ATG Festival 2023: July 19 - 23
Hyatt Regency Lisle, Illinois
We look forward to seeing you at ATG's 2023 Festival in Lisle, IL. Please watch this page for further information about the festival and how to register.
ATG Festival Orchestra Participation RSVP
We would like to know ASAP if you plan to participate in the 2023 Festival Orchestra. Please RSVP by clicking the RSVP button to the right. We are not requiring any deposit or registration at this time, we are simply trying to get a feel for the number of particpants. We will eventually need you to register, but for now, just let us know!
Featured Guest Artists
Grayson Masefield
http://www.accordions.com/gmasefield/
Grayson Masefield is a New Zealand born accordionist and is the first person to win World Championships in Classical, Virtuoso and Digital accordion categories. He is the Instrumental Music Teacher for accordion at the University of Auckland, New Zealand and is invited to perform concerts, give masterclasses and serve as jury at festivals and universities around the world. This concert will present the versatility of the concert accordion, including classical
transcriptions, original works, nuevo tango and works by Spanish composer Gorka Hermosa including a new world premiere commissioned by the ATG.
Das Duo Kollektiv
http://www.daskollektivduo.com/en/description/
CAMINANDO As unusual as the combination of accordion and flute may seem, Raphael Bruner and Juan Caros Diaz use their skills to multiply this cast into a collective musical experience Their diverse concert activities have already taken the young musicians to places such as the Luxemburg Philharmonic, Benin Philharmonic, Vienna Concert House, Concert and Theater St. Gallen, and Radial System V in Berlin. In addition, their musical profession enabled them to tour Europe, Latin America and Asia. So far 3 CDs Timeless, No Limits & Platano with works from the classical, modern, folklore, jazz, tango-nuevo and own compositions have been released. The current musical program "Caminando" is shaped by the experiences that the young musicians have made on their travels through the world and tells about the search for the personal musical identity of the artists.
"Caminando is the Spanish word for running. One hears Colombia, feels Taiwan, experiences France, is penetrated by Greece, and impressively feels the power of the various rhythms and melodies. World music, jazz and classical music meet here and merge into refreshingly new original compositions. Well-known pieces are also reinterpreted by the artists and performed with playful ease. With their skills, their joy of playing and their respect for the diversity of cultures they create the feat of genre fusion and a new level between classic and folklore. Their mutual understanding and music as a universal language create a boundless unity. "We never play a work as it is written, but always bring our own ideas and soul into themusic. "(Das Kollektiv)
Stas Venglevski
https://www.salyerspercussion.com/brett-jones
ATG board member Stas Venglevski will be performing on accordion with Nathaniel Holman on marimba.
His artistry, dazzling technical command, and sensitivity have brought Stanislav, "Stas," Venglevski, a native of the Republic of Moldova, part of the former Soviet Union, increasing acclaim as a virtuoso of the Bayan. A two-time first prize winner of Bayan competition in the Republic of Moldova, Stas is a graduate of the Russian Academy of Music in Moscow where he received his Masters Degree in Music under the tutelage of the famed Russian Bayanist, Friedrich Lips. In 1992 he immigrated to the United States. Stas is an Accordionist, a Musician, an Arranger, an Entertainer and a Teacher. Stas' repertoire includes his original compositions, a broad range of classical, contemporary and ethnic music. He has toured extensively as a soloist throughout the former Soviet Union, Canada, Europe, and the United States, including numerous performances with Doc Severinsen, Steve Allen and with Garrison Keillor on the Prairie Home Companion Show. Additionally, he has performed with symphony orchestras throughout the United States. He performed the world premiere of Concerto No. 2 by Anthony Galla-Rini and also the world premiere of Bayan and Beyond, composed for Stas by Dan Lawitts. He is a regular participant the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra's Arts in Community Education Program (ACE); has performed with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and the Tacoma Symphony Orchestra; has done television commercials and performed in theater productions; produced 15 acclaimed albums including a transcription of Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker Suite for Bayan as well as one of original compositions. He has published several books of original compositions. Stas founded Accordion XXI Century Series in 2010 so that the Midwest audiences can experience the amazing range of the Accordion and Bayan by bringing gifted artists from all over the world. In a concert setting, these gifted musicians share their skills and cultures to provide the audience with a unique musical experience. The performances feature the Accordion or Bayan in solo presentation and, when possible, in concert with other instruments. The brilliant artistry and musical virtuosity of Stas afford an expanded dimension in music and an innovative musical adventure to the audience. Beyond his artistry he is a consummate entertainer capable of engaging any audience.
Polyphonia Orchestra
The POLYPHONIA ORCHESTRA is an orchestra comprised of young musicians from the French Island of Reunion. Its instrumental composition is atypical. Violin, flute, brass, keyboard, percussion and singers evolve around two accordion stands of 18 members on the occasion of this tour. Their repertoire is very broad consisting of 50 titles including such pieces as Tchaikovsky’s Capriccio Itlaien, The Second Waltz by Shostakovich and Michael Jackson’s Thriller. The orchestra has performed on
four continents, and for the second time will perform in the United States. Polyphonia Orchestra is directed by Pierre VARO, accordion teacher, assisted by Maya HENRY, flute and piano teacher and Irwan HENRY, violin teacher. This performance is part of a a musical tour of the Midwest United States that includes performances in Illinois, Michigan, Indiana, Wisconsin and Iowa.
UMKC Community Ensemble
Directed by Joan Sommers
Many of the players in this ensemble have earned music degrees in the UMKC Conservatory of Music in Kansas City, Missouri. Several of them have won recognition for their solo work during their college years and have continued to perform professionally
as soloists with groups of their own and others.
This year’s group has an interesting and musically demanding repertoire which we know will be appreciated by all audiences! It includes Dance of the Clowns from the Opera Snegourotchka (Rimsky-Korsakov), Tema Russo from Serenade for Strings, Op. 48 (Tchaikovsky), Pavane, Op. 50 (Faure), A Rumor, Op. 27 (Creston), and Slavic Theme with Variations from Coppelia Ballet (Delibes).
The UMKC Accordion Ensemble will open the ATG’s Thursday evening (July 20) concert beginning at 8:00 pm in the beautiful Armerding Concert Hall on the Wheaton College campus.
The group of nine accordionists will be assisted by timpani and percussion players who are graduates of Wheaton College. We cordially invite you to come hear us!
Kevin Friedrich with Tony Payne
ATG Board of Director Kevin Friedrich will be joined by organist Tony Payne, Associate Professor of Music, Director of Special Programs and Artist Series at Wheaton College, Ron Dake (bass accordion) and Nathaniel Holman (percussion) in a performance of a work titled
‘Dargaville Impressions’ by well-known English accordionist and composer Ian Watson. The two movement work was commissioned by Kevin Friedrich in honor of the refurbishment of the historical organ at the Holy Trinity Anglican Church and the 150 th Anniversary of his home town,
Dargaville, New Zealand.
Composer Ian Watson, said he was impressed by the photos of Dargaville and how dramatic the light looked at times. The piece ‘Dargaville Impressions’ captures his impression of the town, without actually having visited it. The 1st movement features mostly the accordion, with support from organ, timpani and bass accordion. He imagined the light coming into the church from the memorial Stained Glass Window, donated by the family of the town founder, Joseph Dargaville. The 2nd movement 'Annie' is all about the organ featuring dramatic dynamic crescendos resulting in echoes around the venue. The historical organ was commissioned by the Dargaville family in honor of Mrs. Anne "Annie" Dargaville after her passing in 1915. The movement then reprises the haunting 1 st movement theme, capturing the light as it magically illuminates the Stained Glass Window once again.