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stas
stas venglevskiHis artistry, dazzling technical command, and sensitivity have brought Stanislav, "Stas," Venglevski, a native of the Republic of Moldova, part of the former Soviet Union, increasing acclaim as a virtuoso of the Bayan. A two-time first prize winner of Bayan competition in the Republic of Moldova, Stas is a graduate of the Russian Academy of Music in Moscow where he received his Masters Degree in Music under the tutelage of the famed Russian Bayanist, Friedrich Lips. In 1992 he immigrated to the United States.
 
A Past President of the ATG, and current Board of Director, Stas is an Accordionist, a Musician, an Arranger, an Entertainer, a composer and a Teacher. Stas' repertoire includes his original compositions, a broad range of classical, contemporary and ethnic music. He has toured extensively as a soloist throughout the former Soviet Union, Canada, Europe, and the United States, including numerous performances with Doc Severinsen, Steve Allen and with Garrison Keillor on the Prairie Home Companion Show. Additionally, he has performed with symphony orchestras throughout the United States. He performed the world premiere of Concerto No. 2 by Anthony Galla-Rini and also the world premiere of Bayan and Beyond, composed for Stas by Dan Lawitts. He is a regular participant the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra's Arts in Community Education Program (ACE); has performed with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and the Tacoma Symphony Orchestra; has done television commercials and performed in theater productions; produced numerous recordings including a transcription of Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker Suite for Bayan as well as one of original compositions. He has published several books of original compositions.

Stas founded Accordion XXI Century Series in 2010 so that the Midwest audiences can experience the amazing range of the Accordion and Bayan by bringing gifted artists from all over the world. In a concert setting, these gifted musicians share their skills and cultures to provide the audience with a unique musical experience. The performances feature the Accordion or Bayan in solo presentation and, when possible, in concert with other instruments.

The brilliant artistry and musical virtuosity of Stas afford an expanded dimension in music and an innovative musical adventure to the audience.
 

Note: Due to unforseen illness, the ATG regrets to advise that Frank Petrilli will be unable to appear at the ATG Festival. We wish him a speedy recovery, and look forward to welcomning him to a future festival.
 

cory title

cory pesaturoCory Pesaturo (“C Pez”) is a graduate of the prestigious New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, MA, where he was the first musician ever to major and graduate in the accordion.  Pesaturo is one of only four accordionists to win a World Championships competition on both the Acoustic and Digital Accordion, and is the only person to ever to also win a World Championship on Jazz.
 
Pesaturo's extensive resumé includes appearances at the White House for President and Mrs. Clinton on four different occasions, starting at age 12.  On one of those occasions, he became the youngest person ever to perform at a State Dinner, performing with the Marine Strolling Strings for the President of Hungary.  He has since performed at seven other events for the Clintons and continues to keep in touch as proved by his 14 letters from the First family.  He has judged accordion competitions in the US, Canada, and Europe, in addition to music competitions in general.
 
On his Classical side which is less known, a win at 16 years old in a Concerto competition at the New England Conservatory of Music, gave Cory the rare opportunity to perform with the Brockton Symphony Orchestra as a featured soloist and on the Jazz side, Cory recorded two CD’s with saxophone legend George Garzone and his famous band “The Fringe” at age 19, and has performed / become friends with Jazz and Music Legend Wynton Marsalis. 
 
He has developed his own electric accordion, and already has made the first ever skinned accordion that includes a symmetric midi lighting system attached to the keys. 
 
The ATG is grateful that Cory was available on short notice to step in for Frank Petrilli who was struck by illness and could not appear.
 

xia gang title

xia gangXia Gang is a renowned Chinese Bayannist and serves as Associate Professor at the Sichuan Conservatory of Music. He is also a Senior Member of the Accordion Society within the China Musicians’ Association; the Accordion Association of Chinese Musicians Association (CAA).
 
Mr. Xia graduated from Russia’s prestigious St. Petersburg State Conservatory in 2003 earning his Master’s Degree. In 1999 he won the First Price at the “Baltica-harmonica” International Accordion Competition in St. Petersburg, Russia.
 
He was invited to perform at the 16th annual International Accordion Festival held in St. Petersburg in 2000, where Mr. Xia’s accliamed performance represented China among 20 other countries.
 
