John Kalinowski: Concertina and accordion

John comes from a family tradition of ethnic music. He learned to play accordion at an early age while listening to radio performances of his father's polka band. He became intrigued with the Anglo concertina several years ago and has studied with well-known concertina player Noel Hill of County Clare, Ireland. John is a mainstay of southern New England sessions and contra dances.

A founding member of The Wild Notes, John was also a founding member and fifer with Connecticut Valley Field Music, a Civil War fife and drum corps, and performed traditional Irish music and sea music with Full Gael. He currently also plays with the contra dance band Fifer's Delight Band and with The New England Digital Accordion Orchestra.

John holds a degree in Electrical Engineering and a master's degree in Computer Science and is retired as a Test Systems Engineer at Pratt & Whitney. John (aka K1DUQ) is an Amateur Radio enthusiast and likes to camp and ride his electric bike.

Saltaralle Clifden

Photo by Dana Alan

John with his new digital accordion!

Photo by Bob Miorelli

In 2019 playing with New England Digital Accordion Orchestra

Photo by Kasha Breau

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