Meet Patricia Bartell
PATRICIA BARTELL
[CEO, Educator & Artist]
Biography
Patricia Bartell’s accordion life began in rural Montana when she started taking lessons at the age of eight. Originally from an orphanage in La Paz, Bolivia, Patricia went on to graduate from Whitworth University with a B.A. in Music Education and Accordion Performance. She was the first student to graduate from Whitworth with this degree. Since graduating, Patricia has continued to hone her artistry and skill. She has studied under piano and accordion masters, such as Dr. Judith Schoepflin, Kendall Feeney, and Frederic Deschamps. Her training and talent have lead to her successfully competing in international accordion competitions. Now she grooms students who have the potential and desire to compete on the world stage.
Patricia is recognized not only in North America, but internationally as an adjudicator, performer, and teacher.
In 2012, Spokane, Washington, proudly hosted the Trophee Mondial world accordion championships. This was the first time this event had ever been held in the United States, conducted by the World Trophy Accordion Organization with Patricia as the President.
Patricia has been teaching piano and accordion from her Spokane studio Able To Play Music since 2003. In the continual quest to improve her students' accordion skill levels, Patricia researches new techniques and methodologies from around the world to integrate into her curriculum.
In addition to her teaching responsibilities, she performs with Tango Volcado, an Argentine Tango Quartet; leads a young modernized accordion band, The Portatos; represents the U.S.A. as a judge for the Trophée Mondial of the World Confédération for the Accordion; has helped develop the Hohner Teacher Certified Simply Music Accordion Method; Owner and producer of one of the most comprehensive online accordion video education website, accordionlife.com.
It can be said that Patricia Bartell is a tireless, consummate ambassador for the accordion.
Courses by Patricia Bartell
Education & Activities
- B.A. Music Education, Whitworth University - Spokane, WA USA
- B.A. Accordion Performance, Whitworth University - Spokane, WA USA
- Certified Simply Music Teacher
Owner/Producer: AccordionLife.com
Owner/Teacher: Able To Play Music Academy
President: World Trophy Accordion Organization USA
Developer: Simply Music Accordion
Accordionist: Tango Volcado
Director: The Portatos | Modernized Accordion Band
Director: Vivace Accordion Orchestra
USA Adjudicator: Trophée Mondial
Hohner Endorsee & Artist
Media Coverage
Newspaper Article links:
Review: Accordionist Patricia Bartell sweeps symphony with solo

Spokesman Review: Patricia Bartell Sweeps Symphony with Solo
Spokesman Review: Concert Lets Accordionist Play Outside The Box
West Plains Chamber: Patricia Bartell Plays Piazzolla
Bartell is the force behind this week’s international accordion fest (2012 Trophée Mondial)

Spokesman Review: Musical Influences
Spokesman Review: Squeeze Play
Spokesman Review: Trophee Mondial Opens in Spokane with Flair
Accordion Tango Proves Hard To Match
Highbeam: Accordion Tango Proves Hard To Match
Accordion Angel 

Highbeam: Accordion Angel
WEBSITES:
abletoplaymusic.com
accordionlife.com
simplymusic.com
tangovolcado.com
portatos.com
abletoplayaccordion.com
FACEBOOK:
https://www.facebook.com/accordionlife
https://www.facebook.com/patriciabartell28
https://www.facebook.com/abletoplaymusic
https://www.facebook.com/abletoplayaccordion
https://www.facebook.com/ThePortatos
https://www.facebook.com/tangovolcado
https://www.facebook.com/Iloveaccordion
YOUTUBE CHANNELS
coming soon...
Accomplishments & Concerts
2000 - 1st Prize - Kimberly International Competition (Kimberley, B.C. CANADA) - Classical and Open
2000 - 1st Prize - Leavenworth International Competition (Leavenworth, USA) - Classical and Open
2007 - 3rd Prize - Maddalena Belfiore International Competition for Female Accordionists (Washington D.C. - U.S.A.)
