’s 44th season of advocating on behalf of the music by living composers. Black swans are a symbol of beauty, mystery and transformation. The music is built around the three-note descending motive introduced at the opening. This melodic idea is combined with elements of Argentinean Tango and Portuguese Fado as the music unfolds. The writing for the solo instrument provides the performer with ample opportunity for technical display.”

For further information: accordionbill@gmail.com