In both 2002 and 2004, he earned 4th place at the “Coupe Mondial” Accordion Competition hosted by the Confederation Internationale des Accordeonistes (CIA), a member of the International Muisc Council, an NGO official partner of UNESCO. Also in 2002, Mr. Xia performed at the St. Petersburg State Conservatory with the Russian Folk Orchestra of St. Petersburg. From 2000 through 2007, he presented solo concerts at conservatories throughout China, including Beijing’s Central Conservatory, as well as those in Shanghai, Tianjin, Sichuan, Kunming, Guangzhou, Anhui, and others. In February 2008 he accepted an invitation to perform in Singapore at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA) Lee Foundation Theatre. In 2004 Mr. Xia released China’s first Bayan album, entitled “From Tango to Beijing Opera.”
 
He currently serves as the General Secretary of Organizing Committee for both the Lira International Music Festival in Russia and the Zhongsin International Music Competition in Singapore.
 
He has represented the Accordion Association of Chinese Musicians Association (CAA) the Chinese member of the CIA, on trips to Denmark, France, Hungary, Slovakia, New Zealand, and others. Many of his students have won prizes at international competitions, including a 3rd place winner at the Castelfidardo Accordion Festival in Italy, which is considered a premiere International Competition by the China Ministry of Culture.
 
In 2011, Mr. Xia, as editor, published The Bayan Accordion Advanced Course through the Sichuan University Press. We look forward to welcoming Xia Gang to the ATG Festival in San Francisco for his American debut!
 

peter di bono trio

peter di bono trioThe Peter Di Bono Trio has been serenading Bay Area audiences for over 25 years. Venues range from an elegant wedding on Nob Hill, to a forest picnic in Carmel Valley. The music covers a very wide spectrum from Broadway to Bach, and back. The trio was selected to perform at the gala dinner celebrating the 50 year anniversary of the introduction of the song, “I Left My heart In San Francisco”. The performance took place in The Venetian Room of The Fairmont Hotel where Tony Bennet, who was in attendance, introduced the iconic piece 50 years before.
 
Violinist, Harriet Newhart is equally comfortable playing Mozart, Mancini, or marches. Classically trained on piano and violin at The San Francisco Conservatory of Music, Harriet brings such warm vitality to her music that she has been a favorite of San Francisco audiences and musicians for her entire career. Harriet and her husband, Byrne, also a violinist, are the principals of San Francisco’s Starlite Strings, which provides classical and strolling violin ensembles for weddings, corporate events, and private parties in the San Francisco Bay Area and Wine Country.
  
Steve Hanson, string bass, is one of the busiest of Bay Area musicians. Steve hails from Minnesota, and grew up working the family’s dairy farm. Steve enlisted in the United States Navy upon graduation from hight school, and found his way to the Navy Band where he played trombone. He was stationed in Naples, Italy for three years, where he learned to speak Italian, and to love Italian food. Steve received his master’s degree in music from The University of North Texas. Steve serves on the Board of Directors of The Musician’s Union Local 6, San Francisco.
 
Peter Di Bono has played nearly every type of music, and in every setting imaginable. Performances include musical theater and guest soloist with Bay Area symphony orchestras. A winner of many musical competitions, Peter won the then version of America’s Got Talent while in high school as well as The Bank Of America Award for music. His many musical styles include classical, jazz, Italian, French, German – “You name it, I do it!”. Peter has an active teaching practice with over 20 students, and is on faculty with The Community Music Center in San Francisco. Peter retired from The San Francisco Police Department as an Inspector, specializing in narcotic drug enforcement.
 
He holds a Juris Doctorate degree. A native, Peter still resides in San Francisco with his wife, Victoria. He has four children, and two grandsons.
 

antonio

antonio spaccarotellaAntonio Spaccarotella started his musical education in jazz accordion with Professor Renzo Ruggeri at the Conservatory G. BRAGA in Teramo (IT), where he had the possibility to study jazz history and contemporary arrangements for electronic music performances.
 
After his lastest project “non c’è tempo” a jazz music collection realised together with his friend and colleague Alberto La Neve, a nice mix of accordion and saxophone, he started recording new compositions and arrangements introduced for the first time during his latest tour to Brazil.
 
