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Yellow Pages Events
Highlights |
Guy Klucevsek Is Appointed to Faculty of New England Conservatory
Bridge & Wolak’s New Film “Bach to Benny Goodman”
Kevin Friedrich Celebrates Launch of his New CD “The Journey”
NAA Hosts Virtual Training Area for Accordion World and 2021 Festival Info
2021 AAA Elsie M. Bennett Composition Competition for Aspiring Composers
Announcing the ATG Online Master Class Series
International Digital Electronic Accordion Society (IDEAS) Virtual Symposium 3.0
A Great Digital and Electronic Accordion Event
Accordionist Dan Newton New CD, "Out of My Dreams" Release Show
Acme School of Music Seeking Guest Artist(s) for “Virtual” Awards & Concert
Zydeco and Blues Workshop with Bruce Sunpie Barnes
Reports for Concerts, Masterclasses, Competitions, Festivals, etc. |
Accordionist Nathan Neuman Wins 2020 Song Writing Contest
AAA Historian Joan Grauman Contributes Articles on Accordion Personalities
Hohner Echophon Added to A World of Accordions Museum
A Touch of Italy in Dargaville, New Zealand
Light Classical Accordion Concert by Peter Peluso
Cafe Accordion Orchestra Outdoor Concert in Minneapolis
Annual Wedding Feast Features Accordion Entertainers
Future events |
Stas Venglevski in World Premiere of His “Poetic Rhapsody” in December
AAA Festival: July 14-18 2021 in Philadelphia, PA
ATG 2021 Festival in Lisle, Illinois
Highlights |
Editor’s Noteby Rita Davidson Barnea, Editor USA Accordion News |
 Welcome to the October USA news! It is always amazing to witness the great variety of accordion events taking place throughout the United States even when we continue to live in the midst of the pandemic. There are many new CD’s, films, and online live stream master classes available this month and in the future. Some are free while others require a small fee. We hope you will continue to be supportive of accordionists.As we move into 2021, you will learn about accordion events which are planned to be in person happenings. AWW will always continue to keep you informed if there are any major changes in venues. As always, I welcome your comments: Ritabelll@aol.com |
Guy Klucevsek Is Appointed to Faculty of New England Conservatoryby Rita Davidson Barnea, Editor USA Accordion News |
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| Guy Klucevsek has been appointed to the part-time faculty of the New England Conservatory in the Contemporary Improvisaton Department as Accordion Instructor. In this innovative program, students take one private lesson a week on their instrument to advance their performance skills, and another lesson specifically in improvisation with a faculty member who plays an instrument other than the student's. Currently led by Hankus Netsky, and founded in 1972 by musical visionaries Gunther Schuller and Ran Blake, the Contemporary Improvisation program at New England Conservatory trains creative musicians to broaden their musical palettes and develop unique voices as composer/ performer/ improvisers. Guy said that he is honored to have been appointed and excited to begin working with students. Excerpts from the NEC website: “NEC’s Contemporary Improvisation program addresses the needs of musicians seeking to move beyond traditional boundaries. We bring together a diverse group of the world’s finest young artists in a setting where they can grow as a community of composers, performers, and improvisers. With an emphasis on ear training, technique, conceptual ideas, interdisciplinary collaboration, and a wide range of improvisational traditions, the CI program is uniquely positioned to produce the complete 21st century musician.” Guy Klucevsek is one of the world’s most versatile and highly-respected accordionists. He has performed and/or recorded with Laurie Anderson, Bang On a Can, Brave Combo, Anthony Braxton, Anthony Coleman, Dave Douglas, Bill Frisell, Rahim al Haj, Robin Holcomb, Kepa Junkera, the Kronos Quartet, Natalie Merchant, Present Music, Relâche, Zeitgeist, and John Zorn. He is the recipient of a 2010 United States Artists Collins Fellowship, an unrestricted $50,000 award given annually to "America's finest artists." He has premiered over 50 solo accordion pieces, including his own, as well as those he has commissioned from Mary Ellen Childs, William Duckworth, Fred Frith, Aaron Jay Kernis, Jerome Kitzke, Stephen Montague, Somei Satoh, Lois V Vierk, and John Zorn. Performances include the Ten Days on the Island Festival (Tasmania), the Adelaide Festival (Australia), the Berlin Jazz Festival, Lincoln Center, Spoleto Festival/USA, BAM Next Wave Festival, Cotati Accordion Festival, San Antonio International Accordion Festival, Vienna International Accordion Festival, and the children’s television show “Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood.” His 1987 project, Polka From the Fringe, a collection of commissioned polkas by Fred Frith, Elliott Sharp, Bobby Previte, Carl Finch, et. al., toured around the world and was released on 2 cds on the eva label, and were named “best recordings 1992” on WNYC-FM’s “New Sounds” program. In 1996, he founded Accordion Tribe, an international ensemble of composer/accordionists Otto Lechner (Austria), Maria Kalanemi (Finland), Lars Hollmer (Sweden), Bratko Bibic (Slovenia) and himself. They toured internationally from 1996-2009, are the subjects of Stefan Schwietert’s award-winning documentary film, Accordion Tribe: Music Travels, and released 3 cds on the Intuition (Germany) label. Guy’s music theatre scores include “Chinoiserie” and “Obon” with Ping Chong and Company, “Hard Coal,” with the Bloomsburg Theatre Ensemble, “Industrious Angels” for Laurie McCants, “Cirque Lili” for French circus artist Jérôme Thomas, which has been performed over 250 times world wide, always with live music, and his own piece, “Squeeze Play,” an evening of collaborations with Dan Hurlin, David Dorfman and Dan Froot, Claire Porter, and Mary Ellen Childs. He and Dan Hurlin were awarded, jointly, a BESSIE for, “The Heart of the Andes,” which has played the Henson International Puppetry Festival, The Barbican Center in London, and the Ten Days on the Island Festival, Tasmania. Guy Klucevsek has released over 20 recordings as soloist/leader on Tzadik, Winter & Winter, innova, Starkland, Review, Intuition, CRI, and XI. Stereo Review cited his Starkland recording, Transylvanian Software, as a recording of special merit" (1995). He can also be heard on John Williams’s orchestral scores for the Steven Spielberg films, “The Terminal,” "Munich," “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull,” and “The Adventures of Tin-Tin,” and on A. R. Rahman’s score for “People Like Us.” For further information: gklucevsek@mac.com |
Bridge & Wolak’s New Film “Bach to Benny Goodman”by Rita Davidson Barnea, Editor USA Accordion News |
