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EnglishWhat accordion competitions does the AAA organize?
Updated
The American Accordionists' Association (AAA) lists three competition-related programs on ameraccord.com: the Carmen Carrozza Memorial Competition, the Elsie M. Bennett Composition Competition, and Coupe Mondiale Qualification. All three appear under the site's "Events" menu, alongside the annual AAA Festival and virtual workshops. The site does not publish entry fees, deadlines, or eligibility rules on the pages captured here, so anyone planning to enter should treat the Events section as a starting point and contact the AAA directly for current details.
The three competitions listed on the site
| Competition | What it appears to cover | Where it sits on the site |
|---|---|---|
| Carmen Carrozza Memorial Competition | A performance competition named for Carmen Carrozza | Events menu |
| Elsie M. Bennett Composition Competition | A composition (writing) competition | Events menu |
| Coupe Mondiale Qualification | Qualification pathway tied to the Coupe Mondiale international event | Events menu |
The distinction matters if you are deciding where you fit: the Carrozza and Coupe Mondiale items are performance-oriented, while the Bennett competition is for composers rather than players.
How these fit into the AAA's wider event calendar
The competitions are not standalone — they sit inside the AAA's annual activity cycle, which centers on the AAA Festival. The site's current headline event is the 2026 AAA 88th Festival, August 13–16 in Pennsylvania, with a separate page reporting on it as a success. Other recurring items in the same Events area include:
- AAA Festival
- An April 26th Concert
- AAA Virtual Workshops
- AAA Open Meetings
If your goal is to compete, the practical move is to check whether a given competition is run in connection with the Festival weekend or separately, since the site groups them together without stating which is which.
What the site does not tell you
The captured pages give competition names and locations in the navigation, but not:
- Entry requirements or age/level categories
- Deadlines or how to register
- Fees or prizes
- Whether Coupe Mondiale Qualification is open entry or by selection
Because pricing signals are absent from the site data, do not assume any of these are free or open to all. Confirm directly with the AAA before planning travel or preparing a submission.
Background worth knowing before you enter
The AAA is a long-running U.S. accordion organization with a documented history section covering past presidents, champions, articles, and commissioned music. That history is useful context: the Coupe Mondiale connection in particular reflects the AAA's role in international accordion competition, and past U.S. representatives have competed at Coupe Mondiale events in Europe. If you are aiming at the international level, the qualification route through the AAA is the relevant entry point to investigate.
Practical next steps
- Go to the Events section of ameraccord.com and open each competition page individually.
- Note which ones are tied to the 2026 Festival dates (August 13–16, Pennsylvania).
- Use the Contact the AAA page to ask for the current rules, deadlines, and fees for the specific competition you want.
- If you are a composer rather than a performer, start with the Elsie M. Bennett Composition Competition instead of the performance tracks.
The site is best treated as a directory of what exists, not as a rulebook — the entry conditions live with the organizers.