Leavenworth International Accordion Celebration
Sponsored by the Northwest Accordion Society
Herzlich Willkommen!
JUNE 20-23, 2024
2024
JUDGES
Private Coaching
with Gary Blair, John Giuliani, Bonnie Birch
A PERSONALIZED COACHING OPPORTUNITY
A PRICELESS OPPORTUNITY TO PERFORM A SELECTION OF YOUR CHOICE BEFORE ONE OF OUR PERFORMING ARTISTS WHO STARTED OFF JUST LIKE YOU DID AND WHO WILL APPRECIATE WHAT YOU HAVE ACCOMPLISHED SO FAR AND WILL OFFER YOU SOME TOOLS TO FURTHER ENHANCE YOUR ABILITIES AND YOUR LOVE OF MUSIC.
PRIVATE COACHING TIMES
FRIDAY: BETWEEN 9:30 AND 11:30 am
SATURDAY: BETWEEN 9:30 AND 11:30
COST $20
For a very reasonable price, you can get valuable feedback which will enhance and supplement current practice and studies.
To register, go to the "Registration Form" under the "Competition" section.
Gary Blair
Gary has been playing accordion from the age of 8 having been taught by his father Jimmy. A regular winner of competitions through the UK, Gary has been judging accordion competitions since 1982 and has adjudicated at many festivals around the world.
His accordion travels have included performances in the USA, Canada, Italy, France, Siberia, Korea, China, Russia, India, and the UAE.
He continues to perform around the globe and is a teacher both in private and on the internet via Skype
Jamie Maschler and Gabe Hall-Rodrigues
Creosote is the accordion duo of Jamie Maschler and Gabriel Hall-Rodrigues based out of Seattle, WA. Together they play a dynamic array of original and world music. Maschler and Rodrigues are both seasoned musicians and have individually and collectively mastered their craft of performing, composing and arranging on the accordion. Expect to hear elegant and clever arrangements of new and old Brazilian and world music.
Jamie is based in Seattle, WA where she studied accordion under three-time Latin Grammy Nominee Jovino Santos Neto at Cornish College of the Arts. Brazilian culture inspires her current projects; Seattle’s only forró band - En Canto, and accordion duo with Gabe-Hall Rodrigues - Creosote.
Gabe Hall-Rodrigues is an Arizona-native accordionist, pianist and vocalist currently residing in Seattle, WA. He began playing the piano at age 7 and quickly realized his love for music and performing. In 2010, after only studying the accordion for a year, Gabe won the American Accordionists’ Association’s Virtuoso Solo Competition.
Andy Mirkovich
Andy studied accordion starting at the age of five. He graduated with a B.A. in Music from Seattle University and studied composition at the University of Washington, Graduate School of Music.
He was the featured performer at the Space Needle Restaurant in Seattle, for 11 years, and has performing experience in radio, television, movies and concerts.
He has performed with or for many artists, including Lawrence Welk, Myron Floren, Dick Contino, Frank Yankovich, Liberace, Burl Ives, The Vienna Boy's Choir, King Hussein of Jordan, and the King and Queen of Norway.
He continues to perform and teaches Master Classes. He’s adjudicated and performed at music festivals in Leavenworth, Seattle, Portland, Spokane, Yakima, Vancouver, BC and Victoria, BC.
He has a knack for playing just what his audience loves to hear. Accompanying Andy will be one of our favorites, John Giuliani with his bass.
Beverley Fess
Beverley Fess is a Master accordion and piano teacher from Okotoks, Alberta, Canada. Classically trained, she started playing the accordion at age 6, was teaching by age 14 and conducting by age 17. She competed extensively and has had many award-winning students and ensembles. Besides teaching and performing, Bev is the conductor of the Spokane Accordion Ensemble.
Beverley is very proud of helping develop Michael Bridge to international competition level. She has trained teachers, adjudicated at accordion music festivals, served as conductor of several accordion ensembles and orchestras, served as a music examiner, sat on the executive committees of several accordion associations and runs frequent workshops. She is a founding member and current board member of the Accordion Association of Calgary, member of numerous other accordion associations and a current board member of the ATG.
Bev has dedicated most of her life to music education and promoting the accordion. Beverley recently celebrated 50 years of accordion teaching. In recognition of her time and dedication to the instrument was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Accordions & Teachers Guild International in 2016 and was awarded the Art Van Damme Education Award at the Las Vegas International Accordion Convention also in 2016.