CAA Blog

Our concert last Sunday at the Mattatuck was a huge success! We had nearly 100 attendees and the crowd was enthusiastic and appreciative. Under the direction of Peter Peluso, our program consisted of Italian favorites, show tunes, soft rock and jazz and patriotic numbers. We had 4 vocalists ( 2 of them CAA orchestra members!!) and a fine young soloist to compliment our program.  But I'll stop writing about it.  Click  video section and watch the concert in full!!!

Many thanks to our loyal followers and to the newbies who came to see us in person.  A special thank you to our Conductor, Peter Peluso, who brings years of experience in musical theatre, choral conducting and vocal instruction.

The Connecticut Accordion Association's Orchestra will perform in concert on a beautiful outdoor rooftop veranda at the newly renovated Mattatuck Museum on June 12 from 2:00 to 4:00!  The Mattatuck is located across from the Waterbury Green.  If the weather doesn't allow us to perform outdoors, we will be performing indoors at the Mattatuck's  Performing Arts Center. If held indoors, covid related requirements will be followed.

It's been a long time since we've gathered and we're all very excited about this wonderful opportunity.  The Mattatuck has been so gracious in sponsoring this concert!!

"The Accordion Lives On!! The Mattatuck Celebrates Waterbury's Musical History"

ITALIAN NIGHT ON THE VERANDA CANCELLED!!!

Unfortunately, we have to cancel the event scheduled for September 19 at East Street Eatery. We made this very difficult decision given the current COVID situation.  We plan to reschedule this event for the Spring.  Stay tuned for updates!

This past Tuesday, January 15, the CAA and the accordion world lost a champion accordionist.  Julie Cardona, sister to Mary Tokarski and Walter Kasprzyk who together performed as the "K Trio," left us. 

Julie achieved national and international recognition for her skill on our instrument.  She graced the CAA orchestra with her immense talent and warmed our hearts with her sweet nature, friendship and dedication to the CAA. This woman's hands danced over the keyboard while engulfing the listener with emotion. She persevered through countless obstacles to come to rehearsals, serve as a silent teacher to us all and make our collective sound. She enjoyed a good joke, loved owls and spread warmth wherever she went.

To hear Julie play along with her sister and brother was to hear the best that an accordion trio had to offer.  She not only possessed technical brilliance that was nurtured by her teacher and brother, Michael Fernino.  She added HEART to the sound.  Her heart.

This loss is profound.  We will miss her forever. Our heartfelt sympathy goes out to her family.

Julie Cardona, center, with her sister Mary Tokarski and brother Walter Kasprzyk
The "K" Trio 

The Connecticut Accordion Association and the American Accordionists’ Association proudly present Brothers Anton and Joseph Klettner, ages 16 and 15 respectively, in concert. Winners of Connecticut’s Got Talent and members of the rock band Platinum Moon, this very talented duo will perform Led Zeppelin, Aerosmith and The Beatles along with classics like 12th Street Rag on accordion, violin, keyboard and guitar.  You've seen these multi talented young performers at our concerts.  We've all watched them grow into extremely successful young musicians. They exemplify everything the accordion can do.  They show how the accordion can reach youth.

YOU ROCK, ANTON AND TONY!!!!!!!

Here's the direct link to the concert.

Merry Christmas to the CAA Family.  Until we make music again in person, enjoy this special gift from CAA members Joan Grauman and Bill Morse.

Due to Covid-19, we were unable to do a lot this year. But we do have our Christmas Concert from last December that you can view and enjoy during this holiday season. "Seasonal Melodies," featuring the CAA Orchestra conducted by Peter Peluso can be accessed by clicking on Videos here on the website. Wishing everyone a very happy, healthy and safe holiday season!!!

The Connecticut Accordion Association recently lost a long time member and orchestra member.  Gerry Hertel passed away on October 11, 2020. He was 97 years old.  He graced the orchestra for most of the last 16 years of its existence. An avid accordionist since his youth, he often performed solo at CAA gatherings.

He will be missed.  His memory will forever live on in our hearts and in our music.

GERRY HERTEL

April 24, 1923 - October 11, 2020

The Connecticut Accordion Association and the American Accordion Association is proud to feature 17 year old Cody Mc Sherry in Concert!  Cody is a 17 year old accordionist from Lancaster, PA.  He is currently a student of Mary Tokarski.  He has been studying piano accordion for 11 years, styrische harmonika for 9 years and C system chromatic accordion for 2 years.  He has performed at many venues, including the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.  Cody loves European folk music.  In this concert, he performs a variety of classical and ethnic pieces.   To access the video of the concert, click NEXT EVENT.

As the CAA Orchestra has been on hold during the pandemic, CAA Orchestra Conductor Peter Peluso has been feverishly working the bellows of his Borsini. Sometimes alone, other times in collaboration with his wife, Mary Jane Peluso, Peter has been boosting the morale of the CAA orchestra by regularly sending out pieces he’s perfected using the Acapella App. This app allows for either solo or multiple musicians to record musical parts of a song separately and then join the parts and…..voila! You have a song! The process takes place safely with a wonderful final product that includes a video of him playing each of the parts.

Peter created what I realized was a full concert!!! This concert has been made available to CAA members. It will be available for general public viewing within the next week.