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| You can see (above) a trailer of the Lifestream concert, “Bach to Benny Goodman” which will be aired on October 18, 2020. The full film (1h 10mins) is being aired in local theatres and on laptop screens across the Canadian Maritimes and will continue to be presented nationally and internationally. Upcoming online Debut Atlantic shows will be held at: Rotary Arts Centre, Corner Brook, Newfoundland and Labrador on October 18, 2020. Bridge & Wolak's first feature-length concert film, including 12 songs and behind-the-scenes interviews, is available now. Contact info@bridgewolak.com for pricing and availability for airing in your region. Filmed at the Isabel Bader Center for Performing Arts in Kingston, ON, July 2020. www.BridgeWolak.com The MusicUNB Livestream Concert - Bach to Benny Goodman was held on Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2020 live through YouTube. Artists included: Michael Bridge (accordion, piano) and Kornel Wolak (clarinet). Kornel Wolak (clarinet) and Michael Bridge (digital accordion) are an internationally acclaimed duo, pushing the limits of their instruments and musical styles into the 21st Century. With deft virtuosity, and endless wit, Bridge & Wolak have been called the “Victor Borges of the 21st Century.” From Bach to Rock, this thrilling concert is full of surprises and is a pure joy to experience. B&W 2020 Virtual Concert Schedule was organized by Debut Atlantic: Sep 12 Antigonish Performing Arts Series, Antigonish, NS Sep 18 New Glasgow Academy (educational) Sep 18 Marshview Middle School (educational) Sep 18 Acadia Performing Arts Series, Wolfville, NS Sep 20 Lawrence O’Brien Arts Centre, Happy Valley-Goose Bay, NL Sep 22 Imperial Theatre, Saint John, NB Sep 23 MusicUNB, Fredericton, NB Sep 25 Dartmouth Community Concert Association, Dartmouth, NS Sep 25 Amherst Cove Consolidated School (educational) Sep 25 Leo Hayes High School (educational) Sep 26 Musique Royale, Mahone Bay, NS Sep Rotary Arts Centre, Corner Brook, NL Micheal and Kornel share, “We thank our amazing production team: Debut Atlantic - fearless executive producers, who made this possible! The Isabel Bader Centre for the Performing Arts & house technical crew Robert DiVito - film director Society Of Sound - video & sound production Kim Gudlauski - makeup & hair And our thanks to the provincial and federal Governments of Canada for their financial backing: Arts Nova Scotia New Brunswick / Nouveau-Brunswick Canada Council for the Arts | Conseil des arts du Canada Ontario Arts Council - Conseil des arts de l'Ontario |
Kevin Friedrich Celebrates Launch of his New CD “The Journey”by Rita Davidson Barnea, Editor USA Accordion News |
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| Picture above: Kevin Friedrich (left), Sound Engineer Mal Smith and Gary Daverne (right). New York based accordionist Kevin Friedrich will celebrate the launch of his CD ‘The Journey’ at an official reception to be held at the Dargaville Methodist Church Hall in Dargaville, New Zealand on October 4, 2020 at 2:PM. A report of the event will be added to this news article a few days after the CD launch. The new website with sound samples and full information about the CD will be released then too. Marking a 30 year collaboration between Kevin and renowned New Zealand composer Gary Daverne, the launch of the CD entirely of Gary’s works, will include a talk by both the artist and composer as well as some sample excerpts from the CD performed both live and as pre-recorded items by Kevin and some of the supporting artists. Kevin has devoted his life to the accordion. He is an accomplished performer, speaker, writer, and on the board of many important and influential accordion organizations worldwide including AAA, Accordion CIA, ATG, A World of Accordions museum and more. Kevin has performed in concert, on radio and on television in many countries as a soloist, with Symphony Orchestra and as a member of The International Trio, the Air New Zealand Accordion Orchestra (formerly the North Shore Accordion Orchestra), the Musicale Accordion Orchestra from Auckland, the Auckland Accordion Symphonietta, New Zealand and as concert master of the University of Missouri - Kansas City, UMKC Accordion Orchestra. More recently Kevin has served as Concert Master for the CIA World Accordion Orchestra at their concerts in the USA, Scotland and New Zealand. After serving as a Vice-President for eight years, Kevin served two four year terms as President of the Confédération Internationale des Accordéonistes (CIA) (CIA), the umbrella organization for 35 countries and their National Accordion Associations. Since the CIA (member of the International Music Council, IMC-UNESCO) formed in 1935, this is the first time ever that a non-European has held this title and only the 3rd President elected in more than 40 years, with the last President having held office for over 20 years. Hosting the annual World Accordion Championships, the CIA meets twice a year in various countries around the world. At the conclusion of his Presidency, Kevin was unanimously elected to the CIA Executive Committee as CIA Ambassador, a role created specifically for him. Acknowledging the ability of the Internet to keep accordionists in touch with each other and informed of worldwide activities, his association with the world wide web included initiating and subsequently producing the United States National Accordion News for 10 years, and being the USA Manager for Accordions Worldwide, the largest accordion site on the Internet since 1997. Learn more about Kevin Friedrich: http://www.accordions.com/kevin/bio.htm For further information: goaccordion@yahoo.com |
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NAA Hosts Virtual Training Area for Accordion World and 2021 Festival Infoby Rita Davidson Barnea, Editor USA Accordion News |
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| The NAA has decided to host a virtual training area for the accordion world. The purpose is to provide a single reference area for digital training areas. You can see this public service announcement at this link: http://www.accordions.com/naa/t-Overview.html. You can see the rough draft of the program by using the Training Center on the title bar of the NAA website: National Accordion Association Website The NAA Annual Convention is 90% ready to go! The following individuals have confirmed that they are ready to assume the 2021 planned activities with a few required modifications. (See Poster). Watch the NAA website during October 2020 to be ready to register on November 1, 2020. Of course, fees will be returned if a need arises. Further information will be published in the USA News, |
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2021 AAA Elsie M. Bennett Composition Competition for Aspiring Composersby Harley Jones |
