2010 Leavenworth International Accordion Celebration
June 17 - 20, Music, Entertainment, Dancing, Competitions

Leavenworth Accordian Festival

Entertainment Schedule is below.

LEAVENWORTH INTERNATIONAL ACCORDION CELEBRATION
June 17 - 20, 2010 - Festival

Accordion music at its finest: jazz, popular, classical, ethnic and everything in between pulses through the village as musicians (children through seniors) and music lovers flock to Leavenworth to compete for awards and cash, attend workshops, jam sessions, a film/video series, parade down Front Street and enjoy four nights of concerts and dances with world class musicians.

Competitions, Jamming, Workshops, Concerts and More! The 2010 Leavenworth International Accordion Celebration will be an exciting event – full of talented musicians, enthusiastic music lovers, friendly competitors of all ages and lots of surprises including the Annual Accordion Parade down Front Street! Entertainment at the Gazebo in Front Street Park is free. The Northwest Accordion Society organizes entertainment and Jam sessions in the Gazebo Thursday through Saturday. The Competitions and Concerts are held in Leavenworth’s Festhalle on the corner of Front and Tenth Streets.

For more information and to purchase tickets to the concerts phone the Leavenworth Chamber of Commerce at (509) 548-5807.

Souvenir Pins - $5 (pins are souvenir items and are not used as admission to events as in past years; those participating in the competition or evaluation will receive a free pin; volunteers will also receive a free pin)


1-day competition ticket - $3

2-day competition ticket - $5


Thursday welcoming event - $7 ($5 for advance purchase)

(free to competitors and those in evaluation)


Friday concert - $15 ($13 for advance purchase)


Saturday concert - $20 ($18 for advance purchase)


Workshops: Workshops cost $15/workshop or $12/workshop if ordered in advance. Workshops will be in the Festhalle on Thursday and in the Grange on Friday and Saturday. Workshops may be paid for at the door or at the Festhalle information desk.

.
Purchase Tickets here

 

Performers:

 

GARY BLAIR: Thurs, June 17 - Gary Blair has appeared at LIAC a number of times now due to popular demand. He will be welcoming celebration-goers with a concert on Thursday night. He will also be a competition judge.
He started playing accordion at the age of 8 and won many prizes throughout his career including the UK accordion championships. He has appeared many times on Radio and TV and has recorded several CD's. Gary likes to play all styles of music and puts emphasis on entertaining the audience.
He was awarded the titles "Honored friend of the Accordion" by the CIA (accordion world governing body) and "Veteran of the Accordion", by the Rossini institute in Italy.

MURL ALLEN SANDERS: Fri, June 18- Murl Allen Sanders is a free-lance musician, composer, teacher and recording artist who has been active in the Seattle area music scene and across the United States, Canada, England and Japan for over twenty-five years. He performs and records regularly with his own bands, as a soloist, and with numerous bands in the Northwest. Murl plays piano, accordion, B-3, keyboards, harmonica, sings, teaches and composes music.

Murl has worked with many diverse artists and most recently has been performing his jazz-influenced orchestral compositions “Accordion Concerto #1” with Cascade Symphony and Everett Symphony and “Accordion Concerto #2” with Orchestra Seattle.

PATRICIA BARTELL: Sat, June 19 - Patricia Bartell holds a B.A. in Music Education and Performance. She teaches accordion and piano full time in Spokane Washington and travels worldwide as an adjudicator, professional performer and teacher. She conducts the Spokane Accordion Ensemble, is involved in an Argentine Tango Quartet (Tango Volcado) and is the guest artist for the Hot Club of Spokane – a fantastic swing jazz group. She performs and teaches a wide variety of music. Patricia is now the permanent USA delegate (a member of the jury) for the international competition of the C.M.A (World Confederation for the Accordion – World Trophy) one of the top accordion competitions in the world.

CORY PESATURO: Sat, June 19 - 2009 World Digital Accordion Champion Cory Pesaturo is a graduate of the prestigious New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, MA, where he was the first musician to major and graduate in the accordion. Upon winning the Championship, he became the first American to win any World Accordion Championship in 25 years. Accordion Legend Dick Contino said, "Of all the accordionists I've seen over the years, Cory is the one to pass the torch to, the only one who has all the tools to bring the accordion back to its former glory." 2009 was also a fantastic year for Pesaturo, as he won the four International Competitions he entered, including 2 International Jazz Accordion competitions. He also performed in many different countries including Japan, New Zealand, and Tunisia.
 

