CAA Blog

The Summer will soon be over.  It was filled with the sound of the accordion for all of us who attended the annual AAA festival in Valley Forge. We attended workshops, concerts, watched competitions, participated in a festival orchestra, hosted 2 groups just for young accordionists, performed at the King of Prussia Mall.....and created wonderful memories with cherished accordionists from all over the country. We watched and heard some of the best young accordionists perform, including our own Nathan Chapeton!

Our CAA concert at  Gloria Dei was a huge success! Many thanks to all of you who came out to support the CAA orchestra. And a special thank you to our Conductor, Peter Peluso.  We dedicated our concert to our beloved Bob Siarkowski, who I trust was with us in spirit....as he always will be.

But now it's time to look to our future.  The Waverly Tavern is currently unavailable to us.  So we are actively seeking other venues for our gatherings.  I will keep everyone posted as we search alternatives.  In the meantime.......I've come up with a fitting alternative:

Fall is filled with fairs in CT.  And I have been very privileged to become part of a very interesting band called Whitebeard's Bretheren Hoard.  We performed for Make Music Day in Waterbury on June 21 of this year, and we will be performing on the Main Stage at the Cheshire Fall Festival on Saturday, September 14 from 1:30-2:15.  Voila! You'll all finally get to see and hear your illustrious and rather illusive President play the accordion in a pop/rock band!  The band has a pirate theme and our Captain, Leo Lavallee is an accomplished, multi-talented musician, recording artist and composer.  Come join us at the fall festival and support the accordion, remembering the times when accordions were part of EVERY live band.  Let's bring it back where it belongs! This event will take the place of our regularly scheduled September Gathering.

Bob Siarkowski: July 18, 1936  -  May 13, 2019

In loving memory of Bob Siarkowski, a supreme ambassador of all things accordion, a man who gave his life to his music and who gave his time and talent to the Connecticut Accordion Association.

We will miss you, Bob.

The CAA is proud to announce its affiliation with the American Accordionists' Association is alive and "squeezing!"

Our next event, scheduled for April 28 at 2:00 at the Waverly Tavern in Cheshire, is a major joint effort. AAA Board Members Don Gerundo and Ray Oreggia are putting together a fantastic slideshow about the great Charles Magnante!  Live performances by AAA President Joe Ciccone, immediate AAA Past President Mary Tokarski, CAA orchestra Conductor Peter Peluso, along with fantastic young accordionists Will Comer and Nathan Chapeton will grace the program.

And best of all....members of the Magnante Family will be there to honor their Uncle.  We will extend a warm welcome to Frank Magnante and Joanne Magnante Livolsi.

Click on Next Event for the details!

PLEASE REMEMBER TO CALL BEFORE APRIL 25 AND RSVP SO YOUR SEAT WILL BE RESERVED!!!

THERE WILL BE A DESSERT BUFFET FOLLOWING THE FORMAL PROGRAM.  IF YOU WANT TO ENJOY LUNCH, YOU MAY DO SO IN THE WAVERLY'S RESTAURANT PROPER PRIOR TO THE PROGRAM.

Hey Everyone!

With the holidays long past us now, I'm excited to announce that we have some fantastic programs planned for the next several months! Mark your calendars for March 31, April 28 and June 8!

March 31: Accordion Stories From The Heart

Mr. Paul Ramunni, founder of the privately-operated New England Accordion Connection & Museum Company in Canaan, CT, will share stories from his new book, perform several accordion songs, and answer questions from attendees. Books will be available for purchase along with the author’s autograph before and after the mini-concert.

