EVENTS IN 2024
March 22, 2024
We at Accordion Renaissance would like to say thank you to everyone who attended and donated while at our recent Japan Trip Benefit Concert. We raised over $1000 to help bring our accordionists to Japan this summer with the Stas Venglevski Music Foundation, while friends and family enjoyed wonderful performances from our young musicians.
January 11- 14, 2024
Another year, another successful Houston Accordion Retreat with the Stas Venglevski Music Foundation!
We at Accordion Renaissance are grateful to everyone at Houston for the hard work that went into making this year’s event a success. This year, Accordion Renaissance brought SIX accordionists to the retreat along with our president Jim Rice!
We had great time and are honored to have been a part of such a large scale event that was able to help people of all ages cultivate their talents as accordionists and musicians, as well as bring the accordion to more and more people of all ages.
EVENTS IN 2023
Recovery Service, New Year’s Eve 5:00 pm – December 31, 2023
At Eastern Shore Chapel Church
2020 Laskin Rd. Va. Bch.
ALL ARE WELCOME
Followed by DINNER in the PARISH HALL
December 28, 2023 🪗 Accordion Renaissance
Our very own Accordion Renaissance Duo performed at Elation Brewing in Norfolk, VA for the annual Fair Trade Festival this Christmas season. There were vendors, drinks, and joy in the air as patrons enjoyed Christmas tunes from Michael and Ashley!
Thank you to everyone who has supported us through this year! We at AR have hosted and organized many events this year, and we will have many more to come next year. We are looking forward to sharing more of the accordion and its music with everyone in 2024!
Wishing you a very happy new year! 🎆
-Accordion Renaissance
December 9, 2023 🪗 Accordion Renaissance
In preparation for the annual Houston Accordion Retreat hosted by the Stas Venglevski Music Foundation, we at Accordion Renaissance are proud to have sponsored Maestro Stas Venglevski’s recent visit to work individually and collectively with those attending his retreat.
On Saturday afternoon, December 9, Stas performed a private two hour concert with a great turnout with the music consisting of classical, folk, and original compositions.
At the event, we received a large sum of donations which were gifted to the Stas Venglevski foundation in support of their upcoming trip to Hadano, Japan, which a number of young accordionists from Accordion Renaissance will be attending in June.
On October 8th in Williamsburg, VA, eight Accordion Renaissance musicians participated in an excellent interactive 4-hour introductory accordion jazz workshop presented by Robert Jacobs.
Robert is a professional recording artist, solo guest artist, jazz band member, music teacher and mentor, a founding Accordion Renaissance Ensemble member, and a dear friend. He has studied and played prominent jazz venues throughout the Northeast Southwest, Virginia, and North Carolina. Robert taught us to recognize the feel, sound and rhythm of Jazz. We listened to Louis Armstrong, Lester Young-Pennies, Billy Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, and Duke Ellington. We compared different artists’ interpretations of “Exactly Like You” and learned about swing. He demonstrated jazz improvisation, and taught us how to begin to improvise, ways to play solo, and to play with an ensemble. We each had the opportunity to play a jazz standard. His jazz accordion workshop was both an eye and an ear opener.
His workshop reinforced our appreciation of the diverse genre the accordion instrument can play, and it left us hungry for more!
June 10, 2023
Accordion Renaissance Ensemble, directed by Miss Ashley Frye, performed at the Yorktown Armed Forces Appreciation Weekend event on June 10, 2023.
Three York High School Navy JROTC cadets and two service veterans read the service song origin followed by the audience singing accompanied by the ensemble. The Hampton Roads Chapter of the Military Order of World Wars showed their appreciation with a donation to Accordion Renaissance, a Virginia 501 (c) (3) corporation.
Musicians: Jack Van Horn, US veteran; Michael Gibson, student; Andy Armano, USAF veteran; Ashley Frye, ensemble director; Deneil and Aleksei Chi, students; and Victor Rosello,
USA veteran.
EVENTS IN 2020
March 17, 2020
Amid the dark chaos of this pandemic, comes light in celebration of our organization, Accordion Renaissance – seven years and running strong!