Schedule of Events

Combined Schedule – Festhalle, Grange, Gazebo


Thursday, June 17


11:00am Accordion Entertainment organized by NW Accordion Society Gazebo
12:00pm Competitor Packets and Ticket sales Festhalle
12:00pm Vendors’ Hall Opens Festhalle
4:00 pm Master Class with Patricia Bartell Festhalle
5:00 pm Workshop with Gary Blair Festhalle
7:00 pm Greetings from your LIAC committee. LIAC officially begins Festhalle
7:30-8:30pm Welcoming concert featuring Gary Blair Festhalle
8:45-10:30pm Dance hosted by Bonnie Birch and featuring NWAS accordion players Festhalle


Friday, June 18


8:00am Competitor Packets and Ticket sales Festhalle
9:00am Grange opens (see detailed Grange schedule) Grange
9:00am Vendors’ Hall Opens Festhalle
9:30-Noon Competition: Variety I, II, III Festhalle
9:30-11:00am Evaluation: all levels Grange/Upper
11:00am Accordion Entertainment organized by NW Accordion Society Gazebo
11:00am Workshop with Johnny V Grange/Lower
12:15pm Workshop with Bonnie Birch Grange/Lower
1:30-4:30pm Competition: Variety IV, Duets, Bands, Diatonic, Original Festhalle
1:30-2:10pm Roland demonstration with Cory Pesaturo Grange/Upper
2:15-4:00pm Rising Star stage performances Grange/Upper
1:30-3:30pm FREE Accordion lessons by The Northwest Accordion Society Grange/Lower
5:00 pm Workshop with Murl Allen Sanders Grange/Lower
7:00-7:45pm Pre-Concert Show with the Northwest Accordionaires Band Festhalle
8:00-9:00pm Concert featuring Murl Allen Sanders Festhalle
9:15-10:30pm Dance featuring the Hugo Accordion Band and NWAS players Festhalle


Saturday, June 19


8:00am Competitor Packets and Ticket sales Festhalle
8:00am Grange opens (see detailed Grange schedule) Grange
8:00am Workshop with Jim O’Brien Grange/Lower
9:00am Vendors’ Hall Opens Festhalle
9:30-Noon Competition: Variety V,VI,VII Light Classical I, II, III Festhalle
9:30-11:00am Evaluation: all levels Grange/Upper
11:00am Accordion Entertainment organized by NW Accordion Society Gazebo
11:30am Workshop with Max Kyllonen and Kory Tideman Grange/Lower
12:40pm Accordion Parade Front Street
1:30-4:30pm Competition: Light Classical Open, Popular Open Festhalle
Leavenworth Open
1:30-2:10pm Roland demonstration with Cory Pesaturo Grange/Upper
2:15-4:00pm Rising Star stage performances Grange/Upper
1:30-3:30pm FREE Accordion lessons by The Northwest Accordion Society Grange/Lower
5:00 pm Workshop with Cory Pesaturo Grange/Lower
7:00-7:30pm Pre-Concert Show Max Kyllonen and Kory Tideman Festhalle
7:40-8:40pm Concert featuring Patricia Bartell Festhalle
9:00-10:00pm Concert featuring Cory Pesaturo Festhalle


Sunday, June 20


9:00am Vendors’ Hall Opens Festhalle
9:00am-noon Competition: extra time to finish if necessary Festhalle
Possible repeat workshop Festhalle
11:00am Accordion Entertainment organized by NW Accordion Society Gazebo
TBA Awards Ceremony and Concert (no later than 1:00pm) Festhalle


Festhalle Schedule Summary


Thursday


noon Festhalle opens
4pm “Accordion Master Class” with Patricia Bartell
5pm “The Do's and Don'ts of Accordion Playing” with Gary Blair
7:00 pm Greetings from your LIAC committee. LIAC officially begins
7:30-8:30pm Welcoming concert featuring Gary Blair
8:45-10:30pm Dance hosted by Bonnie Birch and featuring NWAS accordion players


Friday


8:00am Festhalle opens
9:30-Noon Competition: Variety I, II, III
1:30-4:30pm Competition: Variety IV, Duets, Bands, Diatonic, Original
7:00-7:45pm Pre-Concert Show with the Northwest Accordionaires Band
8:00-9:00pm Concert featuring Murl Allen Sanders
9:15-10:30pm Dance featuring the Hugo Accordion Band and NWAS players


