 Australia |
 Austria |
 China |
 Czech Republic |
 Germany |
 Netherlands |
 New Zealand |
 North Macedonia |
 Russia |
 Slovenia |
 South Africa |
 UK |
 USA |
| Date: | Saturday May 3rd, 12.00pm - 3.00pm |
| Venue: | Brunswick Artists' Bar, 316 Sydney Road Brunswick, Victoria |
| Contact: | Accordion Society of Australia President: Anthony Schulz anthonyschulz-music.com (61) 0414 395 014 |
The ASA Victoria subcommittee invites you to join us for an afternoon of wonderful music that celebrates our beloved instrument. There will be student and ensemble performances, chalkboard opportunities and the fantastic Lucy Riddett who will be the featured artist for the 196th World Accordion Day in Victoria. We hope to see you there!
Ensembles:
ASAVO (ASA Accordion Orchestra)
Prahran Accordion Band
Hills Accord
Student Performances from: Iryna Stepko Music School
Special Guest: Lucy Riddett https://lucyriddett.com/
General Info (ASA site) www.accordionsaustralia.com
| Date: | Saturday May 3rd, 9:30 am - 2.30pm |
| Venue: | St Johns Lutheran Church Hall, 421 Bridge Street, Wilsonton, Towoomba, QLD. |
| Contact: | Joan (+61) 0427 170 857 |
Information:
Toowoomba will celebrate the 196th anniversary of the accordion with a concert in St John’s Lutheran Church Hall in Wilsonton, Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia on May 3rd, 2025, from 9.30am to 2.30pm for World Accordion Day (WAD).
The day will be filled with jam sessions and opportunities for individual players to perform on stage. Audience members call out songs they would like to hear played and words are put on the big screen for all to follow.
All accordionists and abilities are given the opportunity to play as individuals and participate in group jam sessions.
St John’s parishioners co-ordinate the catering and provide lucky door and raffle prizes to add excitement to the day.
When a bracket of hymns such as Amazing Grace, How Great Thou Art, Nearer to God and the Old Rugged Cross are played, with singing led by Cecelia, the hall comes alive.
Players of the harmonica, concertina or accordion or any other reed instrument are encouraged to come along.
For further details phone: +61 0427 170 857
| Date: | May 29th to June 1st, 2025. |
| Venue: | Congress Hall Innsbruck |
| Contact: | The Harmonikaverband Österreichs (HVÖ) President Werner Weibert:  |
Information:
The HVÖ organised Tag Der Harmonika event is also the HVÖ World Accordion Day (WAD) event. The Tag Der Harmonika is being held with the World Music Festival at Congress Innsbruck, Austria from May 29th to June 1st, 2025.
This well organised event was a huge success with large crowds.
Daily Reports of text, pictures, full results and video.
2025 Tag Der Harmonika Daily Report: May 29/30
2025 Tag Der Harmonika Daily Report: May 31
Video at: Accordions Worldwide youtube
The World Music Festival (WMF), the world's largest accordion and harmonica festival, celebrates its 14th edition and this year combines with the Tag Der Harmonika of the HVÖ Harmonikaverband Österreichs (Austrian Harmonica Association) for the first time. This combination of two renowned events offers a unique program that will delight players, music lovers, and families alike.
Categories of Austrian Tag Der Harmonika “Harmonica Day”:
- 31st Austrian Competition for Accordion solo/duo/ensembles and 14th Austrian Competition for Harmonica solo/duo
- Accordion Solo, Duo, Entertainment, Classical Music and World Music
- International Advertising for Styrian Harmonica-Solo 5th Erich Moser Memorial Competition
- Diatonic and Chromatic Harmonica Solo and Duo
| Date: | May 11, 2025, 13:00–15:00 hours |
| Venue: | Jing’an District Youth Activity Center, No. 330 Yangqu Road, Shanghai. |
| Contact: | Ms. Zhuo Shengji WeChat: youngzsj Phone: +86 13816542602 |
Hosted by: Jing’an District Youth Activity Center, Shanghai, guided by: Shanghai Musicians Association Accordion Committee, logo right.
This vibrant family-friendly music carnival features a wide range of engaging activities, including street flash mob performances, open mic accordion showcases, hand-cranked organ displays, music games, and a DIY parent-child workshop focused on accordion-themed crafts.
