JUHA SILFVERBERG
JULIE SILFVERBERG
KEVIN FRIEDRICH
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Born in Fort Scott, Kansas, daughter of Dean and Marlene Gettler, I began accordion
lessons at the age of eight, and piano when I was ten, under the tutelage
of Margie Fremar.
While studying accordion, I participated in many
music festivals, and achieved superior trophies through all levels of accordion
competition. For three years I successfully defended my title as the Kansas
State Virtuoso Champion.
I acquired my Bachelor of Music degree in Accordion
Performance from the University of Missouri - Kansas City where I was a
student of Joan C. Sommers. It was during this time that I met my husband
Juha, and after graduating from UMKC, we moved to Finland where I gave
accordion and piano lessons in the Finnish school system.
I have traveled in many countries during my accordion
career, performing with the UMKC Accordion Orchestra, in duo with my husband
Juha and with The International Trio. Juha and I have made several appearances
on television in both Finland and the United States and I also play piano
and organ for many school and church functions. More recently Juha and
I have begun appearing as a 'family' accordion quartet by including our
two children Jessica and Janne in our performances.
Juha and I served as executive officers for the
Accordion Teachers' Guild for four years where we took on the awesome task
of organizing four national accordion conventions which attracted participants
from across the United States and as far afield as from New Zealand, China
and Russia.
I currently run my own music studio in Overland
Park, Kansas, where I enjoy a busy schedule coordinating lessons, performances,
competitions and various other activities across the Midwest for my many
students in both piano and accordion.
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