Mario  Pedone

Mario Pedone was born on October 5- 1951 in Valenzano, a small town near Bari in Southern Italy. In an effort to improve the family's financial situation they immigrated to Valencia, Venezuela in 1959. Mario's older brother Ludovico had begun to study the accordion and Mario was always watching him hoping that one day he also would play this wonderful instrument. He persistently begged his father to let him start accordion lessons too and eventually succeeded. His first teacher was Franco Cupertino a great professional accordion player. Mario devoted at least 4 to 5 hours per day for practicing the accordion. After a few years Professor Miguel Casas Auge from Spain the founder of the Valencia Accordion Club and the Conductor of the Valencia Symphony Orquesta Assumed Mario's accordion education. He was followed by Professor Roberto Ruscitti, a renowed classical accordionist who provided his education for the next 7 years. On March 24-1972, Mario graduated as a Concertista from the school Academia de Acordeon Smith, directed by Roberto Ruscitti. In March 1974 he earned a Cum Laude diploma in accordion from the same school. On April 30 - 1976 he graduated with a degree as Professor of Accordion. After graduation Mario founded his own Accordion School," Academia Latina de Acordeon " were he had over 125 students. Most of his former students are now playing professionally. Mario was a member of the Valencia Accordion Club and Co-founder of the Orquesta Latina together the famous Spanish singer Esteban Abarca. The Orquesta Latina perfòrmed across Venezuela, Mario wòn numerous championships with both Accordion and Organ. In 1981 in search for better future, Mario moved to Sugar Land, Texas USA with his wife Marbella and two Children. He has perfòrmed professionally in many Countries including, Colombia, Venezuela, Sweden, Italy, Canada, Mexico. Mario has his òwn recòrding studio in Sugar Land, TX were he has arranged and recòrded hundreds his own compositions. He produces Cds and background music for other musicians and singers. In 2002 and 2003 he was invited to perform in the famous accordion festival celebrated in Ransäter, Sweden and now Mario's composition " Bergen's Polka " is well know in the Scandinavian Countries. Others performances venues include: San Antonio Accordion Club, special performance sponsor by Jack Stankus in Austin, TX, National Accordion Convention in Dallas, TX, Arizona Accordion Club, Accordion Smash in Orlando, FL, Oklahoma Accordion Club, TV Channel 22 in Houston, TX, Las Vegas Accordion Convention, Salt Lake Accordion Club in Utah, Accordion by the sea festival in Victoria BC, Canada, San Francisco Accordion Club, Petaluma Accordion Club in California, San Jose Accordion Club California, San Diego Accordion Club California, Sacramento Accordion Club California, Reno Accordion Club Nevada, Merida Hucatan Mexico, Performance in Montreal Canada, in Vancuver Canada, Accordion Club in Natick, Massachusetts, Viking Hull in Massachusetts, Accordion Connection in Concorde, NH, Ageless Dreamer in Dover, NH, Accordion Festival in Kimberley BC, Canada, Calgary accordion competion AB, Canada, Theatre of the Forbidden City in Beijing, China, Classical and modern Music Conservatory in Beijing China, Music Conservatory in Shenyang China, also Performed with Houston Symphony Orquesta and many others accordion clubes. On December 14, 2003 Mario founded the Fort Bend County Accordion Club and in 2004 the Club sponsored the first great accordion concert in Sugar Land, TX featuring: Frank Marocco, Anatoly Yegorov, Nick Ballarini, Mario Pedone and singer Liberty Palileo. On Feb. 2006 The Fort Bend and Bay Area Accordion Clubs sponsored an Accordion Concert Tribute to the great Accordionist Joe Vento also the great performer Sammy Thomas and the wonderful accordionist Kin and Dan Christian. At the moment Mario is living in the Sugar Land Area ( Fort Bend County , Texas USA ) Mario Started his own Music School, teaching Accordion, Piano and Keyboard, also Background music for Musicians and Singers, Background music for Accordion Midis, Teaching Accordion using the Skype Technology, at the moment Mario performs in an Italian Restaurant Fornos of Italy every Saturdays togheter the famous Filipino singer Liberty Palileo. To contact Mario: marioaccordion@gmail.com - Cell: 713-401-7933