Several young accordionists from Texas will be among the online semi finalists in the Texas Folklife Big Squeeze Contest on May 1, 2020. Two of them study with accordionist Elena Fainshtein from Dallas. Nick Heatly is currently 16 years old. He lives in Dallas, Texas but was born in Pskov, Russia. He has been playing accordion for one year. Nick is a junior in high school at Bishop Lynch High School and aspires to go to LSU and become a State Game Warden.

Timothy Regheta is 14 years old now and has been playing the accordion for three and a half years. He really loves it! Two years ago he had a serious accident. He broke his left hand and endured two surgeries and much suffering. He said, “The worst thing was not to be able to play my accordion.” At the beginning of the school year, he had recuperated sufficiently to resume his lessons. And now…. he is a finalist n the “Big Squeeze” contest. Timothy truly enjoys music and likes to bring his accordion and surprise everyone at his school. He also plays accordion at the “River of Life” local church in Plano, Texas.

2020 Big SQUEEZE FINALISTS AND RISING STAR AWARDS:
Conjunto Finalists
Johnny Joe Gutierrez, Mission
Jorge Ramirez, Roma
Jose Angel Torres, Roma
Jose Vasquez, Farmersville
Manuel Tovar, Brownsville
Nathan Gonzalez, Mission
Roberto Flores, Mission
Yarely Gomez, Roma

Conjunto Rising Star Awards (12 and under)
Annie Gutierrez, Houston
Giovanni Guerrero, Mission
Vianey Villarreal, Houston

Polka Finalists
Isaak Wolfshohl, Seguin
Nick Heatly, Dallas
Timothy Regheta, Plano

Cajun Rising Star Award
Bridget Roberts, Bridge City

There will be live performances and winner announcements, interviews and appearances by 2019 Big Squeeze champs Elijah Clements, Chloe Johnson, Perla Hernandez and Eduardo Garza.

The Facebook Live event will broadcast at 3:PM May 1, 2020 Friday on the Texas Folklife Facebook page. Several young musicians will perform from home.

Photo Below:2019 Big Squeeze Winners
Conjunto 18-21 Anthony Ortiz Jr prize: Eduardo Garza
Conjunto 17 under: Perla Hernandez
Polka: Elijah Clements
Cajun/Zydeco: Chloe Johnson

Best wishes to all the contestants for continuing successes!