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World-acclaimed accordionists to perform at 78th annual Accordion Festival July 26-28

World-acclaimed accordion artists will perform at the 78th annual Accordion Festival hosted by the Accordionists & Teachers Guild July 25-28 at the Hyatt Regency Lisle near Chicago.

Altogether, more than 100 accordionists will attend the festival to celebrate the accordion.

Festival events, including concerts, competitions, workshops, and exhibits, are open to the public.

Single-day passes are available for $20. Evening concert tickets are $15. Tickets may be purchased at the door. Concerts will be held in the Arbor Ballroom at the Hyatt Regency Lisle.

"We are delighted to share the beauty and wonder of the accordion with the public at our 78th annual Accordion Festival. More than 100 accordion artists will perform at the festival, sharing a wide range of music, including classical, jazz, contemporary, and pop," said Joseph Natoli, president of the Accordionists & Teachers Guild, International.

Headlining the evening concerts are world-acclaimed accordionists:

• Matthias Matzke - Hailing from Germany, Matzke is an international award-winning acoustic and digital accordion artist. Joining him is soprano Leonie Kratz, also of Germany. Both are laureates of the Franz Liszt Foundation of the University of Music in Weimar, Germany. Matzke will perform both Thursday and Friday concerts at 7:30 p.m.

• Core Pesaturo - From the United States, Pesaturo ("C-Pez") is a world-champion accordion artist and the only person to win the digital, acoustic, and jazz categories. He also created his own skinned accordion that includes a symmetric Midi lighting system attached to the keys so it lights up when he plays, as well as an electric accordion. Pesaturo will perform Friday and Saturday concerts at 7:30 p.m.

• Petar Maric - From Serbia (Belgrade) also studied in Paris, France, with famed instructors Frederic Deschamps and professor Franck Angelis, one of the most famous and influential composers and professors in the accordion world. Maric is currently completing his education in Slovakia (Bratislava) under eminent professor Tibor Racz. Maric has won multiple international accordion competitions with both acoustic and digital accordion instruments.

• Mike Alongi - A Chicago jazz accordion artist who has played with greats including Patti LuPone and Doc Severinsen, Alongi has also played with many symphonies, including the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and the Illinois Philharmonic Symphony. Alongi will perform on the Saturday concert at 7:30 p.m.

• Stas Venglevski - Originally from Moldova, Russia, and currently residing in Wisconsin, Venglevski is a Bayan accordion artist, whose artistry and dazzling technical demand have helped him win many awards, including twice winning the Bayan competition in the Republic of Moldova. Venglevski will perform at 7:30 p.m. Friday.

• Donna Dee and Dennis Ray - This United States-based, husband-and-wife duo combine her award-winning accordion artistry with the sounds of his folksy banjo and guitar. The duo performed with Fred Waring's Pennsylvanians at the start of their careers. They will perform Thursday at 7:30 p.m.

• Mixed Ensemble - Serving as maestro is the acclaimed Seattle accordionist Murl Allen Sanders, who performed with Chuck Berry, Etta James, and the Orchestra Seattle among others. This year's Mixed Ensemble will feature high school musicians playing various instruments along with accordionists. The ensemble will perform at 2 p.m. Saturday.

Under the direction of Joan Cochran Sommers, this year's orchestra will feature more than 50 accordionists performing a variety of music, especially selections from West Side Story in honor of Leonard Bernstein's 100 birthday year.

The daytime competitions, workshops and concerts are open to the public from 9 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Thursday to Saturday. There also will be an awards ceremony on Saturday. Tickets are $20 per day.

A buffet lunch is available daily from noon to 1 p.m. with entertainment for $25.

The 7:30 p.m. concerts are also open to the public. Tickets are $15.

The Thursday concert features Peter Maric; Matthias Matzke and Leonie Kratz; and Donna Dee and Dennis Ray.

The Friday concert features Stas Venglevski, Cory Pesaturo and Matthias Matzke.

On Saturday, the concert will feature the Festival Orchestra; the President's Quartette featuring Joe Natoli, Amy Jo Sawyer, Kenn Baert and Murl Sanders; and Mike Alongi Jazz Trio.

Founded in 1940, the Accordionists & Teachers Guild International was created to support and promote the accordion, development of music composition and arrangements specifically for accordions and to support accordionists and teachers. For more information, visit www.accordions.com/atg.

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