Saturday


8:00am Festhalle opens
9:30-Noon Competition: Variety V,VI,VII Light Classical I, II, III
12:40pm Accordion Parade/gather at Festhalle/parade down Front Street
1:30-4:30pm Competition: Light Classical Open, Popular Open
Leavenworth Open
7:00-7:30pm Pre-Concert Show Max Kyllonen and Kory Tideman
7:40-8:40pm Concert featuring Patricia Bartell
9:00-10:00pm Concert featuring Cory Pesaturo


Sunday


9:00am Vendors’ Hall Opens
9:00am-noon Competition: extra time to finish if necessary
Possible repeat workshop
TBA Awards Ceremony and Concert (no later than 1:00pm)


Grange Schedule Summary:


Suggestion: Purchase a lunch-to-go from one of the fine restaurants and relax in the grange, visiting with fellow accordion players and enjoying/playing music and watching the view of the river. We need volunteers to play at the Rising Star Stage and help with FREE Accordion lessons.


Upper Level Friday and Saturday:


CD sales, Sheet Music sales, Pin, T-Shirt sales
Vendor tables (Petosa, Roland)
9:30-11:00am Evaluation: all levels
1:30-2:10pm Roland demonstration with Cory Pesaturo
2:15-4:00pm Rising Star stage performances


Lower Level: Workshops Friday


11am ”Two topics: the midi accordion and showmanship” with Johnny V
12:15pm “Musicianship for the Accordionist” with Bonnie Birch
5pm “Instant Zydeco” with Murl Allen Sanders


Workshops Saturday


8am ”Sight-reading accordion duets” with Jim O'Brien
11:30am “Diatonic Buttonbox Accordion Demystefied” with Max Kyllonen and Kory Tideman
5pm “Music Theory and its Vital Importance” with Cory Pesaturo
1:30-3:30pm FREE Accordion lessons by The Northwest Accordion Society (Fri and Sat)


Gazebo Schedule Summary; pre-allocated slots; others are available for sign-up


Thurs: 11am – 4pm
Johnny V 11:00 – 11:30 Bonnie Birch 11:30 – 12:00 Gary Blair 12:00 – 12:30, Hugo Band 12:30 – 1:30


Fri: 11am – 4:45pm
Murl Allen Sanders with Cory Pesaturo 3:00 – 3:20 Shirley and Jim O’Brien 3:20 – 4:00
Jam session 4:00 – 4:45 p.m.


Sat: 11am – 4:45pm
Happy Wanderers Band 11:00 – 11:30
Bonnie Birch Trio 2:00 – 2:45, Max and Kory 2:45 – 3:15, Jam session 4:00 – 4:45 p.m


Sun: 11am – 2pm: Open


Workshop Summary (in chronological order):
Workshops are $12 if paid by June 4th or $15 at Leavenworth
Workshop #1 “Accordion Master Class” with Patricia Bartell Thurs 4pm Festhalle
Workshop #2 “The Do's and Don'ts of Accordion Playing” with Gary Blair Thurs 5pm Festhalle
Workshop #3 ”Two topics: the midi accordion and showmanship” with Johnny V. Fri 11am Grange/Lower
Workshop #4 “Musicianship for the Accordionist” with Bonnie Birch Fri 12:15pm Grange/Lower
Workshop #5 “Instant Zydeco” with Murl Allen Sanders Fri 5pm Grange/Lower
Workshop #6 ”Sight-reading accordion duets” with Jim O'Brien Sat 8am Grange/Lower
Workshop #7 “Diatonic Buttonbox Accordion Demystefied” with Max Kyllonen and Kory Tideman


Sat 11:30am Grange/Lower
Workshop #8 “Music Theory and its Vital Importance” with Cory Pesaturo Sat 5pm Grange/Lower
Free! “Demonstration of the Roland midi accordion” with Cory Pesaturo Fri, Sat 1:30pm Grange/upper
 

Back to the Top

Part of The World's Largest Hotel Chain®. Each Best Western® hotel is independently owned and operated. ©2002-2009 Best Western International, Inc. All rights reserved.

Consume less. Live more. Before printing, please think about your responsibility and commitment to our environment.