Randy Martin conducting Martin Music Center Accordion Orchestra in one of several performances scheduled throughout the Coupe Mondiale Festival

The Martin Music Center Accordion Orchestra, under the direction of Randall Martin, is a young, enthusiastic, group of excellent musicians who love to play all kinds of music on the accordion. Based in Fullerton, California, USA, this orchestra is a product of the Martin Accordion and Music Center, owned and operated by Martin and his wife Sandra. This group has performed on television various times in the past 27 years and has played at the White House in Washington D.C. on three different occasions at the invitation of President Bill Clinton and President George W. Bush. They performed in Buffalo, New York, for the AAA Competitions in 2006 and played at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. in 2007 as part of the 60th Coupe Mondiale Anniversary. Each year the group competes and performs in the AFNA Music Festival based in Los Angeles. This group plays classical, jazz, ethnic and sometimes rock and roll in an effort to mix up the program and offer something for everyone in the audience. The arrangements are orchestral in nature, many of them arranged by Randy Martin.

The Martin Music Center Accordion Orchestra is comprised of students of Randall and Sandra Martin, the youngest member being eleven years old. Among the performers with the group this year are the Martin’s twin daughters Kristen and Sarah, who were born in August of 1990 during the AFNA Music Festival featuring the Air New Zealand Accordion Orchestra! Randall and Sandra Martin wish to thank the CIA and the NZAA for inviting them to the 2009 Coupe Mondiale and are looking forward to visiting with all of the wonderful accordionists being featured this year.

Above and Below: Hato Petera College Kapa Haka Group Welcoming the CIA Guests and International and local Visitors

‘Kia inoi kia mahi, ko Hato Petera’ Hato Petera College is a local high school in Northcote, for students in Year 9 to Year 13. The school has a strong Catholic and Maori character. It is located on part of the land originally given by Sir George Grey (Governor of New Zealand) to Bishop Pompallier (first Bishop of Auckland) in 1841 for education purposes. This year the school will be representing Auckland at the National Nga Manu Korero oratory competitions in the Senior Maori section in September.‘No reira tena koutou tena koutou tena koutou katoa.’

Soloist Betty Jo Simon performing with the Auckland Symphony Orchestra (ASO)
Concerto No. 1 in G Minor by Anthony Galla-Rini (1st Movement)

CONCERTO FOR ACCORDION by ANTHONY GALLA-RINI (1904-2006)
Anthony Galla-Rini was born in the USA of Italian decent. He is called the “Grandfather of the Accordion” because he did so much to promote the accordion by standardizing the switch systems and notation for the left hand. He wrote hundreds of transcriptions from classical to popular music for the accordion (solos and orchestral) along with composing two concertos for accordion and orchestra. He got his start in vaudeville at the early age of 7 through 22, played 12 instruments and was a concert artist. He also wrote a method book for accordion and was a renowned teacher. He died in 2006 at the age of 101.

Betty Jo Simon: Betty Jo, like Galla-Rini, is Italian American. Her musical aptitude and love for the accordion appeared early. As a high school student, she became the first accordionist to win the instrumental division of the Youth Talent Auditions of the Topeka Civic Symphony. Betty Jo earned a Bachelor of Music in Accordion Performance from the University of Missouri - Kansas City (UMKC), where she played the world premiere of Paul Creston’s Fantasy for Accordion and Orchestra with the UMKC Civic Orchestra. Betty Jo now performs as a soloist throughout the United States and internationally and currently leads a German polka band called The Alpen Spielers. In 2000, Betty Jo appeared on satellite TV in a variety musical production, which aired on Chinese New Year and continued giving concerts in Beijing and Shanghai. Betty Jo has a wide repertoire from which to choose - her favorite - Around the World with the MIDI Accordion.’ She enjoys performing classical music the most, but she loves the schmaltzy stuff too and still likes to play as a strolling musician. She strives to project a positive image of the accordion through her concerts and hope to encourage others to take up the instrument by demonstrating its versatility.

Stephanie Poole performing with the Auckland Symphony Orchestra (ASO)
Oblivion by Astor Piazzolla

OBLIVION by ASTOR PIAZZOLLA (1921-1992)
Ástor Pantaleón Piazzolla was an Argentine composer and bandoneón player. His oeuvre revolutionized the traditional tango into a new style termed nuevo tango, incorporating elements from jazz and classical music. An excellent bandoneonist, he regularly performed his own compositions with different ensembles.

Stephanie Poole: Stephanie Poole (nee Grey) was born in Auckland and has been a prolific winner of competitions in New Zealand, including three times winner of the New Zealand Solo Accordion Championship. She was principal accordionist with the Air New Zealand Accordion Orchestra which toured extensively through Europe, America and China. Stephanie has taught a number of New Zealand’s top accordionists and is currently the accordion teacher for the University of Auckland’s Bachelor of Music (Performance).

