Nestled in Superior, Wisc., lies a haven for accordion enthusiasts, music lovers, and history lovers alike: the A World of Accordions Museum (AWAM). Founded in 1993 by Dr. Helmi Strahl Harrington, this museum boasts one of the world’s biggest and most comprehensive collections of accordion-family instruments, showcasing over 2,250 pieces spanning nearly 200 years of musical history.
The museum offers a truly immersive experience. Visitors can explore over 130 displays that trace the evolution of the accordion family, highlighting instruments from various countries, their specific uses, and quality classifications. One part of the museum, known as the Duane Sellman Special Exhibits Area, features displays honoring those who have made an impact on American performing arts, and whose estates are contained in the museum.
However, the AWAM goes beyond static displays. It’s a vibrant center for music education with the on-site Accordion-concertina Repair and Technicians’ School (ARTS); the 1,000-seat Hanni Strahl Concert Hall, which hosts musical artists from all over the world; a 60-item collection of instruments included in the AWAM Traveling Museum, which offers demonstration workshops at national conventions and festivals; the Accordion Concertina Music Studios, where students of any age can take lessons in a variety of instruments, with locations in Burnsville, Minn., Duluth, and Superior; and an Accordion Resource Center Libraries, a treasure trove of cultural and historical documents, recordings, and books related to the accordion. “The extensive collection of documentation, which covers the evolution of the technology and aesthetic value of these instruments, is something that really sets AWAM apart from other similar museums,” Dr. Helmi shared.
The Beginning
Dr. Helmi’s vision for a musical instrument repair program started at Red Wing Technical School in 1991. She developed an original curriculum and even created a popular instrument display that attracted visitors from around the world. However, budget restructuring at the legislative level in 1993 forced the closure of her department.
Dr. Helmi’s contributions and achievements at Red Wing Technical School brought in lots of publicity, which resulted in a long list of prospective students. That same year, she founded the ARTS school in Duluth. This new higher-education school offered a unique program where students could learn from Dr. Helmi’s impressive 450-piece instrument collection.
The instrument collection grew rapidly, becoming its own entity (named AWAM) in 1998. As both the school and the museum collection expanded, it became difficult to house them together in Duluth. Eventually, the museum relocated to a larger space in a former church in Superior.
By 2002, with its growing subsidiaries, the entire organization adopted the name Harrington ARTS Center.
The Accordion Festival
For over 20 years, AWAM has hosted an annual two-day event featuring concerts, workshops, talks, and even a polka service. This festival caters to a wide audience, welcoming both accordion aficionados, those curious to discover the versatility of this unique instrument, or even those who simply enjoy music.
The festival will take place May 2-5 at the Harrington ARTS Center in Superior (1401 Belknap Street), and feature live music (including one performance with music from The Beatles), workshops, a free nondenominational polka service, a free family concert, and more.
Celebrating World Accordion Day
The first full day of the festival, May 4, will honor World Accordion Day (which technically falls on May 6). May 6 is an important day for accordion lovers because it marks the day the first patent for the instrument was filed by Cyrill Demian in Vienna, Austria. Dr. Helmi said that the day is all about celebrating accordion artists and musicians from all over the world.
The Documentary: World Premiere
This year, May 4 also brings a very special event: the world premiere of a new documentary titled A World of Accordions Museum…A Harrington Legacy, sponsored by the Accordionists and Teachers Guild, International. “The board had been working to get resources together to turn the contents of the museum and its story into a documentary, and we are finally able to show the finished piece during the AWAM Festival,” Dr. Helmi shared. Festival attendees will have the opportunity to watch the documentary for the very first time. As for when and where people can watch the documentary after the festival, that is still being determined.
Dr. William A. Palmer Festival
The second full day of the festival (Sunday, May 5), celebrates Dr. Willard A. Palmer, who developed the free base accordion (and who also happened to be Dr. Helmi’s instructor at one point in her education journey). AWAM was also fortunate to be the recipient of Dr. Palmer’s musical estate in 2013, including a 10-foot harpsichord, which is the focal point of the Hanni Strahl Concert Hall. “It’s the only one on the continent,” Dr. Helmi added.
For more information about A World of Accordions Museum or the festival, visit: worldofaccordions.org, or
facebook.com/aworldofaccordions.
