Confederation Internationale des Accordéonistes CIA

Greetings from CIA Vice President
Joan Cochran Sommers

The 1955 Coupe Mondiale introduced me to the huge world of the accordion; it was my inspiration then and my interest in the accordion has never wavered since. Many times teachers and other individuals ask why they should become a member of an organization devoted to the accordion and, in turn, it is often those very organizations which ask why they should become a member of the Confédération Internationale des Accordéonistes.

Think about it…why should they not become a member, whether a single person or an organization? What is it that one single person or one single organization can do to promote the accordion, accordionists, and all things devoted to the instrument? The standard of playing today is at an all-time high and much of this has to do with participation as either an entrant in or an observer of the yearly Coupe Mondiale event held in the many different member countries throughout the world. Each year hundreds hear the standard of performances and the quality of the repertoires become ever higher and each year there are more qualified entrants in every category. These entrants, their teachers, mentors, and audience members return to their own countries with more ideas for how to improve themselves and others; they are inspired and stimulated to share these thoughts with others, thereby spreading the influence of perhaps one person throughout the world with hundreds more.

Throughout the world, not only has the level of playing and the quality of repertoire improved; our instruments have improved immensely, too. There is an educational value involved with every Coupe Mondiale and such events cannot happen without the support and participation of many. It is the single individuals who must do so through the organizations in their country and, ultimately, through the efforts of these organizations and their membership in the Confédération Internationale des Accordéonistes.

There are always cycles of growth and repose; however, these inactive periods should not be a time for non-membership in or non-support of the larger entity. That is the very time when we must continue to be active in sending our representatives to the gatherings, competitions, concerts, or other events as a means of instilling new imagination and stimulation for the accordion.

It is you, the individual, who must bring this to your students and organizations; it is your activities which will make the accordion the popular musical instrument it is, but, also, to continue its path for acceptance at all levels. It is your support and that of your organizations which will make possible the future growth of the accordion throughout the world.

Joan Cochran Sommers - Vice President
Confédération Internationale des Accordéonistes (CIA)