Mary Tokarski performing with the Auckland Symphony Orchestra (ASO)
Rhapsody for Accordion and Orchestra by Gary Daverne

RHAPSODY FOR ACCORDION AND ORCHESTRA by GARY DAVERNE
This work was commissioned by Auckland accordionist, Harley Jones, for performance in New York, August 1988. It was premiered in Auckland in 1987, by Harley with the Auckland Symphony Orchestra, and conducted by Gary Daverne. In the first two years it received 36 performances worldwide and was recorded by The New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, with Harley as soloist. Performed frequently internationally, several other recordings have been made of this work, both with symphony and accordion orchestras. Rhapsody combines the sensitivity, expressive and distinct tone colors of the accordion with the full power of a symphony orchestra.

Mary Tokarski: Mary began her music career at age 7, and performing and competing at local, state and national accordion events throughout early adulthood. During her early career, she has amassed over 185 trophies and awards, including two U.S. Championship Titles. Mary started teaching at an early age (before finishing high school) and over the years has fine-tuned her teaching skills by taking all sorts of music and education courses. She is currently a music teacher for the North Haven, Connecticut Department of Education, Early Childhood Development Program. As a member of The K-Trio, with her sister Julie and brother Walter, Mary performs regularly in concerts throughout the United States and internationally. The trio performs a wide variety of musical genres, and has been acclaimed as one of the world’s finest accordion ensembles. Mary is a ‘regular’ on the workshop circuit in the musical associations and along with the other members of The K-Trio. She presents workshops on Precision Ensemble Techniques, Technical Development and Virtuoso Performance Preparation. In 2004 she was named a Rotary International Paul Harris Fellow by the Rotary Foundation of Rotary International. She performed Rhapsody for Accordion and Orchestra with the Moravian Philharmonic (Czech Republic) in 2005 with Gary Daverne conducting. This is her second appearance with the ASO.

Tracey Collins performing with the Auckland Symphony Orchestra (ASO)
Irish Washerwomen Dual

Tracey Collins: Tracey Collins is a well known Professional Accordion Entertainer who performs regularly around New Zealand. She first started playing the accordion at the age of 6. Tracey has provided entertainment at a number of high profile events such as the America’s Cup; Ellerslie Flower Show; Louis Vuitton; Devonport Food and Wine Festival; Last night of the Proms (with ASO); and has made many appearances on TV and Radio. You might have seen her on her recent venture building the Yellow Pages Treehouse Restaurant and entertaining with her accordion ten meters up a Redwood tree. Contact: 021 537 323; E- mail: traceycollins01@gmail.com

New Zealand Accordion Orchestra (NZAO) - Conducted by Gary Daverne (ONZM)
Invercargill March by Alex Lithgow
New Zealand in Song arranged by Gary Daverne
Musical Party by Gary Daverne (for Silvio De Pra)

45 accordionists from around New Zealand perform together, after just four rehearsals, as the massed New Zealand Accordion Orchestra (NZAO) conducted by Gary Daverne. NZAO is headed by Stephanie Poole on lead accordion, and its massed members are formed around two foundation orchestras – the North Shore Accordion Orchestra (NSAO) and the Musicale Accordion Orchestra.

INVERCARGILL MARCH ALEC LITHGOW
NZAO commemorates the centennial of this most famous military march, by Alec Lithgow. Lithgow composed Invercargill March in 1909, dedicated to New Zealand’s southernmost city. Today, the March has become New Zealand’s most internationally recognized composition, and a standard of military bands around the world.‘To Invercargill, the southernmost city in New Zealand (the end of the world) and its citizens, I dedicate this March as a memento of many pleasant years spent there in my boyhood.’ – Alec Lithgow, 1909

NEW ZEALAND IN SONG
A collection of classic New Zealand tunes, arranged for accordion orchestra by Gary Daverne. This medley was originally part of the repertoire of the Air New Zealand Accordion Orchestra, which performed many Goodwill Concert Tours to the USA, Europe and China. Featuring: God Defend New Zealand (National Anthem); Land of Long White Cloud; Poi Waka; Pokare Kare Ana; Maori Battalion; Hoki Mai; Haere Mai; Now Is The Hour.

A MUSICAL PARTY GARY DAVERNE
A Musical Party was commissioned by the New Zealand Accordion Association (NZAA) in 2001, to commemorate its 30th anniversary. The composition was dedicated to NZAA Life Member Silvio de Pra, honoring him for his outstanding contribution to the accordion in New Zealand. A Musical Party was premiered by a massed accordion orchestra and conducted by its composer, at the annual NZAA Championships & Festival in June 2001. It has also been revised for solo accordion and symphony orchestra.