Andy Mirkovich
 
Beginning at age five, Andy studied with well known accordionist Joe Spano for 12 years. He went on to get his Bachelor of Arts in Music from Seattle University and then furthered his studies in composition at the University of Washington, Graduate School of Music.

He founded Andy Mirkovich Productions, the oldest and largest theatrical production agency in the Pacific Northwest, and has performed on radio, TV, in movies, on commercials, and is a featured performer at the Space Needle Restaurant in Seattle, Washington for 11 years.

During his performing career, Andy has performed with, or for a variety of famous musicians, including Lawrence Welk, Myron Floren, Dick Contino, Art VanDamm, Frank Yankovich, Liberace, Burl Ives, The Vienna Boys Choir, Danny Kaye, Phyllis Diller, King Hussein of Jordan, the King and Queen of Norway, and many others.

In addition to teaching Master Classes, Andy has adjudicated and performed at music festivals in Leavenworth, Seattle, Portland, Spokane, Yakima, Vancouver and Victoria, BC.  Andy continues to perform approximately 150 engagements a year.

Cory Pesaturo
 
“If anyone can make the accordion hip - and that's a tall order - it just might be Cory Pesaturo. He’s the most impressive jazz accordionist these ears have ever heard. Pesaturo makes the instrument sound as natural and native to jazz as the saxophone or trumpet,” wrote the Boston Globe in October of 2007.

Cory, a recent graduate from Boston’s prestigious New England Conservatory of Music has just released two critically acclaimed CDs – A Change in the Weather and Crosswinds, both in collaboration with legendary jazz saxophonist George Garzone.  They are the culmination of years of Cory’s local, national and international appearances at concert halls, festivals, rock clubs.

Cory has the distinction of having performed at the White House on four occasions. Since leaving office, the Clintons have requested that he perform on five more occasions, and as the numerous letters from former President Bill Clinton reveal, the two have enjoyed a warm, lasting friendship.

With his Conservatory training completed, Cory is now bringing the accordion to numerous venues from Boston to New York. Combining his virtuosic finger work with his high energy, Cory has been embraced by audiences who appreciate his devotion to both the rigors and subtleties of jazz.   Comfortable with many genres of music, this young musician with a dynamic vision is unleashing not only his own potential, but also that of the accordion. For more information, please visit: www.corypesaturo.com

Richard Tyce
 
Mr. Tyce draws on his roots in Folk traditions and his operatic training to entertain audiences with romance & laughter. His unique combination of lush accordion and vocal virtuosity are a welcome addition to this year’s Rocky Mountain Accordion Festival.

His credits include solo vocalist with the London Ontario Symphony, Victoria Opera, the Vancouver Chamber Choir and Modern Baroque Opera Company to name a few. Richard is founder of the bands “S-Bahn” and “The Groggin Noggins” which have performed at events like Vancouver’s “European Festival” and Victoria’s “Accordions by the Sea” Festival, and the Leavenworth Oktoberfest. Richard Tyce and the S-Bahn will be featured at the Leavenworth Accordion Celebration 2009.

His RMAC performance will include selections from his album: “Making Tracks with the S-Bahn”, and his much anticipated new release “Say You Love Me”.  Included will always be a good-old feel-good foot-stomping finger-flying polka for good measure!  Richard's CDs will be available for purchase at the festival. For more information, please visit: www.richardtyce.com

Kerry Christensen
 
Kerry Christensen is not your typical yodeler.  His concerts and events this year will take him to as many as 23 US states and two or three countries internationally.  Kerry spent two years in the country of Austria right out of high school.  There he became interested in the alpine yodeling art.  After mastering this difficult medium he was asked in l983 to move his six member family to Orlando, Florida and use his yodeling skills at Walt Disney World's Epcot Center.  He performed there for almost seven years until 1990. 

Today Kerry performs all kinds of corporate, festival, and community concert events.  He recently lent his unique classical yodeling talent to a full-length Disney animated feature called "Home on the Range."  See further details below. 

Kerry is perhaps the only full time yodeler in the world that specializes in all styles of yodeling.  He can be strictly alpine, or he can put on his Stetson hat and do an all-cowboy yodeling show.  However, many of Kerry's fans say that their favorite show is when Kerry mixes up the styles.  You will hear cowboy, alpine, cajun, Latin, Jewish, Hawaiian, jazz, classical, and his always popular humorous yodeling renditions. For more information, please visit: www.kerrychristensen.com