17th Annual Las Vegas International Accordion Convention Volume 17, Number 1 / Winter 2016

Joey Miskulin

LVAC TIMES

Kim has won many prestigious awards in her career, including the 1983 AAA National Championship and C.I.A. Coupe Mondiale Honorary Bronze Medal Winner 1984. She has been teaching for Young Musicians of America (Y.M.A.) for 30 years & is responsible for educating hundreds of people in the art of music.

Dan is a four time winner of the Rocky Mountain Accordion Virtuoso category and is a winner of the Prestigious Anthony Galla-Rini Trophy. He has been teaching private music lessons for 34 years and has developed a reputation throughout the United States for directing outstanding Virtuoso Orchestras.

Kim & Dan first met at age 5, while taking accordion lessons from Kim's father, Mike Aman. Literally they’ve grown up together performing and teaching the accordion and have established themselves as among the premier accordionists in the world. Their unique ability to play together with exact precision is unparalleled. They have excellent technique and mastery of the accordion. Their performances are charged with vibrant energy and a passion and love that create an experience that will be cherished.

Alex Sevastian Mario was born near Bari, in

Southern Italy, but in 1959 his family immigrated to Valencia, Venezuela. As a young boy Mario begged his father to let him start accordion lessons, like his older brother, and eventually his father conceded. As a young man he devoted at least 4 hours a day to practicing until his father screamed GIVE US A BREAK! But that didn't stop Mario from playing his beloved instrument.

Mario earned a music degree in Venezuela. He and his wife now live in Sugarland, Texas where he teaches and performs. Mario's students feel that Mario is too modest and not fully recognized for his life’s devotion and his musical genius. His warm nature makes him convention favorite! Come help us celebrate with Mario, as he becomes our 2016 Honorary Conductor!

Joey – Accordion Legend – Friend to all – Honorary Conductor 2013 and Favorite at Las Vegas. Yes our friend Joey loves coming to Las Vegas as much as we enjoy having him! The list of performers Joey has collaborated with is long and impressive. He is a performer, studio musician, producer and pedagogue.

Anyone who’s been to Las Vegas recently will tell you that in Joey’s performances and workshops, they got more than their monies worth! Joey, known for his country & polka prowess, has shown us in Las Vegas that he is truly a multifaceted musician. His ability to play jazz, standards, polka & country with artistry is second to none! If you have not heard Joey in Las Vegas then you need to attend! Those who have are excited Joey is back!

Four-time World Champion and virtuoso accordion player who knows how to thrill an audience beyond words! What a great pleasure it is to have Alex joining us for 2016 as both an artist and a clinician this year. Although he comes to us from Toronto, Canada – his roots began in Russia.

Alex is actively involved in the music world, performing with several musical organizations, most notably the internationally recognized Quartetto Gelato with whom he has been touring Canada and the USA extensively. Alex performs on a type of concert accordion known as a Bayan, which is a chromatic accordion with free bass. Alex has a new audience-thrilling repertoire that promises to be amazing! He’s truly one of the great musicians of the world who just happens to play an accordion.

Mario Pedoni

Kim & Dan

Las Vegas International Accordion Convention Newsletter

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Volume 17, Number 1 / Winter 2016

Mary Tokarski Entertainer & Clinician

Raised with accordions from birth, Mike’s father, Joseph Zampiceni, was a noted accordionist, teacher, composer, arranger, and music publisher. For Mike accordions were part of the Zampiceni house-hold from day one!

At age 8 Mike began formal accordion studies and by 11 was playing for paid engagements. He joined his father’s orchestra at 14, playing accordion and drums, and by 17 he was in the musician’s union and the leader of his own band.

In high school, Mike was encouraged to compete in vocal competitions. He graduated from San Jose State University with a B.A. degree in Music, concentrating on voice, piano and organ. After a

Mike Zampiceni

year’s break, he returned to work on an M.A. degree, during which time he was chosen as the tenor soloist performing with the San Jose Symphony.

Mike’s first instrument, the accordion, is still his great love. Even though he has had a career as a technical writer for over 30 years, Mike has found time to continue performing and teaching.

He has also played the accordion with the San Jose Symphony and San Jose Civic Light Opera and has performed in a wide variety of settings with an extensive repertoire. Mike is a master of bellow phrasing and dynamics and has great improvisational style. Make sure to attend one of his informative workshops – you’ll be glad you did!

Artist & Clinician!

February20, 2016

Dear Friends,

Winter is here and it is cold and snowy in Salt Lake City. I certainly look forward to summer and seeing all you at our VEGAS NIGHTS Celebration with the Stars! And now is the time to SAVE by booking early for the 17th Annual Las Vegas International Accordion Convention! And oh, what a fun time we will have come August 8-11, 2016. We have lots of surprises and great music so please accept my invitation to come join the BEST Accordion FUN & Entertainment event ever – in Las Vegas!

Join us as we celebrate life, great friendships, and the magical music of the accordion. Personally, I am very excited to announce this year’s artists! Often people say, “Paul, I don’t know how you do it – every year is better than the last.” I am sure 2016 will be our most exciting year yet! Look over our color flyer and check www.AccordionStars for updates as we get closer to the event!

If you have not looked at airfares – do so today – they are lower to Las Vegas than I have seen them in several years – and the hotel rate is now at $34 ($42 premium room) a night. This really is the year to come to Las Vegas. Please accept my personal invitation to join us in what surely will be our best year ever!

