Who Leads the Silicon Valley Accordion Society and How Can Members Help?

Updated

Bill Tapogna is announced on the SVAS home page as assuming the role of president, while other officers share some of his responsibilities during the transition. The same page invites members to help with that transition and says anyone interested should let one of the officers know. So the short answer to "who leads SVAS" is Bill Tapogna as incoming president, supported by the existing officer group — and the way to help is simply to speak to an officer.

What the site says about the leadership change

The announcement appears in the main welcome text on the SVAS home page. Three points are stated directly:

  • Bill Tapogna will assume the role of president.
  • Other officers are sharing some of his responsibilities while the change takes place.
  • The society appreciates help from members during the transition to Bill's new role.

The page does not list the other officers by name, nor does it describe a formal application process for volunteering. The only instruction given is to let one of the officers know if you would like to help.

How members can actually get involved

Because SVAS is a performance-oriented club, "helping" on this site covers more than administrative duties. The home page describes several ways to take part:

Way to participate What the site says
Volunteer for the transition Let one of the officers know you would like to help
Play at a meeting Bring your accordion and play; sign up with an officer or on the white board on the stage
Attend a meeting Meetings are held at Christ Episcopal Church of Los Altos, 1040 Border Road, Los Altos, CA 94024

The sign-up detail is worth noting: you can either find an officer or arrive early and add your name to the white board on the stage. That is the site's own description of how players get on the program.

What a meeting looks like, and who performs

The featured event described on the home page is Sunday, October 4, 2026, and it shows the format members are helping to run:

  • The Sunday Seven Band, led by Bob Stanfield, is the featured group. Formed 16 years ago, it plays around the South Bay Area and includes four accordion players — Bob Stanfield, Vic Corsiglia, Tseli Wu, and Bill Likens — plus Barbara Corsiglia on bass, Birgit Calhoun on recorder, and Scott Barta on guitar and bass. Its repertoire covers waltzes, polkas, sing-alongs, oldies, and German, Norwegian, Italian, country western, and holiday tunes.
  • The Balkanera Band also performs at the October 4 meeting, with Nena Lovre on accordion and vocals, Nikola Nedovic and Mirko Vojnovic on guitar, and Branko Lovre on cajon. Active since 2022, the group plays Balkan, international, and Gypsy jazz music.

That mix — a long-running local band plus a newer ensemble — is a useful picture of what the society programs, and it explains why member volunteers matter: someone has to organize the lineup, the sign-ups, and the room.

If you want to help or join

The site's own path is direct rather than form-based: contact the society or speak with an officer. The home page lists the meeting location and a phone number, 650-948-2151, for Christ Episcopal Church of Los Altos, and the site navigation includes a Contact Us/Membership page for reaching the organization. If your goal is to volunteer during the leadership transition, the stated step is to let an officer know — the same route used by players who want to sign up for the stage.