Daniel Desiderio (1985 to 2011)
Daniel J. Desiderio is a renowned accordion teacher, composer, arranger, and recording artist. He is regarded by many as one of the greatest accordionists of our time.
Mr. Desiderio was a student of Pietro Deiro, the "Daddy of the Accordion." He was a featured soloist in the United States Air Force Band from 1951 to 1955, where he performed for many dignitaries, including President and Mrs. Eisenhower at the White House. Following his military service he returned home to open his own accordion conservatory in the Philadelphia area to pursue his lifelong love of music education. In his spare time he performed on radio and television and in numerous concert halls, including twice at New York's Carnegie Hall.
He is a former board member of the American Accordionists' Association and a founding member of the Pennsylvania Accordion Teachers Association. In 1985 he took over as conductor of the Accordion Pops Orchestra and built it into what it is today: the largest continuously operating accordion orchestra in the United States.
Mr. Desiderio currently mentors advanced accordionists and writes arrangements for an accordion ensemble.
Eugene Ettore (1980 to 1985)
Eugene Ettore was a composer, arranger, teacher, and conductor with over 300 copyrighted works to his credit. He was conductor of the famous Sano Accordion Symphony and led the orchestra until his untimely death in 1985.
Mr. Ettore served as both board member and president of the Accordion Teachers Association of New Jersey and the American Accordionists' Association. He was chief editor and arranger for Pietro Deiro Publications and a member of ASCAP (the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers). The orchestra continues to perform his arrangements today.
Jacob Neupauer (1970 to 1980)
Dr. Jacob Neupauer, founder of the renowned Neupauer Conservatory of Music, became the orchestra's first conductor in 1970. He was a master teacher of champion students, musicians, composers, arrangers, and teachers.
Dr. Neupauer was the founder of the Philadelphia Accordion Orchestra and a member of the advisory board of the American Accordionists' Association. He passed away on April 14, 2011.