As the event coincides with Mother’s Day, a special themed check-in and photo area will also be available, where participants can create handmade accordion-inspired gifts for their mothers, making the celebration even more meaningful.
A full report of the event with 30 pictures and video is at:
https://accordions.news/vibrant-shanghai-accordion-day/
Below two pictures and video of the event.
Thank you to Ms. Shengji Zhuo for sending the report, pictures and video.
| Date: | May 4th to May 6th |
| Venue: | May 4th at 7pm: concert at the Museum of Decorative Arts in Prague |
| Contact: | Ladislav Horák Email: lad.horak@seznam.cz |
A three day mini festival to celebrate World Accordion Day (WAD) will be held in the Czech Republic from May 4th to 6th, 2025.
| Date: | May 29th - June 1st, 2025 |
| Venue: | World Music Festival, Innsbruck, Congress and Messe Innsbruck, Austria |
| Contact: | Deutscher Harmonika Verband e.V. (DHV) |
Tremendous Response: Over 3,000 participants in 160 orchestras and ensembles, or as soloists, have registered for this top-class highlight of the musical scene. The participants come from Denmark, Germany, Estonia, France, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Austria, Poland, Switzerland, Slovenia, and the United Kingdom. Among them are 400 participants from Austria.
“This response shows how much the international accordion scene is looking for exchange and making music together after the difficult years of the pandemic,” says Georg Hettmann, 1st Vice President of the German Harmonica Association (DHV).
This well organised event was a huge success with large crowds.
Daily Reports has a large number of videos, pictures plus full results at:
World Music Festival: May 28/29
World Music Festival: May 30
World Music Festival: May 31
World Music Festival: June 01
Video at: Accordions Worldwide youtube
| Date: | 3 pm, May 25, 2025 |
| Venue: | St Paul’s Anglican Church Lounge, Papanui, Christchurch. |
| Contact: | Canterbury Accordion Association |
| Date: | |
| Venue: | |
| Contact: | |
| Further Info: |
| Date: | March 15th. The All-Russian Day of Bayan, Accordion and Harmonica is celebrated each year (on the third Saturday in March) at the Gnesins RAM Concert Hall in Moscow. The Department of Bayan and Accordion of the Gnesins RAM established the event with project manager being Friedrich Lips. |
| Venue: | Gnesins RAM Concert Hall |
| Contact: | Gnesins RAM, Moscow, Friedrich Lips |
Further Info:
Picture Gallery |
2025 All Russia Poster
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Program below.
The All-Russian Day of Bayan, Accordion and Harmonica is also Russia's contribution to World Accordion Day (May 6th) because that date clashes with a Russian National Holiday, so for that reason, the All-Russian Day of Bayan, Accordion and Harmonica is held in March annually on the third Saturday in March.
The Department of the Bayan and Accordion of the Gnesin RAM established the event with project manager, Friedrich Lips. The aim of the event is to become part of a national cultural project.
This year the event will take place on March 15th, 2025 at 7pm.
The initiative began in 2010 and demonstrated great enthusiasm in all regions of Russia, both from amateurs and professional musicians, and resulted in a truly national celebration.
It is worth noting that throughout the twentieth century these instruments were an integral part of the life of the peoples of Russia: Russians, Tatars, Bashkir, Ukrainians and many others and that the bayan, harmonica and accordion played an important role during the World War II of 1941-1945.
