The
Oklahoma Squeezins
“Our squeezin'...is pleasin'”
The Oklahoma Accordion Club Newsletter
If you can't attend the live 3:30 PM meetup in person, you can experience it via Zoom - using the same codes (see red type below) you may have used in previous years. Zoom's musical sound quality is nothing to write home about, but feel free to tune us in anyway! On computer, tablet, or smartphone, to join us with both audio and video
Prez sez
Maggie Abel
I'd like to send a Valentine to a founding member of our club. An accordionist we can look up to as he plays variously around town, then returns to teach us and put his stethoscope up to our out-of-sort squeezeboxes. Hubby and I reserved at Royal Bavarian in Moore last month, getting seating just before the room got packed. Well, pretty soon the inevitable Chicken Dance came up so we groupies felt compelled to add our contribution to the mix. What's been on my mind is the upcoming music immersion weekend. National Accordion Association has been part of my March schedule for over a decade. Meet music-minded folks and bring your accordions to trade for something with a prettier grill or more (or fewer) buttons. Choose one of the evening jam rooms (introductory? advanced? by chord? by note? by ear? ). Concerts, meals, a dance one night, workshops each day to improve your this or that. Turn to in this newsletter for the juicy details from the convention's founder, Norman Seaton.
Continued on next page…
Prez sez (continued)
Maggie Abel
Let's us get packin!
Mark those calendars!
Dick Albreski
You'll like em! GUESS WHAT? They say, "Money is the root of all evil." I can't believe that! Money keeps our Accordion Club going. Our Accordion Club is not evil! In fact, Thanks to you all, it is beautiful! Now the GUESS WHAT? It is time to renew your membership for 2025. We need each and everyone of you to continue to support the accordion. Please don't let us down. The individual fee for one year is only $20 and a lifetime is only at the moderate total of $300. Better yet, do you have or know of any potential new members? We need them too! CURRENT NEWS: Once again, the Bohemian Knights performed at the Royal Bavaria Restaurant every Friday and Saturday in January from 5:00 to 9:00 PM. A great chance each year to hear great live music! The Royal Bavaria Restaurant is located at 3401 South Sooner Road, Moore, OK. They serve an excellent German cuisine plus home-brewed beer. What could be better? Good food, good beer, and good ethnic music. I was glad to see those of you who partook of it! If you plan to attend next year, reservations are required. Don't leave home without them. START PLANNING: I have a great plan for you. Next March 13 through 15 in Lewisville, TX, the National Accordion Association will hold its annual Convention at the Hilton Garden Inn. This is your opportunity to enjoy some of the best accordion performances close to home. In addition, the NAA is initiating a collaboration invitation requesting other musicians who play string, reed, and brass instruments to join in the convention. This will be a tremendous leap forward to all instruments playing all music. You can also participate in the program. There will be jam sessions, an adult FUN Band, plus other chances to play for your old and new friends. The Fun Band music is now available on the NAA Convention website. Consider this something to do in 2025. If you are not familiar with the program, give me a note and I will get you started. Remember, for those who plan to play in the FUN Band, the music arrangements are available this month on the NAA website. ALBUQUERQUE ACCORDION EXTRAVAGANZA and BAND CAMP is scheduled from May 14 to 18, 2025, at the Hyatt Place Albuquerque Airport in Albuquerque, NM. There are special room rates for those who attend, and you can also pick your desired dates. This event will host Zoom meetings prior to the event that will help you to play the required music. You must register prior to the meeting to obtain both the Zoom meetings schedule and music. Registrations are open until March 15, 2025. This event will cost $269 per person. For all registrations and additional information please go to kdcstudios@. As future events happen, hopefully we will see them in advance, so you can make plans to attend. Keep checkin' this article! ~ Dick
IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM NATIONAL ACCORDION ASSOCIATION'S NORMAN SEATON: Attention All Interested Accordionists! Read this message then forward to all accordionists on your e-mail contact list! Accordion Vacation Time! Are you ready for a three-day musical vacation away from the everyday stress? Register today for the 2025 National Accordion Convention in Lewisville, Texas. Registrations for both the Convention and the hotel can be made on our website: http://www.accordions.com/naa/ Political and economy discussions are not authorized during the accordion vacation! Every accordion event and concerts are located inside the Hilton Hotel - including all meals!! 2025 National Accordion Convention Hilton Garden Inn - 785 SH 121 - Lewisville, Texas This hotel is 8 miles North of DFW Airport March 13-15, 2025 Hotel Registration closes at midnight February 16, 2025, after which date you can still attend but you lose the preferred room rate and the included breakfast. Convention Payments are due February 23, 2025.
Accordion music
Free accordion music sites:
Try em! You'll like em!
Meeting minutes
Sunday, January 12, 2025
The Oklahoma Accordion Club held its first meeting of the new year Sunday, January 12, at 3:30 PM. Fifteen members (including one on Zoom) attended. Anne Lopez and Lois Roth played "warm-up music" starting around 3:15. At 3:30 aggie Abel called the meeting to order. VP/ Treasurer Ron Shearon led The Pledge of Allegiance. We sang one verse of "America The Beautiful.” The meeting was a celebration of member Cassi Radicelli's 100th birthday. Photos of Cassi's life and of her family (daughter Anne Lopez and others) were projected on the wall throughout the afternoon. Anne and Lois began the music with "Mockingbird Hill." Then they performed several international songs: "Never On Sunday," "La Vie en Rose," and a solo by Anne: "Lasst Uns Brezeln Kaufen." A jam session came next. John Warren joined the ladies for some old favorites including "Sidewalks of New York," "Beer Barrel Polka," "Five Foot Two," and "Harbor Lights." Dick Albreski performed the 2025 Fun Band songs that he has chosen and arranged for the convention coming up in March: "Make Believe" from Showboat, "La Belle Julie," composed by Dick, "Variations on Third Man Theme," "Paris Nights," and "Mexican Fiesta"—a medley of Mexican songs. Anne and Lois joined Dick for two lively polkas: "Tick Tock" and "Pennsylvania." Dick played and sang the Polish version of "Happy Birthday" to Cassi. He also played the ''Polish Wedding Song," and told a few entertaining stories about playing at Polish weddings which lasted all day and longer. Then it was time to sing. Anne and Lois provided music for "Tiny Bubbles," "Que Sera Sera," and "Auld Lang Syne."
— Lois Roth, OAC Secretary
Birthdays
February birthdays
- Evie AlbreskiFebruary 2
- Christopher DarrFebruary 3
- T. Z. WrightFebruary 21
- Susan HauseFebruary 22
- Bob MansfieldFebruary 24
Birthday list updates: Karen West (okaccordionclub@gmail.com)
Oklahoma Accordion Club Membership & Renewal Form
Make checks payable to: Oklahoma Accordion Club
Mail your membership dues to: Oklahoma Accordion Club c/o 209 South 2nd, Bison, OK 73720
I prefer to receive the monthly newsletter, “The Oklahoma Squeezins,” by: E-mailConventional Mail
Please check all that apply:
- Primary Membership: $20 per year per individual
- Family Membership: $10 per year for each additional family member
- Lifetime Membership: One-time fee of $300
- Youth Membership: Complimentary for accordion-playing youth through age 18
7109 NW 102 Street
Oklahoma City, OK 73162
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