Hosted by SUNY Geneseo Professor of Music, Jim Kimball, Accordions ‘Round the World presents the melodious sounds of accordions and concertinas from diverse musical traditions found in western New York. As an ethnomusicologist focusing on traditional music of our region, Kimball has documented numerous old time and ethnic musical cultures in which the accordion takes a lead role. These include Irish, Italian, Danish, Polish, German, and Eastern style square dance music.

The concert will feature master musicians representing several musical traditions found in our region. Ted McGraw, John Ryan and Ben Goehring will bring Irish tunes on button accordion and Anglo concertina, many of them learned and shared through weekly Irish music sessions in and around Rochester. Hailing from Ithaca, Richard Koski carries on a family tradition of Finnish dance music on button accordion, learned mostly from his father. Stephanie Pietrzak from Buffalo plays the Polish concertina, having performed first with her mother, Wanda (dubbed “America’s Polka Sweethearts”) and continuing with her own band for more than 40 years. Frank Reino, also from the Buffalo area, learned the piano accordion at a young age from an Italian uncle, and continues to perform classic tunes as well as venturing into German music with a local band. The musicians will showcase a breadth and wealth of music knowledge, with their instruments also reflecting the diverse range and styles of the accordion family.

ACCORDIONS ‘ROUND THE WORLD
Sunday, October 6, 2019, 2:00 p.m.
The Geneseo Riviera, 4 Center St., Geneseo NY 14454
$5 Admission
Hosted by Jim Kimball, and Presented by GLOW Traditions at Genesee Valley Council on the Arts
Contact: Karen Canning / 585-243-6785 / glowtraditions@goart.org
Jim Kimball / 585-519-9211 (for interviews)
Made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the NYS Legislature.