Henry Doktorski in Iowa Orchestra Residency, Iowa - USA From November 9th to 14th, accordionist Henry Doktorski will serve as Artist-in-residence for the Ames Iowa High School Orchestra, and also perform as guest soloist with the orchestra in a concert on Friday November 14th, under the direction of Mary Kay Polashek. The concert program will include: 'Suite on Four Polish Carols', by Henry Doktorski 'Jazz Fantasia on Carol of the Bells', by Doktorski 'Adios Nonino', by Astor Piazzolla 'Tres Tangos for accordion, piano, harp, percussion and strings', by Piazzolla 'Concerto for Accordion and Strings', by Charles Camilleri A surprise encore piece by Pietro Frosini in an accordion duet arrangement with Emil Polashek The Ames High School Orchestra has become one of the premier high school orchestras in the USA. For the last nine years, the orchestra has had celebrated guest artists perform with them during their annual Fall Festival Concert. Festival Artists spend a week at Ames High School rehearsing with the string orchestra, they give presentations at area schools, and some have also performed a solo recital. Mary Kay Polashek, a distinguished violinist and violist, explained how she came to invite Doktorski to be the 2008 Fall Festival Artist: "The Ames High School Fall Festival artist in 2006, James Bovinette, was interested in playing the 'Prayer of St. Gregory', by the American composer, Alan Hovhaness. As I googled for information on that piece, the web site for Henry Doktorski was included in the list of hits. I visited his site, and discovered that Hovhaness had written a piece for him. As the wife of an accordionist (a romantic tale), I emailed Mr. Doktorski and introduced myself and the Festival. I asked him about the availability of repertoire for orchestra and accordion. Mr. Doktorski kindly responded that indeed there is a good and growing repertoire. Many emails and one phone call later, Ames High School orchestra is very excited to have Henry Doktorski as our guest artist this November. It will be a musical experience like none other. Imagine a high school string group performing Piazzolla!" Doktorski will be assisted by Maestra Polashek's husband, accordionist Emil Polashek. Emil began accordion lessons at age 12 with the Boddicker School of Music in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. He played with a series of accordion bands there, touring with the Accordion Aces, and competed in state and regional contests. He has performed with the St. Olaf College Norseman Band, the Central Iowa Symphony, the Des Moines Symphony, and the Iowa State University Wind Ensemble. Emil enjoys performing accordion and violin duets at various events with his wife, who never imagined growing up that she would ever do anything of the sort.