Performers include laureates of international competitions in 2024:
Vasily Dobrin
Leo Muravyov-Florin
Olzhas Nurlanov
Alexey Loganov
Nikita Kuznetsov
Daria Sakharova, Alexey Loganov
Duet “Palladio” – Leo Muravyov-Florin and Evgenia Sirosh
Part 1:
A. Kusyakov – “Tornado” from the cycle “Faces of the Passing Time”
W. Mozart – 12 variations on the theme “Ah, vous dirais-je maman”
Performed by Vasily Dobrin
M. Glinka / M. Balakirev / arr. O. Nurlanov – Lark
X. Alven – Dance of the Shepherdess from the ballet Mountain King
Performed by Leo Muravyov-Florin
T. Lundqvist – Rondo from the Ballad for two bayans
J. Ibert – Little White Donkey
Performed by the duet “Palladio” Leo Muravyov-Florin and Evgeniya Sirosh
S. Rachmaninov – “Vocalise”
A. Rosenblat – “Dance of the Little Swans” from the fantasy suite “Swan Lake” by P. I. Tchaikovsky
Performed by Olzhas Nurlanov
Part 2:
A. Na Yun Kin Fantasy on the theme of the song “Thin Rowan”
R. Shchedrin Toccata
Performed by Alexey Loganov
G. Rossini – Overture to the opera “The Thieving Magpie” V. Semenov – Moscow Fantasy Performed by Daria Sakharova, Alexey Loganov
Laureate of the 2025 All-Russian competition for the best performance of baroque music on the button accordion and accordion
F. Chopin/T. Gumina – A joke on the theme of a waltz in C sharp minor
B. Hebb – Sunny
Z. Abreu – Tico-Tico
A. Mikhailov – a lady in jazz rhythms
Performed by Nikita Kuznetsov
| Date: | Saturday May 10, 2025 |
| Venue: | 2025 Golden Diatonic Accordion Bled Competition, Bled Festival Hall |
| Contact: | Janez Fabijan, Manager, Golden Accordion Bled Competition |
Information:
World Accordion Day is celebrated on 6 May, when Cyrill Demian patented the first accordion in Vienna in 1829. As part of the celebrations, the traditional Golden Accordion Bled Competition will take place in the Bled Festival Hall on Saturday May 10, 2025.
Bled Golden Accordion Competition: Information
On Saturday, 10 May 2025, the Lakeside Promenade will come alive with folk music, accompanied by folk dances and events for children. The winners of the Golden Accordion 2025 competition will also perform on the promenade's big stage.
The competition will be broadcast on the following link:
https://youtube.com/live/-RV-RElBD7Q?feature=share
The next day, Sunday, May 11, 2025 hundreds of accordionists from Slovenia and abroad will gather at Lake Bled. At 12 noon, by Lake Bled, there will be a group performance of accordionists, with the songs Otoček sredi jezera (Island in the Middle of the Lake) by the Avsenik Brothers Ensemble and Čebelar (The Beekeeper) by Lojze Slak. This will be followed by a procession of accordions on the Lakeside Promenade.
| Date: | Tuesday 6 May 2025, 19:00 hours |
| Venue: | Endler Hall, Stellenbosch 7600, South Africa |
| Contact: | Presented by SAFRA – South African Free Reed Association, Leon Oosthuizen, President: SAFRA, M: +27 (0)81 395 4327 |
Picture Gallery |
SAFRA logo
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Book at Webtickets: https://www.webtickets.co.za/v2/event.aspx?itemid=1565820411
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/16Ba2VDEKY/?mibextid=wwXIfr
Picture Gallery |
Concert Poster
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On May 6th, 2025, the South African Free Reed Association (SAFRA) will present a concert entitled Trekklavier is Groot (Accordion is Big) – Afrikaans 100, to celebrate the 2025 World Accordion Day, which falls on the eve of the centenary of Afrikaans as an official language. The concert will be held at the Endler Hall, Stellenbosch, South Africa, beginning at 7pm.
The event will be a festive cultural gathering for young and old featuring “an unforgettable musical experience of the accordion with choir, ensemble and concertina. Leading accordion players, top school choirs, concertina masters, Christmas bands, volkspele and other music groups go big with enchanting sounds in a variety of genres from classical to folk music, with a mini expo of everything accordion.”
Performers will include among other: Louis Verwey, Leon Oosthuizen, André van Vuuren, Loren Ehlers, Monika Stuchlik, Corinne Sanderson, Barney van Dyk, Laerskool Stellenbosch Choir and Percussion Orchestra, Kylemore Secondary Choir, Hoër Meisieskool Bloemhof A Capella Group, Volkspele Tygerberglaer, Pieter Langeveldt Primary School Choir, Dries & Esmé Neethling, MJ Brooks, Willem Luitingh, Hano Krige & Joshua Heinemann, Star of Gladtidings Christmas Band
| Date: | Sunday 4 May 2025, 15:00 hours concert only 13:00 hours lunch & concert |
| Venue: | Drostdy Teater, Cnr Alexander St & Bird St, Stellenbosch, South Africa. T: 079 699 5091 Book now: https://www.webtickets.co.za/v2/event.aspx?itemid=1565349530 |
| Contact: | Stanislav Angelov +27836015751 |
Information:
Featuring some of the top accordion players Cape Town has to offer.
