See What Our Members Are Doing
- atgaccordionistste
- 1 day ago
- 7 min read
See What Our Members Are Doing
What have you been doing in the accordion world since the last issue of the ATG Bulletin? Have you given a concert, program (club, nursing home, school), performed for an event (wedding, city functions like 1st Friday, ethnic celebrations), written or arranged music? Have you started or joined a duo, an ensemble, or orchestra? Has that group performed somewhere? Have you held or attended a house concert or Accordion Petting Zoo? Have you hosted a fundraiser for an accordion organization or used your gifts as an accordionist to raise funds for a not-for-profit organization? Please let us know. Your co-ATG-members would like to hear about it. In about 100-words (or less), tell us what you’ve done, add a picture if available, and send to EstherALanting@gmail.com.
Note: ATG Bulletin editor reserves the right to make edits, add picture captions if not provided, and select pictures if more than three (3) are sent.
Jane Christison
I was kind of looking forward to a slow month of performances in May. That would allow me time to actually find the top of my desk and get ready for the month of June, which has almost 50 performances booked. (What was I thinking?!?) But, the emails requesting May performances are coming in, and the cleaning-my-desk project may have to be put on hold for a bit longer.
June, July, and early August are my busiest months for preschool performances, library shows, and other interesting venues for my children’s music. Who knew that I was a “field trip” when they have me come to the schools rather than taking the kiddos out.
I’ve also been busy with the UMKC Community Accordion Ensemble as part of filming for the Joan Sommers Documentary, as well as practicing music for our ATG concert in Salt Lake City.
Hope everyone has a great summer! Hope to see you at ATG!
Ron Griffin and Beverley Fess
The Spokane Accordion Ensemble is preparing to perform at the ATG festival this year. The core group is being joined by several new members including Ron Griffin, Esther Lanting, Chris Boris and Dr. Matt Cooper. Recently most members convened in Spokane for several days of rehearsal under the direction of Beverley Fess. Another practice session is planned in early June and will include a concert in Spokane’s ST. Marks Lutheran church. Over the years the Spokane Accordion Ensemble has performed several times in Canada and at the Leavenworth Accordion Festival. Careful practice and rehearsals will ensure that the ensemble “brings music to life” at the ATG festival.
Dr. Matt Coooper
Matt Cooper (La Grande, Oregon) was involved with the Squeeze Play Accordion Extravaganza in San Diego. He writes: Approximately 35 accordionists gathered at the Days Inn Hotel Circle in San Diego from May 13th through 16th for the 5th Annual Squeeze Play Accordion Extravaganza, led by Missouri-based accordion duo Kim and Dan Christian (aka Squeeze Play). The daily schedule included morning rehearsals, lunches out in Old Town San Diego and Point Loma harbor, optional sightseeing excursions (a harbor cruise and a visit to SeaWorld) and evening open mics. Participants included many members of the San Diego and Albuquerque accordion clubs, ATG members, and students of Dan and Kim, and came from as far away as Alaska, Florida, and Massachusetts.
The gathering culminated in a final concert featuring the Squeeze Play Duo and the entire orchestra at the 300-seat Ronald Reagan Community Center in nearby El Cajon. After an opening set by Dan and Kim, the orchestra performed its repertoire, all of which was arranged by Dan—much of it from original orchestral scores. The set included two medleys from popular film scores (Aladdin and Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves), “Nickelodeon Rag,” “Get it On” from the 70s funk band Chase, the swing classic “Sing, Sing, Sing,” a clever medley of minor-key waltzes (“Chim Chim Cheree,” “Hushabye Mountain,” and “Time in a Bottle”), and the finale of Stravinsky’s Firebird Suite.
Chris Boris
On April 11, 2026, I had a unique opportunity to perform with my duo partner, Dr. Matt Cooper, at the Chamber Music Festival in Pendleton, Oregon. It was quite remarkable for our accordion debut to be advertised on Facebook by the Oregon East Symphony & Chorale in conjunction with other professional musicians and their featured artist, Connor Chee, a Navajo composer and pianist. Other musicians included a string quartet performing Haydn’s Op.76, No 3 “Emperor,” Schubert’s C Major (D.956, Op. posth. 163) and other delightful surprises of a harpist, clarinetist, and Connor Chee on the piano with a violinist performing one of his compositions, “Coyote.” Matt and I performed six duets: 2 Tangos, a classical Faure piece, “Sicilienne,” with Matt on the piano and myself on the accordion, 2 Italian musettes, and one Brazilian maxixe. It was a unique venue for us to showcase the versatility and musicianship of our accordion instruments to an audience of over 100 people.
