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September 28, 2012

The President’s Message

Tony Mustaro

Dear Friends,

This month I have the sad task of informing you that we have lost one of our own.  Beppi Narduzzi, our friend and club photographer passed away peacefully at his residence just a few days short of his 92nd birthday.  Several of us from the club were scheduled to play for his birthday party and at the request of his daughter Anna. we did play for the other residents at Valley Orchards Retirement Community as Beppi’s last gift to his friends.  Joining me were Steve Balich, Frank DeVita, and Xavier de la Prade.  I had the honor of playing Beppi’s accordion for this last performance.  We played several of Beppi’s favorite tunes including Piemontesina, a tune dedicated to his late wife Elsa.  Beppi was an important part of the Italian-American community in Santa Rosa.  He was a sweet man with a loving family and many friends and he will be sorely missed.  Our condolences go out to his family.  Kris Nelson, who worked closely with Beppi on the Reedwooder will offer some of his  remembrances elsewhere in this issue.

Get well wishes go out to our friend and board member Elmo Fama who has recently undergone surgery.  We went to visit him yesterday and I am happy to report that he is looking well and is in excellent spirits.  Hope to see you at the meeting Elmo.

This month is the last summer meeting for this year which means that the Cotati Accordion Festival is over for another year as well.  Our thanks to Cathy and Art for their work in selling tickets to the festival to raise money for the club treasury.  Jennie Balich began this activity years ago and it has been a good fund raiser for us.

We have a great musical program lined up for this month’s entertainment.  Our scholarship chairman, Joe Chiesa, informs me that we will have some of our scholarship students playing for us at this month’s meeting in addition to any members who would like to sign up at the door to perform for us.

Our featured artist for this month is our own Bart Beninco.  Bart’s sensitive interpretations and technical expertise on the accordion always leaves us wanting to hear more.  We are all  looking forward to hearing what he has prepared for us this month. Next month before our October meeting Kris will be cooking gumbo for a pre-meeting dinner. Mark this on your calendar.  Just like our pasta feeds all are welcome including friends and family.
I look forward to seeing all of you at this month’s meeting.

Tony Mustaro
President
Accordion Club of the Redwoods

Filed Under: Newsletter, September 2012
September 27, 2012

Happy Birthday Beppi and Bon Voyage

9-1-1920 to 8-27-2012 Beppi Passed away peacefully in his sleep a few days short of his 92nd Birthday. Happy Birthday Beppi and Bon Voyage and give our love to Elsa.

Bon Voyage Beppi

I first met Beppi at one of our ACR meetings at Volpi’s Restaurant. He had a camera with him and was taking pictures for his own pleasure. We struck up a conversation and (like most folks in the ACR) he proved to be a a really nice and interesting fellow.

It didn’t take him long to volunteer to take the photographer’s duties from the retiring Bill White. Beppi was involved in several clubs and not too many folks know this, but he gave up his duties at one of the other clubs to come and take pictures for us every month.

We worked together for many years, Beppi taking pictures while I edited the Reedwooder. I would drive up to Beppi’s home in Santa Rosa and pick up the pictures he took. I would always leave an hour and a half (or more) to visit with Beppi and his wife Elsa. That hour and a half was always spent going over the pictures he took and chatting about anything that came to mind.

I cherished our time together as Beppi told me of his childhood in Italy, his tour of duty in WWII, memories of old Santa Rosa and his teacher who travelled from San Francisco to teach in Sonoma county. These were but a few of the stories he told me while Elsa served coffee and cream.

Beppi allowed me to be able to slow down and examine life; his and mine. As I rushed headlong through my daily activities, my visits with Beppi and Elsa allowed me to stop and take life a little slow and enjoy the company of two wonder folks.

Beppi thanks for being my friend, thanks for sharing your time with me.
Thanks for the memories.