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 The American Accordionists' Association (AAA) 2021 Elsie M. Bennett Composition Competition for Aspiring Composers has published Information, Awards, Regulations and Entry Form at: 2021Bennett.pdfEntry closing date: January 10, 2021 International entrants can use the AAA-Store to pay the entry fee by credit card and then send the entry form information by email. Winners will be notified about January 30, 2021. Winners are invited and encouraged to perform their compositions at the 2021 AAA Festival in West Philadelphia, PA. Details at: AAA |
Announcing the ATG Online Master Class Seriesby Rita Davidson Barnea, Editor USA Accordion News |
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| Come observe some of the finest accordion instructors in the world provide instruction to students. The ATG October Master Class will feature world champion Cory Pesaturo on October 24, 2020 at 4:00 C.S.T. Cory will discuss "How to Play Music, Not Play With Music”. Excerpts from ATG website: “The ability to read advanced music, and play it at a high level is seen as the mountain top in the profession of "Musician". It is only but the First step in your quest! How can one improvise off the cuff? How can one play what they hear in their head? How can one hear a song on the radio and learn it immediately without sheet music? Cory will first go over the "Numerical System" of music that is used Worldwide, and explain its foundational aspect to most all music in the world from Classical to Jazz to Folk. One must know what VI7 is in your head when you hear it, and conversely, hear someone play a VI7 chord, and know it's VI7. Cory will also go over his "3 Pillars of the Musician”. Cory Pesaturo (“C Pez”) is a multi world champion and a graduate of the prestigious New England Conservatory of Music in Boston on accordion. In 2017, Pesaturo became a Guinness World Record Holder, as RedBull® flew him to Austria to break the Marathon Accordion Record, in which Cory played for over 32 hours. His international accordion competition performances were played on accordions which were not his, and performances generally 90% improvised. Cory has given 2 TED Talks, 2 Google Talks, an EG Talk, and spoken at various other conferences on the accordion. For further information: cory@corypesaturo.com  |
International Digital Electronic Accordion Society (IDEAS) Virtual Symposium 3.0by Joseph Natoli |
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 Digital accordionists will soon be enjoying 2020’s largest and most expansive virtual accordion event at the IDEAS Virtual Symposium 3.0 to be held Nov 5-20, 2020! That’s 15 days of wall-to-wall learning content and concerts from some of the world’s finest digital accordionists from around the globe. View the video above.Registration is still open on the IDEAS site. Because this year is a virtual event, pricing is half of our normal live event Symposium pricing. Yet you will get 40 classes to attend (any or all of them), and 4 concerts, all of which will be recorded and posted on our Members Only section of our web site only for Symposium attendees to view well into the future. Now that is content and value unrivaled anywhere! Therefore, no need to miss work or miss important family schedules or events. It is all there for our attendees with the highest level of convenience. We look forward to having you attend this important digital accordion event! For further information: thegr8.ideas@gmail.com |
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A Great Digital and Electronic Accordion Eventby Dennis O'Toole |
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 On behalf of Gary Dahl–The Legacy Continues (GDTLC), we're excited to announce our involvement with the International Digital Electronic Accordion Society (IDEAS) Symposium 3.This is an event that you will not want to miss! If you own or are even thinking about buying a digital or electronic accordion, you'll drastically reduce your learning curve through these seminars and soon be creating music like you've never imagined possible. In addition, there will be concerts by some of the finest digital accordion players. For a complete overview. view the video in the article above. Consider the cost of entry as an investment in your future, enabling you to accomplish your musical goals. Tris Gour of GDTLC (picture right) will be both a presenter and a concert performer in the Symposium 3! To show our appreciation, GDTLC will provide a complimentary eBook to every registered attendee! See you there! For further information: GDTLC Tech Support: tech.garydahlmusic@gmail.com |
Accordionist Dan Newton New CD, "Out of My Dreams" Release Showby Rita Davidson Barnea, Editor USA Accordion News |
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 Accordionist Dan Newton celebrates the release of his new album “Out of My Dreams” with a live Facebook online stream on Monday October 5, 2020 at 12:PM CT. This will be followed by a live performance in the beer garden at the Waldman Brewery and Wurstery in St Paul, MN, USA (weather permitting).Bookings are essential due to Covid-19 social distancing regulations. Phone: 651-222-1857. You can make donations on Paypal just like paying a cover at a bar, buying a concert ticket or putting change in a tip jar. Dan’s new CD "Out of My Dreams" is available now, with the download version coming soon! Mail him a check for $16 or put $16 in his Paypal "tip jar" and email your order: daddysqueeze@yahoo.com |
Acme School of Music Seeking Guest Artist(s) for “Virtual” Awards & Concertby Rita Davidson Barnea, Editor USA Accordion News |
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| On October 9,2020 the Acme School of Music will host its“end of the year awards program” for all students, club and orchestra members. Obviously this year they were not able to do so due to the Covid Pandemic and this will be their very first Virtual performance. The program will be held via zoom. and they would like to have two or three Guest Artists who would volunteer a 15 to 20 minute solo program. Each Guest Artist would perform in their own location via zoom. No traveling involved. This program will not be streamed over the internet or posted on youtube. It is a studio event, free of charge. Donations may be asked to support the Acme Scholarship Fund. The purpose of the program in addition to Awards, is to expose attendees to various genres of accordion. Guest Artists can play their special interest type of music. Guest Artist Selection will be based on a first response basis. Founded in 1948 and home of the Westmont Philharmonia Accordion Orchestra, the Acme Accordion School is the place for everything accordion. Acme sells new and used button box and piano accordions, CDs, DVDs and sheet music. They give accordion lessons and handle accordion repair. Acme is also the home of the Musik Garten, a music and art program, where children from birth to 6 years old can come to develop their sense of rhythm, coordination and social skills. Please contact Joanna Darrow at: acmeaccordion@gmail.com or 856-281-4035. |
