DECEMBER 2011 Harold J. Estok Founder ALSI and REED BLOCK Inside this issue: President s Message General Info. 2 Happiness at ALSI 3 Heritage Day Photos Coming this Month Coming next Month President: Gordon Kohl 619-427-4344 Presidents Emeriti: (Founder) Harold Estok Ron Griffin Kjell Holmes Gloria Ensign Vice President: Mary Lou Erwin 619-448-9588 Meeting Coordinator: Bill Barr 619-337-1111 Editor/Secretary: Helen Estok Schoell 619-584-4970 Treasurer & Ensemble Director: Vicki Eriqat 619-563-5586 Recording Secretary: Sharon Marotte 619-286-3948 Newsletter/Webmaster: Bob Page 760-487-1747 Holiday Music 6 1 & 7 4 & 5 8 9 Credits 10 Calendar 11 Playing Around 11 Volume 18 Issue 12 PRESIDENT S MESSAGE by Gordon Kohl Hello to All! Best Wishes for a safe and joyous Holiday Season. Family time is special and full of exciting and memorable moments to cherish. This years Heritage Day Festival was an event to put in ALSI s 2011 Scrapbook. The event was full of great musical performances by ALSI members. I am so very proud of the effort of so many individuals to make this day special for the audience and musicians. The ethnic dancers who shared the stage added a cultural tie to the people of township or village life of past decades and centuries. Music has been a significant component of culture going back to Chinese ancient dynasties close to 4,000 years ago. More recently in past historical time music knowledge, concepts of melody, harmony and rhythm became defined with ties to culture. A musical cornerstone from the past heritages is the music scale. Scale types are many called modes as defined by the Greeks 2,000 plus years ago. Some scale forms include popular major, minor scales, 7th scale, diminish scale, blues jazz scales and the whole tone scales. The scale defines a songs note patterns, possible chord harmony, thus a signature; its tonality. I hope that the tonality of ALSI members will be to encourage friends of music to join MONTHLY NEWSLETTER December 2011 ALSI. We are a group of individuals who are drawn to live music, music knowledge, its presence around us and its enjoyment in creating it for others to listen to and react to. I love live music. I once had an opportunity to listen to a live concert of the Woody Herman Orchestra at Disneyland. My friends, at the time, thought I was crazy to drive 150 miles to hear this band. Later I was informed that Woody Herman loved giving young musicians an opportunity to play his band s music. Other experiences with live music I have had is seeing the late Art Van Damme and the Lawrence Welk Show. Live music is a one-time glimpse at a split second of music genius happening live. Every month at ALSI events we have those (continued on page seven)
Page 2 MONTHLY NEWSLETTER ALSI MEMBERSHIP AND NEWSLETTER GENERAL INFORMATION MEMBERSHIPS: current member renewal for twelve month term; the fee is $25.00 U.S.A., $26 Canada, $27.00 for International delivery. For new members; partial year memberships can be purchased. Use this calculation as follows: Subtract $2 for each month that has elapsed for the calendar year. Therefore, if you are joining with a USA club membership in July, six months have elapsed, so 6 times $2 would be $12 to deduct and the formula would be: $25 - $12 = $13, thus the payment would be $13. Make check or money order payable to ALSI and send to: Helen Estok Schoell, at P.O. Box 151357 San Diego, CA 92175. The REED BLOCK is published once each month for delivery to members prior to the next meeting. (Meetings are the second Sunday of each month). Your input to the REED BLOCK is invited and should be submitted to Helen Estok Schoell or email to Bob Page at webmaster@accordion -club-sandiego.org or Mary Lou Erwin at marylouerwin@att.net. DISCLAIMER: Unless otherwise indicated, all articles were written by the Editor. Unless so stated, no article is to be construed as an endorsement. Articles not written by the Editor may contain comments that do not necessarily reflect the views of the Editor or ALSI. If you disagree with anything in The REED