{"id":7932,"date":"2018-01-26T18:55:25","date_gmt":"2018-01-26T18:55:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/losfresnosnews.net\/?p=7932"},"modified":"2018-01-26T18:55:25","modified_gmt":"2018-01-26T18:55:25","slug":"the-big-squeeze-accordion-contest-is-back-for-2018","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/losfresnosnews.net\/?p=7932","title":{"rendered":"The BIG SQUEEZE Accordion Contest is Back for 2018"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Lineup\"<\/a><\/h2>\n

Texas Folklife Will Search for Top Young Accordion Talent in Showcases Across the State<\/h2>\n

Grand Prize Winners will be selected in the following updated four categories:\u00a0 Polka Grand Prize (Age 25 and under); Cajun & Zydeco Grand Prize (Age 21 and under); Anthony Ortiz, Jr. Conjunto Grand Prize (Ages 18-21); Conjunto (Ages 17 and under)<\/h3>\n

Austin, Texas \u2013<\/strong> Texas Folklife is thrilled to announce that the Big Squeeze Accordion Contest is back in 2018. This will be the 12th<\/sup>\u00a0year for the Big Squeeze program that supports up-and-coming Texas youth accordionists.\u00a0The contest is one of the ways in which Texas Folklife carries out its mission to preserve and present Texas\u2019s diverse cultural heritage. The contest recruits players in all genres of the Lone Star State\u2019s accordion-based music, including German, Czech, and Polish polka; Creole, Cajun, and zydeco; conjunto, norte\u00f1o, and Tejano.<\/p>\n

Since 2007 Texas Folklife has built a reputation as a champion of Texas accordion music genres through the Big Squeeze program, and has supported over 230 young, talented players from dozens of Texas towns and cities in their efforts to carry on these vital community-based accordion music traditions.\u00a0 This year, Texas Folklife will hit the road again and hold Big Squeeze showcases in communities throughout the state to search for young accordion talent.\u00a0Four Final Grand Prize Winners will be selected from Texas traditional accordion music genres: polka, Cajun, zydeco, and conjunto. The polka genre will include German, Czech, and Polish polka traditions. Cajun & Zydeco will include zydeco, Creole and Cajun musical traditions. And conjunto will include conjunto, norte\u00f1o and Tejano.<\/p>\n

For the 2018 program Texas Folklife has implemented some changes that will encourage more statewide youth participation. The Conjunto Category has been split into two age categories (one for ages 17 and under, and one for ages 18-21) and the Polka Category has been extended to ages 25 and under. There are no changes in the Cajun & Zydeco Category. The Conjunto grand prizecategory for ages 18-21 is named in loving memory of Anthony Ortiz, Jr., a former Big Squeeze finalist, virtuosic young professional accordionist, and member of the Texas Folklife family who passed away in 2017.\u00a0The showcases will be free and open to the public, and will feature music by established accordion artists as well as showcase the young musicians.<\/p>\n

The Big Squeeze talent showcases for 2018:<\/p>\n

February 10: \u00a0\u00a0 Ennis Czech Music Fest in Ennis<\/p>\n

February 11: \u00a0\u00a0 Pleasant Grove Branch Library in Dallas<\/p>\n

February 17:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Caf\u00e9 4212 in Houston<\/p>\n

February 18:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Multicultural Education & Counseling through the Arts in Houston<\/p>\n

February 24:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Larry\u2019s French Market & Cajun Restaurant in Nederland\/Groves<\/p>\n

March 3:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 McDonald Public Library in Corpus Christi<\/p>\n

March 11:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Guadalupe Theater in San Antonio<\/p>\n

March \u00a023: \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Los Fresnos High School in Los Fresnos<\/p>\n

March \u00a024: \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Palmview High School in Palmview<\/p>\n

April 21: \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Big Squeeze Finals: Bullock Texas State History Museum in Austin<\/p>\n