Zydeco and Blues Workshop with Bruce Sunpie Barnesby Rita Davidson Barnea, Editor USA Accordion News |
 Video: Bruce Sunpie Barnes at the 2016 Bloomington Blues & Boogie Woogie Piano FestivalA Zydeco & Blues workshop and concert with Bruce Sunpie Barnes (from New Orleans) will be held online on October 5th, 6th, 11th & 12th organised by Not Just Oompah! The cost is $65 person for the workshop will includes all materials delivered by email. (Details below) The free concert will be held on Facebook on Monday, October 5, 2020 from 7- 8:00 PM Central Time. The concert is free, but virtual tips are appreciated, and go to support the artist. To send Sunpie a Virtual Tip, Log into your PayPal account & Send a Virtual Tip to sunpie@cox.net A zoom Meet and Greet session will be held on Tuesday, October 6, 2020 from 7-9:PM to meet participants and become familiar with the workshop agenda. The Zoom Workshops will be held on Sunday, Oct 11,2020 from 3-5:PM & Monday Oct 12, 2020 from 7-9:PM (again, all times are Central Time Zone). The workshops will include video and audio sound bytes to familiarize participants with the rhythms which will be taught in the workshop which will focus on : Melody and Bass Rhythmic Elements. Participants will learn to play: Creole Two-Steps, One-Step, Blues Shuffles and Waltz. In addition, participants will learn How to create a Syncopated Dance-able Sound, Bass Button Patterns and Technique for playing Zydeco in Any Key, and to Sing at least One Song in Louisiana Creole. All workshops and Meet and Greet will be recorded for later viewing by participants who miss the presentation due to conflicts in scheduling. Bruce Sunpie Barnes is a veteran New Orleans musician, former park ranger with the National Forest Service (30 years), actor, Ethnographic photographer, book author, former high school biology teacher, former college football All-American, and former NFL player (Kansas City Chiefs). He is also a co-author of the book: Le Ker Creole : Creole Compositions and Stores from Louisiana (authors: Bruce Sunpie Barnes, Leroy Etienne, Rachel Breulin) which archives lullabies, prayers and songs of work and dance sung in Creole. He has traveled to over 50 countries playing his own style of Afro-Louisiana music incorporating blues, zydeco, gospel, Caribbean and African influenced rhuthms and melodies. He is a multi-instrumentalist, master accordionist and harmonica player. He also plays piano, rubboard, talking drum and dejembe. Sunpie learned to play the accordion from some of the best Zydeco pioneers in Louisiana, including Gernest Arceneaux, John Delafose, and Clayton Sampy. Along with his musical group "Sunpie and the Louisiana Sunspots" he performed at festivals and concerts across the US and around the globe. Barnes has 7 critically acclaimed CDs with his compositions currently featured in 16 Hollywood film productions. In addition to his musical work he is also a former member of the Paul Simon Band that embarked on a 62 city world tour "Paul Simon and Sting Together" which spanned 36 countries (2014-2015, and 2016). In April 2018, Barnes was honored to be invited by Carolos Vives to play for a week at the 51st Vallenato Festival in Valledupar, Columbia. A master at his craft, Sunpie Barnes will give us a tour of the energy and excitement of Zydeco & Blues music. Join in for this exciting presentation. For further information: Shirley Johnson 512-680-0422 shirleyJ@Vjeverica.com or accsaj@gmail.com Laura J Niland 210-651-4359 Ljniland@texas.net |
Reports for Concerts, Masterclasses, Competitions, Festivals, etc. |
Remembering Accordionist Lloyd La Vaux "Poet of the Accordion"by Rita Davidson Barnea, Editor USA Accordion News |
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  Accordionist Lloyd La Vaux is an important teacher and performer who deserves recognition for his contributions to the accordion world. Seeking information/records on the late Lloyd Lavaux: David and Zach Cohen, a father-son duo, are compiling research on Lloyd LaVaux (1924-2011), a relative of theirs who was a decorated veteran of World War II and an acclaimed accordionist in the mid-20th century. They would appreciate hearing from anyone who ever met LaVaux, attended one of his many performances, or otherwise know where they might find more information. You can contact them directly: decohen2@outlook.com and zachccohendc@gmail.com. Lloyd was a WWII decorated veteran and accomplished accordion soloist. Born on August 29, 1924 in New York City, Lloyd began his musical career at age five, studying under his father Joe La Vaux. His professional debut came at age six. As "The Two La Vaux", he and his father won the love of audiences throughout North America and the West Indies while on tour together. His career started in 1929, as a six-year-old touring vaudeville stages as a duo act with his father. Years later, when the United States entered the Second World War, Lloyd joined and was assigned to the Intelligence Division, thanks to the fact he could speak German, French and Italian. Lloyd returned to New York and continued his studies and within ten years, at age 17, would perform at Carnegie Hall. One of the first graduates with honors from Mayor La Guardia's High School of Music and Art, Lloyd enrolled in Brooklyn College, where he studied foreign languages and literature. Concurrent with these studies was his intensive work in harmony and composition with the late Pietro Frosini. Through his vast repertoire of Bach, Handel, Mozart, Schubert, Beethoven, Tchaikovsky, Rimsky-Korsakov, Bartok, Gershwin and other masters, he was recognized universally for his outstanding work in the elevation of the accordion and was referred to as "The Poet of the Accordion". Lloyd wangled an under-aged enlistment in the Allied Intelligence Service during WWII, and as an Army Intelligence Agent, accompanied the first wave of shock troops in the Normandy invasion. He was decorated with the Silver Star for gallantry in action in Northern France. He volunteered for an intelligence mission alone in advance of Allied fighting lines, and was captured by German forces on September 7, 1944. He landed in Stalag IIIC in Prussia, from which he ultimately escaped in January 1945. Mr. La Vaux toured the United States, Canada and the World, performing for President Dwight D. Eisenhower as well as for dignitaries around the world, including Norodom Sihanouk, King of Cambodia. Lloyd eventually settled in Toronto and ran the "La Vaux School of Music" until moving to Amherst, NY in 2008. Before and after the