Credentials of Premier Bay Area Accordionist

My Musical Biography

Musical Development

I was raised with accordions from birth. My father, Joseph Zampiceni, was a noted accordionist, teacher, composer, arranger, and accordion music publisher, so accordions were part of the Zampiceni household from day one. I began formal study of the piano at age 7, then the accordion at age 8, and had my first series of paid engagements at the age of 11 when I played for San Jose area parades on the back of a promotional flatbed truck.

When I was 14, I advanced to my father’s orchestra where I played either the accordion or drums. I began leading my own band at the age of 17 when I joined the musician’s union. During high school I discovered I had a beautiful tenor voice, and was encouraged by my choral teacher to compete in a regional high school music competition. After winning first place in the vocal category, I started taking voice lessons at 16. I received the Bank of America Achievement Award in music upon graduating from high school.

I entered San Jose State University as a music major. My performance concentrations were voice, piano, and organ. After graduating with a B.A. in music, I returned after a year and worked on an M.A. in music. It was during this time that I was chosen as tenor soloist with the San Jose Symphony in a performance of a Bach cantata.

After teaching, performing, and selling pianos and organs for about five years, I decided that I needed to switch careers and became a technical writer for thirty years before retiring in 2014. Nevertheless, I had never left the music profession and continued to play engagements and teach students. For example, I've played for special performances with accordion selections in the San Jose Symphony and San Jose Civic Light Opera.