CAA Blog

Gerry Hertel

Marilyn ONeil - 2020-10-29

The Connecticut Accordion Association recently lost a long time member and orchestra member.  Gerry Hertel passed away on October 11, 2020. He was 97 years old.  He graced the orchestra for most of the last 16 years of its existence. An avid accordionist since his youth, he often performed solo at CAA gatherings.

He will be missed.  His memory will forever live on in our hearts and in our music.


GERRY HERTEL

April 24, 1923 - October 11, 2020


Heads Up! Young Virtuoso Cody McSherry in Concert!

Marilyn ONeil - 2020-10-29

The Connecticut Accordion Association and the American Accordion Association is proud to feature 17 year old Cody Mc Sherry in Concert!  Cody is a 17 year old accordionist from Lancaster, PA.  He is currently a student of Mary Tokarski.  He has been studying piano accordion for 11 years, styrische harmonika for 9 years and C system chromatic accordion for 2 years.  He has performed at many venues, including the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.  Cody loves European folk music.  In this concert, he performs a variety of classical and ethnic pieces.   To access the video of the concert, click NEXT EVENT.

A Gift from CAA Orchestra Conductor Peter Peluso

Marilyn ONeil - 2020-09-02

As the CAA Orchestra has been on hold during the pandemic, CAA Orchestra Conductor Peter Peluso has been feverishly working the bellows of his Borsini. Sometimes alone, other times in collaboration with his wife, Mary Jane Peluso, Peter has been boosting the morale of the CAA orchestra by regularly sending out pieces he’s perfected using the Acapella App. This app allows for either solo or multiple musicians to record musical parts of a song separately and then join the parts and…..voila! You have a song! The process takes place safely with a wonderful final product that includes a video of him playing each of the parts.

Peter created what I realized was a full concert!!! This concert has been made available to CAA members. It will be available for general public viewing within the next week.

Creosote Concert you tube link

Marilyn ONeil - 2020-07-27

Unfortunately, there were issues with yesterday's Creosote live stream concert.  I just received this link from Gabe Rodrigues.  It contains the concert in its entirety.

Here's the link:

https://youtu.be/oDTU29vTxpo

We're back!

Marilyn ONeil - 2020-07-19

We're making our way through this pandemic, folks! Join us for our first online event next Sunday, July 26 at 3:00!  I'm proud to present 2 fine young award winning accordionists, Gabe Rodrigues and Jamie Maschler as they introduce us to the music of Brazil along with original pieces.  Check out the details under Next Event here on the website.

As we move forward, the CAA will be featuring other artists, either in concert or in workshops.  We have fresh young accomplished accordionists as well as "seasoned" professionals.  Check this site for details as we move forward.

CAA Orchestra Conductor Peter Peluso Presents........

Marilyn ONeil - 2020-02-23

The Accordion in American Culture

March 5 @ 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM, Plainville Public Library
56 East Main St., Plainville, CT  06062  
FREE!!!!

Come to the Plainville Public Library on March 5 at 7:00pm!

CAA Orchestra Conductor Peter Peluso will be delivering a lecture-recital tracing the accordion from the early 1900s and throughout the golden age to the present. Pieces from ethnic, jazz, classical repertory as well as compositions written for the instrument will be performed. This program has been endorsed by the CAA.

Untitled

Marilyn ONeil - 2019-12-09

As all of you know, we are so lucky to have a fantastic conductor for our CAA Orchestra.  Our Peter Peluso was recently featured on Nutmeg TV.  He performed on a show called Christine's Corner. Watch Peter's performance in its entirety here....

Bravo, Maestro!!! You do us proud!

Holiday Concert!

Marilyn ONeil - 2019-12-09

Our Holiday Concert was a huge success! Thanks to all of you who came to see the CAA Orchestra live in concert! For those of you who couldn't make it, watch the video, beautifully taped by Joe Klettner.  Many thanks to Joe for his efforts!

You can access the video by going to the Videos section on the website, or click here.

Stay tuned for our next CAA Event, which will take place in March!

Ride the trusty seas into Fall!

Marilyn ONeil - 2019-08-08

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.

In Loving Memory of Bob Siarkowski

Marilyn ONeil - 2019-05-13

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.