 Randy Mcpeck/Castle Accordion |
| Randy began playing accordion around age 8 Studying at Professional Music Center. Randy's accordion went in the closet when he was 12. He rocked and rolled until the mid 80's when he dicovered a treasure hidden in his closet; His Accordion!!! Randy opened Castle Accordion and enjoys playing Cajun, Irish & Polka music on his accordion. |
| web site: www.castleaccordion.com |
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 John Scaffeo |
From Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada:
John is a sensational award winning solo artist who can make his accordion sound pretty much like any instrument he wants thanks to todays technologies and any style of music you wish. John also plays with a duo and trio as well. |
| web site: www.abeautifuldifference.com/accordion.html |
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 Mark Stillman |
| Mark Stillman is a Minnesota-based musician
who specializes in international music. He studied at the University
of Minnesota and found his beginnings as a classical percussionist
while performing with the University of Minnesota Orchestra,
Minneapolis Civic Orchestra, and the Bloomington Symphony. He
later came into his own as a freelance accordionist who specializes
in ethnic music, playing various types of traditional European
and American music. Francine is from Montreal, Canada. She has
performed for many years around the Twin Cities, including the
New French Cafe, L'hotel Sofitel and The Loring Cafe Bar. She
brings an authentic interpretation to her songs, specializing
in the music of Edith Piaf. |
| web site: members.tripod.com/MStillman_accordion/ |
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 Dan Newton |
| Since 1987, accordionist Dan Newton has been dazzling audiences everywhere with his sparkling skills and vast repertoire. A performance by Dan is like a one-man festival of world music. With a command of styles ranging from French Musette to Latin and Tex-Mex, Cajun and Zydeco to Blues and Swing, and Celtic to Country, Dan proves to be no ordinary accordion player. He uses his astonishing squeeze-box prowess to support a warm, inviting vocal style and seasons his performance with stories that are both humorous and enlightening. |
| web site: www.daddysqueeze.com/ |
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 Dee Langley |
Dee Langley specializes in both solo and ensemble works on the accordion making appearances with the Minnesota Orchestra, St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, Ancia Quartet, Minnesota Sinfonia, Minneapolis Philharmonic, Minnesota Philharmonic Orchestra, Northern Symphony Orchestra, Ethnic Dance Theatre and Flying Foot Forum. Dee is a past president of the Accordionists and Teachers Guild, International and is currently President of the Mill City Accordion Association as well as event coordinator for the NE Accordion Festival. Ms. Langley is a winner of the 2011-2012 McKnight Fellowship for Performing Musicians, performs with both Orkestar Bez Ime and Wild Hollow, and is adjunct faculty at Minneapolis Community and Technical College (MCTC) teaching accordion. |
| web site: www.airaccordion.com |
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 Denny Malmberg |
| After 31 years of high school Band directing, Denny's put on a new hat as a performing jazz musician. He's had the great pleasure of working with many of the stellar musician's in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area including but not limited to: vocalists; Jose James,Charmin Michelle, Rhonda Laurie, Dennis Spears, Maud Hixson, Dorothy Doring, Vicky Mountain, Betsy Barta, Lee Engele & instrumentalists, Doug Haining, Pooch Heine, Dale Mendenhall, Larry Malmberg, Dick Ramberg, Rick Carlson, Nathan Norman and Dale Mendenhall. |
| web site: www.myspace.com/dennymalmberg |
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 Orkestar Bez Ime, OBI |
| Orkestar Bez Ime, meaning "orchestra without a name" in Bulgarian, was formed in 2002 to bring Balkan dance music to the Upper Midwest. Since then OBI has performed at many local Twin Cities venues and has toured in North Dakota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Alabama, and Pennsylvania to critical acclaim. Founding members Colleen Bertsch, Dee Langley, Katrina Mundinger, and Natalie Nowytski recently welcomed new Rogarians Scott Keever and Matt Miller to the country. Winners of the 2011-2012 McKnight Fellowship for Performing Musicians. |
| web site: www.rogaria.com |
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 Patrick Harison |
| Born to a goldsmithing accordion
player and a ballet teacher, Patrick Harison grew
up in a home full of art, music and dance. His father
encouraged him to pick up the accordion at age 13.
