MAS News

June 2, 2010
Eddie Adamic

John Smoltz, father of the famous long time pitcher of the Atlanta Braves, will be playing a benefit dance at the Slovene American Club tomorrow, June 2, from 7-10pm. John played for our club last year, and is dedicating the event as he did last year, to his father, who was one of the original button box players at the club, and to his accordionist uncle from Minnesota, as well as to his friend and deceased local musician, Gaylord Klancnik. John will be accompanied by Dick Kuciemba on sax and clarinet, and Kurt Schroeder on drums. Local musicians from the club, as well as other local musician friends of John will also perform.
Doors open at 6, and music will be from 7-10. Goulash and sausage dinners, along with sausage sandwiches will be available, and admission is $5.
The club is located at 18616 Allen Road, just south of Oakwood, in Melvindale, and the club phone number is 313.381.3434.

May 30, 2010
Linda Marshall

MAS member John Stimac, passed away on May 25, 2010. The members of the Michigan Accordion Society extend their deepest sympathy to John's family.
John was the beloved husband of the late Josephine, dear father of Sharon Hammer, Lynn Pinter (Bill), and John, grandfather of seven and great-grandfather of seven.
Family will receive friends on Sunday, May 30 from 1-7pm and Tuesday, June 1 from 1-9 pm at A.J. Desmond & Sons, 2600 Crooks Road (between Maple and Big Beaver) in Troy. A scripture service will be held at 7pm Tuesday at the funeral home.
A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Wednesday, June 2, 2010 at 10:00am at St. Thomas More Church, 4580 N. Adams Road (between Wattles and Long Lake) in Troy.
Burial will take place at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery. Memorial Tributes may be made to the American Diabetes Association or St. Joseph Mercy Oakland Hospital.

April 11, 2010
As published in the Richmond Times-Dispatch

OLIVER PETRINI passed away on Tuesday, April 6, 2010 in Richmond. He was 89. Mr. Petrini and his beloved wife of 63 years, Jewel, moved to Richmond from their long-time home in Dearborn, Michigan, in 2007, to live near their only child, Edward Petrini; their daughter-in-law, Maureen Petrini; and their grandchildren. Mr. Petrini is survived by his wife, his son, his daughter-in-law, and two grandchildren, Anna Petrini of Richmond, and Maria Petrini of Washington, D.C. Born in Eynon, Pennsylvania near Scranton, in 1920, Mr. Petrini began performing as a professional musician at the age of 14. In October 1942, after having moved to Detroit to take advantage of that city's war-time demand for live musical entertainment, he entered the U.S. Army, where he eventually was assigned to a unit that entertained thousands of soldiers and sailors in the Southwest Pacific. At times, he worked with such well-known talents of the day as Jack Benny, Don Knotts (a member of the unit), Joe E. Brown, Mickey Shaughnessy, and Gertrude Lawrence. Following World War II, Mr. Petrini resumed his career as an entertainer and musician, and, in 1949, opened a music school in Dearborn that ultimately counted, by the 1970s, almost 1,000 students per week on its rolls and hundreds of state and national awards for its students. He retired in 1982. Private services will be held at the Virginia Veterans Cemetery at Amelia, Virginia. The family has asked that donations in lieu of flowers, be sent to Tuckahoe Presbyterian Church, 7000 Park Avenue, Richmond, Va. 23226.

March 15, 2010
Press Release

The Michigan Accordion Society presents their Annual Spring Concert on Sunday, June 6, 2010 at the American Polish Cultural Center located at 2975 E. Maple Road (15 Mile and Dequindre), Troy, Michigan.

This year we are proud to present Russian Accordion Virtuoso STAS VENGLEVSKI, Dobra and Mandolin Master MISHA LITVIN, and THE MICHIGAN ACCORDION SOCIETY ORCHESTRA under the direction of Silven Koltyk.

Stas Venglevski is a brilliant artist and composer/arranger of music for the accordion. A native of the Republic of Moldova, part of the former Soviet Union, he came to the United States in 1992. A two-time first prize winner of bayan competition in the Republic of Moldova, he is a graduate of the Russian Academy of Music in Moscow where he received his Masters Degree in Music under the tutelage of the famed Russian bayanist, Friedrich Lips. He has toured extensively as a soloist throughout the former Soviet Union, Canada, Europe and the United States, including numerous performances with Doc Severinsen, Steve Allen and with Garrison Keillor on the Prairie Home Companion Show. Additionally, he has performed with symphony orchestras throughout the United States. He is a regular participant of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra's Arts in Community Education Program (ACE); has done television commercials and performed in theater productions; produced numerous recordings including transcription of Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker Suite for bayan, as well as original compositions. He has also published several books of original compositions. Stas also performs as a member of the Sta-Sera Duo where he combines talents with accordionist John Simkus, known primarily for his smooth jazz renditions. He also demonstrates his versatility performing regularly with his Irish friends, Leahy's Luck.