war, Lloyd was a headline act, performing in 23 coast-to-coast tours of the U.S. and Canada, and concerts in at least 21 other countries. Performing classics by great composers like Bach, Schubert, Tchaikovsky, and Gershwin, a critic dubbed him “The Poet of the Accordion.” His career continued into the 1960s, despite the general flagging interest in the instrument at that time. Known as “The Poet of the Accordion”, excerpts from the article “Once Upon An Anecdote: The ‘Poet of the Accordion’” by Scott B. Thompson, Sr.: It was on a mild, cloudy, late autumn night when they came to see him play. They came to see man who was known around the county and the world as the “Poet of the Accordion.” Lloyd could play his accordion as well as and as uniquely like few others had ever done. At the age of five in the late 1920s, he began to study under the tutelage of his Russian father, Joe. Lloyd, then six years of age, joined his father to form the act, “The Two La Vaux,” and traveled throughout North America where they appealed to a wide variety of audiences. Lloyd moved from Amherst, New York to the Bronx in New York City to study his craft. By the age of seventeen, Lloyd was performing in Carnegie Hall. As one of the first graduates from Mayor La Guardia's High School of Music and Art, Lloyd began his study music in Brooklyn College, where he also concentrated in the classical foreign languages and literature. Reaching new heights as an accordion player, Lloyd played many compositions of the great classical composers to become one of the more famous accordion players in the country as he performed in dozens of national tours in the United States and Canada. After the end of World War II, Lloyd returned to the United States and returned to stages in big cities and small towns around North America and the world. After performing for President Dwight D. Eisenhower and the King of Cambodia, Lloyd eventually made his home in Toronto, Canada. He opened a music school, “The La Vaux School of Music,” which he operated until his move home to Amherst in 2008. He died two days after his 87th birthday in 2011 and is buried in Woodlawn Cemetery in Erie County. The members of the Laurens County Concert Association had been working for more than three years after forming their group in the lobby of the Fred Roberts Hotel in November 1949. It was the goal of the association to seek out and obtain many of the best musical performers in the country within the means of their budget from among more than 400 performers available.This group and others like it have consistently brought the finest musical talent in America to Dublin under the banners of the Dublin Community Concerts Association, the Dublin Fine Arts Association and the Dublin-Laurens Art Council.The Dublin performance took place in the auditorium of Central Elementary School, currently the home of Dublin City Hall. The auditorium was the city’s primary performance center from its early days as the high school auditorium in 1902 until its remodeling in the 1980s. The twenty-eight-year-old master of the bellows presented his unique style on an accordion especially designed to simulate the individual and combined sounds of an entire orchestra. Lloyd was touring the nation raising funds to benefit Italian War Orphans Relief and other charities in Italy. After his American tour, La Vaux was scheduled to perform in a dozen of Italy’s largest cities. What the audience that night did not know back in the days when we only had adequate encyclopedias and no Google searches, hardly anyone knew the whole story of La Vaux’s life as a teenager. For you see, the highly talented accordionist known around the world as “The Poet of the Accordion,” was actually a boy hero of World War II. Lloyd entered the United States Army at the age of seventeen in the Allied Intelligence Service during WWII. As an Army intelligence agent, Lloyd accompanied the first wave of troops in the D-day invasion of Utah Beach on the coast of Normandy. “On 15 June 1944, Private La Vaux, as a member of the 90th Infantry regiment, volunteered to accompany his lieutenant in an attempt to gain information from a Civilian who was taking refuge in a house some distance beyond the American lines. During the interrogation of this civilian, a fire fight developed in the vicinity of the house and Private La Vaux found that they were 200 yards behind German positions. Realizing the importance of the information obtained if received in time, Private La Vaux left his place of comparative safety and worked his way back through the enemy positions and through 400 yards of intense small arms fire to his own lines. The meritorious achievement and devotion to duty of Private La Vaux aided materially in the subsequent successes at Valognes and Cherbourg,” read his citation issued by the President Franklin D. Roosevelt. ”Toward September of 1944, I must have been a little less intelligent than my London mailing address indicated. Volunteering for an intelligence mission alone in advance of Allied fighting lines, Lloyd ran into some difficulties and was, on September 7, 1944, arrested by German police forces. After some of the most fabulous experiences on record, he landed in Stalag IIIC in Prussia from which he promptly escaped in January of 1945. The return trip was made the hard way -through Eastern Germany, Poland, the Soviet Union to Odessa, then Istanbul, Greece and Naples and finally back to Paris,” La Vaux recalled of his most trying times during his military service. Described as “A young man with an engaging personality, a fine musical background and imagination,” Lloyd La Vaux thrilled the Dubliners present that night nearly 63 years ago on December 8, 1952. They saw his brilliance flowing out of his special accordion. And, now you know what an American hero this brilliant young man truly was. Photo: Lloyd La Vaux playing the accordion for a school of blind children in Saigon, now Ho Chi Minh City. This photo, which appeared in the Guardian, is likely of Nguyen Dinh Chieu School for the Blind, established in 1926. - Region of Peel Archives/Brampton Photo: Concert accordionist Lloyd La Vaux Teaches 10 year old Ian Baird Photo: 1955 Lloyd La Vaux Lavaux Photo Scandalli Accordion Vintage Print Ad Please contact David and Zach Cohen if you have any information on Lloyd La Vaux: decohen2@outlook.com and zachccohendc@gmail.com. |
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Accordionist Nathan Neuman Wins 2020 Song Writing Contestby Rita Davidson Barnea, Editor USA Accordion News |
