NEW YORK — If you’ve heard music with an accordion, chances are you’ve heard Bill Schimmel playing it.
Schimmel, a highly skilled accordion player and composer, has been residing in New York since his time at Juilliard in the 1960s. Over the years, he has established himself as a prominent figure in the realms of professional music, music education, and accordion performance. Schimmel attributes his musical journey to his desire to connect with his family.
“I noticed that at family gatherings and parties, the accordion players – usually my uncles – seemed to be having the most fun. That’s when I decided I wanted to join them. Initially, it was about earning respect within the family,” he explained.
In his teenage years, Schimmel discovered that the instrument which helped him blend in at home actually made him stand out among his peers in Philadelphia. Recalling those days, Schimmel shared, “I used to bring my accordion to parties, thinking it would make me popular… but it didn’t! During post-World-War America, we were all striving to assimilate as Americans, and playing the accordion instantly revealed your ethnic background.”
Schimmel moved to New York and graduated from Juilliard. He worked his way into New York’s professional music scene composing, conducting and playing. His band The Tango Project had a gig playing at a Tango School teaching Al Pacino how to dance for the film “Scent of a Woman.” Pacino preferred the band’s performances, which led to Schimmel’s big screen debut. In addition to film, Schimmel’s work has been heard from the biggest stages to hit TV shows.
Today, Schimmel collaborates with former Juilliard classmate and dancer Micki Goodman and his son Michael to spread the love of music with special-needs adults. He’s also known for holding yearly accordion seminars meant to support the resurgence of accordion and propel the instrument into the future.