BLOCK or to post corrections, please let us know in writing. SPECIAL NOTICE TO RECORDING ARTISTS: If you have an audio/video tape cassette you would like reviewed and written up in The REED BLOCK, please send us a professional copy and a short biography of the artist; include names, date and places to the ALSI address above. Please include the price of the item including shipping and handling. If you want the package returned after the review please include return postage with the package. CUT-OFF DATE: All contributors to The REED BLOCK please note: For next month all material is due fourteen days before the next meeting, accordingly the due date for the January 2012 issue is: December 26, 2011. This includes all items such as articles, upcoming events, playing around, accordion workshops, advertisements and ensemble schedules. Please make sure your material is received, in writing or email, no later than that date. Please submit your input to Helen Estok Schoell (at above ALSI address) or email to Bob Page at webmaster@accordion -club-sandiego.org or Mary Lou Erwin at marylouerwin@att.net. Thank you for your cooperation. ADVERTISEMENTS: Members may place one small ad per year at no charge, business cards are $6/per issue or $60/per year, quarter-page is $15/per issue, half -page is $25/per issue, full -page is $50/per issue, one -page event flyer is $25/per issue. Cost is doubled for ads placed by non -members. (All ads must be accordion related). MEETINGS: The club normally meets at 1:00-4:00 P.M. on the second Sunday of each month at the Mt Miguel Covenant Village, 325 Kempton Ave, Spring Valley, CA Next Meeting will be on Sunday, December 11th, from 2:00 to 4:30 pm at Jimmy s Restaurant at 333 3rd St. Chula Vista with Showcase by Bob Page.!! Members Please Note December Meeting Location Change!! The December meeting will be held at Jimmy s Restaurant located on 333 3rd avenue in Chula Vista. This address is between F and G streets across from Fudrucker s restaurant and there is parking in the rear of the building. for free. See you there! Happy Hanukah and Merry Christmas to all.
Volume 18 Issue 12 Page 3 HAPPINESS AT ALSI by Sharon Marotte HERITAGE DAY 2011 The ALSI Heritage Day festival was held November 13, 2011 at Paradise Village, Liberty Hall Theater in National City from 2 pm to 5:45 pm. Approximately 65 ALSI members, family, friends and 22 residents of the Village attended. The weather was beautiful, not like the day before when it rained all afternoon. All of the players were good with a variety of music. I think we showed off the accordion well. Many costumes were worn that day, which provided a lot of color on stage. It was our first time to celebrate Heritage Day at a venue with a theater. Many comments from the residents were favorable, they liked the accordion music & dancers. What an experience!!! Gordon Kohl was the MC for the day. He changed outfits at least 3 times and looked great each time. Bill Barr (the retired cattle baron) was busy back stage helping to get players ready to play according to the program. Mary Lou s brother, John Mauser, was a big help back stage and moving equipment on stage. Mary Lou Erwin & Helen Estok Schoell were busy with will call and selling tickets in the ticket booth. Sharon Marotte & Marian Sowell were ticket takers & gave out programs. We were fortunate to have Jeffery Smith, managing artistic director from the Village, with sound and lighting. At intermission, we enjoyed the hors d oeuvres in the lobby area. It was a very slow line, which lengthened the intermission time. The food was good and provided a time for folks to visit. Our clay pots with small flags were decorations on the tables. The players for the day were: Bob Page, Tiina & Sami Zein, Ted Hill, Ilana Engle & Jonathan Engle, Juergen Rosenfeld, Margarita Romero, Ted Hill & his dance troup (twice), Al Jacobs, Linda Hibbert, Kjell Holmes, Ron Griffin, Gene Lloyd, Farrie Ann Nichols, Al Piselli, Jerry Odling. The two groups to play were: the ALSI Ensemble (twice) & the Polka Dots.
