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http://accordions.com/news.aspx?d=17-Jul-2015&lang=en&s=10606
http://accordions.com/news.aspx?d=17-Jul-2015&lang=en&s=10606
17-Jul-2015
2015 American Accordionists' Association (AAA) Festival A Huge Success - USAby Rita Davidson Barnea |
  The 2015 AAA Festival was held in Alexandria, Virginia July 8-12, 2015. Attendees were delighted with the vast array of accordion activities ranging from competitions to virtuoso concerts.The Faithe Deffner Memorial Competition report is below. Winner of the Elsie M. Bennett Composition Competition: Daniel Benedetti Honorable Mention: Joseph Ciccone and Will Comer. For a complete list of winners, please view: 2015AAA-Results.pdf The AAA competition categories took on a whole new perspective this year with category prizes being awarded as "merit awards" which meant that each competitor received a true mark of the technical and musical proficiency of the performance from the judges and subsequently awarded prizes according to the mark they received. The Luncheon Concert on July 9 featured: The Potomac Accordion Ensemble directed by Joan Grauman; Robert (accordion) and Rocio (castanets) Ford; Mark Nejako (accordion) and Nick Sungenis (violin); Ken Kunec, accordion. There were many excellent workshops including: Mary Tokarski: "So You Want To Play With Your School or Community Orchestra". Dr. Robert Young McMahan and Melody Ben Flah: " Playing Between the Cracks, the accordion and its place in Tuning Experiments" Ken Moulton: "What It Takes to Run the Mantovani Orchestra" Paul Ramunni: "The Accordion-A Living Legacy and Part of our American DNA" Rita Barnea: "The Music of Eugene Ettore" Prof. Joan C. Sommers: "How to Prepare Properly for a Rehearsal" SGM Manny Bobenrieth: "Playing for Uncle Sam" Lauren Brody "Klezmer and Balkan Ornamentation for Accordionits" The Thursday evening concert featured the Busso Festival Orchestra conducted by Frank Busso, Jr. with Amanda Parziale, vocalist. Frank Busso, Sr. also sang. The orchestra entertained everyone with a program of popular music, show tunes, etc. It is really inspiring to see family members involved. Frank Busso, Jr. as conductor, his father Frank Busso, Sr. in the orchestra with his daughter, Christina, who also played the flute. The Friday Concert featured the talents of: Grayson Masefield, Joe Natoli, Dr. Robert Young McMahan with Cecylia Barczyk, cello, Viatcheslav Semionov, The Eddie Monteiro Trio, and the Accordion Pops Orchestra directed by Al Terzo, Kevin Friedrich was MC of the Saturday Evening Concert which featured the 2015 AAA Festival Orchestra conducted by Al Terzo. Don Gerundo performed for the Pre-Banquet Cocktail Hour. Manny Bobenrieth and the United States Army Strolling Strings, a group of 20 professional musicians, was a truly impressive presentation of music including Broadway show tunes and much more. It added great elegance to the occasion. Opportunities for ensemble playing for youth was a Junior Festival Orchestra conducted by AAA President Mary Tokarski. Bob Vitale conducted the 2015 Youth Jazz Ensemble which included accordion, trumpet, trombone, sax, bass, and drums. The 2015 Festival was enjoyed by everyone thanks to the dedicated efforts of the AAA Officers and Festival Coordinators including: AAA President and Contest Chairman Mary Tokarski, Dr.Joseph Ciccone, Linda Soley Reed, Frank Busso, Sr., Dr. Robert Young McMahan, Joan Grauman, Marilyn O'Neil, Frank Busso, Jr. and ob Vitale. Make sure to put the 2016 AAA Festival on your calendar. It takes place July 6-10, 2016 at the Adams Mark Hotel in Buffalo, New York. For further information: www.ameraccord.com |