SPECIAL PROGRAMS

ROMA ACCORDION CONVERGENCE

This year the International Accordion Festival will host a gathering of Roma musicians from Eastern Europe. Roma communities exist worldwide and are often referred to as "gypsies." Roma communities are prevalent in Eastern Europe and have contributed significantly to the development of a rich and dynamic Balkan musical landscape. Accordionists from the Serbian ensemble Kal will meet with other Roma accordionists, including legendary Bulgarian musician Neshko Neshev and Romanian master Andrei Mihalache. Shared workshops and performances will celebrate the diversity of Roma music by exploring the following questions:

*Who are the Roma and what is Roma music: A solely community-based musical expression? A hybrid of shared traditions that vary from locality to locality? A distinctive style that reaches across different regional repertoires? *What is the role of the accordion in Roma music? *How does the growing popularity of Roma music affect its representation and the representation of the Roma people?

The Roma Accordion Convergence is funded in part through a grant from the Trust for Mutual Understanding.


MASTER ACCORDIONISTS WORKSHOPS

Osvaldo Ayala is a musical legend in much of Latin America. Officially recognized as a Cultural Ambassador by the Republic of Panama, he has popularized the traditional music of his country, known as pindin, by bringing an unparalleled level of vibrancy and dynamism to the sound. His music also draws on other styles from throughout Central and South America and the Caribbean. This workshop will focus on the musical traditions of Panama, his music and musical influences and, since it is massively danceable, the dance styles associated with Ayala's music.

Paulino Bernal is acknowleged as a master musician whose innovations influenced all of the notable artists on the contemporary conjunto scene. This musical pioneer has released his first recording of straight-up polkas for broad public consumption since dedicating himself strictly to sacred music several decades ago. Eager to preserve the style and repertoire of his earlier career for future generations, Bernal collaborated with Grammy Award winning producer Armando Lichtenberger to ensure this musical legacy. He will demonstrate his unique style and share stories about his formative contributions to conjunto music.