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 Video 1: Nathan Neuman's winning composition "Pass It On"Video 2: Nathan's 3rd place song - "The Next Step" Nathan Neuman is the winner of the International Polka Association 2020 Young Songwriters contest with his song “Pass it On”. Nathan’s song "The Next Step", co-written with Alli Lange, won 3rd place. The duo originally began writing the song 2½ years ago, but never finished or released it, when they were advised they could enter it in this competition. Nathan shares, “The IPA songwriting contest was really fun also because I got to teamwork with other musicians! Alli Lange and I wrote this song "The Next Step" for our 2nd album (our first was "When I'm Dancing with You"-- themed about when we first met) two and a half years ago but was left incomplete and unreleased until we heard we could enter it into the contest. Any unreleased songs could be submitted! I believe it was the best of the 4 that I was a part of. There are too many "met a girl at a dance" songs already, but I think our lyrics are clever. The song came in 3rd place. Alli did a great job singing. And the most clever of all, I just noticed we are both on steps in these pictures! Michael Retka I'm sure will come up with an inside joke concerning which steps I'm at! He knows all the churches." Nathan began his performing career as a young teenager in bluegrass music playing guitar with fiddling sister Alicia. When given the family concertina at age 15, he developed a great interest in polka music. He started his own polka band at 17 with high school friends and has performed across Minnesota and in the surrounding states for church festivals, receptions, dances, park concerts, and senior homes. His band is featured nationwide on RFD TV's Mollie B. Polka Party and CCX Media's Polka Spotlight. His instruments of choice: Chemnitzer concertina and chromatic button accordion. He didn't stop there, learning all other types of bellowed instruments, trumpet, tuba, drums, upright bass, and piano. His favorite part about polka music is the people he meets along the way; the happy beat brings out positivity in each community. Nathan performs a wide variety of old sing-a-longs, ethnic folk songs (in German, Polish, and Ukrainian), classic country, 50's/60's, novelties, and originals. Nathan said, “‘I’m looking forward to the Oktoberfest performances coming up. Come on out for some German fun! Oct. 2nd - Brainerd Eagles dance, 7-11 Oct. 4th - Oktoberfest at Grand Lake Grill (Eddie's on Grand Lake) south of Rockville, 3-7 Nathan's specialties are Dutchman and Polish style polka music, but his versatility extends to country, swing, and 50's/60's. Popular venues are dances, Oktoberfests, church festivals, weddings, private parties, and nursing homes. He plays solo or also can bring a duo band (drums or piano). You can contact Nathan at (320) 345-1925 or e-mail at nathan.concertina@gmail.com Congratulations to both musicians from Accordions Worldwide. |
AAA Historian Joan Grauman Contributes Articles on Accordion Personalitiesby Rita Davidson Barnea, Editor USA Accordion News |
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 A special thank you goes to Harley Jones for assisting AAA Historian Joan Grauman with placing more of her feature articles on the AAA website at: Archival InformationThis month, articles on the lives of Frank Marocco, Manny Bobenrieth and Lou Coppola were added, plus two other articles including videos on Lou Coppola, bringing the current total to 23 of Joan’s articles in the AAA website at: Archival Information Please check the USA News each month as more articles are added to the AAA website! |
Hohner Echophon Added to A World of Accordions Museumby Dr. Helmi Harrington, Curator, A World of Accordions Museum, USA |
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  This month we were able to add an accordion previously missing in the museum. My ever-vigilant daughter Hanni Harrington Wrencher found and purchased one such example: “Hohner with a horn.”While the instrument is not extremely rare, it has eluded our acquisition until now. This model’s outstanding visual feature is the brass horn etched with “Echophon” that covers the treble pallets and issues overtones-modified, reinforced sounds. Other than a slightly enlarged size, the instrument is a conventional one-row button diatonic in the key of “C.” It sports ten treble buttons, three bass buttons on the front of the bass hand-hold plus an air-button behind, and four banks of “Steel Bronze Reeds” in two octaves engaged by pull-stops. The solid wood body frame is attached to twelve bellows folds with two support frames, front and back metal bellows closures (entirely intact), and is ornamented with Ernst Hohner’s picture and logo imprinted on metal at each body-frame corner. An impressed D.R.P. 200625 is found on the bass plate. The instrument is faultlessly perfect. According to German Accordion Museum curator Dr. Martin Haeffner’s book Ewig Jung Trotz Vieler Falten, the Echophon was manufactured in five advertised model variations 1907 to 1908. We proudly display it in the museum’s Early Diatonics section. For more information: aworldofaccordions@gmail.com |
A Touch of Italy in Dargaville, New Zealandby Harley Jones |
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 Picture above: Christine Johnstone (left), Kevin Friedrich (centre) and Linda Litt (right).AAA Governing Board member, ATG Board of Directors member and CIA Ambassador Kevin Friedrich is making the most of his lengthy stay in New Zealand while away from his home in New York, this time returning to the school where he attended and first began accordion lessons, the Dargaville Primary School. With the students having recently studied Italy, it was a perfect opportunity to present an educational program about the accordion and its strong Italian connection. Combining music, movement and song, the program showcased the accordion history, construction and music while allowing the enthusiastic young students aged 9-10 years old to participate. During the five concerts, approximately 150 young students were treated to music from Disney, Star Wars and The Muppet Movies, Folk music, novelty pieces and traditional New Zealand Maori music. Assisting Kevin were accordionist Christine Johnstone, AWW News Editor and Director of the North Shore Music Makers Accordion Orchestra (Auckland, New Zealand) and Linda Emmett Litt, (percussion and timpani) the daughter of Doreen Emmett who first taught Kevin the accordion at the Dargaville Primary School in the 1970s. The concerts will resume in October 2020 when the new School term begins with the upcoming concerts being presented to the middle and junior syndicates at the Dargaville Primary School. Pictures below and above left: getting the children involved and moving to music   |
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Light Classical Accordion Concert by Peter Pelusoby Rita Davidson Barnea, Editor USA Accordion News |
