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2023 SPECIAL GUESTS
Jelena Milojević
Jelena joins the 2023 Accordion Fest as our masterclass instructor. As a versatile musician with an extensive performance history and 3 studio albums, she has performed at some of the world’s most prestigious venues such as Carnegie Hall and Berlin Philharmonie. She is the winner of some of the most distinguished international accordion competitions, such as the CMA World Trophy, International Accordion Competition in Castelfidardo, Italy, International Accordion competition in Pula, Croatia, Roland V-Accordion Competition, and more.
With more than 20 years of teaching experience, her students have won numerous prizes at various international competitions, have played with symphony orchestras and developed successful performing careers. She is the Artistic Director of the World Accordion and Tango Festival in Victoria and a frequent adjudicator at the biggest international accordion competitions.
With more than 20 years of teaching experience, her students have won numerous prizes at various international competitions, have played with symphony orchestras and developed successful performing careers. She is the Artistic Director of the World Accordion and Tango Festival in Victoria and a frequent adjudicator at the biggest international accordion competitions.
Ronen Segall
Creator of AccordionLove.com, Ronen will lead a klezmer and improvisation workshop for intermediate to advanced accordionists. He's also a featured performer at our Main Concert and Squeezebox Night closing party.
Budge Schachte
Guitarist, composer, producer, and educator Budge Schachte has worked with a diverse cast of groups and artists, including playwright Tomson Highway, Tango Paradiso, Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, and many more. His playing can be heard on several film soundtracks. Budge co-leads the gypsy jazz group Van Django, which has recorded 4 CDs and toured in Canada, USA, Europe, and China.
Boyd Norman
Bassist Boyd Norman has over 5 decades of experience as a touring performer, studio musician, and recording artist. His career as a freelance studio bassist includes recording projects for Ward 6, Eddie Eastman, Gordon Quinton, The Rakish Angles (nominated for WCMA and CFMA awards), Georgia Fats (feat. Joel Fafard), and Farm Team (feat. Simon Paradis).
He was a studio musician for numerous CBC radio and television programs, represented Canada (along with k.d. lang) as part of Barkin’ Kettle at the 1986 Commonwealth Games, and currently performs with many eminent Vancouver and Sunshine Coast musicians.
He was a studio musician for numerous CBC radio and television programs, represented Canada (along with k.d. lang) as part of Barkin’ Kettle at the 1986 Commonwealth Games, and currently performs with many eminent Vancouver and Sunshine Coast musicians.
Dr. Moira Hopfe-Ostensen
Dr. Moira holds both Bachelor and Master’s degrees from the University of Alberta in Piano Performance and Literature. She has earned Certification of Advanced Studies, and an Associate Degree from the Royal College of Music, a Licentiate Degree from the Royal Academy of Music, London, England, and a Doctor of Musical Arts Degree at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (SWBTS), Fort Worth, Texas. Dr. Moira held the position as Chair of the Keyboard Department at SWBTS. Concurrently, she was the Director of the Southwestern Music Academy.
Other study and teaching locations include Arizona State University, the University of Western Ontario, the University of British Columbia, the Banff School of Fine Arts, and the Johanneson Summer School of the Arts, Victoria. She has been certified by the Toronto Conservatory of Music as an ‘Advanced Specialist' and is a member of the College of Examiners for the Royal Conservatory of Music. She has received numerous awards, including a Professional Distinction Award for Outstanding Achievement in the Arts from the Peace Hills Arts Council, Canada.
Other study and teaching locations include Arizona State University, the University of Western Ontario, the University of British Columbia, the Banff School of Fine Arts, and the Johanneson Summer School of the Arts, Victoria. She has been certified by the Toronto Conservatory of Music as an ‘Advanced Specialist' and is a member of the College of Examiners for the Royal Conservatory of Music. She has received numerous awards, including a Professional Distinction Award for Outstanding Achievement in the Arts from the Peace Hills Arts Council, Canada.
Martin Hergt
Martin will be on site at the Fest for accordion sales, tune-ups, and repairs.
Tempo Trend Music was established by Martin’s father 60 years ago in Victoria. He was a watchmaker by trade and always had a love for accordions. When Martin’s father was working in Sechelt in 1960, he was slowly introduced to the accordion business by a person who was in touch with the Canadian Accordions Institute. This person had a love for accordions and offered Martin's father Vancouver Island as the territory to deal with the Canadian Accordions Institute. So Martin’s father started his accordion business while still working as a watchmaker.
This was the beginning of Tempo Trend Music and Martin and his father, Karl, built it up from there. They moved into the current location in 1967. Martin started working here as a teen and has been working in the business for over 45 years.
What started as a business that focused on accordion sales expanded over the years to include teaching accordion lessons.
Tempo Trend's mission:
We aim to help people with all kinds of musical needs. We are a full end-to-end store making music accessible to everyone.
Tempo Trend Music was established by Martin’s father 60 years ago in Victoria. He was a watchmaker by trade and always had a love for accordions. When Martin’s father was working in Sechelt in 1960, he was slowly introduced to the accordion business by a person who was in touch with the Canadian Accordions Institute. This person had a love for accordions and offered Martin's father Vancouver Island as the territory to deal with the Canadian Accordions Institute. So Martin’s father started his accordion business while still working as a watchmaker.
This was the beginning of Tempo Trend Music and Martin and his father, Karl, built it up from there. They moved into the current location in 1967. Martin started working here as a teen and has been working in the business for over 45 years.
What started as a business that focused on accordion sales expanded over the years to include teaching accordion lessons.
Tempo Trend's mission:
We aim to help people with all kinds of musical needs. We are a full end-to-end store making music accessible to everyone.
Terry Martyniuk
Drummer / percussionist Terry Martyniuk has been playing a wide variety of musical styles for over 50 years. He enjoys collaborating and creating musical chemistry with others. Retired from the television broadcast industry, his other pastimes include accordion, Core Energetics facilitation, gardening, hiking and spending time with his grandson.
Jessica Colasanto
Jessica Colasanto is a mother of three (one in high school and two in Victoria) who manages Lift’s community support programs. When she isn’t walking the neighbourhood or local trails with her husband, she loves to balance her work life with music and writing.
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