Kristofer Nelson

Filed Under: Newsletter, September 2012
September 26, 2012

August 2012 Entertainment

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Anthony Berger

Our first entertainer of the evening was young Anthony Berger who treated us to four selections on his new 120 bass accordion.  Anthony has been studying for only a few months, but each time he plays for us it is evident that he has a talent for the accordion and is progressing so fast due to his natural ability and his love of music.  Keep up the good work Anthony and come play for as again soon.

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Ed Sciarini

Cotati brings accordionist from all over to Sonoma County every year. This year we were fortunate that it brought my friend Ed Sciarini from our sister club in Stockton here and that he decided to stay over an extra day to play for our August meeting. Calling on his Italian-Swiss heritage, Ed played a trio of Italian-Swiss songs which were new to most of us. When called on for an encore he played the Harry Gay favorite Ialupi, Ialupi. Thanks for stopping in Ed. We hope to see you again in the near future.

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Guy Richards

Our third performance of the evening was by Guy Richards.  Guy, who is an tremendously accomplished musician started out the evening by playing with the ACR fun band.  We hope to have him repeat this again whenever he is able.  As usual, Guy took requests from the audience and treated us to a variety of songs including a very intricate and chord rich rendition of Temptation and a great rendition of Malaguena.  As always he was a real crowd pleaser.  Every time Guy plays for us I am amazed that the accordion is not really his primary instrument.  Thanks for sharing your talent with us Guy.

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Ron Borelli

Our final and featured performer of the evening was Ron Borelli. Ron treated us to a selection which ran the gamut from polka and jazz improvisation to a Henry Mancini medley and an original interpretation of E Lucevano Le Stelle from the 1900 Puccini opera La Tosca. It was a true pleasure to hear Ron display his mastery of the accordion is several different genres of music. We hope to see him play for our club at his earliest convenience. Ron should definitely be a featured performer in any event which features the accordion. Are you listening in Cotati?

Filed Under: Newsletter, September 2012
September 25, 2012

News, September 2012

The Kids are Alright.
The ACR will honor it’s scholarship students at the September 17th meeting. Each scholarship student is required to show their progress twice a year. So this is a time for them to strut their stuff and show us just how much they have improved in the last several months. Please be sure to be there to show your support.  Bring your friends along to show them the rising stars of tomorrow. Good luck Kids!

Mark Your Calendars!
Louisiana Gumbo Feed in October
In October we will be in for a real treat. Past ACR President Kris Nelson will be whipping up a Cajun Gumbo prior to the Ocotober 15th meeting.
Don’t worry that it will be too spicy for you. It’s a savory soup of chicken and smoked sausage that will tickle your taste buds, not burn your tongue. The door donation will be $5.00 if you want dinner ($3.00 if you don’t). You will get a ticket with your dinner donation. Which you will need to present to be served. Dinner will be served at 6:00pm and the meeting will start at 7:30pm.

ACR Band Update
The ACR Band will have its next meeting on September 17th, 6:30 before the ACR general meeting. All levels of players are welcome. It helps if you can read sheet music. Bring an accordion and a good measure of enthusiasm. If you would like to play in the band, please contact Steve Balich at 707-874-3494.

For Sale
German polkas,waltz, swing, ballads and Latin arrangements for trios up to fourteen piece ensembles.
American big band era arrangements for five piece, six piece and larger ensembles up to full dance band.
Give theme (American or German), & instrumentation
Cost: $8.00 and up per chart
Contact: Chuck Hamilton for lists of titles.
Email: cwhb@sbcglobal.net
Tel. 650-992-3033
Address: 1063 Gilman Dr., Colma, Ca 94015-2002

Silence is Golden.
Out of consideration for the performers and your fellow members in the audience, please don’t talk during the musical part of the ACR meetings. The performers deserve our respect and attention. So be kind and reserve the chit-chat and discussions for the intermissions and breaks.

Play for the ACR, Get in Free.
The ACR board has voted to admit all performers into the monthly meetings for free. As long as the musicians sign up and perform a minimum of three songs, they will admitted without the normal donation at the door.

Filed Under: Newsletter, September 2012