Jul 20 - 23 2022
Accordion Teachers Guild Accordion Petting Zoo - Free for all ages!

Accordion Teachers Guild Accordion Petting Zoo - Free for all ages!

Presented by Accordion Teachers Guild at Hyatt Lisle Hotel

The festival kicks off Wednesday, July 20th at 10 a.m. with an “Accordion Petting Zoo,’ featuring dozens of accordions displayed in the Hyatt Lisle ballroom, any of which can be “petted” and played. This event is perfect for young and old alike, or anyone who has ever wanted to learn more about the elusive accordion. The event also features children’s entertainer, singer and songwriter, Jane Christison of ‘Janie Next Door.’ Best known for her ‘Music with a Smile,’ and engaging performances, Janie loves introducing kids to instruments they don’t hear very often – like the accordion.  Participants can put on an accordion, pull the bellows and even play a tune – there are endless possibilities with ATG performers and teachers on hand to demonstrate and entertain. The “Accordion Petting Zoo” is also offered on Saturday, July 23 at 10:00 a.m. Both events take place at the Hyatt Lisle Hotel, located at 1400 Corporetum Drive in Lisle, and are open to all ages and free to attend.

The festival highlights also include three captivating concerts being co-presented with the Wheaton College Artist Series. The concert events kick-off on Thursday, July 21st at 7:30 p.m. at Wheaton College’s Barrows Auditorium with the UMKC Community Accordion Ensemble followed by guest artists Mirco Patarini, President of the Confédération Internationale des Accordéonistes (CIA), Murl Allen Sanders, musician, composer, teacher and recording artist and Nikolay Bine (featured guest artist of the New York Times).

The second concert of the ATG and Wheaton College Artist Series continues on Friday, July 22 at 7:30 p.m. at Wheaton College’s Armerding Concert Hall with world-renowned accordionist Michael Bridge. He is a virtuoso performer on both the acoustic accordion, and its 21st Century cousin, the digital accordion – an extraordinary piece of technological wizardry that imitates the sound of just about any instrument one can imagine. Bridge, the superstar of the accordion world makes this a can’t miss event.

The final concert of the ATG and Wheaton College Artist Series concludes on Saturday, July 23 at 7:30 p.m. at Wheaton College’s Armerding Concert Hall featuring the Racine Symphony Orchestra, and guest artist Stas Venglevski, virtuoso of the bayan accordion. The event culminates with the 80-piece Festival Orchestra conducted by the one and only, Joan C. Sommers. Sommers is a former ATG Champion and founder of the World Accordion Orchestra.

Thursday evenings concert is at Barrows Auditorium on the campus of Wheaton College. Friday and Saturday evenings concerts are in the new, acoustically engineered Armerding Concert Hall.  All concerts begin at 7:30 p.m. Tickets for all ATG Wheaton College Artist Series events are $35.00 each or all 3 event tickets for only $75.00. Student tickets are available for $10.00. All tickets can be purchased beginning June 1 through the Wheaton College Artist Series website at: wheaton.edu/atg

Dates & Times

2022/07/20 - 2022/07/23

Location Info

Hyatt Lisle Hotel

1400 Corporetum Drive, Lisle, IL 60532