Bonnie Birch
April was a busy month. Besides working as chairman of the Leavenworth International Accordion Celebration, I took a nice trip to San Diego to play for the ALSI accordion club. I have been experimenting with a different style of performing for many organizations. Rather than being on a stage, removed from the audience, I am doing what I do at most of my gigs which is strolling. At ALSI, I played on the floor in front of the audience and used a program which I tailor for strolling environments which is to focus on melody, not playing too loud or too long, and many other things to consider. I did go back to the stage to wrap up my program in a more concert style. It was fun to see some of my old buddies who fortunately are still with us and enthusiastic accordion players.
My big adventure was to go to Spain to see a friend that I haven’t seen for over 10 years. When she lived in the states, we did many gigs together. She is a wonderful vocalist focusing mainly as a French chanteuse and tango music. I accompanied her on the accordion. She returned to Spain which is her home country and now lives in Alarcon. I flew into Madrid and she (Anna) picked me up at the airport. She had arranged two gigs for us at a friend’s wine/cheese café. We spent the first 2 days brushing up on our former repertoire. I have never been to Spain and it was amazing to see that part of the country with its old European villages and narrow stone streets.
After returning to Seattle in late April, I had a little time to rest and it’s back to work. Right now, I am in Leavenworth, WA performing for their Maifest event with my trio consisting of my German guitar player and my excellent drummer friend.
Joanna Darrow
The Westmont Accordion Club and Westmont Philharmonia Accordion Orchestra performed a program for the City of Philadelphia, Senior Independent Living Apartment Complex in Bensalem, PA on May 28th, 2026. The program will include Medley’s from Richard Vali, Oliver, Wizard of Oz, as well as Asturias and Donna Diana Overture.
Gail Campanella
It is a busy time of year for me. In addition to heading up the accordion pieces of Belle Italia and the Accordion Petting Zoos in Montecito and Santa Barbara, I hosted a “house concert” featuring Hanzhi Wang, a fund-raiser for the Santa Barbara attended by thirty community people.
I also attended and participated in Kim and Dan Christian’s San Diego Accordion Extravaganza
and Band Camp May 13 - 16, 2026.
Dee Langley
I was involved in Celebrate World Accordion Day (May 6) and Star Wars Day (May the 4th), with a special performance showcasing John Williams’ thrilling Star Wars music the way it was meant to be heard: On accordions.
Celebrate World Accordion Day (May 6) and Star Wars Day (May the 4th), with a special performance showcasing John Williams’ thrilling Star Wars music the way it was meant to be heard: On accordions.
Dee Langley and the Masked Accordions, a 20-member accordion ensemble will be performing the triumphant Star Wars theme, jaunty music of the Cantina Band and the menacing Darth Vader Imperial March at a May 2 show at 6:30 pm at Waite Park Wesleyan Church, 1510 33rd Ave NE, Minneapolis.
The eclectic, irresistible, pay-what-you-can performance will also include a classic French musette, big band favorites, Simon & Garfunkel and one of the Monkees’ greatest hits alongside two fiery works by Rimsky-Korsakov. There will also be a special musical tribute to the Twin Cities inspired by the “St. Paul Waltz,” a hit for Minnesota polka legend “Whoopee John” Wilfahrt, and Bruce Springsteen’s “Streets of Minneapolis.”
The Masked Accordions are an accordion ensemble led by the legendary Dee Langley.
Dee Langley is an award-winning, professional accordionist and instructor from Minneapolis who has performed with the Minnesota Orchestra, the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, at the Guthrie Theater and with Theater Latte Da. She is a recipient of the McKnight Fellowship for Performing Musicians and an inductee of the American Accordion Hall of Fame. She's the founder and coordinator of the NE Accordion Festival and a former orchestra director for Ethnic Dance Theatre.
Kim Christian
Kim Christian and her husband Dan presented the San Diego Accordion Extravaganza. She reports that 37 people were involved and the event was a wonderful success.
Donna Kaspar
ATG member Donna Kaspar of San Diego enjoys hosting at the House of Czech and Slovak Republics in the city's iconic Balboa Park, where she greets visitors, answers their questions, and plays her accordion for them as they pass through the mini museum.
Donna loves playing her Czech folk tunes, polkas and waltzes, but also enjoys the challenge of surprising visitors with a tune from their native country or state. (Or a children's tune.) Many visitors express intrigue with the instrument, and so a discussion often follows. It is fun and gratifying to play in this low-stress setting for an ever-changing and appreciative audience.
The House of Czech and Slovak Republics is part of a consortium of 38 national and cultural groups, many of which have their own small cottage in the park.
The overarching organization, The House of Pacific Relations (HPR), was founded in 1935 as a not-for-profit community organization dedicated to furthering cooperation and understanding between national groups in the United States. The HPR promotes multicultural goodwill and understanding through educational and cultural programs which include music, dance, art, and food.
All the cottages are furnished and staffed by group members, and are open to the public at no charge every Saturday and Sunday afternoon for five hours between 11am and 5:00 PM. Every weekend there are visitors from across the U.S. and from many countries around the world.
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