OUR FIRST HATE MAIL FROM A FORMER DULUTH ACCORDIANAIRE

From: Susan Fawcett
Proud member of the Duluth Accordion Bands, 1970 - 1980.

In 1970, I was a shy, gifted, youngest child in a family of five, which included an oldest sister with Juvenile Diabetes. I began with the Duluth Accordion Bands and found friends, fun and the discipline of learning a very demanding instrument. The hundreds of students who attended the Duluth Accordion Band programs, and were lucky enough to travel every summer to contests all over the country would be quick to dispel your imagery of 'retarded' junior high girl.' Do you know the composer Saint-Saen? I do. I played 'Introduction and Rondo Capricioso' in the Senior Virtuoso National Contest back in the days I was a proud member of the Duluth Accordionaires. I memorized this 23 page piece in it's entirety, and placed third in the competition. I was also a member of a five instrument accordion combo, who won the Virtuoso Combo category every year we entered. By the way, where were you in 1979? Were you even born yet? That was the year the Duluth Accordionaires traveled to Yugoslavia, Hungary, Poland and Czechoslovakia, playing in the schools in those then communist regime countries. The Duluth Accordionaires were proclaimed the "Goodwill Ambassadors of American Youth' for their travels behind the 'Red Curtain.' By being a member of this wonderful group, I learned a lot about music. But I also learned a lot about patriotism, and how we should be thankful we live in this country of so many freedoms. Even the freedom of speech, which gives you the perfect right to totally trash a group you know nothing about. Irresponsible speech is a byproduct of the freedoms people like you take so much for granted. Maybe if you'd been a member of a group as affirming and loving as the Duluth Accordionaires, you wouldn't be so intent on tearing them down. The Accordionaire's director, John Copiskey, served in the Korean War. Then he came home with nothing but the dream to teach kids accordion, and do it right. He dedicated himself to helping hundreds, maybe thousands, of kids over the years experience more than their own parents could afford to give them. John died in 1987 from cancer. It's up to those of us who benefited from his dedication to set the record straight with insensitive people like you who think destroying someone's legacy to the world is funny - who think their pathetic attempt at derogatory humor is entertainment. Talent is a rare gift, God-given. I truly doubt that the type of sick ranting you engage in would qualify. However, I know the music John Copiskey created with a bunch of kids, a little discipline and a lot of love, WAS God given. I listened to your clip. For music over thirty years old, it's representative of it's time. It's lasted this long. Do you think anyone will remember you, and your negative spewing, past the time it takes them to click past your site? Only someone like me, who cares enough to make a case against it, and a case for respecting the memory of those who've passed on before us. Ever heard of Karma? Negativity breeds negativity. Too bad for you.

Sincerely,

Susan Fawvett

VinylCheese reply: Hmmm, we have heard of Karma. Have you?