Misha Litvin has performed as a solo recitalist and as a soloist with chamber orchestra in Russia, Germany, The Netherlands, France and the United States. Originally from Minsk, Belarus. After graduating with a Masters Degree in Orchestra Conducting, Music and String Pedagogy, he taught guitar and mandolin and led many student musical groups at the municipal music school in Minsk. Mr. Litvin currently performs in duos with piano, accordion and guitar. He participates in educational programs with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra with Stas Venglevski and is a member of the Milwaukee Mandolin Orchestra. He has been a faculty at the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music since 2001.

The Michigan Accordion Society Orchestra conducted by Silven Koltyk will also perform, The Orchestra is made up of professional musicians and advanced students and they have performed throughout Southeast Michigan. Their musical repertoire is varied — from classical to light rock and roll — standards to ethnic — big band to country.

Doors open at 3:00 PM—the Concert begins at 3:3O PM. Light snacks will be served. A cash bar will be available. CD's will be available for purchase. Mr. Venglevski and Mr. Litvin will be available to sign autographs and pose for photos.

Advance Tickets are $15.00/person. Tickets sold at the door are $18.00/person. Children Age 12 and Under: $10.00.

To purchase tickets or obtain additional information call 248.689.3296, 313.822.4722 or Gus Zoppi Music Studio at 586.978.1816. Seating is on a first come, first serve basis.

January 12, 2010
Linda Marshall

Your membership expired on December 31, 2009. If you have not already renewed your membership for 2010, please take a minute to write a check in the amount of $25.00, payable to the Michigan Accordion Society, and mail it to Jerry May, 5955 Cobb Creek Road, Rochester, MI 48306. It is important to keep the accordion and its music alive in Michigan, so please mail your dues as soon as possible. Please note that our dues have not increased since we began in 1996. Thank you to those members who have already renewed.

Gift Certificates for a one-year membership are available for purchase. Contact Linda Marshall using our Contact Form if you would like to give a friend or relative a gift of music.

January 12, 2010
Linda Marshall

Do you teach accordion? Do you know someone who teaches accordion? We are compiling a list of accordion teachers or studios who also teach accordion - beginners, children and adults in Michigan and Ohio. Please contact Linda Marshall using our Contact Form.

December 21, 2009
Bob Stead

Quinto Vitale had his 96th birthday on December 20th. Birthday cards would be a nice surprise for him. He is very proud of his age and that he is still able to come to MAS meetings.

If you have a little one or know of a little child who still believes in Santa and would like them to receive a letter from Santa Claus, please contact Linda Marshall through our contact form. Include the child's full name and address and a letter will be sent to them. There is no charge.

The members of the MAS Board of Directors wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a happy, musical, healthy and prosperous New Year.

November 23, 2009
Bob Stead

The Annual MAS Christmas Party will be held on Tuesday, December 8, 2009 at 7:30 PM. We will be meeting at the American Polish Cultural Club located on 15 Mile (Maple Road) at Dequindre in Troy, MI. There will be a $5.00 (to help defray the cost of the room) donation at the door.
It will be an Open Mic Night. We will have a Christmas Sing-Along (song sheets will be provided), Christmas games, 50/50 raffle, door prizes, pizza and other snacks, a chocolate fountain, etc.
Please contact Steve Kaye if you wish to perform.
Everyone is invited - members, friends, relatives, former members. However, you must RSVP by December 3, 2009. Let us know how many people you plan to bring. Please use our contact form to RSVP or call Marguerite Krau or Linda Marshall.

September 21, 2009
Bob Stead

Back by Popular Demand

POLKAFEST

Sunday, October 18, 2009
4:00 PM
The American Polish Cultural Center
15 Mile at Dequindre
Troy, MI
Featuring Grammy nominated recording artist
and former member of the nationally renowned group, POLKA FAMILY
KEVIN SOLECKI
also
MIKE ZAWOJSKY
and many others
Advance Tickets: $15.00 per person
Children Age 7 to 14: $10.00
Tickets at the Door: A$18.00
Doors open at 3:00 PM
click here for flyer

September 5, 2009
Bob Stead

Just a reminder that the September Membership Meeting will be held at 7:30 PM on Tuesday, September 15th at The American Polish Cultural Center in Troy, MI (15 Mile Rd (Maple) and Dequindre). The featured performers will be Judy Thorne & The Ramblers. Also performing will be Jerry May. Please contact us through our Contact Form if you would like to perform. We ask that all players other than the featured performers limit themselves to 3 selections. After everyone has performed and if there is time, you may take a second turn.