Monika Stuchlik, Loren Ehlers, Stanislav Angelov, Andre Jansen van Vuuren, Louis Verwey, Leon Albertus Oosthuizen as well as some other top musicians who’d support them Albert Combrink - piano, Veronica Bell - violin, Schalk Joubert - bass guitar and more.
Pictures |
Monika Stuchlik
Stanislav Angelov
Andre van Vuuren
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Loren Ehlers
Daniel Stuchlik
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You can expect music from various genres, performed by the top professional accordionists of Cape Town area as well as some young and upcoming accordion students.
Video: World Accordion Day Celebration Concert 2025 for Cape Town / Stellenbosch
| Date: | Saturday 10th May, 4 pm - 5.30 pm. Free admission - donation to charity accepted. |
| Venue: | The Hall at Marthall, Knutsford, Sandlebridge Lane, Marthall, Knutsford, WA16 7SB, UK. |
| Contact: | Steve Hughes 07939 362294 info@northstaffsaccordionclub.com |
Further Info:
Culmination of workshop, MD Jane Ward (MD of No1 Ladies Accordion Orchestra) - starts 10 am.
Knutsford Accordion Day Accordion Orchestra and solo performances by Julie Best, Wendy Farran. Jane Ward, and duet performance by Ken and Wendy Farran.
Picture Gallery |
Poster
The hall
Group picture
Orchestra
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Beguine For Bert: The Knutsford Accordion Day is an annual Workshop organised by the North Staffs Accordion Club, held in May at the Hall At Marthall, near Knutsford in Cheshire. Our leader this year was Jane Ward, MD for the No 1 Ladies Accordion Orchestra. This piece 'Beguine For Bert' is an original composition by Jane. The players came together for the first time on the day of the workshop.
This piece 'Scarborough Fair' is an arrangement for Accordion band by Jane Ward. The players came together for the first time on the day of the workshop.
This piece 'Gypsy Train' is written by Reiner Oberbeck and arranged by Jane Ward for Accordion orchestra. The players came together on the day of the workshop.
| Date: | May 2-4, 2025 |
| Venue: | World of Accordions Museum (AWAM) |
| Contact: | Helmi Strahl Harrington, Ph.D. Curator, Executive Director Harrington ARTS Center (HARTS) and AWAM, For more information call (218) 393-0245 or email: aworldofaccordions@gmail.com |
Further Info:
Tickets are $120.00 for entire event, Friday:$40.00, Saturday: $75.00 and Sunday: $25.00. Links to purchase tickets will be available soon on the www.worldofaccordions.org website.
Poster |
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Print festival poster: 2025 Poster
A World of Accordions in Superior, Wisconsin hosted a very successful World Accordion Day and Dr. Willard A. Palmer Festival from May 2-4th, 2025 in the magnificent Harrington Arts Center located at A World of Accordions Museum.
The festival included concert performances as well as informative lectures on a variety of topics by guests including: Steve Solkela, Brett Jones, Dee Langley, Abigail Lund, Dwight Deeth, Shelby Setnikar, Dan Turpening, William Popp, Stas Venglevski & Noriko Kijiya (marimba), Mike Middleton & the Middletones, a free Sunday Morning non-denominational Polka Service, local author Anthony Bukoski and accordionist Kris Kopec, the ACM Band, The Masked Accordions, The Three Rivers Ensemble and Festival Orchestra conducted by Dee Langley and more!
The Confédération Internationale des Accordéonistes (CIA) held their first World Accordion Day on 6th May 2009, marking the 180th birthday of the accordion - 6 May 1829, the date the accordion patent was filed. On May 6, 1829, Cyrill Demian (1772–1849) an organ and piano maker of Armenian origin, accompanied by his two sons Karl and Guido, filed a patent in Vienna, Austria for the accordion. The patent was approved a short time later on May 23rd.