Up to twelve finalists (three from each category) will be selected the 1st<\/sup>\u00a0week of April a panel of judges, and will perform at the Big Squeeze Concert and Finals at the Bullock Museum on Saturday, April 21. At that time, four Grand Prize Winners will be selected. The four Big Squeeze 2018 Grand Prize Winners will receive a prize package valued at more than $4,000, including a cash prize, performance opportunities with Texas Folklife, publicity, professional development, and other professional opportunities. Additionally, the Grand Prize Winners will perform onstage with legendary Texas musicians at Texas Folklife\u2019s Accordion Kings & Queens Concert, held at Houston\u2019s Miller Outdoor Theatre in June.<\/p>\n

Interested players are encouraged to reserve a showcase slot at a venue in their region by contacting Texas Folklife. Those who cannot attend a showcase may also mail or e-mail their entries to arrive at Texas Folklife no later than March 30, 2018. The complete contest rules and entry forms are available online at\u00a0www.texasfolklife.org\/bigsqueeze2018<\/a>
\nor by calling (512) 441-9255.<\/p>\n

Big Squeeze Program Director\u00a0Alysha Hern\u00e1ndez will be leading the Big Squeeze Program again this year in 2018. Hern\u00e1ndez brings a decade of experience in communications, film, and live event production. She is a native Texan, born in San Antonio and has spent much of her life in the Rio Grande Valley.\u00a0Veteran arts administrator Tomas Salas will also join the team this year as Big Squeeze Program Producer. Tomas has over 3 decades of experience in the performing and visual arts as a performer and an arts administrator.<\/p>\n

The Big Squeeze also has opportunities for individuals and organizations to become sponsors of the program. There is information on the website on how to become a Big Squeeze Sponsor at:\u00a0www.texasfolklife.org\/bigsqueeze2018<\/a>\u00a0or please contact us by phone at 512-441-9255.<\/p>\n

\u201cI can\u2019t wait to get started on the Big Squeeze Accordion Contest for 2018,\u201d said Executive Director Charlie Lockwood. \u201cThis year we\u2019ve made some improvements to the program to foster more participation from young musicians across the state.\u00a0The Big Squeeze is one of our most popular and most important programs,\u00a0we have a great production team and are\u00a0excited to hit the road again this year!\u201d<\/p>\n

The Big Squeeze is supported by Hohner, Inc., by grants from H-E-B, The Texas Music Office, Texas Commission on the Arts, the Cultural Arts Division of the City of Austin\u2019s Economic Development Department, and the City of Houston through the Miller Theatre Advisory Board. Regional community and venue partners include Hacienda Records, Cajun Sounds Internet Radio,www.zydecoevents.com<\/a>, Conjunto Heritage Taller, McDonald Public Library in Corpus Christi, Caf\u00e9 4212, Multicultural Education & Counseling through the Arts, Larry\u2019s French Market & Cajun Restaurant, Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center, Los Fresnos High School, La Joya Independent School District, and the\u00a0Bullock Texas State History Museum.<\/p>\n

About Texas Folklife<\/strong><\/p>\n

Texas Folklife is a statewide non-profit organization dedicated to presenting and preserving the diverse cultures and living heritage of the Lone Star State, and is designated by the National Endowment for the Arts as the Folk & Traditional Arts organization for the state.\u00a0 Since 1984, Texas Folklife has honored cultural traditions passed down within communities, explored their importance in contemporary society, and celebrated them by providing accessible and joyful arts experiences.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Texas Folklife Will Search for Top Young Accordion Talent in Showcases Across the State Grand Prize Winners will be selected in the following updated four categories:\u00a0 Polka Grand Prize (Age 25 and under); Cajun & Zydeco Grand Prize (Age 21 and under); Anthony Ortiz, Jr. Conjunto Grand Prize (Ages 18-21); Conjunto (Ages 17 and under) […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":6264,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[12],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7932","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-events"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/losfresnosnews.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7932","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/losfresnosnews.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/losfresnosnews.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/losfresnosnews.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/losfresnosnews.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=7932"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/losfresnosnews.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7932\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7933,"href":"https:\/\/losfresnosnews.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7932\/revisions\/7933"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/losfresnosnews.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/6264"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/losfresnosnews.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=7932"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/losfresnosnews.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=7932"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/losfresnosnews.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=7932"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}