The "K"
Trio is proud to announce that we performed 35 concerts in 1999, and look
forward to a GREAT year for 2000!
The year included
several trips to the Stamford Town Mall, where our music was enthusiastically
greeted as we performed on the Center Mall Stage area. The music sounded
all through the mall, and shoppers watched from the auditorium-style seating,
while others gazed from each level's balcon to see where the music was
coming from! Selections including Danse Macabre, a "West Side Story"
medley, Bumble Boogie, Carnival of Venice, Malaguena, and much, much more,
were well-received by the surprised audiences!
Performing for the
Green Acres Elementary School (pre-schoolers through 2nd grade) was great
fun for us! (Mary teaches at the school, so many in the audience were
her students, but as the 1st and 2nd grades found out we were coming,
the audience grew, and grew to more than 7 classes of children.) They
especially enjoyed the music of Eugene Ettore's Five O'Clock Rush, and
the Casey Jones Fantasie, but sat in awe (and quietly, I might add) while
we did Vivo by John Gart, and the Minute Waltz by Chopin . . . even Danse
Macabre by Saint-Saens. The teachers were excited . . . this was the FIRSTprogram
all year that several groups of the children actually sat and listened
to!
The "K"
Trio has long been a supporter of local fund-raising and charity events
as well. This year, we did a benefit concert for M.A.D.D., performed for
the Festival at St. Anthony's Church in New Haven, for Ronald McDonald
House, and some local senior residences!
In July, "K"
appeared at the A.A.A. salute to Frank Yankovic in Nashville, along with
the Jeff Lisenby Trio, Tony Dannon, Lynn-Marie Rink, and The Don Lipovac
orchestra! The event was exciting, and included a wide variety of music
. . . a veritable "smorgasbord" for the audiences!
Also in July, we performed
at the A.T.G. Festival in Branson, Missouri, where we had the opportunity
to perform at the Lawrence Welk Theater - an awesome experience! The acoustics
of the theater, combined with the colossal audience was an experience
we'll long remember!
"How We Do It"
was a workshop presentation giving some insight into how The "K"
Trio plays "like one". Requested by the A.T.G. for the festival,
Mary, Julie and Walter helped interested musicians understand the "mental"
(and physical) tricks to working as a musical team!
1999 afforded us the
opportunity to perform Mozart's Piano Quartet in G minor, K. 478 with
pianist Ward Davenny. Dr. Davenny is a Professor Emeritus from Yale University,
where he taught for many years . . . and where Mary first met him. The
concert also included music by Dohnanyi, Schubert & Vivaldi, along
with accordion classics like Jolly Caballero and Accordiana!
On October 10th at Central
Connecticut State University, and on October 17th at the Westchester Community
College, we had the opportunity to perform with Mario Tacca and Mary Mancini
for Italian Heritage Month. Kevin Friedrich joined us in presenting a
truly diverse program. Mario's virtuosity, coupled with Mary's spectacular
voice, Kevin's exciting performance, and The "K" Trio's selections
provided a concert experience enjoyed by all!
The
programs also included a few numbers performed by The "K" Trio,
with Mario and Kevin in ensemble! The Emperor Waltz by Strauss, and Bugler's
Holiday by Anderson, were exciting to prepare . . .some Italian favorites,
and a Patriotic Medley, with Mary's vocal skills completed the programs
with everyone on their feet!
On November 21st,
we performed for the "Westfield Works Wonders" charity for Connecticut
schools; this year at the Connecticut Post Mall in Orange, CT. (They raised
over $375,000!) Four hours of great fun, and wonderful public awareness
of the beauty of the accordion! The Westfield Corporation relayed numerous
accolades from the shoppers, and workers alike . . . that the music of
The "K" Trio made the whole event, and they've invited us to
come back soon!
The year 1999 provided
us an unusual opportunity as an accordion group . . . to be recognized
as a music "entity" in Connecticut.
We feel honored and
privileged to be a part of two local TV programs that were recognized
as "award-winning" by the public TV stations of Connecticut.
Both the Joyce Suleski show and the "Images" by Joe Vegliante
show that we taped were awarded 2nd and 1st places (respectively) at the
public TV award ceremonies in 1999!
The shows were aired
numerous times in 1999, and on all the local stations! The accordion has
never before gotten the air time we've had in 1999, here in Connecticut!
Even better . . .
the millennium in North Haven ended with a performance by The "K"
Trio . . . our show was the last show aired in 1999, and the first show
aired in the new millennium!
We're planning another
CD release this year (hopefully in the spring).
The "K"
Trio wishes all a great new year, and one that includes more great accordion
music!
|