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 Video 1: Peter Peluso in Solo ConcertVideo 2: The CT. Accordion Association & American Accordionists' Association (AAA) Proudly Presents “Celebrating American Composers featuring the CAA Orchestra in concert with The Plainville Choral Society on June 8, 2019 at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, Bristol, CT. The Connecticut Accordion Association presents its Orchestra Conductor, Peter Peluso, in concert. Peter performs a compilation of light classics and religious pieces recorded during the COVID outbreak. You will enjoy listening to and watching CAA Orchestra Conductor Peter Peluso play all accordion parts in a special concert he organized. This event will begin at 8:AM every day repeating until October 15, 2020. (Video1) Suggested donation is $10.00. http://www.ctaccordion.com/next.html Video 2 features CAA Orchestra members: Peter Peluso, Conductor, Steve Balog, Julie Cardona, Jeanine Cariri, Bob Czarnecki, Art Daigle, Michael Dran, Angie Errico, Don Gerundo, Dorothy Gondek, Ginger Grider, Brenda Zhang, Ray Krish, Dennis Maxfield, Peter Mezick, Marilyn O'Neil, Rachael Quirbach, Linda Riley, Mark Schaarschmidt, Fred Schwinger, Mary Tokarski, Jack Varanelli, Drum Set, Sandy Zera, and Walter Ziemba. Mr. Peluso's extensive career as a certified music teacher in Connecticut and New York includes teaching positions in Edwards, New York, as well as Farmington, and Plainville, CT. The last 25 years of his formal teaching career were spent in Hartford, CT at the Greater Hartford, CT Academy for the Arts, where he taught musical theater with high school students. Peter is an accomplished accordionist, pianist, vocal teacher and conductor of community bands, choruses and youth theater groups. He directed The Plainville, CT Choral Society's Youth theater production of the Broadway musical “Starmites.” His career includes working with local bands as an accordionist. He acts as conductor for the CAA orchestra upon request. His many accomplishments include working with composers to premier new works. Vocal students and colleagues of Peter's have graced the CAA orchestra's performances. His musical colleagues performed at the AAA Festival in Tarrytown in 2014. The Connecticut Acccordion Association began in 2004, the brainchild of Marilyn O'Neil and her accordion teacher, Mary Tokarski. The CAA is dedicated to the promotion of the accordion through all music genres and all variations of accordion instruments! They welcome musicians who play all types of accordions....piano accordion, diatonic, chromatic button and more. Accordionists at all levels are invited including people who may not play the accordion, but love to listen. CAA Membership is open to all accordionists and accordion enthusiasts. A yearly membership fee of $30.00 will provide you with information about all planned CAA events. CAA members have access to most CAA events at a discounted rate. Membership will also provide you with an opportunity to play with the CAA orchestra. Accordion professionals for hire can post their availability on the website. CAA membership will provide you with access to information about accordion manufacturer and/or repair resources. The CAA is an affiliate of the American Accordionists' Association (AAA), a 501c3 corporation founded in 1938. www.ameraccord.com For further information: Marilyn: (caa@ctaccordion.com) (203) 272-1202 Visit on the web: www.CTAccordion.com |
Cafe Accordion Orchestra Outdoor Concert in Minneapolisby Rita Davidson Barnea, Editor USA Accordion News |
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 Video: “I Love Paris” Video 2: “Bohemienne” The Café Accordion Orchestra (CAO) will perform in the Main Stage Tent at Crooners Supper Club in Minneapolis, MN on October 8, 2020 beginning at 7.30 PM. The band includes Dan Newton (accordion & vocals), Eric Mohring ( mandolin, violin and vocals), Erik Lillestol (bass and vocals) and Joe Steinger (percussion). Special guest Brian Barnes (guitar and vocals) will join them for this performance.The band enjoy playing an eclectic mix full of French flare, Latin heat and Bohemian attitude with swing, ballads, cha chas, rumbas, and cumbias to create a wonderfully varied show. Excerpts from his website: Dan “Daddy Squeeze” Newton has been dazzling audiences with his creative accordion style for over 30 years. His fresh approach to the accordion and his mind-boggling repertoire of both original and traditional material will change the mind of the most hardened accordion skeptic. Dan draws influences for songs and tunes from such sources as French Musette, Gypsy Swing, Cajun, Jug band, Tex-Mex and Cumbia. He calls this global gumbo “ethnoclectic” music. Daddy Squeeze entertains and also enlightens his audiences with stories and colorful anecdotes about the accordion and his experiences while making a living playing the instrument he loves. Dan has produced more than 25 albums for himself, his band, and other performers. He has appeared on recordings by other artists such as Garrison Keillor, Son Volt, The Proclaimers, Peter Ostroushko, Prudence Johnson and Pat Donohue. His music was featured for one season on MTV's series The Real World: Paris. Dan has performed at the Lincoln Center, NY, Kennedy Center, Washington DC, Accordion Festivals in Vienna, Austria, San Antonio, TX and Cotati, CA, Bastille Days in Milwaukee, WI, Kaustinen Folk Festival in Finland and the Winnipeg Folk Festival. Dan was also a frequent guest on the Garrison Keillor’s radio show" A Prairie Home Companion". Dan spends much of his time playing accordion with his group Café Accordion Orchestra, performing Vintage Swing, Latin, American, and French Café music. He leads a number of other bands including; Jumbo Ya Ya, The Rockin’ Pinecones, The Hula Peppers, and The Daddy Squeeze Band. All of Dan's live streams dating back to March 17, 2020 are available to watch again any time by visiting his Facebook page. Dan will continue to stream every other Monday through the summer and resume weekly shows this fall. Dan shares, “Thanks for all your support. I can't wait to start playing for you in person again. Stay safe and healthy, spread love, touch people with your heart and keep singing and dancing!” For details: Phone: 763-760-0062 Email: daddysqueeze@daddysqueeze.com |
Annual Wedding Feast Features Accordion Entertainersby Christine Johnstone |
