by Jane Christison
WEDNESDAY NIGHT CONCERT – July 24, 2024, 7:30 p.m.
All ATG concerts were held at White Recital Hall, UMKC James C. Olson Performing Arts Center. The University of Missouri at Kansas City Conservatory of Music is where Joan C. Sommers led the accordion program for over 40 years. It was great to welcome so many accordionists to the UMKC campus!
Bayanist Stas Venglevski opened the program with an original composition in six movements. As always, he has a sense of humor while playing.
Animal Suite Stas Vanglevski
March-Parade
Cheetahs’ Chase
Dance of Giraffes
Tortoise Lament
Cockfight
Tom & Jerry (Gallop)
Stas also composed his second piece, Poems of Life & Love.
Poems of Life & Love is a seven-part suite dedicated to Joan Cochran Sommers in celebration of her 90th birthday 2024 as a token of gratitude for their many years of friendship, in recognition of her innumerable contributions to the accordion world and her lifelong commitment to and promotion of the highest achievements of our instrument.
Poems of Life & Love Stas Venglevski
Prologue (Revival)
Silver Stream
Autumn Road
Winter Landscape
Into Twilight (the light of the dying day)
Clumsy Waltz
The Whirlwind
Epilogue
For more about Stas, visit www.stasv.com
Nikolay Bine plays a piano accordion with all black keys and buttons lending a very cool jazz vibe. His program included his arrangements of:
Djangology Django Reinhard/Stephane Grapelli
Tea for Two Vincet Youmans
Tango pour Claude Jerome Richard
Extrai d’Opale Concerto Richard Galliano
Medley de Brel Jerome Richard
Hija de la Luna Jose Maria Cano
La Tempete Andre’ Astier
Gorka Hermosa was the final performer of the evening. His trademark fedora hat didn’t make it onto the plane from Spain, so he said he felt a little funny playing without it.
Gernika, 26/4/1937 Gorka Hermosa
Oda Gorka Hermosa
Fasio Gorka Hermosa
Peace Dream Concerto (1st and 2nd movement) Gorka Hermosa
Fragilissimo Gorka Hermosa
It was an incredible performance. No wonder he plays concerts all over the world!
THURSDAY NIGHT CONCERT – July 25, 2024, 7:30 p.m.
The ATG Thursday Evening Concert opened with the UMKC Community Accordion Ensemble under the direction of Joan C. Sommers.
Members of the ensemble are:
Betty Jo Simon, Jane Christison, Samantha Jarquio Wagner, Kevin Friedrich, Sherry Carroll, Ron Barrow, Ron Dake, Mary Ann Covone, Kenn Baert, Christine Jarquio.
Former members playing for Joan’s birthday celebration, Liz Finch, Paula Bechtold, and Cathy Sommers Tiritoglu joined the group for the last three pieces on the program.
The group was very pleased to include percussionists from the UMKC Percussion Department: Levi Birks; Drum Set, Briley Patterson, Mallets; Martin Mendoza, Percussion
Blue Swan and Fugue Stas Venglevski
composed especially for the UMKC Community Accordion Ensemble
Tango Fugitative and Milonga Feliz Gerle Daanen
Percussion by Joan Sommers
Dialogues Viacheslav Gordzei
Concert Samba Borys Myronchuk
Featuring Ron Dake on Alto Saxophone
Arranged by Liz Finch based on an arrangement by Concertino Band
Fuga y misterio Astor Piazzola
Arranged by Joan Sommers
Waltz No. 2 from “Divertimento” Leonard Bernstein
Arranged by Paul de Bra
Kiss the Rain Yiruma
Based on Arrangement by Paul de Bra
Percussion by Liz Finch; Violin by Joan Sommers
Jose Stiven Ramirez Villa, Violin; Christine Jarquio, Piano
Excerpts from “Capriccio Espagnol Nicholas Rimsky-Korsakov
Accordion Arrangement by Joan C. Sommers
After intermission, Mirco Patarini, accordion soloist from Italy was featured with the Kansas City Symphony Strings. Mirco is president of Scandalli Accordions as well as serving as the president of the CIA IMC-UNESCO since 2021. Mirco and the string quintet played so well together that you’d never know they only had limited rehearsal time – the mark of true professionals!