His music crosses different musical genres: jazz, French, tango, experimental music creating many interesting projects such as:

  • “Solo Accordion” project (Accordion and multimedia – tango experimentation)
  • “Non c’è tempo”, La Neve/ Spaccarotella 2et (saxophone and accordion), original repertoire with a strong arrangement (realised by NSJ Productions)
  • “No Tango Quartet” (Antonio Spaccarotella Accordion, Alberto La Neve Sax, Fabrizio La Fauci drums, Carlo Cimino bass).

Antonio was selected by the Italian delegations to represent Italy in the CIA Coupe Mondiale in Glasgow (Scotland), the World Trophy CMA Sarajevo (Bosnia and Herzegovina) and in October 2008 he won the International Competition of Castelfidardo Senior Varietè category..
 
He has performed in Italy and abroad in countries such as France, Spain, Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Netherlands, Hungary, Ireland, Scotland, England, New Zealand, China, Corea, Canada and USA and at venues such as the Sata Hame Soi Festival (Ikalineen - Finland), Shanghai Art Theatre (Shanghai CHINA), Conca acoustics Juazeiro (Salvador de Bahia - Brazil), Art Arena SEOUL (South Korea ), Gnessin Academy Moscow (Russia), XXVIII - Accordion Festival St Petersburg (Russia), Bing Crosby Theatre- Spokane (USA).
 
An official artist of the Scandalli Accordions Company (Castelfidardo), an official endorser in Frankfurt Musikmesse and Shanghai Musikchina.
 
We are pleased to welcome Antonio to appear for the first time at an ATG Festival!

 

morgani
morganiTHE GREAT MORGANI, a.k.a. Frank Lima (accordionist) has been playing the accordion since 1951. About 17 years ago, he started street performing in Santa Cruz, California, in some of the most outlandish, costumes you can imagine.
 
He has collected 42 accordions and assembled more than 130 costumes, which he entitles with names such as "Touluse Morgani" and "Glyn-duh", reflecting themes inspired from literature and historical figures. The Great Morgani is pictured here in an act called 'Everything IS Black or White.'
  
Just think of The Great Morgani as a cross between 'Alien' and 'Cirque Du Solei', and "IT" plays music, also!

THE GREAT ONE, will be performing , Thursday, July 24th, from 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm, outside the Plaza Ballroom, at the 74th Annual ATG Festival.
 
We are delighted to welcome the Great Morgani to our ATG festival for his second appearance, so make sure and have your eyes open, cameras ready, and go up and say hello, and have a photo taken with this costumed musical oddity!
 
 
absolut
absolutaccordAbsolutAccord is a 7-piece accordion ensemble with a unique style and flair. After thirteen years of weekly rehearsals with only a few personnel changes, AbsolutAccord finds itself with a 150+ piece repertoire representing a wide and diverse variety of musical types, from Classical through Traditional, International and Standards, all of which are scored in a sophisticated and musically creative way. Many arrangements originated in Germany with founder, Richard Yaus’s teacher; recently, though, Richard has been creating his own inventive transcriptions which the group plays enthusiastically.
  
AbsolutAccord, always absolutely in accord, has been featured at the Cotati Accordion Festival, at the Las Vegas Accordion Convention and at the Northern California Wagner Society, as well as at various local farmers’ markets, at schools, and at all the accordion clubs in the greater Bay Area. The ensemble entertained at the 2010 ATG Festival in Santa Clara and is proud to have been invited to perform again for ATG this year. The timing is especially apt, as their latest CD was just released in June, highlighting its wide spectrum of music.
  
The groups accordionists are: Lynn Ewing, Randall Hicks, Marian Kelly, David Perry, Joe Simoni, Norma Zonay-Parsons, and Richard Yaus.
  
AbsolutAccord…..our name says it all.  

 
jamie

jamieJamie Maschler from Seattle, WA has won and competed in several National and International accordion competitions for jazz, classical and original composition, most recently, representing the United States in the entertainment category at the Coupe Mondiale in Victoria, B.C.
 
As a professional musician she plays venues such as The Paramount and Act Theatres, teaches master classes and private music lessons, accompanies dancers, and is one of the first call accordion session musicians in Seattle. She has recorded at some of the top studios in Seattle including London Bridge, Elliot Bay, Studio X, Avast, Litho and Clatter and Din. Jamie has played in Rio De Janiero, Brazil, St. Lucia in the Caribbean and all over British Columbia. She will be back in Brazil December 2014 to host jam sessions with Brazilian Band, En Canto (www.encantobrazil.com) at the Choro Jazz Festival in Jericoacoara, Brazil.
 
