On 5th and 6th July, the Canterbury Accordion Association (CAA) held a weekend celebration of their 50th Anniversary. The CAA is the oldest accordion association in New Zealand still operating.

An excerpt from the pages about the CAA in the History of the Accordion in New Zealand book by Wallace Liggett reads:

One of the earlier accordion associations in NZ was formed at a meeting in Gloucester Street,. Christchurch on the 10th June 1962.  The Canterbury Accordion Association was established with the objectives of promoting the accordion, organising competitions and associating with any other body that would help further these objectives. 

The inaugural committee was chaired by Roy Mills and members were Frederick Evans, Harold Mills, Barney Robinson, Robert Shackel, Jack and Joan Sinclair, and George Taylor. Malcolm Pepper accepted the responsibilities of both Secretary and Treasurer.  Apologies were recorded from Miss Elaine Moody, a prominent music teacher and accordion personality in Christchurch.

Meg and Bill Fidler became associated with the committee shortly before the end of the first year of its operation.  At first Meg was involved in the administrative side, and Bill the musical side of the associations activities, but at a later date Meg was to take a more active part in both aspects of the organisation.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:

Celebration Concert Program

REPORT ON CAA CELELBRATIONS - CONTRIBUTED BY CRAIG PERRY

Well here I am, back in Auckland reflecting on a wonderful week spent in my hometown of Christchurch for the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Canterbury Accordion Association. For me, my wife Hui-Leng and children Adam and Maia, it was a chance to visit family – my parents and brother Mark – for the first time down in Christchurch since the big earthquake in February last year, to see the damage and change to the city I grew up in. Equally as important was a unique opportunity to travel down with the Music Makers junior accordion orchestra and the Auckland accordion contingent, and celebrate the significant milestone as one NZ accordion family.

As it was the school holidays, we travelled down a week before the celebration weekend to spend time with family, take Adam and Maia skiing for the first time, see the Crusaders play at their new home stadium and to give me a chance to practise with the Christchurch Accordion Orchestra. The group had kindly agreed to let me rejoin the orchestra for the anniversary concert. To be able to do this was very special to me as I was able to reunite with my brother and friends I had played with for many years prior to moving to Auckland 15 years ago. This meant picking up the accordion again and practising some serious music after being ‘retired’ for many years.

The weekend consisted of group practices and a meet and greet on the Friday night, followed by a cake cutting ceremony, concert and dinner on Saturday.

The highlights of our weekend were seeing Adam and Maia playing in the concert and my involvement in the Christchurch Accordion Orchestra. The accordion had been played by many generations of my family, starting with Arthur Perry, who played the accordion in Cornwall, England around 1900 before emigrating to New Zealand. He was Adam and Maia ’s great great grandfather! His son Clarence, my grandfather, also played and I had inherited his accordion. Therefore, to see my children continue the legacy of playing, in my hometown, celebrating a significant milestone in the history of the accordion in Canterbury, was very very special indeed.

Playing with so many familiar faces in Christchurch Accordion Orchestra was like time had stood still, and I felt at ease playing in front of a crowd despite the rust! I was honoured to be given the opportunity to use John Dooley’s accordion for the concert. John was the long serving Secretary of the CAA and we lost him very suddenly a couple of months ago. He will be very much missed by the Association and the Orchestra.

The concert was well attended, with over 200 people enjoying the wide variety of accordion music. There were soloists, duos, orchestras, a choir and 2 mass orchestras combining players, young and young-at-heart, from Christchurch, Auckland and Australia.

Overall the weekend was a resounding success, all credit to the hard work of the CAA Committee. I shall certainly remember the wonderful music, catching up with old friends, and making new ones. Not to mention doing the Chicken Dance at the dinner again!