The string quintet members were: Alex Shum, violin; Anne-Marie Brown, violin; Jesse Yukimura, viola, Lawrence Figg, cello; Nils Aardahl, Bass.
Oblivion Astor Piazzolla
Done Bete Ilin
Il Bosco della Musica Roberto Molinelli
Adios Nonino Astor Piazzolla
with percussionists Levi Birks, Martin Mendez, and Briley Patterson
Balletomania Vittorio Melocchi
Accordion Solo
To close out the program, Mirco invited Michael Bridge (from Canada) and Grayson Masefield (from New Zealand) to join him in a final selection for the evening that was a definite crowd pleaser.
Balkan Dance Motion Trio
Mirco Patarini, Michael Bridge, Grayson Masefield
FRIDAY ORIGINAL MUSIC AFTERNOON CONCERT – July 26, 2024, 3:00 p.m.
This ATG concert features music written specifically for the accordion. The concert opened with:
Carnival from Brazilian Suite Amy Jo Sawyer
Conducted by Joan Sommers
Members of the Group:
Beverley Fess
Madalynn Neu
Kevin Friedrich
Cynthia Gietz
Marianne Pyster
Zach Grindle
Kenn Baert
Judy Ridenour
Kathleen Grambsch
Samantha Wagner
Louise Dionne
Paula Bechtold
Esther Lanting
Elena Fainshtein
Judith Nergaard
Ron Dake
Beatrice Makdah
Gail Campanella
Mary Ann Covone
Cathy Sommers Tiritoglu
Jane Tuchscherer
Christine Jarquio
Herbert Scheibenreif
Christine Boris Esteban
Jane Christison
Gordon Kohl
Liz Finch
Mayra Martinez
Leah Stephens
Betty Jo Simon
Steven Mazurek
Levi Birks, Drums
Tang Dynasty Poem: Bamboo Grove Pavilion for Baritone and Accordion Lemi Yang
Lemi Yang, Accordion; Weiping Fan, Baritone
Shades of Velvet John Gart
Kathleen Grambsch, Accordion Solo
Balada de la Musa Gabriel Mertino
Dallas Vietty, Accordion Solo
Embouteillage (Traffic Jam) Andre Astier
Gail Campanella, Accordion Solo
Midnight Fantasy Todor Gerov
Beverley Fess, Accordion Solo
Scherzo Victor Dikussarow
Madalynn Neu, Accordion Solo
In between all of these concerts, I was kept quite busy as one of those helping set up 74 chairs and 74 music stands for the rehearsals of the Festival Orchestra, conducted by Joan C. Sommers. We rehearsed in the afternoon, then all the 74 chairs and 74 music stands had to be racked and stacked and the stage cleared for each night’s concert. Then, after the concert, we were back at it, setting up 74 chairs and 74 music stands to get ready for the next day’s rehearsal. Thanks to everyone who stepped in and helped.
My thoughts on the 2024 ATG Festival? ALL the concerts were fantastic! There were large numbers of enthusiastic attendees for every single concert. I think every single performer/group received standing ovations from the very appreciative audiences. Thanks to all the ATG board members who organized this event.
FRIDAY NIGHT CONCERT – July 26, 2024, 7:30 p.m.
We found ourselves once again at White Recital Hall, UMKC James C. Olson Performing Arts Center, otherwise known as the University of Missouri at Kansas City Conservatory of Music.
Spanish (from the Basque area) bayan player Gorka Hermosa opened the concert. Some of his new midwest friends had presented him with a cowboy hat to wear in place of his trademark fedora.
Alabei Gorka Hermosa
Variaciones sobre el Libertango Astor Piazzolla/Gorka Hermosa
Brehme Gorka Hermosa
Amore Gorka Hermosa
Anantango Gorka Hermosa
After solo pieces, including one where an audience member echoes, “Por que?,” Gorka was joined by local musicians, Beau Bledsoe, guitar; and Colleen Diecker, violin. They were incredible together!
