Dr. Willard A. Palmer music festival at Harrington Arts Center

The Dr. Willard A. Palmer music festival at Harrington Arts Center is celebrating accordion music across various cultures. While the accordion was first invented in Germany, it’s become an incredibly popular instrument throughout many countries. Accordions are popular with folk and polka music in European countries, but its also in mainstream pop music in Latin American countries.

Dr. Willard A. Palmer’s son, Bill Palmer talked more about his father at the Harrington Arts Center. “Dad was an interesting character. He was a he was a child prodigy on the piano.” Palmer said. “When the accordion began to get popular, he realized that he could actually pick up the accordion and walk around with it. That was an interesting concept. You can’t do that with a grand piano.”

Some of the events happening at the Harrington Arts Center are instrument demos, and tours of the accordion museum. However, there’s a live concert performance from Mihoko Goto and Chiharu Ebihara, who are both leading accordionists from Japan.

Also Saturday May 6th, the Harrington Arts Center is celebrating World Accordion Day, which include lessons for kids, tribute concerts, and other fun events. For more information on the Dr. Willard A. Palmer music festival at the Harrington Arts Center you can look here. For other stories happening in Superior you can look here.