The Accordionists and Teachers Guild, International (ATG) was established in 1940 by a group of 29 founding members (including ATG President Emeritus, the late Anthony Galla-Rini, pictured right) with the purpose of furthering the progress of the accordion by improving teaching standards, music, and all phases of music education. 

The ATG is strictly a nonprofit, noncommercial, educational organization and is governed by the teacher members and accordion professionals.  The ATG has presented many important seminars, lectures and concerts in conjunction with its annual competition and festival and has brought the accordion to the attention of many top musicians and music educators across the country.  The ATG has also been instrumental in promoting the acceptance of free bass accordion into several important universities and colleges where a student may work toward a degree with accordion as their major instrument. 

The ATG members elect officers every two years and the Board of Directors also serve a two year term.  Fifty percent of the Board is selected by membership vote and the remaining fifty percent is selected by the President.  A quarterly Bulletin is published and sent to all members.  Additional Bulletins may be published when deemed necessary by the organization. 

In 1951 Anthony Galla-Rini successfully petitioned the ATG as a member the Confederation Internationale des Accordeonistes (CIA) during the General Assembly in Paris, France. Since then, the ATG has sent many participants to the CIA Coupe Mondiale World Accordion Championships including three who won this prestigious competition. They are Donald Hulme in 1961, John Torcello in 1972 and Peter Soave in 1984.

The ATG has sponsored the Accordion Conference Week at the famous National Music Camp at Interlochen, Michigan and has worked with the Music Educators National Conference (MENC) which is part of the National Association of Education.  In addition, the ATG has sponsored several International Competition for Accordion Soloists as well as composition competitions.  The ATG has also commissioned numerous compositions for the accordion by such composers as Alan Hovhaness, Ole Schmidt, Torbjorn Lundquist, Francis Pyle and Ernst Krenek. 

The annual festival is held in a different location each year and students, teachers and enthusiasts travel from all parts of the United States and abroad to attend this event.  The emphasis is on excellence with competitions for all ages including adult hobby.  Categories include solo, original compositions, polkas, duets, pop duets and combos, ensembles, orchestras and show bands.  Other events include a banquet for all participants, workshops, displays, a grand concert and other special activities providing the opportunity to share ideas and experiences with fellow accordionists from around the world. 

All ATG members are encouraged to share ideas and new concepts and support fellow members' efforts.  The accordion has made much progress in the field of music education since the inception of the ATG and all of these accomplishments directly benefit each member of the organization. 

The ATG is proud of the prestige and respect it has gained in the accordion world and the field of music education.  This accomplishment has been achieved through years of building an organization which strives to maintain an ethical and progressive standard of excellence.