Bio: Accola, Al (Music Instructor Thorp High School 1983)

Contact: Kathleen E. Englebretson

Email: kathy@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Accola, Burzynski

---Source: Marshfield News-Herald (7 April 1983)

Music instructor Al Accola will leave Thorp High School at the end of The Academic year to pursue a professional music career.

Even though he will go on to bigger things musically, there is at least one group of students who will miss him - the Jazz and Swing Choir.

Freshman and keyboard player Steve Burzynski talked about Accola and the band following a rehearsal one evening at the school.

"For the most part, everyone gets along," Burzynski said. "We work things out. I think we sound really good and we give a good concert."

"I'm sad and disappointed that he (Accola) is leaving. I have three more years here and I want to have a group to be in like this. Everyone else feels the same way."


Burzynski is being left in charge of some of the band's equipment and he hopes there will be another instructor next year who can fill the void.

"It makes me proud to get up and do something and not fail. It makes me feel good to be on stage and see the people enjoy what we're doing."

"This gives us experience for something in the future. He (Accola) gives us some freedom"

"We're gonna miss him a lot. We've learned a lot."

(excerpt from a second part in same article)

Accola will leave the high school following this academic year to work full-time with a professional jazz group called "Hot Jazz." The group is opening for the Tommy Dorsey orchestra today at the Civic Center Inn, Eau Claire.

He'll being going on to more musically challenging work, but he added, "I'm gonna miss them all."

"I've seen these kids grow up in the last six years. There will be a tear in my eye at the last concert."