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Victoria Accordion Club members have unique and interesting lives. From time to time, this section will highlight some individuals, their background and accomplishments.

Kathrine Pennock I come from a family of accordion players: grandmother, aunts, uncles, and grew up surrounded by happy accordion music, dancing etc. I started taking lessons at age 10 from Crawford Clarke in Nanaimo and at 14 started teaching the junior students for him until I graduated. My parents bought the current accordion I play, a Titano Virtuoso, which is an old midi, when I was 16 years old for $1600. Now that was a lot of money back then! I worked my way up the Palmer Hughes books and played many classical pieces also- Jolly Cabalero, Pietro's Return etc. My accordion paid for my "keep" at the University of Victoria from 1969 to 1971 as I played in a dance band called the Continentals. Fabulous sound, if I say so myself. When I started teaching school, got married, etc. the accordion got put away and I never played seriously again until I retired in 2003. It was in Kimberley that Martin Hergt of Tempo Trend told me about the Victoria Club. Playing my accordion is the happiest part of my retirement next to globetrotting with my husband and girl friends. George and I love doing the accordion festival circuit every year- Leavenworth, Kimberley etc. and tuck in visits with our grand daughters and family on route who are scattered in BC and Alberta. I love playing my accordion every day and leave all my cares behind when I start squeezin'. I couldn't live without music. Accordion music is the magic that keeps my spirit alive. I am so grateful to be part of the Victoria group. They are simply the best in all ways! Music is an international language and has opened many doors as I have roamed the globe.

[Click here for video clip on Karl Hergt]

Karl Hergt Local accordion aficionado and journeyman.

Irv Lang Irv started accordion lessons at the age of nine in Winnipeg, Manitoba. In his early teens he and his parents moved to Vancouver where he continued his music lessons. His desire was to become a skilled and talented accordionist. In his teen years he was hired by the Service Shows to entertain at various military locations throughout British Columbia As a young man he was hired as a staff musician on Vancouver’s C.K.N.W. radio station where he worked for 8 years. He formed his own Trio and performed at most of Vancouver's major hotels, including the Vancouver Hotel where he joined Dal Richard's Band performing regularly. He recorded with the Dal Richard's Band in the early 1960's. During this time, he also performed, recorded and toured with King Ganam, an excellent popular western violinist. In the mid 1960's Irv moved to Victoria where his Trio worked at many top restaurants and hotels including the Oak Bay Marina and the Empress Hotel. Irv continues to perform as a soloist and works with many fine Victoria musicians.