The heart of his musical education took place on
the bandstands of Minnesota's bustling music scene
working with artists as diverse as Connie Evingson,
Coach Said Not To, Zeitgeist New Music Ensemble,
Mandragora Tango Orchestra, Parisota Hot Club, John
Devine, Sam Miltich, Mark Kreitzer and countless
others. |
| web site: www.patrickharison.com |
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 Mike Alongi |
| Mike Alongi is one of Chicago's premier
accordionists. He began his performing career at age six under
the guidance of his father, Vincent Alongi. As an instrumentalist,
Mike has performed in classical, jazz, ethnic and contemporary
contexts as well as on many television and radio commercials.
As an instructor, Mike has taught keyboard instruments, jazz
improvisisation and music theory from his private studio for
many years. |
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 Chris Gorton |
A native of Providence, Rhode Island, Chris Gorton has been playing the accordion since the age of 7. This year, he has the distinction of being the 2010 Roland V-Accordion Festival winner for the United States. Other accolades on Gorton’s musical resume include being the 2010 USA Piano Accordion Champion and a soloist in the Vivaldi’s Concerto with the Brockton Symphony Orchestra. This past summer he traveled to the American Accordionists’ Association annual competition in Hershey, Pa., and won the Carmen Corrozza/United States Accordion Championship category. |
| facebook page:www.facebook.com/csgorton |
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 Colleen Bertsch |
| Colleen is a freelance musician in the Twin Cities and is highly involved in the Eastern European folk music scene. After graduating in violin performance and music education from Concordia College, Moorhead, and University of Minnesota respectively, Colleen was a teacher of string playing of all age levels in Hastings, Bloomington, and Roseville school districts. In 2000, Colleen joined the Ethnic Dance Theatre as violinist. It proved to be the beginning of a new love and learning adventure of traditional world music and dance. From there she became a founding member of Orkestar Bez Ime and winner of the 2011-2012 McKnight Fellowship for Performing Musicians. |
| facebook page: www.facebook.com/colleenfiddle |
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 Machinery Hill |
| Machinery Hill is a Mpls based band that blends ska, klezmer,
celtic, rock, American folk & many other colors into their own
style. A lot of instrumentals and many well crafted lyrical
salads. Machinery Hill is a 1996 winner of a Minnesota Music
award for best world beat CD & 1999 MMA winner for specialist
recording. They have performed along with such diverse acts
as BeauSoleil, BuckWheat Zydeco, Frente, Phish, Black 47, Brave
Combo, Eugene Chadbourne, Jimmy Carl Black and Queen Ida; and
have headlined at The Great River Folk Festival,among others. |
| web site: www.myspace.com/machineryhill |
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 Dan Turpening |
| Daniel Turpening is a Minneapols-based musican specializing
in accordion performance and repair. He is a certified Accordion
Repair Technician and a teacher at the West Bank School of Music.
Daniel has studied extensively with renowned teacher Dr. Helmi
Harrington and attended accordion festivals in Moscow, Russia
and Chicago, IL. He performs at weddings, parties, plays and
puppet theatres. Daniel also enjoys sharing his love of music
as a street performer and performs in this capacity at every
opportunity. |
| web site: http://www.turpening.com/ |
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 Hank Thunander |
| Hank began his musical career at
the age of nine in a small town in Bessemer, Michigan. Recognized
for his achievements, Hank was awarded the Army Commendation
Medal for his outstanding leadership and performances in Special
Services Entertainment. Hank has repeatedly awestruck crowds
with his various styles of music at night clubs, festivals,
casinos, ballrooms and theme parks throughout the U.S. His extraordinary
talet includes a cast number of ethnic themes, big band, polkas,
old-time, country, 50's-60's-70's, standard, light rock, classical
melodies, spiritual, patriotic and holiday tunes. |
| web site: www.wirthentertainment.com/hank_thunander_polka.htm |
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