Up next was Canadian Michael Bridge on digital accordion. He always plays flawlessly, and this performance was perfection!
Evolutionary Toccata in D Minor J.S. Bach
Back to Napoli Curtis/Ricci
Daichovo Horo Traditional Bulgarian
Palladio K. Jenkins
After intermission, out came New Zealand accordion superstar, Grayson Masefield, joined by Ensemble Iberica, a local group consisting of Beau Bledsoe, guitar as well as artistic director and founder of the group; Colleen Diecker, violin; Mark Lowrey, piano; and Jeff Harshbarger, bass. Their music was so exciting to listen to, with a whole list of tangos.
The program included selections from this list:
Michaelangelo 70 Astor Piazzolla
Milonga del Angel Astor Piazzolla
Muerte del Angel Astor Piazzolla
Oblivion Astor Piazzolla
Invierno Porteno Astor Piazzolla
El Choclo Angel Villold
Por una Cabeza Carlos Gardel
Adios Nonino Astor Piazzolla
Escualo Astor Piazzolla
Libertango Astor Piazzolla
What a great night of music! WOW!
SATURDAY NIGHT CONCERT – July 27, 2024, 7:00 p.m.
The concert opened with the top two winners of the ATG World Cup Competition.
Leonoid Florin Muravjov from Sweden opened the concert. As second place winner, he received $3,000.00.
Metamorphoses Torbjorn Lundquist
Stephen Girl’s Dance Hugo Alfven
Radu Ratoi from the Republic of Moldova, won the top prize of $5,000.00. He played
Dance Macabre Saint-Saens/ Radu Ratoi
Transcendental Etudes no. 10 Appassionata S. 139 F. Liszt/ Radu Ratoi
The crowd went wild when these two incredible young accordionists joined forces and played together on
William Tell Overture Rossini
Leonoid Florin Muravjov, Radu Ratoi
Up next was Dr. Michael Bridge from Canada. It’s always such a treat to listen to Michael play on his digital accordion.
Oblivion A. Piazzolla
La Cumparasita Rodriguez/Gotan
1812 Overture Tchaikovsky
It was a bit of a mad scramble to gather up all the 74 accordionists 44 singers, and 3 percussionists to get on stage for a performance of the ATG Festival Orchestra under the direction of Joan C. Sommers.
O Fortuna from “Carmina Burana” Carl Orff
Arranged for accordion orchestra by Joan C. Sommers
The 2024 ATG Festival Orchestra and Choir
Oparoa (Truly Full in the Basque language, as in A Truly Full Life) Gorka Hermosa
Commissioned by the ATG and dedicated to Joan C. Sommers
The 2024 ATG Festival Orchestra
Polovetsian Dances I and II from “Prince Igor” Alexander Borodin
The 2024 ATG Festival Orchestra
Eternal Ian Watson
Commissioned by the ATG and dedicated to Joan C. Sommers
The 2024 ATG Festival Orchestra
Medley from “Beauty and the Beast” Alan Menken and Howard Ashman
Arranged for Accordion Orchestra by Joan C. Sommers
Based on an original arrangement by Calvin Custer
The 2024 ATG Festival Orchestra
Let There Be Peace on Earth Sy Miller and Jill Jackson
Arranged for Accordion Orchestra by Joan C. Sommers
Based on an original arrangement by Mark Hayes
The 2024 ATG Festival Orchestra and Choir
Members of the 2024 ATG Festival Orchestra – Joan C. Sommers, Conductor
Kevin Friedrich
Beatrice Makdah
Leah Stephens
Brian Money
Elena Fainshtein
Gordon Kohl
Peter DiGiovanni
Jane Christison
Marianne Pyster
Ron Dake
Liz Finch
Cathy Sommers Tiritoglu
Betty Jo Simon
Beverley Fess
Kenneth Baert
Jane Tuchscherer
Esther Lanting
Gail Campanella
Paula Bechtold
Christine Jarquio
Lemi Yang
Zach Grindle
Madalynn Neu
Joaquin Munoz Donoso
Cynthia Gietz
Ted Picchocinski
Michael Bridge
Heather Masefield
Roberta Ferrero
Frank Busso, Jr.