The ensemble is the performance core of ACR and we celebrate its sixth year. Many thanks to Igor and Tatyana for opening their lovely home to us on Saturday!
EVENTS IN 2019
Accordren Youth Group “Ac-caroling” – 12/22/2019
The Accordren youth group was out spreading Christmas cheer at two locations yesterday – in front of Lokal and then at Sal’s. Our group attracted a variety of onlookers of different ages; from curious toddlers to reminiscing seniors whose first instrument was the accordion.
L-R: Sonara, Gianna, Michael, and Jim Rice (for support)
The College of William and Mary Russian Music Ensemble’s Winter Music Concert – Dec. 2, 2019
The Russian Music Ensemble from the College of William and Mary was a big hit that kicked off their concert series last night at the Ewell Recital Hall on campus. It was the Ensemble’s first performance conducted by Ms. Ina Yakubeika who also conducts our Accordion Renaissance Ensemble. At the end of the stellar performance, she was presented with lovely flower bouquets by both ensembles for her hard work and dedication.
Accordion Renaissance OKTOBERFEST 2019
Nestor Fester, rain or shine, this Oktoberfest ran just as fine! Accordion Renaissance hosted a private gala Oktoberfest 2:30 to 5pm on Sunday, Oct. 20th at the Mercury Entertainment Center. Music was provided by the ACCA Shriner’s Sauerkrauts German Band. Local accordionists played during the reception and intermission. Fun and entertainment were had by all!
Accordion Renaissance Instrument Repair Workshop
On 19 October 2019 eight musicians attended a four-hour hands-on accordion repair workshop hosted by Accordion Renaissance in Williamsburg, Va. The workshop was taught by Dale Wise (60+ years experience) and Pat Racioppa (15 years experience).
July 4th, 2019 – Yorktown Independence Day Parade
It was a GRAND OL’ Day for a Yorktown parade! Members of the Accordion Renaissance Ensemble and Banjo Jack gleefully strutted their patriotic tunes with pride. We thank Miles and Ruth for joining us with humor and open arms. Happy 4th of July, everyone!
Five new musicians and counting!
Events in 2018
December 1st
Williamsburg Christmas Parade
9 a.m.
December 3rd
Ensemble Rehearsal
7-9 p.m.
December 15th
Christmas Caroling with Santa
Newtown Williamsburg
12-1 p.m.
December 16th
Ensemble Rehearsal
2-3 p.m.
Highlights of 2018
Williamsburg Area Music Teachers Fall Recital
Five Accordion Heroes led the way in the Williamsburg Area Music Teachers (WAMT) Fall Recitalat Ewell Hall, College of William & Mary on 18 November.Seated, smiling and ready to play from left to right: Shawn Gurganus, Christopher Lampitt, Sonora Sherman, Ysabella Bylica, and Abby Hicks. All are graduates of Dale Wise’s Accordion 4 Kids, USA introductory program. Shawn, Chris and Abby played selections from the Palmer Hughes books 1 and 2. Ysabella played “The Gaul”, the theme song from Last of the Mohicans. Sonora and Mr. Jim had fun playing The “Super Mario” theme song.Sonora and Ysabella culminated the accordion portion of the recital with the duet “Apple, Peaches, Pumpkin Pie Polka.” Each musician received an audience round of applause and a WAMT pin following their performance.The students and teacher were all smiles knowing that all they can eat pizza and salad was waiting for them at Sal’s by Victor Restaurant.Yum!
Highlights of 2017
Organization status changed by IRS 2 Dec 2016 from private foundation to public charity
Three new students completed AFK, USA and are continuing with lessons.
Williamsburg Concert 15 January. Williamsburg Area Arts Commission sponsored concert at the Williamsburg Regional Library Theater. A one-time $100 music scholarship was presented to three students
Virginia Beach Concert 21 May. The second Virginia Beach concert was held at the Museum of Contemporary Art.
Recital participation 12 November – 6 youth students performed at the Williamsburg Area Music Teacher sponsored recital, Ewell Hall, College of William and Mary.
