Henry Doktorski Pianist Organist Accordionist Composer Conductor Author Educator Fairbanks Summer Arts Festival 2006

July 29, 2006, Fairbanks, Alaska: Henry Doktorski performed as guest soloist with the Fairbanks Summer Arts Festival Orchestra under the direction of conductor Russell Guyver in a performance of Astor Piazzolla's Adios Nonino. The concert was held at the University of Alaska Fairbanks Davis Concert Hall.

Other works on the program included: Brahms' Symphony No. 2 in D, Rossini's Overture from The Thieving Magpie, Haydn's Sinfonia Concertante (featuring violinist Audrey Solomon, cellist Lars Hoefs, oboist Candy Rydlinksi and bassoonist George Rydlinski), Paul Creston's Concertino for Marimba and Orchestra (featuring marimbist Scott Deal), and Klaus Badelt's Pirates of the Caribbean.

This season (July 16 to July 30) marked Doktorski's second year as Instructor of Accordion at the Fairbanks Summer Arts Festival. In addition to teaching classes in Button- and Piano-Accordion, Doktorski also performed in concert on Friday, July 21 at the UAF Davis Concert Hall in a piece he arranged for quintet at the request of festival founder and chairperson Jo Ryman Scott: A Traditional Jewish Folk Tune for accordion, oboe (Marc Fink), violin (Michael Ferril), clarinet (Steve Roberts), and double bass (Paul Sharpe). Judy Kreith performed as dancer (with Marc Fink).

There were plenty of other opportunities to perform during the two-week festival. At the Lunch Bites daily concerts Doktorski performed as soloist The Pennsylvania Polka at the request of Jo Ryman Scott, and Pietro Deiro's Celestina Polka . He performed two duets: Astor Piazzolla's Oblivion with pianist Vardan Ovsepian, and Bruce Delbridge's La Lechera Tango with harmonica player Bruce Delbridge.

One of the highlights of the Lunch Bites concert series was the Festival Accordion Ensemble (accordionists Christine Upton, Louis Kowalski, Ann Huff, and Doktorski with tuba player Rodger Ridenour) playing traditional Austrian Walzer und Polka Lieder. During the refrain, the accordionists rose to their feet, raised beer steins and sang "Bier Her! Bier Her! Oder Ich Fall Um!"

The accordion ensemble also performed concerts at various venues in Fairbanks, including performances at the Denali State Bank (see photographs below) and at The Pump House.

Henry Doktorski, Louise Kowalski, Ann Huff, Christine Upton

Button-Box Student Denise Akert and teacher watching the Fairbanks Parade. Photo by June Kamerling.