Page 4 MONTHLY NEWSLETTER HERITAGE DAY PHOTOS
Volume 18 Issue 12 Page 5 MORE HERITAGE DAY PHOTOS Heritage Day 2011
Page 6 MONTHLY NEWSLETTER HOLIDAY MUSIC
Volume 18 Issue 12 Page 7 PRESIDENT S MESSAGE (continued) opportunities to listen, learn, and explore or imagine in song. Come to our monthly meetings you will not be sorry. And if you should know a young high school, or college musician bring them along with you to our meeting. If they play and instrument other than an accordion, I will help find a place for them to have some fun performing with accordionist. Talking about fun, it is exciting for me to recommend for everyone to attend the December 11th meeting Our very own, very talented Accordionist, Bob Page, will be the star Showcase performer. Bob plays the Accordion with precision, embellishment and dynamite bellow control. Let s have a great time in December and also get some Club business taken care of this month. It is once again time for election of officers. Nominations will be taken from the floor and voting will be by a show of hands. Would anyone out there like to be an ALSI officer in 2012? This will be your chance to make a positive difference with music. On January 8th 2012 there will be a Concert at the Liberty Hall Theater at Paradise Village. The stupendous world traveled Accordionist Mario Pedone will give us an afternoon of his special music style. He plays the Accordion with such passion and spontaneous arrangement flair. Mario is a cross between Charlie Magnante, Anthony Galla-Rini and Dick Contino. He does it all. He takes the wizardry of so many Accordion greats of past and present and molds the tones in such beautiful arrangements, all his own! Incredibly Beautiful! Onward to the Las Vegas Convention for the Accordion, it was once again unbelievably wonderful. I heard so many tremendous Accordionists that I came away from this convention with a new determination and passion for my instrument, the Accordion. Will you join with me in 2012 to continue our fun music journey at ALSI here in San Diego? Best of Holidays to Everyone. P.S. Life is fulfilling with music. Music is an integral component of life, even down to the rhythmical motion of an individual cell. Gordon C U S T O M C R A F T E D (206) 632-2700 phone (206) 632-2733 fax www.petosa.com
Page 8 MONTHLY NEWSLETTER COMING THIS MONTH This ALSI meeting will will take on a new flavor and venue. Pizza and beverages will be provided and for dessert we will have a dessert potluck. Bring your favorite holiday dessert to share. This meeting will feature a Showcase presented by our club webmaster, Bob Page. He started his accordion studies at the age of ten and has enjoyed playing the accordion ever since. At the age of sixteen he took first and second place in the duet and solo categories at the 1958 Western States Accordion Competition (AFNA) in Long Beach. For this Showcase, his program will include acoustic and electronic accordion selections which will feature the Petosa & Roland FR7x accordions. Music will range from standards and classics to Christmas selections. We will be meeting at Jimmy s Restaurant at 333 3rd Ave, Chula Vista. Phone 619-600-4101. Time: 2:00 4:30 PM $5 members, $6 non-members For more information contact Helen Schoell @ 619-584-4970 Driving Directions: From I-805 south take the H Street West Exit. Merge onto East H Street. Turn right onto 3rd Ave., Jimmy s Restaurant is on right.
Volume 18 Issue 12 Page 9 COMING NEXT MONTH Concert will be held in Liberty Hall in Paradise Village Plaza at approximately 2:00 pm. Mario has performed professionally in many Countries including Colombia, Venezuela, Sweden, Italy, and Canada. Mario has his own recording studio in Sugar Land, were he has arranged and recorded hundreds of tunes including many of his own compositions. His musical range includes, but is not limited to Classical, Latin, European, American Standards. He also produce CDs, background music for other musicians and singers. In 2002 and 2003 Mario was invited to perform in the famous Accordion Festival celebrated in Ransäter, Sweden having a big success, one of Mario s composition Bergen s polka is well known in the Scandinavian Countries. Other performances include numerous appearances at accordion clubs and festivals across the United States. Note: There will be a workshop led by Mario after the concert. Date: 1/8/2012 Time: 2:00 PM LIBERTY HALL THEATER, IN THE PARADISE VILLAGE PLAZA 2700 East 4th Street, National City, CA 91950 $12 for concert, $8 for workshop Advance ticket reservations are recommended but tickets may be purchased at the door. For more information phone (619) 584-4970 Mario Pedone Concert Reservation Form Name: #of tickets Workshop yes/no $ Amount : Please mail this form with check payable to ALSI by January 3rd to: Helen Estok Schoell, P.O. Box 151357, San Diego, CA 92175