Joyce Frye
Matt Cooper
Caryl Dowell
Roberta Rubinson
Mayra Martinez
Amber Masefield
Dallas Vietty
Pam Tarte
Colleen Becker
Alison Worthington
Nikola Stojkovic
Jonas Thaler
Kathleen Grambsch
Elisabeth Roeder
Mary Ann Covone
Judith Nergaard
Kim Bella Lobraco
Mirco Patarini
Sherry Carroll
Steven Mazurek
Tao Smith
Nikolay Bine
Grayson Masefield
Daniel Wright
Donna Connor
Boguslaw Rachwal
Chrstine Boris Esteban
Sonia Strzalka
Elayne Doggett
Violet Knox
Mary Kathryn Archuleta
Timor Didych
Kathryn Marie Archuleta
Bea Polverini
Ron Griffin
Samantha Wagner
Melanie Mays
Herbert Scheibenreif
Megumi Hada
Judy Ridenour
Martin Mendez, Timpani
Briley Patterson, Percussion
Levi Birks, Percussion
Members of the Choir – Robyn Hartfield, Choir Director
Christine Jarquio, Rehearsal Pianist
Soprano:
Linda Mazan
Lisa Long
Jane Perry
Deb Harris
Faith Bradfield
Kim Alley
Polly Krapes
Marilyn Miller
Elaine Minden
Ann Marie Carden
Robin Anderson
Jenna Socha
Betsy Bledsoe
Robyn Hartfield
Susan Klankey
Zephyr Billharz
Alto:
Lynn Horton
Ellen Long
Darlene Smikahl
Jill Pearson
Jan Bradfield
Ellen Bruggeman
Audra Sergel
Maddie Jenkins
Christy Elsea
Tenor:
Doug Sharpe
David Schmer
Brian Dunmire
Rick Krapes
Jordan Brown
Lisa Shepard
Chris Munce
Jared Smith
Brad Carroll
Ethan Wood
Drew Clawson
Bass:
John Hollenbeck
Barry Duwe
Dan Bruggeman
Eddie Huang
Zach Stegegna
Brandon Browning
Joan Sommers spoke to the audience before the last piece expressing her wish that there actually could be be peace on earth, a thought echoed by many. The audience was on their feet almost before the piece ended.
As a member of the Festival Orchestra, it was so much fun to rehearse with everyone. Even the first rehearsal went pretty well as it seemed that everyone had indeed practiced their parts ahead of time. By the third of the scheduled two-hour rehearsals, Joan let us out after about an hour as she thought we were concert ready.
And the concert, oh, my, gosh. When we had the first run through with the singers, I had goosebumps when they sang O Fortuna. And when they sang, Let There Be Peace on Earth, I had tears in my eyes. It was so beautiful and so moving. I remember thinking to myself during the concert, “Don’t cry. You can’t see your music if you’re crying.”
Such a thrill to be a member of this Festival Orchestra. And I can’t say enough good things about Joan Sommers. She had been working full out for months to pick the repertoire, to send out parts, to field questions, and make seating charts to organize all these accordionists.
Speaking of which, our UMKC group rehearsed on the stage in White Hall a couple of times in advance of ATG. We kept looking at the stage and wondering how we could possibly squeeze in all 74 accordionists. Next, we added the percussionists, and they moved in with five timpani and a whole assortment of instruments that spread across the whole back of the stage.
Not long before ATG, Joan announced at rehearsal that she really wanted to have flowers on the front of the stage like they do at the concerts in Europe. I wasn’t quite sure how there could possibly be room for flowers. And finally, the day before the concert, we decided the 44 singers needed risers. Somehow we got everyone and everything on stage and still managed to be able to open and close our bellows . . . barely.
What a fantastic way to top off the 2024 ATG Festival. And wasn’t it fun to make music together with so many accordionists from all over the United States as well as Austria, Canada, Chile, England, Italy, and New Zealand?!? (I hope I didn’t leave any other countries off the list.)
A special thanks to Joan Sommers for all her hard work to organize and conduct the ATG Festival Orchestra. Happy 90th birthday. You’re incredible!
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