By Norman Seaton, President and Founder of the National Accordion Association
Announcing the first
annual
National Button Accordion Festival (NBAF)
Yukon Czech Hall, Yukon, Oklahoma
May 25, 26, 27, 2007
Featuring:
All accordionists who shows up to perform!
Pre-registration requested, but not required.
Now
you may be asking: "How many people would respond to such an announcement?"
Believe us, as leaders of this event
have asked that question over and over. But, everyone will know the answer
on the 2007 Memorial Day Weekend. Be there so we can count you!
As leaders, we can tell you who have called have already made reservations
at the local hotels, motels, and RV camps. Such names include the Alaska
Polka Chips (Marge Ford, director), Alaska Button Box Gang, Fontana Button
Accordion Club, Pivovar Trio, and the Arizona Button Accordion Club.
All this sounds like a good idea and
a simple festival to create. It appears to be "Let's announce a festival
and see who comes." We are here to tell you that festivals of this
caliber just do not happen like that. It takes a lot of work, time, and
money to schedule such a festival. Let us give you a little of the history
of this exciting event.
History of the NBAF
Closing of the Far West Button Box Weekend
October 10, 2004, was a sad day for button accordion players when Frank Vidergar, president and musical director of the Slovene Button Accordion Club announced:
"After 26 years of success the "2004 Far West Button Box Weekend Festival would be the last festival."
The closing of this festival was devastating to button accordionists everywhere.
NAA to the Rescue
The leaders of the NAA, not willing to let such a great tradition die, set a plan of action designed to capture the excitement of the festival and to make it more accessible to button accordionists from all over the United States.
Step 1: Form a leadership team.
Step 2: Find a centralized location.
Ron
Pivovar and Dick Albreski
The choices were not difficult. Since Ron Pivovar had been so successful
in promoting polkas and dancing at the Dallas-based convention and he
had been active in the Fontana-based organization, he was a natural choice
for that team. Since the Oklahoma City area is considered the heartland
of the USA, and Dick Albreski was so active in forming the Oklahoma Accordion
Club, Dick became the natural choice as a team member.
Yukon
Czech Hall
Yukon, Oklahoma soon became the target city because it is located near
Oklahoma City and the very popular Will Rogers Airport. A quick call to
the historical Yukon Czech Hall was received with great enthusiasm, and
the work began. After hundreds of e-mail messages, hours and hours of
work, numerous advertisements, and lots of personal promotion on the part
of several people, it looks like this event will be highly successful.
Accordionists and accordions of all
types and styles are welcome!
Dick Albreski writes: This is a new kind of festival. Imagine you, an
accordion player, on stage before a group 'polka lovin' accordion players
and dancers showing the talent that the Good Lord gave you. Your dream
can come true at our 3-day festival where you can be a star. Regardless
of the title, many piano keyboard players will be playing at this festival.
For more information, just visit the National
Accordion Association or the Yukon Czech Hall websites. You can also contact:
- Ron Pivovar rpivovar@verizon.net
- Dick Albreski at 405-721-0564
For more information about the NBAF, visit the NAA website. http://www.accordions.com/naa click on NBAF, Yukon, Oklahoma.