Page 10 MONTHLY NEWSLETTER CREDITS by Helen Estok Schoell Our sincere appreciation to Mary Lou Erwin and Gordon Kohl for planning the Heritage day celebration with Jeffery Smith, Artistic Director, of the Liberty Hall Theater in Paradise Village Plaza. Jeffery was also our sound man for the event. Gordon Kohl was the MC for the day and Bill Barr was instrumental in calling and arranging for performers, as well as, making sure the performers got on stage at the designated time. John Mauser was our crew director assisting players with accordions, getting the stage ready for performers and handling the theater curtain. Helen E, Schoell and Mary Lou Erwin were in the Box Office for ticket pick-up and sales. Mary Lou also picked up tickets for the food as she visited with guests. Marian Sowell and Sharon Marotte were gracious enough to collect tickets and pass out programs. Jane Ford directed players to the Green Room and Guest to the A Very Happy Anniversary Wish In December To: Box Office. Frank Erwin took many, many pictures of the day s events. Mary Lou received comments that the food was delicious and there was plenty to go around. Mary Lou designed and printed the programs for Heritage Day. Mary Lou, thank you for your well organized efforts in making Heritage Day a success. GOD BLESS YOU ALL. HAVE A MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A BLESSED NEW YEAR Best Wishes for a very Happy Birthday for those born in the month of December! 2nd Carolyn Kaiser 8th Maria Lyubic 11th Hildegard Rosenfeld 19th Jerry Odling 19th Michael Grubensky 19th Lois Lahoud 20th Ann Cernilia Dec. 11th Dec. 21st Dec. 28th, Accordion Full Size 19 120 Bass light weight $375.00 Call Gordon @ 619-395-0454
Volume 18 Issue 12 Page 11 CALENDAR December 11th Showcase with Bob Page at Jimmy s Restaurant. January 8th Concert with Mario Pedone at Liberty Hall Theater. March 11th Accordionaires Band From L.A. will perform at Bailey Hall. May 6th Concert With Reunion Band at Bailey Hall. SPECIAL PERFORMANCE ALSI Accordion Ensemble Presents a Christmas Music Program at Seaport Village Saturday, December 10, 2011 Time: 1:00 pm See you there! For details contact Vicki Eriqat, Director At 619-563-5586 PLAYING AROUND Please share date, time and location of public appearances. Submit these, in writing, complying with the cut-off date, to Helen Estok Schoell or Bob Page. Sharon Marotte December 7th and every Wednesday 5:00-7:00 pm at Brother's Restaurant 5150 Waring Rd. Louis Fanucchi Most Tuesdays at Paesano s in San Diego from 5:30 to 8:30 pm. Most Wednesday s at Romesco s in Bonita from 7 to 10 pm. For more information call Lou at 619-948-3774. or online at www.loufnucchi.com for his calendar. Kjell Holmes January 6th from 5 to 8 pm at Lake Cuyamaca Restaurant, (Kjell performs at the restaurant the first Friday of each month.) Gordon Kohl December 17th Gordon and his Trio will be appearing at Jimmy s Restaurant in Chula Vista from 5 to 9 pm. The public is always welcome. December 25th Christmas Day at Lake Cuyamaca Restaurant from 11:00 to 2:00 pm. Come and enjoy some holiday cheer and music.
ALSI Statement Of Purpose: Monthly Newsletter ALSI is San Diego s forum for appreciating and performing accordion music, including the MIDI electronic accordion We welcome members who enjoy listening to or playing accordion music. We have an accordion ensemble group, monthly meetings, local concerts featuring local and internationally famous performers, an annual picnic and a monthly newsletter. We re on the WEB! at www.accordion-club-sandiego.org The REED BLOCK c/o Helen Estok Schoell P.O. Box 151357 San Diego, CA 92175 DECEMBER 2011 EDITION ** NOTE ** December Meeting Location Change to Jimmy s Restaurant, 333 3rd Ave. Chula Vista (see details on page 2)