In 2013, I began directing an enthusiastic group of people who love playing the accordion, the Happy Fingers Accordion Band. The members of the orchestra were amateur players, some of whom began playing as young adults, while others picked up the instrument in their 40s. We practiced every other Saturday in my studio, performed in recitals and at an accordion club in the DFW area. In March 2014 we performed at “15 minutes of Fame” at the National Accordion Convention.
Over time, the Happy Fingers Accordion Band became the Fainshtein Accordion Ensemble.
In 2015 the Fainshtein Accordion Ensemble participated at the National Accordion Association Convention as part of a large, 40-member advanced orchestra. Under my conducting, the Ensemble performed six pieces: America the Beautiful, Old Friends, Haffner Serenade, Radetzky’s March, the Girl from Ipanema, and Yankee Doodle Boy.
I always had a dream to create an Accordion Students Orchestra to put together a group of young boys and girls who love to play such a unique instrument.
And in 2018, having more talented young accordion students, I was able to accomplish that! Some former accordion enthusiasts joined us, and then we were able to give a show at the National Accordion Convention in 2019! The photo and video clip below are evidence that young and old, beginner students and more advanced musicians, piano accordion and bayan are natural partners.
During the pandemic, we kept our musical connections through Skype since we were unable to perform together in person. When the pandemic ended, we felt so excited to be together again that we had one of our biggest performances ever! “A Winter Accordion Wonderland” in 2024 was a collaboration with my colleagues, duo Sergei and Maria Teleshev, Martina Li, and the younger members of the Fainshtein Accordion Ensemble. In connection with this concert, we renamed our accordion orchestra the “Fainshtein Accordion Ensemble”. Since that concert, we performed at the ATG Accordion Competition and won 2nd place in the Ensemble category.
We were so thankful for our sponsors at Innovative Accordion Music Productions for helping us arrange such a wonderful concert in 2024. We are so grateful for their belief in our musicians.
As you can see below, playing the accordion is a joyful experience. Join us. You’ll have the time of your life!
