The first celebration event of the American Accordionists' Association (AAA) 70th Anniversary year was the 2008 Carmen Carrozza Scholarship Foundation Fundraiser which raises money For the advancement of young promising Accordionists and the commissioning of new works for the Accordion."
The Carmen Carrozza Scholarship Fund was founded in the spring of 2002 at the suggestion of and through a generous donation from the American Accordionist`s Association (AAA) Presidential Advisor, Steve Stolaruk. Mr. Stolaruk presented his generous gift at a special AAA Lifetime Achievement Award banquet honoring the world renown Concert Accordionist Carmen Carrozza, which took place in New York on March 17, 2002. This was the first Lifetime Achievement Award presented by the AAA.
The purpose of the fund is to grant a music scholarship each year to a deserving young contestant who participate in the Piano Accordion division - Carmen Carrozza Scholarship Solo at the annual AAA competition.. The contestants must play one of any chosen AAA contemporary commissioned works, or any other contemporary composition written for the accordion and receive a score of 95 or above in order to be considered for a Scholarship Award. The first place winner will receive a $5,000 Scholarship. Maestro Carrozza is particularly celebrated for his brilliant world premieres of the early AAA commissioned works in the 1950's and 1960's and suggested this policy. Scholarship winners are then invited to perform in a special concert of serious contemporary music for the accordion at the City University of New York (CUNY) Graduate Center in Manhattan. This is a very special opportunity for young accordionist to gain exposure and gives them the experience of performing along side great artists such as Carmen Carrozza, Dr. Robert Young McMahan, Dr. William Schimmel, Beverly Roberts Curnow, and many others.
Mary Tokarski and Carmen Carrozza take to the dance floor
Well known accordionist Lenn Feldmann in concert
Christopher Gorton won first place in the Piano Accordion Virtuoso division of the 2003 AAA Festival competition in Philadelphia. In addition to this competition success, Christopher was the first recipient of the Carmen Carrozza Scholarship and was featured at the (CUNY) concert where he performed Paul Creston s Prelude and Dance, the first commissioned work presented by the AAA.
The AAA holds an annual fund raiser event to benefit The Carmen Carrozza Scholarship Fund. The event takes place at the Magnanini Winery (172 Strawridge Road, Wallkill, NY 12589) and includes an afternoon of traditional Valtaro music, wine tasting, multi-course dinner, family, friends and fun. The event features many artists who have donated their time and talents for this worthy cause, such as Carmen Carrozza , Mario Tacca, Dominic Karcic, Frank Toscano, Frank Carrozza, Ray Oreggio, Danny Desiderio, Beverly Roberts Curnow, Lenny Feldmann, Tony Dannon, Linda Soley Reed, Kevin Friedrich, Mary Mancini (International Vocal Artist) and many others.
Through the efforts of the AAA and the dedication of the Carrozza Scholarship Committee, Dr. Robert Young McMahan (chairman), Mario Tacca, Linda Soley Reed, Dr. Salvatore, M. Febbraio, Dominic Karcic and Dr. Joseph A. Ciccone, the annual fund raiser event continues to draw record attendance with great success.
For more information, please visit: http://www.carmencarrozza.com
“For the advancement of young promising Accordionists and the commissioning of new works for the Accordion."
The Carmen Carrozza Scholarship Fund was founded in the spring of 2002 at the suggestion of and through a generous donation from the American Accordionist`s Association (A.A.A.) Presidential Advisor, Steve Stolaruk. Mr. Stolaruk presented his generous gift at a special A.A.A. Lifetime Achievement Award banquet honoring the world renown Concert Accordionist Carmen Carrozza, which took place in New York on March 17, 2002. This was the first Lifetime Achievement Award presented by the A.A.A.
