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
Greetings, Squeezeboxers! Birds singing, Bells ringing, and Bellows swinging! Looking forward to a seminal month of music-making with our accordion friends... Alert 1: Later this month you'll be gettin' an invite to the JUNE 8th PIZZA PARTY, an annual funfest we've enjoyed for years. Members choose from four kinds of pizza: Supreme, Pepperoni, Cheese, and Veggie, and each paid member may invite a friend to share the frivolity. You may jump the gun by contacting Karen (contact info in right column) to let her know your pizza preference now. Alert 2: Our upcoming meeting - SUNDAY, MAY 11th - features a SILENT ACCORDION AUCTION! See deets on pg. 7! Love hearing stories about how members first learned of the joys of accordionism! Shirley Hammack and her musically-inclined family (pics at right) travel from Duncan, OK, to OAC meetups. Seeing the clipping of her accomplishments as a child, we applaud her return to those golden days! ~ Maggie Shirley, Wilbur, and Mark Hammack
Mark those calendars! — Dick Albreski
Accordion music
Check out the following sites for new and free accordion music:
- Don Quattrocchi — https://donquattrocchi.com/
- 8notes — accordion — https://www.8notes.com/accordion/
Try em! You'll like em!
You'll like em! ACCORDIONISTS & TEACHERS GUILD (ATG) 83rd FESTIVAL to be held on July 16th to the 20th, 2025 in Lisle, IL, featuring: Radu Ratoi, Bridge & Wolak, Duo TWO accordions, Peter Soave & String Quintet, UMKC Community Accordion Ensemble, Festival Member Orchestra conducted by Joan Sommers, Workshops, Master classes, Competitions, Luncheons and a Dinner Banquet. For more information watch this article or visit: atgaccordions.com A Future Venture: The National Accordion Association is currently revamping its convention protocol to be more in tune with today's requirements. The recent convention held in March 2025 was a success but also showed conventions must change. Stay tuned to this column as new information is released on the future events! ~ Dick 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 every one 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! PS: Have you paid this year's dues? ALBUQUERQUE ACCORDION EXTRAVAGAN- ZA and BAND CAMP is scheduled from May 14 th through 18 th, 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. Registration is open until March 15th, 2025. This event will cost $269 per person. For all registrations and additional information please go to kdcstudios@gmail.com. AMERICAN ACCORDIONISTS ASSOCIATION (AAA) Festival to be held July 11th to the 13th, 2025 in Conshohocken (Philadelphia area), PA. The event features Concerts, Workshops, Competitions, Orchestras, Exhibits, Food Functions, and Guest Artists. Watch this article or ameraccord.com for more hotel discounts and other Festival announcements.
https://atgaccordions.com
Meeting minutes
April Meeting · Sunday, April 13, 2025
There were fifteen members and three guests present.
The Oklahoma Accordion Club held its monthly meeting on Sunday, April 13, 2025. Early arrivals were treated to projected videos of professional performers at the 2025 National Accordion Association convention. At 3:30 aggie Abel called the meeting to order. There were fifteen members and three guests present. We recited The Pledge of Allegiance and sang a verse of “America The Beautiful.” Anne Lopez began the music with the lively “Alabama Jubilee.” Anne and Lois (Roth) performed an old favorite, “When It's Springtime in the Rockies,” first as a waltz and then a polka. Anne soloed with “Paris Skies.” A newer club member from Duncan, OK, Shirley Hammack said that as a child she was in an accordion contest. Out of 65 entries, ten-year-old Shirley won third place in her division! (Photo on page 1.) The music continued as Aeden Keeley, a student of Dick Albreski, played two solos: “Edelweiss” and “Blowin' in the Wind.” Stillwater member Janet Haskin played a hymn, “Wonderful Words of Life.” She followed with two polkas: “Barbara” and “Pennsylvania.” Dick played the traditional “Easter Parade” by Irving Berlin. Then he performed “Tico Tico,” “Tick-Tock Polka,” and “Peg O' My Heart.” Dick re-explained his unique way of alternating basses: “Instead of the fifth note on the scale, I alternate with the sixth note. For example I use A instead of G when playing C basses.” Karen West performed Pat Boone's famous hit song, “April Love.” Then it was sing-along time. Anne and Lois provided the music for “April Showers” and “Easter Parade.” Frank Boyd projected the lyrics onto the wall so all could join in. Next came dance time. Anne played “La Rosita” while Maggie and Frank demonstrated two styles of dancing the Tango — American and Argentine. Anne and Lois played “The Old Rugged Cross.” Rusty Dolton May 2
— Lois Roth, OAC Secretary
Birthdays
May birthdays
- Toni PauldingMay 2
- William "Rusty" DoltonMay 2
- Johnnie ZibertMay 12
- Phil ScibelliMay 16
- Sharon BishMay 16
- Colleen RettmanMay 18
- Barbara MaharMay 30
Birthday list updates: Karen West (okaccordionclub@gmail.com)
Photos
Look back at Sunday, April 13, 2025
More in the album: April 2025
https://photos.app.goo.gl/pkTqpb3n7q1aohFg9
Photos
Look back at Sunday, April 13, 2025
More in the album: April 2025
https://photos.app.goo.gl/pkTqpb3n7q1aohFg9
Photos
Look back at Sunday, April 13, 2025
More in the album: April 2025
https://photos.app.goo.gl/pkTqpb3n7q1aohFg9
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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