ATG – Competition & Festival in Chicago

by Dr. Herbert Scheibenreif

The Accordionists & Teachers Guild, International (ATG), founded in Chicago in 1940 by Anthony Galla-Rini, held its 83rd festival in Lisle (Chicago), Illinois, from July 16-20, 2025. ATG's primary goal has always been to raise the musical standards of the accordion repertoire, its teachers, and performers, as well as to improve the instruments for future players through cooperation with accordion makers. The new ATG President, Kenn Baert, was able to continue the momentum under his predecessor, Mary Ann Covone, and inspire many new members to play the accordion.

During workshops, Sergei and Maria Teleshev spoke about their efforts to popularize the accordion and make it accessible to a wider audience. Their tips included public concerts, educational programs in schools, organizing competitions, audio and video productions, and the development of a YouTube channel and other platforms. Their collaboration with other musicians and the selection of programs for each audience were also discussed. Gordon Kohl's workshops are always very popular because they are not only informative but also entertaining. The interested audience can learn about many stylistic features of Austrian, Polish, Tyrolean, and Oberkrainer music. Gordon Kohl benefits from his many years of

experience as a solo entertainer and in various ensembles. For the first time, Dr. Michael Bridge held a master class for classical accordion, where his students were able to significantly improve their interpretations of Bach. The Chilean Joaquin Muñoz Donoso, an extremely talented entertainer and accordionist, held a rousing workshop on the rhythms of Latin American music.

This year's evening concerts were held in Barrows Hall and the beautiful Armerding Concert Hall on the Wheaton College campus. Joaquin Muñoz Donoso, Michael Bridge, and the duo "Two Accordions," consisting of Sergei and Maria Teleshev, performed during the Friday night concert. Donoso presented his new CD "Pater Noster" (works by Oleksiv, Galliano, Angelis, Rameau, and Donoso), and Bridge performed works by Bach and Makkonen, among others. The Teleshev family duo presented a broad cross-section of their diverse program. The final encore of the evening was particularly impressive, with all four artists showcasing not only their musical but also their comedic talents in their special version of "Besame mucho."

The UMKC Community Accordion Ensemble from Kansas City, under the direction of Joan

Sommers, performed virtuoso arrangements by Venglevski, Berlioz, Di Marino, Lara, Schwartz, and Strauss. Peter Soave is arguably the most successful accordionist to emerge from the ranks of the ATG, winning every prestigious competition in 1984, including the Grand Prix, Klingenthal, CIA, and CMA. Deeply impressed by the music of the Argentinian Astor Piazzolla, he then turned to the bandoneon, which led him to performances with the "Three Tenors" and on ABC's "Good Morning America." Together with a string quintet from the University of Illinois, he performed a program of works by Romero and Piazzolla.

An afternoon concert featured original music by Di Marino, Kletsch, Venglevski, Semyonov, and

Kholminov. The various orchestras of the Chicagoland Accordion Academy, under Director Mary Ann Covone and Co-Directors Leah Stephens and Myra Martinez, bore witness to the outstanding development work at their institute and gave examples of their now considerable talent. In the closing concert, the festival orchestra, under the direction of Joan Sommers, shone with a spectacular program consisting of works by Sibelius, Prokofiev, Mascagni, Miranda, and Galla-Rini.

The duo Bridge & Wolak (accordion/clarinet) then brought this year's festival to an impressive and acclaimed close, full of virtuosity and humor. They share a love of classical, jazz, and world music, a fascination with blending genres, and a passion for the stage. These days, in addition to the acoustic accordion, Bridge also plays a digital accordion (essentially a computer in an accordion case), which allows him to imitate the sound of any instrument. Bridge earned his doctorate from the University of Toronto with a dissertation on "Expressive Virtuosity." Together with his duo Bridge & Wolak and the Ladom Ensemble, he gives more than 100 concerts annually and has premiered more than 60 new works. Wolak received his doctorate from the Paderewski Academy of Music in Poznań, Poland, and currently teaches at Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario. In their concerts, Bridge & Wolak create unforgettable moments for their audiences, taking them along on their musical adventures, wherever they may lead.

In an exhibition dedicated to accordion legend Anthony Galla-Rini (ATG Hall of Fame 2003), many testimonies to his life and work could be admired. His accordion arrangements (solo and ensemble) are available exclusively in the ATG Musical Archives at emusicforaccordion.com.

The annual festivals are always held in different parts of the country to reach the largest possible audience and motivate accordionists of all ages and abilities to continue practicing and improving. The next 84th festival will be held in Salt Lake City from July 8-12, 2026.

https://www.atgaccordions.com/