from Texas Folklife

The third annual competition invites young Texas and Louisiana players to compete for cash, an all-expenses-paid trip to perform in Germany with Hohner, Inc. and a day-long session at legendary SugarHill Recording Studios

Winner will perform at 20th annual Accordion Kings & Queens concert held on June 6 at Houston’s Miller Outdoor Theatre

Austin, Texas – Texas Folklife and Hohner, Inc. have announced the third annual Big Squeeze accordion contest for up-and-coming musicians in Texas and Louisiana.

The contest was started in 2007 as a way to promote the growth and development of young accordionists in the region. Any genre of music, including Cajun; German, Czech, and Polish polka; Tejano; Western; and Zydeco; to name a few, that incorporates the use of the accordion will be accepted and all are encouraged to apply.

Finalists will perform at Texas Folklife’s highly acclaimed Accordion Kings & Queens concert at Houston’s Outdoor Miller Theatre on June 6, 2009, where the Big Squeeze winner will be announced.

Next year’s concert, the 20th annual Accordion Kings and Queens concert, will feature accordion greats Sunny Sauceda, Santiago Jimenez Jr., Cedryl Ballou, Mark Halata, and Lady “D,” and will be emceed by popular Texas journalist Joe Nick Patoski.

As in previous years, the contest is open to non-professional musicians and will be divided into two categories based upon age. There will be a category for those ages 18 and under and one for those between the ages of 19-25. Contestants will be judged on song interpretation, technical skill, originality, execution, and stage presence. The complete contest rules and entry forms are available online at www.texasfolklife.org or by calling (512) 441-9255. The deadline to enter is March 1, 2009.
From the entries, an esteemed panel of judges will select semifinalists who will perform before them in Austin next May. At that time, up to four finalists will be awarded $250 each, and an expense-paid trip to Houston to perform at the Accordion Kings & Queens concert on June 6.

The final Big Squeeze 2009 grand-prize winner will be selected at the concert by the judges with help from the audience. The grand prize winner will receive a prize package valued at $7,000, including an all expense paid trip to perform in Trossingen, Germany, the home of Hohner’s German factory, a day-long recording session at the historic SugarHill Recording Studios in Houston, and promotional support from Hohner, Inc., SugarHill and Texas Folklife.
“The Big Squeeze contest allows us to fulfill our mission to preserve, promote, and celebrate Texas culture in a very real way,” said Texas Folklife Executive Director Nancy Bless. “By supporting these young musicians we hope to encourage them to continue playing the accordion, an instrument that is central to Texas traditional music. It is gratifying to help inspire a younger generation of musicians, literally put them on the stage, and help assure the future of ‘the national instrument of Texas.’”
`Theatre Advisory Board, Hohner Inc., Houston Endowment, and the Still Water Foundation with generous support from SugarHill Recording Studios, Gabbanelli Accordions, Embassy Suites Hotel, Austin and Raven Grill. Additional support is provided by the City of Austin through the Cultural Arts Division and by a grant from the Texas Commission on the Arts and an award from the National Endowment for the Arts, which believes that a great nation deserves great art.
Texas Folklife
Texas Folklife is a statewide non-profit organization dedicated to presenting and preserving the diverse cultures and living heritage of the Lone Star State. For nearly twenty-five years, Texas Folklife has honored the authentic cultural traditions passed down within communities and explored their importance in contemporary society. Texas Folklife has been called “one of the state’s true cultural treasures” by the Austin American-Statesman for the accessible, joyful arts experiences we provide.
Located in the hip and vibrant neighborhood known as SoCo just south of downtown Austin, Texas Folklife can be found next door to the Continental Club, at 1317 South Congress Avenue and the entrance is in the rear of the building, behind the Ten Thousand Villages storefront. Texas Folklife is open to the public 11-5 Monday through Friday or call for an appointment. Admission is free. For more information contact (512) 441-9255, info@texasfolklife.org or visit www.texasfolklife.org.