An Afternoon with Michael Bridge

By Cheyenne Petersen, SAI Oak Park Alumnae Chapter

On a perfect spring day in Palatine, IL, members of ATG, SAI Oak Park Alumnae chapter, and the local community came together for an afternoon of everything accordion at Harper College. The event kicked off with a discussion panel made up of ATG board members Joan Cochran Sommers and Dr. Michael Bridge moderated by ATG 1st Vice President Mary Ann Covone. The theme of this talk was “building community through music.” Each panelist shared stories about their accordion career and how it strengthened or created community in its wake. From USO performances, to the Chicagoland Accordion Academy, to making concerts accessible to everyone, it became clear that music reaches far beyond the scope of performance and teaching. 

Following the panel discussion, Sigma Alpha Iota (SAI) National Executive Director Christine Bruns, presided at a service initiating Michael Bridge as a member of SAI as a National Arts Associate. Sigma Alpha Iota is an international music fraternity adhering to the highest standards in music with members typically joining during their college years. This honor bestowed upon Michael as a performing artist and teacher was granted in recognition of Michael’s international contributions to the arts. Michael is the first accordionist to be granted this honor at an international level. 

Next up, Michael Bridge presented a benefit concert in which the proceeds partially went toward the SAI Oak Park Alumnae Chapter’s Elsie Sterrenberg String Scholarship fund, which supports young string players in middle school and high school. The concert spanned genres from classical to pop as the crowd was delighted with an array of recognizable tunes. There was even a segment of audience interaction as patrons were invited to stretch out their limbs while pretending to be a tree awakening after winter. Dr. Bridge of course played a traditional accordion but also educated the audience on the complexities of the digital accordion. The exciting finale, using the digital accordion, was a one-man rendition of Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture. Imbued with an infectiously playful energy, all in attendance were treated to a one-of-a-kind accordion-filled afternoon.