Leavenworth International Accordion Celebration
Sponsored by the Northwest Accordion Society
Herzlich Willkommen!
JUNE 22-25, 2023 - We will be back in 2023
(Click Here to see details)
2023
JUDGES
Private Coaching/Evaluation
with Beverley Fess and John Giuliani
Take advantage of this great opportunity to have a Private Lesson with two of the Northwest's highly respected accordionists/musicians/teachers.
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.
Joey Miskulin
Joey Miskulin is a multiple Grammy Award winning American accordionist and producer. In a music career spanning more than six decades, Joey has collaborated with a range of artists including Frankie Yankovic, Johnny Cash, John Denver, Dolly Parton, Emmylou Harris, Paul McCartney, Ricky Skaggs, U2, Shania Twain, as well as many others. He is a member of the Grammy Winning Grand Ole Opry quartet "Riders In The Sky." Miskulin is an award winning performer, studio musician, and record producer.
Alicia Jo Straka
Alicia Jo Straka (previously Alicia Baker) is a professional accordionist, singer, pianist, and composer from Portland, OR, currently residing in Denver, CO. Throughout her career, Alicia has won multiple International accordion competitions, worked as an artist for the prestigious Roland Corporation, sung leading operatic roles, and has performed at many notable venues including Carnegie Weill Hall and the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki. Thanks to her love of academia, Alicia has earned 3 Bachelor of arts degrees from Oregon State University; piano performance, vocal performance, and choral music education, in addition to a Master of Music degree in Vocal Performance and Pedagogy from University of Colorado Boulder - all of which were funded by full-ride scholarships. Versatility has always been a point of pride, which is highlighted through her diverse repertoire; jazz, Parisienne, pop, funk, opera, polka, and techno; to name a few. Alicia currently spends her time performing, teaching private students, composing and arranging. Most recently, she crowd-funded, recorded, and designed her new album called “Doin’ Just Fine”, which features original music composed in the French jazz genre. You can pick up a copy, and find additional information, at her website: www.aliciajostraka.com .
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.