NAO Executive Committee 2019

Chairperson

Raymond Bodell

Raymond Bodell Bsc(Hons), FLCM, LmusLCM, AmusLCM, AmusTCL, LBCA(TD), ABCA(TD), LBCA.

NAO Chairperson for a total of 18 years since 1992.

Past President of the Conféderation Internationale des Accordeonistes - CIA (2009 - 2017)

Vice President of the CMA (2006- ) and Principal of the British College of Accordionists.

Raymond achieved all Diplomas of the BCA by the age of 17 before gaining diplomas from the London College and Trinity College of Music. Successfully competed in many festivals including gaining first prize in the UK Virtuoso, Senior, Bell Trophy and Junior solo titles, competing internationally in various festivals. He continued his accordion studies in France for 2 years under the helm of Jacques Mornet.

Raymond has extensive adjudicating experience at numerous international festivals including the Castelfidardo (Italy), Baltica Harmonica (St. Petersburg), Ascolate (Lithuania), Harbin & Shenzhen (China), Jeunesse Musicale (Slovakia), International Grand Prix (France & Switzerland), Samara (Russia), Sata-Häme Soi (Finland), Accordionists and Teachers Guild - ATG (USA), Roland International Digital Accordion Festival (Italy), Pula International Accordion Festival (Croatia) as well as on numerous occasions at Coupe Mondiale events.

He believes strongly that our young accordionists are the future and to this end must be given every opportunity.

In 2004 the NAO presented him with their Merit Award "In appreciation of the Tireless and Inspirational Work for the Accordion both Nationally and Internationally." In 2017 he was presented with the CIA Merit Award.

Deputy Chairperson

Andy Coles

Andy first saw an accordion on television, when just six years old. It wasn’t until the age of nine that his parents finally realised this was no fad. Two years into accordion lessons, Andy started entertaining in public to fund his tuition, instruments and music. He was a regular competitor at NAO Area and National Championships from 1977 to 1985. He continued to play in public, promote the instrument and teach accordion until 1999. His career in financial services then took over. Andy returned to the accordion in 2010, this time playing for his own enjoyment. Andy was duly elected to the NAO Executive Committee in 2017 at a time when "He feels the time is now right to make a positive contribution to the instrument that gave him so much joy over the years".

Treasurer

Robert Fletcher

ROBERT FLETCHER is an active member, having been the NAO Treasurer for the past 20 years and the UK Trade Coordinator at the UK Championships. He has been the Co-ordinator of UK Championships and now manages the office at the championships .He plays accordion, electronic and Church organ, trombone, euphonium and bass. He has been a member of the Weaver valley Accordion Band. Robert was also a member of the NAO 2008 CIA Coupe Mondiale organising Committee and NAO Associate Award winner in 2009.

General Secretary

Anna Bodell

ANNA BODELL is an active member of the NAO Executive Committee, having first served as Minute Secretary in 2001, as an Executive member since 2003 including Deputy Chairperson, NAO Internet Secretary maintaining the website, previously serving a 3 year term of office as NAO Chairperson 2011-2013. At the UK Championships she has served as Timetabler, Programme Co-ordinator and Trophy Manager. Anna is also Administrator of the British College of Accordionists.

On an International level Anna was a member of the NAO Organising Committee of the Coupe Mondiale 2001 and was the Organiser of the 2008 event held in Glasgow. She was appointed CIA Honorary Vice President for 2008 and has attended recent CIA Congresses as an NAO delegate in Austria, Italy, Germany, China, Croatia, New Zealand, Finland, Norway, Macedonia, Spain, Bratislava and when hosted by the NAO, also as a delegate at the CMA Congress in USA, Italy, Portugal and Spain. Anna has been Administrator of the CMA and was elected CMA General Secretary in 2013.

At the recent Winter Congress of the CIA, Anna was awarded the CIA Honoured Friend of the Accordion 2017 which will be awarded at the 70th Coupe Mondiale in Italy in Serptember.

Executive Officers

Alicia Beautement

Alicia has played the accordion from the age of 5 having begun to take some BCA Grades and competing at her local NAO Accordion Festivals. During her childhood she continued with piano, clarinet and saxophone lessons. In her teenage years played Tenor Saxophone with the West Cheshire Schools Concert Band.

Alicia made her first appearance with the Weaver Valley Accordion Band aged 6 where she played the tambourine at the Stockport Area Festival! Alicia continues to play accordion with the Weaver Valley Accordion Band of which she is a valued member.

Having helped at the NAO National Championships and also attended the Coupe Mondiale in Salzburg 2015, Alicia now feels the time is right for her to give her time and energy to supporting the NAO in promoting the accordion

Karolyn Broadhead

Karolyn began the accordion at the age of 9, going on to study at the Leicester school of music, gaining the LBCA Performers diploma. Karolyn a past co-opted NAO Executive officer is a well-known Composer, adjudicator, teacher, and BCA examiner.