Jamie is currently working with classical guitarist Harold Belskus on a classical/flamenco/jazz fusion project: A Cedar Suede (www.acedarsuede.com). She also works at Petosa Accordions a local accordion manufacturer in Seattle, Washington.

 

ron borelli
ron borelliRon will be performing at the ATG convention with one of his trio groups. In addition to featuring accordion, Ron is adding, Carole Borelli, his sister as vocalist and Mandy Flowers on string bass. They will be performing popular American Standards.
 
Ron, a San Francisco native and son of well-known bandleader, Al Borelli, began playing the accordion at age seven. his first professional engagements began at age 13, playing for many Italian parties.
 
Ron has performed in a wide variety of musical settings, including Internationally. He has appeared with the San Francisco Symphony, the Berkeley Symphony, Santa Rosa Symphony, and Diablo Ballet, and was the accordionist for the Three Tenors in their 1999 Bay Area concert. He has worked with noted composer Stephen Swartz in his production of My Antonia at Theatre Works. From 2001 to 2009, Ron instructed and performed at the Las Vegas International Accordion Convention. In 2010 he was honored to perform with the Art Van Damme Quintet at his memorial service. In June of 2014 he performed and instructed at Silver Falls Rose City Accordion Conference. His complete resume is extensive.
 
In addiition to performing with many high-powered orchestras, Ron performs for private, corporate and public events. He is well versed in jazz, opera, American standards, Italian and French styles of music. He is a featured artist on many CD releases. Ron lives in San Mateo, CA.
 
gary blair
gary blairGary Blair started playing at the age of 8 and was United Kingdom under 18 Accordion Champion in 1977.
 
He has Performed at many of the World's biggest Accordion Festivals including The Las Vegas Accordion Convention, KIOTAC, The Leavenworth International Accordion Celebration, Carrefour Mondial De L'accordeon (Quebec) and the annual United Kingdom Accordion Championships.

His band performed for the Gala Finale of the 2008 Coupe Mondiale, a night that has gone down in history as one of the most spectacular and fun finishes for the young contestants and visitors alike, when the Coupe Mondiale was held in his home town of Renfrew (Glasgow). Scotland.

Gary is a full time Accordion teacher and performer. We look forward to welcoming him to our ATG Festival in San Francisco where he will open the ATG Festival by hosting a Jam Session, he will present a workshop and also entertain in concert.
 
cafe vienna title
cafe viennaCafé Vienna Trio is a modern-day extension of the concept of small ensembles in old Vienna bringing serious music to familiar, local settings.
 
Maintaining traditional instrumentation with Joe Domitrowich, performer and arranger for digital accordion, and Dave Dally, superb concert violinist, and adding a prominent vocal presence with Liana Braunova Derner, vocalist extraordinaire, Café Vienna Trio entertains and delights audiences, often with familiar and nostalgic tunes – sometimes from the classical or traditional Euro-centric genres and other times from more modern western compositions – and, on occasion, surprises beyond what our audience might expect from such an unusual merger of musical talent.
 
umkc

umkc accordion ensembleThe University of Missouri - Kansas City (UMKC) Chamber Accordion Ensemble comprises CIA Vice President and well known accordion celebrity and former ATG President Joan Cochran Sommers, ATG President Betty Jo Simon, CIA Ambassador and past President, ATG Board of Director and Past President Kevin Friedrich, and former US Representative to the CIA Coupe Mondiale Competitions for the ATG, Samantha Jarquio Wagner.
 
All players are former members of the renowned UMKC Accordion Orchestra and in addition to their concert performance, the members will also support the ATG Festival Orchestra.
 
The UMKC Chamber Accordion Ensemble is a smaller group of musicians who enjoy bringing together a breadth of experience performing in a variety of mediums ranging from entertaining and ethnic ensembles to performing with Symphony Orchestra and chamber groups, from premiering new works for accordion and other instruments to classical solo performances.  The ensemble ranges in numbers from this quartet to larger groups, depending on the musical project at hand, including this and other ATG Festivals, and supporting the World Accordion Day Celebrations.
 


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