World Accordion Day is a unique global opportunity to promote public awareness of the accordion, an instrument without boundaries, one that spans all cultures and musical genres.
Dr. Willard “Bill” Palmer (1917-1996) collaborated with Bill Hughes in producing a series of accordion method books (Palmer & Hughes) which have had worldwide impact. Sales ran into the millions making it the cornerstone of the Alfred Publishing Co.
During his period as a professional accordionist, Willard A. Palmer sought to perfect his yet-evolving instrument and contributed significantly to the development of the stradella-free bass "convertor" accordion. He designed the "Palmer Emperor Convertor", and collaborated with Titano Accordions to achieve the realization of his creative ideas.
Willard W. Palmer eventually became one of the most important editors of keyboard music in the United States. He became Alfred Publishing Company's Senior Editor in 1964, researching the original manuscripts of the great masters of keyboard literature, with special emphasis on the study of performance practices in the Baroque, Classic and Romantic eras. He achieved recognition as the leading authority on Baroque ornamentation and lectured on the subject at various colleges, universities and music festivals throughout the country.
The next event hosted by A World of Accordions will feature Alejandro Brittes (accordion), André Ely (seven-stringed guitar), and Carlos de Césaro (contrabass). Argentine accordionist and composer Alejandro Brittes and his ensemble, based in Brazil, will showcase the South American musical genre, Chamamé. The lecture/deomonstation will be held at 4:00 PM and the Concert at 5:00 PM on Sunday, June 1st, 2025. Tickets are $25.00 and available at the door.
Please visit www.worldofaccordions.org for more information.
A World of Accordions in Superior, Wisconsin, is pleased to announce their World Accordion Day and Dr. Willard A. Palmer Festival which will be celebrated from May 2-4th, 2025 in the magnificent Harrington Arts Center located at A World of Accordions Museum.
The festival will include concert performances as well as informative lectures on a variety of topics by guests including: Steve Solkela, Brett Jones, Dee Langley, Abigail Lund, Dwight Deeth, Shelby Setnikar, Dan Turpening, William Popp, Stas Venglevski & Noriko Kijiya (marimba), Mike Middleton & the Middletones, a free Sunday Morning non-denominational Polka Service, local author Anthony Bukoski and accordionist Kris Kopec, the ACM Band, The Masked Accordions, The Three Rivers Ensemble and Festival Orchestra conducted by Dee Langley and more!
The Confédération Internationale des Accordéonistes (CIA) held their first World Accordion Day on 6th May 2009, marking the 180th birthday of the accordion - 6 May 1829, the date the accordion patent was filed. On May 6, 1829, Cyrill Demian (1772–1849) an organ and piano maker of Armenian origin, accompanied by his two sons Karl and Guido, filed a patent in Vienna, Austria for the accordion. The patent was approved a short time later on May 23rd.
World Accordion Day is a unique global opportunity to promote public awareness of the accordion, an instrument without boundaries, one that spans all cultures and musical genres.
The name of “Bill” Palmer (1917-1996) is certainly the USA’s most influential in music pedagogy, critical editions, and performance. The American musician, composer, scholar and music educator, Willard (Bill) A. Palmer was a child prodigy. At 13, he played the piano on the radio. He studied both piano and accordion which were to form the basis of his musical endeavors. After the war, Willard A. Palmer and his former student, Bill Hughes joined forces. They can be credited with the high point in accordion performance in the USA. Palmer collaborated with Hughes in producing a series of accordion method books which have had worldwide impact. Sales ran into the millions making it the cornerstone of the Alfred Publishing Co.
During his period as a professional accordionist, Willard A. Palmer sought to perfect his yet-evolving instrument and contributed significantly to the development of the stradella-free bass or quint "convertor" accordion. He designed the "Palmer Emperor Convertor", and collaborated with Titano Accordions to achieve the realization of his creative ideas.