Karolyn has been a member of the BCA Orchestra which has made numerous successful recordings and has arranged music for a variety of musical productions.

She wishes to continue to contribute to the accordion world and further actively participate in the NAO

Wendy Farran

WENDY FARRAN began to play the accordion at 11, having gained a Bachelors degree and Dip Mus. She is now a member of the Weaver Valley Accordion band, composes and arranges for the accordion as well as teaching and playing professionally.

Wendy has served on the NAO Executive Committee for many years holding various offices including previously Festival Headquarters Manager.

Harry Hinchcliffe

HARRY HINCHCLIFFE started playing the accordion at the age of 8, competing in many NAO and other festivals. In 1980, he founded the Craven School of Music, preparing students successfully for both exams and competitions at all levels as well as playing professionally.

Harry has been the North Central Area Festival organiser for 20 years, and has served for many years as an Executive Officer of the NAO. In 2017 he received the NAO Merit Award in honour of his long service to the accordion.

Pauline Noon

PAULINE NOON has long been associated with the NAO (since 1958), assisting in the organisation of the National Championships "Accordion Day" from 1965 to 1970 as well as serving as NAO General Secretariat from 1998 - 2008 and is currently NAO Membership Secretary
She was appointed Secretary of the British College of Accordionists in 1965, a role she held until 2009.

Having played with the BCA Orchestra, BCA Chamber Quartet and Francis Wright Players for a number of years, she is now a member of the Leicester Accordion Orchestra. She was co-founder of the Charnwood Publishing Company in 1958.

In 2003 she received the NAO Merit Award in honour of her long service to the accordion.

Douglas Ward

DOUGLAS WARD is an accordionist, adjudicator and composer. As a professional musician for many years, the accordion has taken him literally around the world, as leader of a small group aboard the world's finest ocean liners, including the original Queen Elizabeth, and Queen Elizabeth 2 (QE2). Whilst at sea, he acquired a great love for passenger ships, and went on to become a world-renowned expert in the field. He resided in the USA for 20 years, where he furthered his musical studies - including composition, and worked as an arranger and transcriber for Hansen Publications, the third largest music publisher in the USA, and accompanied opera singer Barbara Noska. He has been a governing member of the NAO since the 1960s, and has served as a member of the NAO Music Committee for several years

NAO Music Committee 2018

Graham Laurie - Chairperson

GRAHAM LAURIE - Music Committee Chairperson, Graham has served on the Executive Committee for many years including one year as NAO Chairperson and three years as Deputy Chair. He is an elected Honorary Vice President of the Organisation.

He won the All Scotland Accordion Championships on a number of occasions and went on to represent Scotland at the National Championships.

Besides his own teaching commitments at his own Music Academy, he has been an adjudicator at NAO Festivals for many years and since 2004 has regularly represented the NAO as a Jury member at the CIA (World Championships) including recently at the 2008 event in Glasgow. As a holder of BCA Diploma’s he holds the position of Vice Principal and regularly examines at centres throughout the UK.

Alexander Bodell

Dip.Rec.BCA

Alexander has successfully competed in many accordion festivals including gaining first prize in the NAO UK Recital's, all 6 age categories, all 6 Polka Solo categories and 6 Musette Solo categories and has competed internationally in many festivals including the CIA, CMA and Castelfidardo festivals.

Internationally Alexander was a CIA 2nd prizewinner in the Junior Virtuoso Category in Rostov Russia in 2016 as well as a prizewinner in the Digital category in 2015. He has been a CMA prizewinner in Junior Variety in 2016 and 2017 and a CMA prizewinner in Senior Variety in 2018.

Gerry Kelly

Gerard Kelly comes from a family steeped in Irish Traditional Music. He started to play the accordion at age 9 and studied Irish traditional and Scottish music for most of his preteen and teenage years. Gerard performed with many ceilí bands in the late 1960 and early 1970’s and this took him to performances in most parts of Ireland. He competed in solo competitions and was a regular prize-winner at competitions.

He is a founder member, past Chairperson and Hon. Vice President of the Irish Marching Bands Association. Gerard commenced his teaching career in 1981 and was appointed Director of Music with the K&S Accordion Orchestra in Sept of that year. He is now 34 years with the orchestra and has toured Europe, America and Great Britain.

Gerard continues to develop the popularisation of the accordion in Ireland. He opened his own music school in 2009 and prepares students for graded examinations and performance awards held by the Royal Irish Academy of Music. This has helped develop the accordion as a solo and ensemble instrument.