AMERICAN ACCORDIONISTS’ ASSOCIATION A bi-monthly publication of the AmericanNewsletter Accordionists’ Association page 1 September-October 2019 AAA Festival 2019 The 81st AAA Festival and Competition was held July 17-21, 2019 in King of Prussia, PA. It was very well attended, an event filled with excite- ment, comaraderie, great talent, collegial competition plus more! Attendees were enthused to meet old friends, make new friends, play together, hear young and upcoming accordionists and learn about both the acoustic and digital accordions. The first day, Wednesday, began with workshops by Joe Natoli and Dr. Robert Young McMahan, open- ing of Exhibits, and the AAA’s Meet and Greet reception for all. The It’s polka time as Papa Joe amazing “After Hours Club” hosted DeClemente and Mary by Michael Bridge featured im- Tokarski take the dance floor. promptu per- formances by Papa Joe, Frank Busso, Sr., John Perno and Joe Michael Campo delighted all at Meet and Greet Bridge, Mario Tacca, Cody McSherry, Nathan Chapeton, “Papa Joe” De- Clemente and more. Each night featured an After Mary Mancini, Beverly Roberts Curnow, Rita Barnea, Magumi Hours Club filled with surprises and spontaneous Hada, Rosemarie Cavanaugh, Joan Grauman Jeanne Velonis performances! & Beverly Fess surround AAA Treasurer, Ray Oreggia. Carrozza Scholarship Dinner and Lifetime Achievement Award - Joey Miskulin By Domenic Karcic, Chairman Save the Dates! The 2019 edition of the Carrozza Scholarship Fund Raiser took place on Sunday, September 8th at the Famee Furlane of N.A. in College Point, NY. This event also served as the venue for the American AAA Festival Accodionists' Association to present grammy winner and July 8-12, 2020 country music hall of fame member Joey Miskulin with its Lifetime Featuring Achievement Award. The event was a total Cory Pesaturo success on many levels Joey Miskulin featuring great food, Sam Reider good wine, plenty of dancing, great cama- and The Divas! raderie and most of all, AAA President, Dr. Joseph A. plenty of talented ac- Ciccone and Joey Miskulin Carrozza Scholarship Dinner cordionists creating great music. Pictured above, LIAA members Joe Campo, Frank Scardino, September 13, 2020 John Perno, Greg Zukoff, Joey Miskulin, Phil Prete, Bob LaBua, The twelve noon arriving patrons were met and Dominic Karcic 12:00 to 5:00 pm with music supplied by the Long Island Famee Furlane of NA Accordion Alliance (LIAA) featuring their talented members College Point Queens (NY) (see photo far right). They offered a diverse.mix of toe tapping continen- tal style music (waltz, polka, tango, rumba and merengue). They were followed by lilting dance music supplied by Mario Tacca, Mary Mancini and Phil Battiston (pictured bottom right) who were fol- Visit us online at lowed by Frank Toscano and later Dominic Karcic (pictured above far ameraccord.com right). cont’d. on page 3 A bi-monthly publication of the American Accordionists’ Association page 2 September-October 2019 From the Editor Welcome to the September - October Items for the final 2019 edition, the November-December 2019 edition of the AAA Newsletter. Newsletter can be sent to me at [email protected] or to We hope many of you had the chance the official AAA e-mail address at: [email protected] to enjoy the 81st AAA Festival from Please include ‘AAA Newsletter’ in the subject box, so that we July 17-21, 2019 at the Valley Forge don’t miss any items that come in. As always, text should be sent Casino Resort (Radisson Hotel) in King within the e-mail or as a Word attachment if possible. Pictures of Prussia, PA. should be sent as a high quality .jpg file, and the larger the file Many of our members will be actively size the better. We can always reduce/crop the picture if neces- invovled in a variety of events showcas- sary, however we are unable to increase the quality from smaller ing the accordion over the Holiday Sea- pictures. The deadline for the November-December Newsletter son so we hope you share these diverse array of events with our will be the 15th of October 2019. readers by submitting your news to us as soon as possible! Thank you in advance for your continued support with the My sincere thanks to Past AAA President, Linda Reed for her Newsletter and we look forward to hearing about your many di- ongoing work in making the final Newsletter Publication and in verse activities. particular our Board of Director Rita Barnea for her work in help- Sincerely, Kevin ing source accordion events across the USA that we often include Kevin Friedrich – AAA Newsletter Editor in our Newsletter publications. From the President Welcome to all of our new AAA Members and especially to all of our current members who at- tended the 2019 AAA Festival in Valley Forge as well as the wonderful audience we had for the 2019 Carmen Carrozza Scholarship Fund Raising event and Lifetime Achievement Award presenta- tion to accordion legend, Joey Miskulin. It was the 25th anniversary of the AAA’s Master Class and Con- cert Series held in July