Willard W. Palmer eventually became one of the most important editors of keyboard music in the United States. His editions of works of the masters are highly acclaimed and respected in the most elite music circles. Palmer is noted especially for his painstaking detail and care in the scholarly researching of original editions. He became Alfred Publishing Company's Senior Editor in 1964, researching the original manuscripts of the great masters of keyboard literature, with special emphasis on the study of performance practices in the Baroque, Classic and Romantic eras. He achieved recognition as the leading authority on Baroque ornamentation and lectured on the subject at various colleges, universities and music festivals throughout the country.
| Date: | Sunday, May 4, 2025 at 3-6 pm |
| Venue: | This private house concert takes place in West Orange, New Jersey. The address will be provided upon purchase of ticket.
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| Contact: | Rita Davidson Barnea, Secretary, AAA, E-mail: ritabelll@aol.com |
Further Info:
The American Accordionists’ Association (AAA) presents Mario Tacca, world renowned accordionist and Internationally acclaimed vocal artist, Mary Mancini in a special in-home concert fundraising event celebrating World Accordion Day. (WAD). All proceeds will benefit the American Accordionists’ Association.
The concert takes place on Sunday, May 4, 2025 at 3:PM in West Orange, New Jersey. The address will be provided upon purchase of ticket. Meet the artists after the performance when a light supper will be served. Tickets: $45 per person.
Tickets are only availabe at:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/mario-tacca-mary-mancini-american-accordionists-assoc-fundraiser-tickets-1303625832959
This program will be the first in a series of in-home concerts that will be held in the future. Be sure to get your tickets early as seating is limited to 45 people. Connect to Eventbrite where you can purchase your tickets. Tickets are only available for purchase through Eventbrite. Link just above.
Mario Tacca was born in Italy. During his childhood, his family moved to the Alsace Lorraine region of France where he began his musical studies. This is where his love and intense desire to play the accordion began. He loved the sound! He would pick up the accordion and imitate some of the songs his mother used to sing. The desire and love never diminished, despite having to walk three miles weekly to his teacher with his instrument strapped to his back!
In France, he was the winner of many regional and national accordion competitions. He became a world champion, winning the World Cup of Italy, the Grand Prix of Paris, the US National Competition and the International Accordion competition held at Carnegie Hall in New York City. Mario dazzles audiences across the US and around the world with his unmatched virtuosity on the accordion and his exciting interpretations of international music, classics and pop.
Mario was seen on MTV in a commercial for a pilot Italian Food program. His latest recording, “Journey Through the Classics” features great melodies from the Classic Repertoire. He and Mary released their latest duet CD, “Ricordi’, a collection of Italian melodies.
Internationally acclaimed vocal artist Mary Mancini has been featured in the New York Times, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, and the Journal News performing in a variety of venues around the world. Singing in eight languages, Mary draws from a deep repertory reservoir. She is adept at pop, show tunes, operatic arias, sacred music.
Mary has headlined numerous concert halls and festivals in North America, Europe, and China and has performed at the Garden State Arts Center, Resorts International Casino Hotel, Taj Mahal in Atlantic City, and Mohegan Sun Resort Casino in CT. Mary and Mario completed two concert tours of China. As guests of the China Ministry of Culture, they toured five cities in three weeks performing with three symphony orchestras. In addition, some of the most memorable moments included a performance held at the 1600 seat True Color Jazz Supper Club in the booming city of Shenzhen and in the 3500 seat Golden Opera House.
In addition to a busy concert schedule, which keeps her on the road for over 200 days a year, Mary also maintains an active recording career. On “Canzoni dal Cuore,” her CD of Italian Love Songs & Arias, Mary sings with passion many of the classic songs from the Italian repertoire. The album also includes her own composition, “Preghiera, Ninna-Nanna” set to the music of Pietro Mascagni. The Red Cross selected Mary’s original composition, “With Open Arms,” to accompany its video tribute to the September 11 victims. Mary was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Order of the Sons of Italy in America for her ongoing outstanding musical contribution to the arts.
Mary Mancini and Mario Tacca are available for: concert and show performances, church weddings, piano and accordion lessons, wedding receptions, special events, corporate events and In-home/private performances.
For further information: American Accordionists’ Association email: ameraccord1938@gmail.com
| Date: | May, 2025 |
| Venue: | Point Loma Branch, San Diego Public Library |
Further Info:
Donna Kaspar, President of the San Diego Accordion Club created a display at her local public library to promote the accordion for the month of May. She reserved a large display cabinet and assembled accordion memorabilia, picture below.