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 The Reading Liederkranz German Singing & Sports Society will hold their annual celebration this year from October 1st to 3rd, 2020 in Reading, Pennsylvania.This year’s event will celebrate the first Oktoberfest – the wedding of Prince Ludwig of Bavaria and Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen in 1810. Dr Squeezebox - Kermit Ohlinger will be playing each night as the opening act of the entertainment! (picture right). See poster above for details of evening performers. Get crazy and come dressed up in your favorite Oktoberfest character. Trachten wear is welcome or take it up a notch and come as wedding guest of the early 19th Century. Organisers will have their own Prince Ludwig and Princess Therese. They are planning re-enactments to go along with the schedule and theme! Each of the evening events will celebrate as follows: October 1st: The Engagement October 2nd: The Wedding October 3rd: The Banquet All current CDC / State / County and Social Distancing Guidelines will be followed. Masks are required for entry and must be worn when not seated. Tickets are limited to 200 people each night for outdoor events. For details email: info@readingliederkranz.com Picture below: Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen and Prince Ludwig of Bavaria.  |
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Future events |
"Music with Mary Accordion Academy" November 14 & 15by Rita Davidson Barnea, Editor USA Accordion News |
 Concert accordionist, Mary Tokarski, presents “Music with Mary Accordion Academy”, a virtual accordion event on November 14 and15, 2020. There will be workshops, one-on-one lessons and a final concert.As a concert accordionist Mary Tokarski has performed national and internationally with many musical groups. She has produced 8 CD;s and regularly travels presenting workshops and master classes. The guest artist will be Guy Klucevsek (see article on Guy in Highlights). Please register by November 6, 2020. Registration includes 4 workshops, One on One lesson with Mary and Final Concert. For further information: mary.tokarski@comcast.net or Meg: meghada33@gmail.com |
Stas Venglevski in World Premiere of His “Poetic Rhapsody” in Decemberby Rita Davidson Barnea, Editor USA Accordion News |
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 A World of Accordions Museum announces with pride Stas Venglevski’s concert on December 6, 2020 at 3:PM. The concert’s first half will present J. S. Bach’s music including: “Passacaglia and Fugue in C Minor, BWV 582”, “Toccata and Fugue in D Minor”, “Prelude and Fugue VI” from the Well-Tempered Clavier (Book Two), “Invention in C Minor (three-part)”, “Inventions in E Major and B Minor (two-parts)”, and “Chorale Prelude in F Minor, BWV 565”. The second half of the concert will premiere his “Poetic Rhapsody”, Bill Sussman’s “Zydeco Madness” and and music by Hiromi Uehara. Virtuosity, artistry, sensitivity and dazzling technical command have brought Stas to the forefront among concert accordionists. Stas Venglevski, born in the Republic of Moldova and taught by Friedrich Lips, has honored the museum with performances on numerous landmark occasions. As a noted composer, his works range from masterpieces in miniature to orchestral feats. The museum is especially privileged to present the World Premiere of his new, major work, “Poetic Rhapsody”. Stas ascribes the commissioning and dedicatory credits of this work to the museum. Specially earmarked donations are requested to reward Stas for its creation. The World of Accordions Museum spacious concert hall allows 6 foot distancing between audience members, masks required. Tickets are $20.00 per person and can be purchased in advance or at the door. The event will again be live streamed on the museum's YouTube channel and Facebook accounts. The live stream links will be sent out prior to the event. A GoFundMe page has been set up to help support the continued growth of the digital outreach of A World of Accordions Museum. The website will be updated to make it more mobile friendly, continue to grow the Accordion Notes newsletter, and continue to live stream many events. This is a large undertaking and it is critical to the long term success of A World of Accordions Museum. For further information: aworldofaccordions@gmail.com |
AAA Festival: July 14-18 2021 in Philadelphia, PAby Rita Davidson Barnea, Editor USA Accordion News |
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| The American Accordionists' Association (AAA) Festival 2020 in Alexandria, Virgina is cancelled. AAA President Dr. Joseph Ciccone shares, “It is with great disappointment that due to the circumstances surrounding the Corona Virus (COVID-19) emergency, we have made the necessary decision to cancel the AAA Festival July 8-12, 2020 at the Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites in Alexandria, Virginia. It has been rescheduled to July 14-18, 2021 in Philadelphia, PA. Our guest artists have been working hard over many months to prepare this wonderful event and we are so sorry that we will not be able to share these magnificent performances with you. Hopefully our artists will be available to perform at our 2021 AAA Festival in West Philadelphia. We are committed to public safety, including that of our many loyal attendees, guests and performing artists, and to help support the nation’s strong efforts to stem the spread of COVID-19, we join a long list of events that have already been cancelled. For those who purchased event packages and tickets, we offer them the following options: a full refund, leaving it as a donation or applying it to the 2021 AAA Festival at the Marriott Philadelphia West Hotel in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania July 14-18, 2021, The rate for the hotel remains the same - $130 plus free parking. We sincerely apologize for this cancellation but feel it is absolutely necessary for the good of everyone at this time." 2021 will feature the Festival Orchestra conducted by Mary Tokarski, Competitions, Vendors Workshops, Youth Involvement, Jazz Ensemble Junior & Senior, Fun Band and "The Divas" being the well known ladies of the AAA: Linda Soley Reed, Mary Tokarski, Beverly Roberts Curnow, Rita Barnea, Joan Grauman, Joanna Darrow, Jeanne Velonis, Marilyn O’Neil and Rachel Quirbach. Further performers and details will be announced in the coming months. For further information visit: American Accordionists' Association (AAA) |
ATG 2021 Festival in Lisle, Illinoisby Rita Davidson Barnea, Editor USA Accordion News |
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 The Accordionists & Teachers Guild, International (ATG) announces that their 2021 festival will be held at the Hyatt in Lisle, Illinois from July 21st to 25th, 2021. Michael Bridge will be a featured guest artist. Further details on the event which includes concerts, exhibits, workshops and competitions will be announced soon.The new ATG board of directors includes President Mary Ann Covone (picture left), First Vice President: Liz Finch, Second Vice President: Beverley Fess, Treasurer: Kenn Baert, Executive Secretary: Esther Lanting and board members Joanna Darrow, Donna Dee Ray, Kevin Friedrich Dr. Helmi Harrington, Gordon Kohl, Karen Lee, Joe Natoli, Cory Pesaturo, Amy Jo Sawyer, Betty Jo Simon, Joan C. Sommers and Stas Venglevski. For further information: kenbaert@gmail.com |