Meet Jamie Maschler

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jamie Maschler.

Jamie, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I started playing accordion when I was four years old. A door-to-door salesman was going through my neighborhood in Colorado Springs and happened to have the right size (and color, royal blue) accordion for me. As the story goes, I looked at my mom and said, “can I always play the accordion?”. I think my parents always thought I’d grow out of playing the instrument but 26 years later here I am, a professional accordion player. The accordion school I grew up in, Young Musicians of America is still based out of Colorado Springs and Denver and the man who sold the accordion to my parents is still teaching in Co Springs and Denver.

I started college at Denver University which was one of the last places in the country that had an actual bachelors degree in accordion. Accordionist, Robert Davine founded the program in the early 1950s. Life happened, and I ended up finishing school at Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle where I studied with Jovino Santos Netos- 3 time Grammy-nominated Brazilian protégé of Hermeto Pascoal, He turned me on to Brazilian accordion music and inspired my current projects: Brazilian Forro band, En Canto and an Accordion duo, Creosote.

Currently, I perform and teach accordion as well as give workshops on stylized Brazilian and Tango music at numerous festivals around the country. Seattle symphony recently had me join them with a live scoring of Lord of the Rings and this fall I’ll be performing in Paula Vogel’s Tony award-winning Broadway play, Indecent.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
I remember when I was 18 and it was the first night I moved to go to school in Seattle, I was locked out of the apartment I was staying at and had to spend the night on a park bench. I remember being made fun of for playing the accordion and multiple people not believing that I could make a career out of just playing the accordion. It’s not an easy road but I’ve learned that if you’re passionate enough about something you can really can do anything you put your mind too.

Tell us about what you do. What should we know? What do you do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
I play a little bit of every type of music from classical to french cafe music to Latin jazz. I play weddings to German Beer Halls for Oktoberfest. My Brazilian Forro band, En Canto will be performing at the Boston Forro Fest in September. And this November in Portugal my accordion duo, Creosote will be competing in one of the largest accordion festivals in the world, the Trophee Mondial.

What is “success” or “successful” for you?
Success means sustainability and curiosity. Music is a life long journey where you will never make it to the finish line. There is always more to learn, there is always more to see and success means to keep seeking knowledge. Music is about community and sharing it with the people that are around you.

2 Comments

1. 

   Michele

   August 27, 2019 at 5:32 am

   Jamie is extraordinary. The world of music is fortunate to have her!

   Reply
2. 

   Suzanne Maschler

   August 27, 2019 at 4:42 pm

   So proud of you, Jamie! ( even if you won’t play a polka!

   Reply