2009 - 3rd Prize - Castelfidardo International Competitions (Castelfidardo - ITALY) - Category H
January 1998 Patricia Bartell in Concert (Santa Cruz, BOLIVIA)
March 2000 Patricia Bartell in Concert (Monterey, MEXICO)
December 2000 "Parisian Nights" French Concert (Spokane, WA)
March 2003 – Established Able To Play Music, LLC (business)
August 2005 Patricia Bartell in Concert (Cebu, PHILLIPINES)
September 2008 USA Adjudicator for Trophée Mondial (Sarajevo, BOSNIA)
January 2009 - Concert with Hot Club of Spokane (Jazz)
September 2009 - Masterclasses with Frédéric Deschamps (Paris, FRANCE)
September 2009 - USA Adjudicator for Trophée Mondial (Albufeira, PORTUGAL)
October 2009 - Castelfidardo International Competitions (Castelfidardo, ITALY)
September 2010 - USA Adjudicator for Trophée Mondial (Vigo, SPAIN)
May 2010 - Masterclasses with Frédéric Deschamps (Paris, FRANCE)
January 2011 Patricia Bartell in Concert (Uganda, AFRICA)
March 2011 - Performance at NAA Festival, (Dallas, TX)
March 2011 - Masterclasses with Frédéric Deschamps (Spokane, WA)
April 2011 - Simply Music Conference (Sacramento, CA)
June 2011 - Tango Volcado Concerts (Spokane, WA)
June 2011 – The Portatos | Modernized Accordion Band Competition Leavenworth International Accordion Celebration (Leavenworth, WA)
August 2011 – The Portatos | Modernized Accordion Band Concert Private Birthday Celebration (Post Falls, WA)
September 2011 - USA Adjudicator for Trophée Mondial (Pineto, ITALY)
November 2011 – The Portatos | Modernized Accordion Band Concert Spokane Fall Folk Festival (Spokane, WA)
November 2011 – The Portatos | Modernized Accordion Band Concert KPBX Radio Live (Spokane, WA)
October 2011 - WOW Concert with Spokane Symphony (Spokane, WA)
January 2012 - Simply Music Symposium (San Diego, CA)
April 2012 - The Portatos | Modernized Accordion Band Concert KPBX Kid’s Concert, Bing Crosby Theater (Spokane, WA)
April 2012 - The Portatos | Modernized Accordion Band Concert Cancer Awareness Banquet, Northern Quest Casino (Airway Heights, WA)
June 2012 - The Portatos | Modernized Accordion Band Competition Leavenworth International Accordion Celebration (Leavenworth, WA)
July 2012 - The Portatos | Modernized Accordion Band Concert 4th of July Celebration at Riverfront Park (Spokane, WA)
July 2012 - The Portatos | Modernized Accordion Band Competition Kimberly Old Time Accordion Championship (Kimberly, B.C. CANADA) 1st Place Trophy Showmanship
July 2012 - The Portatos | Modernized Accordion Band Concert with Alex Meixner, Bing Crosby Theater (Spokane WA)
July 2012 - The Portatos | Modernized Accordion Band Competition Victoria International Accordion Festival (Victoria B.C. CANADA) 1st Place Trophy
July 2012 - The Portatos | Modernized Accordion Band Concert Victoria International Accordion Festival (Victoria B.C. CANADA)
July 2012 - The Portatos | Modernized Accordion Band Concert Riverpark Square (Spokane, WA)
July 2012 - Tango Volcado Concert - "Hot Summer Nights" (Spokane, WA)
August 2012 - Tango Volcado Concert - "Lawn Concert" (Spokane, WA)
August 2012 - Tango Volcado Concert (Wallace, ID)
August 2012 - The Portatos | Modernized Accordion Band Concert Wallace Accordion Festival (Wallace, ID)
August 2012 - The Portatos | Modernized Accordion Band Concert St. Mark’s Children’s Concert (Spokane, WA)
August 2012 - The Portatos | Modernized Accordion Band Concert KHQ Local News Appearance (Spokane, WA)
August 2012 - The Portatos | Modernized Accordion Band Concert with Tango Volcado, Bing Crosby Theater (Spokane, WA)
September 2012 - The Portatos | Modernized Accordion Band Concert Spokane Interstate Fair (Spokane, WA)
September 2012 - Whitworth University Alumni Award
October 2012 - USA HOST for 2012 Trophée Mondial (Spokane, WA)
October 2012 - Tango Volcado Concert - At The Fox Theater (Spokane, WA)
October 2012 - The Portatos | Modernized Accordion Band Concert Trophee Mondial (Spokane, WA)
November 2012 - The Portatos | Modernized Accordion Band Concert Spokane Fall Folk Festival (Spokane, WA)
January 2013 – Simply Music Symposium (San Diego, CA)
March 2013 – NAA Festival with Joel Guzman, Simply Music Presentation (Dallas, TX)
April 2013 – Simply Music Presentation with HOHNER (Trossingen, GERMANY)
April 2013 – Tango Volcado (Martin Woldson Fox Theater)
May 2013 – KPBX - radio Interview, (Spokane, WA)
May 2013 – Spokane String Quartet with Guest Artist Patricia Bartell Concert
June 2013 – Tango Volcado Concert (Leavenworth, WA Competition)
June 2013 – Simply Music Presentation (Leavenworth, WA)
June 2013 - The Portatos | Modernized Accordion Band Competition Leavenworth International Accordion Celebration (Leavenworth, WA) 1st Place Trophy
June 2013 - The Portatos | Modernized Accordion Band Concert Bing Crosby Theater (Spokane, WA)
August 2013 – Vivace Accordion Orchestra (Coupe Mondiale- Orchestra Competition) -Victoria B.C. CANADA)
September 2013 – Spokane County Fair – (Spokane, WA)
September 2013 - The Portatos | Modernized Accordion Band Concert Spokane Interstate Fair (Spokane, WA)
November 2013 - The Portatos | Modernized Accordion Band Concert Spokane Fall Folk Festival (Spokane, WA)
December 2013 - The Portatos | Modernized Accordion Band Concert with The Vivace Accordion Orchestra, Bing Crosby Theater (Spokane, WA)
June 2014 - AbleToPlayAccordion.com established
June 2014 - The Portatos | Modernized Accordion Band Concert German American Society Springtime Festival (Spokane, WA)
June 2014 - The Portatos | Modernized Accordion Band Competition Leavenworth International Accordion Celebration (Leavenworth, WA)
July 2014 - ATG Festival (San Francisco, CA)
August 2014 - Masterclasses with Frédéric Deschamps (Paris, FRANCE)
August 2014 - The Portatos | Modernized Accordion Band Concert Art On The Green (Cour d’Alene, ID)
September 2014 - USA Adjudicator for Trophée Mondial (Kaunas, LITHUANIA)
November 2014 - The Portatos | Modernized Accordion Band Concert Spokane Fall Folk Festival (Spokane, WA)
December 2014 - The Portatos | Modernized Accordion Band Concert First Night Spokane (Spokane, WA)
December 2014 - Tango Volcado CD Release Party (Spokane, WA)
January 2015 - Masterclasses with Frédéric Deschamps (Spokane, WA)
February 2015 - AccordionLife.com established
May 2015 - Guest Artist with Spokane Symphony performing "Aconcagua" - Piazzolla (Spokane, WA)
July 2015 - Concert with the Portatos, Grayson Masefied & Tango Volcado (Spokane, WA)
July 2015 – KPBX - Radio Interview, (Spokane, WA)
August 2015 - Tango Volcado Concert St. Marks Lutheran Church (Spokane, WA)
November 2015 - The Portatos | Modernized Accordion Band Concert Spokane Fall Folk Festival (Spokane, WA)
April 2016 - The Portatos | Modernized Accordion Band Concert Ronan High School Band (Spokane, WA)
June 2016 - Tango Volcado Concert Lawn Concert (Spokane, WA)
August 2016 - Adjudicator for 2016 Harbin International Accordion Festival (Harbin, CHINA)
September 2016 - USA Adjudicator for Trophée Mondial (Portimao, PORTUGAL)
November 2016 - Tango Volcado Concert House Concert (Spokane, WA)
February 2017 - Northwest Bach Festival Concert with Grammy Award winner Zuill Bailey (Spokane, WA)
May 2017 - Guest Artist with Hot Club of Spokane Concert (Spokane, WA)
June 2017 - The Portatos | Modernized Accordion Band Concert Leavenworth International Accordion Celebration (Leavenworth, WA)
July 2017 - Adjudicator for the Victoria International Accordion Festival (Victoria, B.C. CANADA)
January 2018 - Tango Volcado Performance - "Good Day Fox 41 TV Station" (Spokane, WA)
January 2018 - Tango Volcado Performance - "Spokane Public Radio" (Spokane, WA)
January 2018 - Tango Volcado Concert - "At The Bartlett" (Spokane, WA)
March 2018 - Masterclasses with Grayson Masefield (Spokane, WA)
April 2018 - Tango Volcado Concert - "House Concert" (Spokane, WA)
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