If you have any questions or concerns – or just need some help finding an airfare to Las Vegas, give me a call toll free 1-800-472-1695. I would love to hear from you. Oh and by the way, I am planning a surprise for you this year – so register, make your reservations, mark your calendar, and come celebrate VEGAS NIGHTS!

Warm regards,

Paul Pasquali Las Vegas International Accordion Convention

Mary’s great performance gave us all a big thrill last year with her comedy that left everyone in stitches. We are excited to have

Mary return to entertain us and be Concert Master of the Accordion Orchestra!

Mary grew up in Connecticut and in her youth earned over 185

trophies and awards, including U.S. and International Championship Titles.

Mary started teaching at an early age and went on to study Early Childhood Education through

Kindermusik International at Princeton University and Boston University at Lowell. She is currently a music teacher in the North Haven Department of Education Early

Childhood Development Program, is president of the AAA and finds time to teach and run her own business - Tokarski School of Music!

Mary has performed throughout the world and is an amazing instructor and consummate performer. Thanks Mary for taking the time to return to Las Vegas!

All accordion players under the age of 18, who are accompanied by a full time parent

or guardian attendee, are eligible.

If you know a youth accordion player, then please have them contact us about a scholarship!

YOUTH SCHOLARSHIP!

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Volume 17, Number 1 / Winter 2016 Las Vegas International Accordion Convention Newsletter

Las Vegas International Accordion Orchestra Needs YOU! Professor Sommers, our very own Maestro Extraordinaire, is now preparing the 2016 program – so if you want to be a part of this exciting orchestra, NOW is the time to let us know as the cutoff is approaching! The Orchestra’s past performances have been very exciting. Anyone who heard this magnificent orchestra would have to say under Maestro Sommers’ baton the sound was nothing less than glorious!

If you are interested in joining this prestigious group and in being a part of accordion musical history, then the steps are simple.

Professor Sommers is excited to work with those dedicated to making this a great event. Below are the steps:

Lots of Great Seats Enroll Now & Save!

1. Register today and tell us you want to be in the orchestra.

2. Fill out the orchestra questionnaire form online at AccordionStars.com (or call us for a form)!

3. Practice your assigned parts and learn them before coming to Las Vegas.

4. Bring your music, your accordion, and a music stand to Las Vegas, portable music stands will be available for purchase at the Convention store.

5. Rehearse each day from 3 to 5 PM with our illustrious conductor, Joan Cochran-Sommers.

6. Wear black and white to the Thursday GRAND FINALE performance!

Why Las Vegas? – MORE FUN & It Really Does Cost Less!

If you are considering coming to the Accordion Convention, then please register today with our Early Bird Pricing & SAVE!

We strongly recommend you make your hotel reservations and travel reservations immediately. If you wait till the last minute you might be caught paying much higher airfare and hotel room rates. The $34 rate goes away July 8 or when the rooms are gone!

Enclosed please find a color flyer with registration form. Simply fill it out and return it to convention headquarters at LVAC, 1760 South 450 West, SLC, UT. Or you may go online to AccordionStars.com and follow the links to register and pay online.

Compare the true cost of attending any accordion hotel event in North America! Add up the following: event fees, travel costs, hotel rooms and meals - these total your true cost. Yes, many say our event fee seems high but remember it includes 7 wonderful meals and concerts for four phenomenal days plus over 40 workshops and after hours entertainment at Club Concerto!

FYI - costs of rooms and meals in a Marriott, Hyatt, Ramada or other event hotels average $179 plus tax per night. Add in the meal costs in these hotels for two people for four nights and your expenses can be well over $1200 before event fees and travel costs.

Las Vegas, at $34 a night, plus the resort fee, tax and even adding breakfast at $7, makes the cost less than $60 a night - so the answer is very clear – LVAC is a BARGAIN no matter how you add it up.

All this - plus the largest lineup of world class entertainment - plus invaluable workshops, and you will see why the LVAC is by far the least expensive event with the most to offer for your dollar!

OUR PROMISE TO YOU: Attend just once, and you’ll discover why people come back year after year saying, “Paul, I don’t know how you do it – this event is really first class. What a wonderful week - what a bargain!”

Come join the best kept secret in the accordion world! Book early and save on the accordion event of a lifetime!

17th Annual Las Vegas International Accordion Convention Volume 17, Number 1 / Winter 2016

VEGAS NIGHTS! August 8 – 11, 2016

STARRING Alex Sevastian Joey Miskulin Mario Pedone

Kim & Dan Christian Mike Zampiceni Mary Tokarski

Gina Brannelli - Gordon Kohl Pete Barbutti

FEATURING Professor Joan Sommers

Conducting “The Las Vegas International Accordion Orchestra”

& MORE – See flyer insert!

LVAC TIMES

1760 South 450 West Salt Lake City, UT 84115

www.AccordionStars.com

toll free hotline – 1-800-472-1695 – outside the USA +1 801-486-1694

What’s Inside!

Mario Page 1

Flyer & Registration Form Enclosed

Alex Page 1

Joey Page 1

Mary Page 2

Mike Page 2

Kim & Dan Page 1

Scholarship Info Page 3

Why Las Vegas Page 3

Joan & Orchestra Page 3