at the Tenri Cultural Institute in NYC under the guidance of creator and event organizer, Dr. William Schimmel. Plan ahead to see what is in store for you at the 2020 Master Class, entitled Time Travels which will be held July 31, August 1 and 2 at the Tenri Center on 13th Street in NYC. Save the dates! The Ciccone Family Welcomes All to the 2019 AAA Festival Thanks to all who attended Festival 2019 in Valley Forge, espe- Mom and Dad Ciccone (Tony and Jean), cially to all of our dedicated workshop presenters as well as concert Dr. Joe, Regan, Gia, Ethel and Sifon performers, we thank you for your time and amazing talent which made this event unique. gia, coordinator – Long Island Accordion Alliance and the West- From the first day of the Festival, our members were ready and mont Accordion Club, Thank you for sharing your talents and beauti- willing to help and perform at the Meet and Greet and After Hours ful music. Club. What a great way to start the 2019 Festival! Thanks to all the So many workshops! And the audience attended and participated performers who made this an event to remember and especially our and asked for more!!! They learned the different types of bellows dedicated board members: Mary Tokarski, Contest Coordinator, shakes, various types of accordions, Music Writing Programs from Linda Soley Reed, Artist Liaison and Coordinator, Frank Busso, Jr., beginner to superstar, a bit of history of the great Charles Magnante, Exhibitor Liaison, Marilyn O’Neil, Youth Involvement Program Co- how to employ creative bass lines all to enhance your performance ordinator, Joan Grauman, Workshop Coordinator, Frank Busso, Sr., and make your experience unique. Public Relations Coordinator, Treasurer Ray Oreggia, MC and work- The orchestras were outstanding. Mary Tokarski conducted the shop presenter together with AAA Comptroller, Don Gerundo, Mario Junior Orchestra, Mitch Guido took charge with the Bob Vitale Tacca: workshop presenter, Performer and Adjudicator, Manny Youth Involvement Jazz Band, and the lovely Vesna Mehinovic con- Bobenrieth: MC and Adjudicator, Eddie Montero, Al Terzo, Joanna ducted the AAA 2019 Festival Orchestra. Darrow, Alex Chudolij, Bevery Roberts Curnow: Adjudicators; Mar- The audience was dazzled by the unique electronics employed by ilyn O’Neil: Bob Vitale Youth Involvement Jazz Band Coordinater, the Concert artists. Petar Maric with his brilliant technique and as well as Mitch Guido, conductor; Rita Dvidson Barnea: for taking knowledge of electronics presented a unique program of challenging such wonderful Photos and her outstanding articles on accordion- and creative selections while the finesse of Michael Bridge with his susa.com, Sam Falcetti Workshop presenter and Adjudicator and last flawless technique and brilliant electronic expertise on the 1812 but certainly not least, our own Jeanne Velonis, sound engineer par Overture enchanted the audience. Lest we forget the wonderful pre- excellence who together with Don Gerundo, coordinated the sound mier of “Child’s Play,” for two accordions, cello and unusual percus- and microphones needed to put on the fabulous concerts and work- sion instruments written by our own Joseph A. Natoli and performed shops we all enjoyed. with Dr. Robert Young McMahan, Accordion, Cecylia Barczyk, To our guest artists, thank you for sharing your amazing talent - Cello, and Bill Trigg, Percussion conducted by Vesna Mehinovic. Luncheon Concert performers, Nathan Chapeton & Mitch Guido, Bravo to all for a unique and exciting performance. Stanislav Culcicovschi who performed “last minute” because our Congratulations to the winners of the 2019 Carmen Carrozza guest artist, Sam Reider had a family event that could not be missed Scholarship competition and especially to our Philadelphia native son and lifelong AAA Nathan Chapeton – Senior division and Gia Ciccone - Junior di- member, Joe Soprani who performed and shared stories of his amaz- vision ….. Bravo! ing career with the accordion. Pasta Night Guest Artists, Mario Tacca A Special Thank You to Lind Soley Reed and Kevin Friedrich for and Mary Mancini as well as performers Chris Brettschneider, Cody their dedication to AAA and making it possible in having such a McSherry and Ray Oreggia; thanks also to the Club Pub, Ray Oreg- spectacular Newsletter!n A bi-monthly publication of the American Accordionists’ Association page 3 September-October 2019 AAA Festival 2019, cont’d from p. 1 cluded, Papa Joe DeClemente, Joe Campo, Frank Fontana and Frank The Thursday Luncheon Concert MC’d by Scardino. Manny Bobenrieth included Nathan Chapeton Pasta Night featured more wonderful (AAA USA Representative to the 2019 Coupe performances including Ray Oreggia, Mondiale), Saxophonist Mitch Guido, Chris Brettschneider, Cody McSherry, Stanislav Culcicovschi, 2nd place winner of the Mario Tacca and previous AAA Carrozza scholarship competi- Mary Mancini, fol- tion, and an outstanding performance by Stan Culcicovsci lowed by the West- Philadelphia’s native son, Joe Soprani.