DALLAS (1080 KRLD)- Dallas is hosting an event this weekend to celebrate an instrument that has played an important role in the state's musical history. The accordion has been popular in folk music from several different cultures, and people from those cultures have mingled in Texas - including Germans, Czechs, the French, and people from Mexico.
"Texas is very diverse, and we wanted to be able to provide a platform for youth to not only celebrate their culture and their traditions, but to showcase their talent with accordion music," said Dr. Elisha Oliver, the Executive Director of Texas Folklife.
The concert is part of a series called "The Big Squeeze". There was a similar event earlier this month in Austin that featured musicians from Los Fresnos High School in far south Texas.
"The acumen on accordion was just amazing to me, from these young people," said Director of Production Sean Ardoin.
There will be another event in a few weeks in Houston.
"Each community has its own traditions, however there is some inter-relatedness there...the conjunto, we also see polka," said Dr. Oliver. "For us at Texas Folklife, being able to highlight these different genres is one of the things we look forward to doing every year."
This weekend's event is Saturday, May 18th, at the Dallas College - West Dallas Center on Hampton Road. Performers will include Elena Fainshtein with students Elayne Doggett and Elijah Clements, Osviel Parra and Andony Parra, and The Homeboyz. The event starts at 11:00am.
Texas Folklife is asking people who plan to attend to register in advance online here.
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