Dr. Willard A. Palmer Festival and World Accordion Day 2023

World Accordion Day 2023 will be celebrated May 5–7 at the World of Accordions Museum, 1401 Belknap Street in Superior, Wisconsin,.

Friday, May 5th is the Dr. Willard A. Palmer Festival. The tentative schedule includes a demonstration by Helmi Harrington, Ph.D. of some of the museum’s instruments; a visit with Dr. Palmer’s son, Bill Palmer; an introduction to diatonic accordions and concertinas; plus Art Bjorngjeld with some story-telling, traditional folk music, and good-natured “Poke Fun at Minnesota” tales. The evening will be topped off with a concert by Japanese accordionists Mihoko Goto and Chiharu Ebihara.

Saturday, May 6th celebrates World Accordion Day starting with a free public event from 10:00 a.m.– noon, featuring accordionist and children’s musician, Jane Christison (Janie Next Door®). This fun, family-friendly performance will include an accordion petting zoo so that young and not-so-young can test drive an accordion.

Saturday afternoon’s lineup begins with Kenneth Bressler explaining the importance of Moog Synthesizers and their involvement in the development of electronic accordions leading to MIDI systems, new forms of music including new instruments such as “Virtual” accordions. This presentation will offer examples of several sound-types, and compositions by Bressler, Curletto, and others. Known as the Great Entertainer, the always-popular Former Senator Florian Chmielewski will give a performance you won’t want to miss. Dr. Mike Middleton will perform favorites from Myron Floren’s repertory. The afternoon session continues with international music by the Accordion Concertina Band. Saturday night, award-winning local and national favorites, Dr. Anthony Bukoski and Bart Sutter, will involve topics about accordions and this museum.

Sunday morning, May 7th, 10:00 –11:00 a.m., Mike Middleton and tuba player, Clayton Capps, will lead a non-denominational polka service, free and open to the public.

Visit www.worldofaccordions.org for ticket information and to see any schedule updates.