2006 ATG Festival - Minneapolis, MN June 28 - July 2, 2006
The annual Accordionists and Teachers Guild, International (ATG) festival took place in Minneapolis, MN where accordionists gathered for 4 days of competitions, concerts and workshops.

Pictured from left to right are Stanely Darrow (ATG Historian), Karen Fremar (ATG Treasurer), Stas Venglevski (ATG Second Vice President), Joanna Darrow (ATG Executive Secretary), Dee Langley (ATG First Vice President), Joan C. Sommers (ATG President), Faithe Deffner (ATG Board of Director and 2007 Coupe Mondiale Coordinator), Amy Jo Sawyer (ATG Board of Director) and guest Viatcheslav Semionov (Russia).

This years featured artist Russian virtuoso and composer Viatcheslav Semionov, the teacher of many of the recent CIA Coupe Mondiale Champions was featured in concert and also conducted two masterclasses and gave an very informative lecture on accordion activities in his native Russia.

Other guest artists at the ATG Festival will include: Murl Sanders, Stas Venglevski, Amy Jo Sawyer, Minnesota Accordion Quintet, Mike Alongi and Larry Malmberg, John Scaffeo can, Dan Newton and the Café Accordion Orchestra, Dee Langley and Orkestar Bez Ime and The ATG Festival Orchestra under the direction of Joan C. Sommers.
Dana Copiskey (with family) center, receiving The ATG 'Hall of Fame Award' made posthumously to her father the late John Copiskey from ATG Presidednt Joan Sommers.
Stan Darrow (Historian), Dee Langley (Second Vice President) and Joanna Darrow (Executive Secretary) enjoying a social moment at the festival.
Viatcheslav Semionov working with student Samantha Jarquio during his master clalss session.
Viatcheslav Semionov (Russia) with Board member Amy Jo Sawyer and 2nd Vice President Stas Venglevski.
During the festival, well attended workshops were conducted by Joan Sommers, Murl Sanders and Dee Langley and the popular hands-on annual Festival Orchestra was conducted by ATG President Joan C. Sommers.

The Saturday night banquet featured the presentation of The Accordionists and Teachers Guild, International 'Hall of Fame Award' made posthumously to long time ATG supporter the late John Copiskey and was accepted by his daughter Dana Copiskey.

The festival featured several competitions, with the ATG Junior National Championship being won by Samantha Jarquio from Missouri, who has now qualified to compete at the CIA World Accordion Championships to be held in Asker, Norway from October 18-22, 2006. Samantha is a student of Joan Sommers.

Next year, the ATG will hold its annual festival in conjunction with the AAA festival as co-hosts of the CIA Coupe Mondiale in Washington DC, from October 18-22, 2006.

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