Lifetime Achievement Award

The AAA Life Time Achievement Award recognizes individuals who have devoted their life to the accordion as a performer, educator, manufacturer/publisher.

In 2003, the American Accordionists' Association presented its first Lifetime Achievement Award to Carmen Carrozza. The event held at Colonial Terrace in Wallkill, New York drew accordionists and affecionados from near and far.

Past Lifetime Achievement Award Recipients:

Year Name Venue
2002 Carmen Carrozza Colonial Terrace
2003 Dick Contino Fiesta - Wood Ridge, NJ
2004 Charles Nunzio Fiesta - Wood Ridge, NJ
2005 Tony Dannon Dearborn, MI
2006 Frank Marocco Fiesta - Wood Ridge, NJ
2009 Faithe Deffner NYC Tavern on the Green
2012 Joan Sommers Charleston SC
2016 Mario Tacca Colonial Terrace
2018 Lou Coppola Alexandria, Virginia
2019 Joey Miskulin NY State
2021 Linda Soley Reed Online Presentation
Upcoming 2023 Frank Busso Sr. Conshohocken, PA

Upcoming Events

2024 AAA 86th Festival, July 12-14, 2024 West Conshohocken, PA in the Philadelphia Area


2024 Elsie M. Bennett Accordion Composition Competition. Information and entry: Entry closing date, April 12, 2024.


2023 AAA 85th Anniversary Festival Daily Reports

July 12-16, 2023
Marriott Philadelphia West
Conshohocken, PA 19428

2023 AAA Color Journal (47 pages)
Wednesday July 12, Daily Report
Thursday July 13, Daily Report
Friday July 14, Daily Report
Saturday July 15, Daily Report
Sunday July 16, Daily Report


AAA History Articles

Historical Articles about the AAA by AAA Historian Joan Grauman Morse


Music Commissions

Original works commissioned by the AAA since 1957

Recent articles:
Alexander Tcherepnin: Invention, Tzigane
Joel Brickman: Prelude & Caprice

Download Composer's Guide to the Piano Accordion

AAA Newsletters

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