On behalf of the CIA, the Lithuanian National Accordionist's Union and Musical Director Joan Cochran Sommers, welcome to World Accordion Orchestra X.
 
On 30 September 2018, the CIA World Accordion Orchestra X will perform three works from three diverse American composers.
  
The first piece Serenata is a classic gem from renowned American composer Leroy Anderson. The second work is by accordionist and composer Amy Jo Sawyer. Amy Jo and WAO condutor Joan C. Sommers were among the first accordionists to represent the USA at the Coupe Mondiale. Amy Jo has written numerous works for accordion orchestra and her lovely work Recuerdos will feature this year. The program will culminate in the magnificent West Side Story as the CIA joins the global centennial celebration in honor of Leonard Bernstein's 100th annivesary.
 
Conductor Joan C. Sommers, founder of the CIA World Accordion Orchestra was awarded the title of Professor Emerita upon her retirement from the University of Missouri – Kansas City Conservatory of Music (USA), where she established and taught the accordion degree program for forty years. She has arranged innumerable works for the accordion orchestra over many years, often for the UMKC Accordion Orchestra, a large symphonic accordion orchestra, which, under her direction, competed in and won more First Prizes in Virtuoso Accordion Orchestra Competitions than any other similar American group. This is a record still unbroken today.
 
In both 1955 and 1956 she earned the right to represent the USA in the Coupe Mondiale and, although she didn’t win, it was those experiences which opened her eyes to the tremendous opportunities available to accordionists; perhaps it also fixed her life-long interest in worldwide accordion activities. Most recently, she celebrated the 50th Anniversary of her UMKC Accordion Orchestra when they presented their 50th Gala Concert at the University.
 
As the arranger, Joan has had many years of experience as a teacher, a conductor, and an arranger for accordion orchestras at all levels. Many of these arrangements were used by her own orchestras in competitions held throughout the USA and on the many tours made by her groups overseas as well.
 
Joan C. Sommers has held positions in several music organizations, including the Accordionists & Teachers Guild International (ATG) and the Confédération Internationale des Accordéonistes (CIA – IMC-UNESCO). Today, Professor Sommers enjoys performing with fellow accordionists in duo, with other instrumentalists and with the UMKC Chamber Accordion Ensemble. In addition to her performing, she continues to adjudicate, coach soloists, prepare accordion orchestra arrangements, and conduct accordion orchestras regularly. After her retirement as CIA Vice President, she was unanimously awarded the status of CIA Honorary Member.
 
The World Accordion Orchestras to date include: