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http://www.accordions.com/news.aspx?d=12-Nov-2021&lang=de&s=18246
http://www.accordions.com/news.aspx?d=12-Nov-2021&lang=de&s=18246
12-Nov-2021
by Rita Davidson Barnea, Editor USA Accordion News
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 Video from 2018 ATG Festival, July 25 - 28 in Lisle (Chicago), Illinois.AWW is shocked and very sad to inform you of the sudden passing of Donna Ray Anderson from a fall. Donna Dee was a highly respected accordionist, friend, teacher, wife, mother, and grandmother, beloved by all who were fortunate enough to experience her warm smile and gentle, friendly personality. Donna Dee (Anderson) Ray began studying accordion with Joan Cochran Sommers at age six. Excerpts from the Accordionists & Teachers Guild, International (ATG) website: She became concert mistress of the University of Missouri at Kansas City Accordion Orchestra at age fifteen. At age sixteen, Bill Palmer awarded her a score of 108 on her choice piece in the virtuoso division at the Mid-America Music Association festival. At age seventeen, Donna Dee won the American Accordionists' Association Virtuoso Championship. Her intent was to enter UMKC as an Accordion Performance major. Instead, at age eighteen, she began touring with Fred Waring and the Pennsylvanians playing Cordovox in the orchestra. It was there that Donna Dee met her husband, Dennis Ray, a singer in the group. Dennis, her husband, hails from Nashville, Tennessee. He is a self-taught musician playing 5-string and tenor banjos, guitar, and upright rhythm bass. His biggest musical inspiration during his youth was The Kingston Trio from the American Folk Era. He grew up singing their songs in three-part harmonies with his brother and friends and later formed a trio in college while attending the University of Tennessee. Fred Waring’s Pennsylvanians did a concert at UT. Dennis’s trio performed backstage after the show. Mr. Waring invited them to attend Shawnee Press summer workshops for teachers and students and also perform at his Shawnee Inn golf resort for the summer. At the end of that summer, they were invited to join the concert tour. Donna Dee and Dennis have three children. When the children were young, The Ray Family performed for community events, and toured summers appearing at state and county fairs and amusement parks. Donna Dee and Dennis performed as a duo for many years while also pursuing teaching careers. Both have Master’s degrees and were classroom teachers for over thirty years. Donna Dee taught elementary school Music. Through a rigorous year-long multi-evaluation process, she earned National Board Certification the first year it opened for Music teachers. Dennis, a journalism graduate of UMKC, taught Television Production in high school. Dennis and Donna Dee started a business, 3D Video Productions, videotaping weddings on weekends when not in their classrooms teaching. This business eventually squeezed out opportunities to play music gigs. They enjoyed their busy careers but are happy to be recently retired. Both are loving having time to practice and perform music again. Condolences to Dennis Ray, her family, friends and accordion friends who loved her so much. Further videos at: http://www.accordionusa.com/#art4664 |
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