Monthly Newsletters

President's message:
Over the past seventeen years we have had the fortune of having many outstanding accordionists play for us at our club. They have come to us from several European countries and from all over our nation to perform at our monthly meetings. Along with out local musicians, they have not only entertained us royally but they have opened the world of the accordion by demonstrating its universality. We know these artists by name and they know us too.

We are richer for the experience but, along with the please they bring us, there is also somewhat of a downside. We could easily become intimidated and reluctant to play at our club for fear of being compared with them. This is unfortunate. Each player, whether professional or amateur, is an individual with unique skills and only he/she stands before you at that time of performance to share their talent.

We encourage all players to take the opportunity and the challenge of the performance at our club. We can assure them that they will enjoy the experience. And by the way, we have not heard from some of you in some time, and we welcome your return.

Joe Smiell has a suggestion for those of you who don't feel at home before an audience: Don't play your most difficult pieces! Play the ones you most enjoy. Chances are your audience will enjoy them too.

On another subject, we are trying to draw up a list of those of you who give your time and talent to play at senior centers and convalescent hospitals. You are among the most unsung and unappreciated of all of us. Anyone who has performed this service in a community knows that there is no greater pleasure that to bring joy to the people who need it most. We see it in their faces and they are saying “thank you.”

We are starting with a partial list with a few names and hoping to add more each month as we hear about them. Tony Di Bono, Jim Firpo and Walter Traverso have given countless hours in the past but are not longer active, and we thank therm for their generosity. Currently we know the following members are performing this service: Gwyn Lister, Val Kieser, William de Michelis, Bob Smith, Sue Hirigoyen, Peter Di Bono. Let us know who you are so we can add you to our list!

- Frank Montoro