Contributed by Amber Masefield

Day 1, Tuesday 23 July 2024

The Accordionists Teachers Guild held their 82^nd Festival on July 23 to 28 in Kansas City, MO at the Marriott Country Club Plaza and the White Recital Hall of the University of Missouri – Kansas City (UMKC). This was a wonderful celebration of Prof. Joan Cochran Sommers 90^th birthday and her contribution to the accordion was a showcase of talent from around the USA and the world.

Tuesday was off to a busy start with a meeting of the Board of Directors, and an Adjudicators Meeting for the competitions. The main desk was constantly moving with people registering and looking at the display of goods both for sale and for the silent auction. The vendors room was also set up with displays from Ernest Deffner, Titano Accordions, Pigini Accordions and Scandalli Accordions.

Competitions were started across multiple rooms with competitors from all over the USA, as well as from Canada, Chile, China, Republic of Moldova and Sweden.

The ATG were proud to hold a diverse range of masterclasses each day, with the first from Cory Pesaturo on the Authenticity of Styles.

In the evening there was a Meet and Greet held in the Grand Ballroom, where ATG President Mary Ann Covone welcomed all the attendees and guest artists to the event, with music provided by Cory Pesaturo.