The Accordionists and Teachers Guild International Festival presents the University of Missouri Kansas City (UMKC) Accordion Ensemble, directed by world-renowned conductor, Joan Cochran Sommers, to open the program. This year’s group, assisted by Wheaton College graduates on percussion, presents an interesting and musically demanding repertoire which we know will be appreciated by all audiences! The UMKC Ensemble will be followed by Das Duo Kollektiv, from Vienna, Austria, who brings a unique combination of accordion and flute music to the program. Das Duo Kollektiv has placed itself among the best innovative ensembles of classical music throughout Europe and is gaining recognition in the United States. They bring craftsmanship and a flair for new colors, dynamics, and refined interpretations of classical music to their program shaped by their travels throughout the world.