Time: 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM,
Place: Waverly Tavern, 286 Maple Ave., Cheshire, CT
Cost: $5.00 CAA Members, General Public, $10.00, Under 16, FREE

April 28: Remembering A Legend: Charles Magnante

The Connecticut Accordion Association and the American Accordionists’ Association join to honor one of the greatest accordion artists of all time. A visual presentation along with solo performances of Charles’ Magnante’s works by seasoned accordion artists as well as young talent will grace this program. Members of the Magnante family will be honored guests. A dessert buffet will follow the formal program. RSVP Required: Call 203-272-1202 by Friday, April 26

Time: 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Place: Waverly Tavern, 286 Maple Ave.,Cheshire, CT 
Cost: $15.00

June 8: Home... Celebrating American Composers

The Connecticut Accordion Association Orchestra, conducted by Peter Peluso, and the Plainville Choral Society will perform songs by famous American Composers. Celebrate “our home” with this full accordion orchestra, a fantastic choral group and solo performances by some of the finest senior and new, young accordion artists in the United States.

Time: 3:00 PM - 4:30 PM
Place: Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, 355 Camp St., Bristol, CT 06010
Cost: $10.00

Thanks to everyone who came to our gathering at the Waverly on October 21! What a thrill it was to hear Mary Tokarski and her student, Nathan Chapeton.  They had just returned from the Coupe Mondiale in Lithuania, where Nathan competed in the Junior Virtuoso category. He played his program for us.

We are so proud of you, Nathan! Hearing Mary is nothing short of breathtaking!

Check out our next event!  Our Holiday Concert, entitled "Seasonal Melodies and Other Songs" featuring the CAA Orchestra will be held at the Mattatuck Museum at 2:00 on Saturday, December 1! Many thanks to the Mattatuck for sponsoring this event. Come see the accordion at its best under the direction of Peter Peluso.

Our September 29 gathering at the Waverly was a huge success!  Many thanks to CAA Orchestra Conductor, Peter Peluso, for leading a healthy crowd of accordionists in a group jam! It was followed by open mic, featuring CAA members and guests from the general public in solo and duet format.

Don't miss our next gathering on October 21 at 1:00 at the Waverly!  Our own Mary Tokarski and her student, Nathan Chapeton will perform in concert!  Mary and Nathan just returned from the Coupe Mondiale in Lithuania, where Nathan represented the United States....and Connecticut...in this prestigious event.

IT'S A CELEBRATION!!!

JULY 11-15, 2018
HOLIDAY INN HOTEL AND SUITES
ALEXANDRIA, VA

80TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE AMERICAN ACCORDIONISTS ASSOCIATION!

Click here for more details!

Hey Everyone!

Our concert on May 19 was a huge success!  Thanks to all who came to support the CAA Orchestra!

Thanks to our dedicated orchestra members and our devoted Maestro, Peter Peluso!

Kudos to the fantastic guest artists who graced the stage with their talent: Abby Mc Gough, Jim Lawrence, Emily Gauthier, Maryjane Peluso!

And finally...thank you to Ginger Grider and "Polka Man Jack" Baciewski for the video of the concert!  You can see and hear the concert in its entirety by going to our Videos section!

Pictures from the March 25 CAA Gathering

Michael Clarke led a traditional Irish "Seisiun" consisting of Irish songs, and stories.  He was joined by vocalists as well as several CAA members, including Steve Balog, above.

Mike performs solo below.  A wonderful time was held by all!

To our CAA family:

I am deeply saddened to inform all of you in the CAA of the passing of a very active member of our Connecticut Accordion Association family.  Our dear Mary Mascolo passed away very suddenly yesterday, February 17.

Mary was an active member of the CAA orchestra for years.  A student of Bob Vitale's as a child and adolescent, Mary returned to the accordion world when the CAA was formed, played in the orchestra as well as in the ensemble known as "Vitality" under the direction of our dear teacher, Bob Vitale. She was a dedicated player, a wonderful friend and an active member of the accordion community in Connecticut.  She was also a member of the American Accordionists' Association and participated in its yearly festivals on a regular basis.

Mary was a dear friend to those of us who studied with Bob in the heyday of the accordion in Waterbury. She will be deeply missed by our accordion family.

I ask that you keep Mary's husband and 2 daughters in your thoughts and prayers.