July 19, 2009
Mike Zawojsky

MAS member Judy Thorne and her band, The Ramblers, will be performing for us at our next accordion club meeting on 09/15/2009. The group will play a variety of music for approximately one hour. The band consists of six musicians and they sound terrific! I think everyone will really enjoy them!

April 20, 2009
Linda Marshall

Hot Club of Detroit, featuring accordionist Julien Labro, will be at the Cadieux Cafe, on Cadieux between Warren and Mack Avenue in Detroit on Tuesday, April 21st.
Phone: 313-882-8560.

February 20, 2009
Bob Stead

MAS member Bob Berta sent us the following:

I am on the board of directors of the Shelby Music Society...it is an organization that is very similar to the accordion club...but is open to all instruments and singing. Music styles range all over the map from classic to jazz to folk to blue grass, every ethnic type you can imagine, but generally no pop music. It is setup in the open mike format with each person/group performing about 3 tunes or 15 minutes. It generally meets the second Saturday of each month although the March meeting will be earlier due a conflict with a holiday. The meetings run from 7:30 to 10:00pm and are at the Shelby Senior Center located behind the Shelby library on Van Dyke near 23 Mile Road. It is a gorgeous facility with a big stage and we have a first rate sound system. I usually play at every meeting and there are three other MAS members besides myself who are also members of the society. While guitars and singing tend to be in the majority, there are violins, piano, cello, flute, harmonica, etc. so a place for every instrument. The audience is very appreciative of accordion and we would love to have even more MAS members in the audience. Generally the attendence is around 60 -100 people. There are no dues but a $2 donation is requested. Each meeting also has a big assortment of member donated snacks and sweets at no additional cost. Those wanting to perform need only show up and get on the open mike list for the night. If you are interested in attending or getting more info you can contact me directly at my email address to get more information.

In another note, Bob Berta says:

Once again I will play my MIDI accordion as entertainment during the FISH FRY FRIDAYS at St. John Vianney Catholic Church located on West side of Schoener between 25 and 26 Mile Roads. This will start Friday, Feb. 27 and every Friday until Easter. Time for both the dinner and music is 5:00pm to 7:30pm.

Enjoy a night-off from cooking and join me as I perform a variety of music genres, have a great inexpensive dinner and visit with friendly folks.

February 20, 2009
Linda Marshall

Kevin Solecki will be performing at the annual Paczki Day Celebration on Tuesday, February 24th, at Michelle's Restaurant/Sweetheart Bakery, 31920 Van Dyke, just north of 13 Mile Road in Warren from 11:00 am til 8:00 pm. Special evening guest musician: Mike Zawojsky. Kevin and MIke will be performing duet accordion music. The food is great! Be sure to make reservations as the waiting list is really long. Call 586-795-1665.

February 12, 2009
Linda Marshall

Peter Soave is arriving in Detroit a week from this Thursday, February 19, 2009.
Peter will be performing a concert with Duilio Dorbrin on Sunday, February 22, 2009, from 7:30 PM to 8:30 PM at Temple Israel, 5725 Walnut Lake Road, West Bloomfield, MI 48323. Please pass the word along.
Peter is looking forward to seeing old friends.

January 6, 2009
Linda Marshall

Steve Kay received the following update from Ray Battani on Elaine:

"Elaine is doing better and is being moved to "Heartland", South Boulevard and Rochester Road in Rochester, Michigan for more physical therapy. We are all praying for Elaine."

Peter Soave sent the following comments about the death of Peter Baltrusz (obituary below):

"The Detroit accordion fraternity has lost a TRUE GENTLEMAN; may he be remembered. It is important that Pete Baltrusz is remembered. Peter was one of several old timers that for various reasons, never received due respect for his contributions to the accordion in Detroit. Another such person is Eddie Schick. Baltrusz was a staple at Gail and Rice, the premier entertainment agency in the country for many years, and was very much in demand. Pete was so soft spoken and never sought the limelight. I remember growing up and meeting people who would refer to Baltrusz as being a true professional, etc... Baltrusz was the real thing! A first rate player who played the accordion his entire life."

January 1, 2009
Linda Marshall

The new year brings sad news. Long time MAS member Peter Baltrusz passed away on December 28th. I didn't find out about it until late last night (Dec 31st). His funeral was on Tuesday, December 30th. Peter was 94, born on December 29, 1913 in Detroit. He was a longtime resident of Dearborn Heights. He was the husband of the late Anna and father to Ronald and the late Peter; grandfather of 7 and great-grandfather of 6. Services were conducted by Howe-Peterson Funeral Home with interment at St. Hedwig Cemetery in Dearborn Heights. MAS sends their deepest sympathy to Peter's family. Friends may sign the guestbook by going to www.howepeterson.com and clicking on the obituary display.