The purpose of the fund is to grant a music scholarship each year to a deserving young contestant who participate in the Piano Accordion division - Carmen Carrozza Scholarship Solo at the annual A.A.A.competition.. The contestants must play one of any chosen A.A.A. contemporary commissioned works, or any other contemporary composition written for the accordion and receive a score of 95 or above in order to be considered for a Scholarship Award. The first place winner will receive a $5,000 Scholarship. Maestro Carrozza is particulary celebrated for his brilliant world premieres of the early A.A.A. commissioned works in the 1950's and 1960's and suggested this policy. Scholarship winners are then invited to perform in a special concert of serious contemporary music for the accordion at the City University of New York (CUNY) Graduate Center in Manhattan. This is a very special opportunity for young accordionist to gain exposure and gives them the experience of performing along side great artists such as Carmen Carrozza, Dr. Robert Young McMahan, Dr. William Schimmel, Beverly Roberts Curnow, and many others.
Christopher Gorton won first place in the Piano Accordion Virtuoso division of the 2003 A.A.A. Festival competition in Philadelphia. In addition to this competition success, Christopher was the first recipient of the Carmen Carrozza Scholarship and was featured at the (CUNY) concert where he performed Paul Creston’s Prelude and Dance ( the first commissioned work presented by the A.A.A.).
The A.A.A. holds an annual fund raiser event to benefit The Carmen Carrozza Scholarship Fund. The event takes place at the Magnanini Winery (172 Strawridge Road, Wallkill, NY 12589) and includes an afternoon of traditional “Valtaro” music, wine tasting, multi-course dinner, family, friends and fun. The event features great artists who donate their time and talents for this worthy cause, such as Carmen Carrozza , Mario Tacca, Dominic Karcic, Frank Toscano, Frank Carozza, Ray Oreggio, Danny Desiderio, Beverly Roberts Curnow, Lenny Feldmann, Tony Dannon, Linda Soley Reed, Kevin Friedrich, Mary Mancini (International Vocal Artist) and many others.
Through the efforts of the A.A.A. and the dedication of the Carrozza Scholarship Committee, Dr. Robert Young McMahan (chairman), Mario Tacca, Linda Soley Reed, Dr. Salvatore M. Febbraio, Dominic Karcic and Dr. Joseph A. Ciccone, the annual fund raiser event continues to draw record attendance with great success.
American Accordionists Association Carmen Carrozza Scholarship
Fundraising Day, New York - USA Contributed by Kevin Friedrich
The American Accordionists' Association held an extremely successful fundraising event at the Magnanini Winery in Wallkill, New York, where hundreds of attendees enjoyed an outstanding afternoon of accordion music, set to wine tasting and dinner.
The 4th Annual event of its kind at the Winery, money raised is put in the AAA Carmen Carrozza Scholarship fund, which will be used for the advancement of promising young accordionists and commissioning new works for the accordion. A past president of the AAA, Carmen Carrozza (picture left with current AAA President Linda Solely Reed) is well known as one of the greatest exponents of the accordion in the classical field. He studied under Pietro Deiro, who was one of the pioneers of the accordion in the United States. He has appeared as soloist with the Boston Pops Orchestra, under the direction of Arthur Fiedler, the Cincinnati Orchestra, Buffalo Symphony Orchestra, and the National Symphony at KennedyCenter (WashingtonD.C.). He has also appeared with the New York Philharmonic under the direction of Andre Kostelanetz, premiering the 'Rubaiyat', written by Alan Hovhaness and narrated by Douglas Fairbanks Jr. in Washington DC, and for former NYC Mayor John Lindsay in New York. (Picture right of famous accordon identities Maddelena Belfiore and Tony Dannon.)
Carrozza has performed concerts throughout Europe and was presented with a gold medal in Italy after an outstanding performance at the Teatro di Pavia. One of the high points in Carmen Carrozza's distinguished career was a concert in Town Hall in New York City where he performed all original accordion works by many outstanding American composers including Robert Russell Bennett, Paul Creston, Virgil Thompson, and many others. Artistes included well known accordionist Mario Tacca and International vocalist Mary Mancini (pictured left), Dominic Karcic and Ray Oreggia playing traditional Italian Valtaro Music, as well as jazz artiste Tony Dannon from Detroit, Frank Carozza, Frank Toscano, Anita and Bob Siarkowski, Linda Soley Reed and CIA President Kevin Friedrich.
The Carmen Carrozza Scholarship Fund All donations of any amount, are most welcomed. Donations payable to the AAA (American Accordionist Association.) Mail directly to:
