I was born on January 28, 1952, in Oshawa, Ontario (Canada), the first of my two siblings, both sisters (Christine and Theresa), to be welcomed home by two loving parents, Joseph and Aurelia Kanoza. Both mom and dad were born in Poland. I grew up in a lovely Polish and catholic home. Music and family gatherings were a common occurrence in our home. Mom and Dad, as well as both family and friends, loved music…
2024 Leon Kozicki Trustees Award Winner: Nicky DiSebastiano Nicola “Nicky D” DiSebastiano, born in Abruzzi, Italy, immigrated to the United States of America in 1958, settling in Baltimore along with three sisters: Francesca, Maria, Carmela, Mother Consolina, and Father Angelo. At 4 ½ years of age, he still vividly remembers seeing the Statue of Liberty as the ship sailed into the New York City harbor. He is also a proud Father of four children: Angela,…
International Polka Association Announces Hall of Fame Selections and Music Award Winners! The International Polka Association is proud to announce the results of the annual election conducted by the Academy of Electors and Trustees. At this time, they have determined the 2024 Hall of Fame selectees and winners of the 2023 Polka Music Awards. The following candidates will be inducted into the International Polka Association Polka Music Hall of Fame® at the annual festival and…
The IPA would like to congratulate all the winners of the 2023 IPA Calendar Raffle. Date Name/State Amount 9/1/23 Wallace Stanczyk, WI $100 9/2/23 Leonard and Barbara Palkowski, MI $100 9/3/23 James Witulski, NC $100 9/4/23 Sandy Earl, OH $40 9/5/23 Jill Styczynski, WI $40 9/6/23 Edward Grudi, PA $40 9/7/23 Adam Biskup, Canada $40 9/8/23 Father Dennis Bogusz, PA $40 9/9/23 Edward Sienkowski, IN $40 9/10/23 Rob Piatkowski, NY $40 9/11/23 Nancy Kikel, PA…
Join the IPA as we welcome Spring in Wisconsin with two great days of polka dancing. One Saturday May 4, 2024 from 6pm-10pm, we welcome the Dynabrass to Wisconsin and then on Sunday, May 5, 2024, we welcome five great polka bands from Wisconsin for the Pulaski Area Festival of Bands. The Bands Include: The New Generation, The Mix, Aaron Socha & Livewire, Maroszek Brothers and Zander and his Music Ray’Makers. The Dance will be…
On behalf of the City of Chicago’s Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE), we are pleased to announce that International Polka Association has been selected to receive a grant in the amount of $10,000 for general operating support. DCASE received a significant increase to the Cultural Grants Program budget in 2022, signifying Mayor Lightfoot’s commitment to the arts as an essential part of life for Chicago residents. We are pleased to be able to allocate…
The International Polka Association and Let’s Polka USA present the 12th Annual Unity/St. Patrick’s Day Dance on Sunday, March 17, 2024. This will be held at Royalty West Banquets, 8675 S. Archer Ave., Willow Springs, Illinois. Doors will open at 12:30 pm, and music will be from 1 pm – 5 pm. Music will be provided by the IPA Tribute Band featuring IPA Polka Hall of Famer Rick Rzeszutko and special guest vocalist John Gora.
2023 Leon Kozicki Trustees Award Winner: Rich Zebrowski Richie Zebrowski was born into a family deeply immersed in Polish tradition and polka music. His father, IPA Hall Of Fame inductee A.W. Zebrowski, a nationally known polka promoter, musician, and disc jockey in Cleveland Ohio, ensured that the entire family was raised knowing their heritage. As might be expected, he eventually started to play and sing the music he loved and had been surrounded by. At…
International Polka Association Announces Hall of Fame Selections and Music Award Winners! The International Polka Association is proud to announce the results of the annual election conducted by the Academy of Electors and Trustees. At this time they have determined the 2023 Hall of Fame selectees and winners of the 2022 Polka Music Awards. The following candidates will be inducted into the International Polka Association Polka Music Hall of Fame® at the annual festival and…
The judges for the 4th annual IPA Young Songwriter’s Competition have listened to and scored all the fantastic song submissions and are pleased to announce this year’s top 2 finalists. But who will take home the one thousand dollar top prize? The winner will be announced at the IPA Awards Banquet during the IPA Festival and Convention in Cranberry Twp., Pennsylvania this Labor Day weekend. Stay tuned! Thank you to all of our composers who…
It’s with great sadness that we inform you of the passing of 1986 IPA Hall of Fame Inductee Walt Groller. Please keep Walt’s family and friends in your thoughts and prayers. LEHIGH VALLEY POLKA LEGEND, WALT GROLLER PASSES AWAY AT AGE 92 The Lehigh Valley and the music world lost a polka legend yesterday. 92-year-old Walt Groller passed away Monday evening. He was from Whitehall Township. Born to Austrian immigrants, he was known as one…
It’s with great sadness that we inform you of the passing of Bruno Mikos, who was inducted into the IPA Hall of Fame in 1986. Our deepest sympathies go out to the entire Mikos family. Bruno’s singing career began early. He learned to sing the “Two Bucks Polka” at the age of five as he heard the song played on the Oskierko Polka Show over WJOB Radio in Hammond, Indiana. During his grammar schools days,…
It’s with great sadness that we inform you of the passing of IPA Hall of Fame Inductee Steve Meisner. Please keep his wife Barb, his children, grandchildren and all of his friends in your thoughts and prayers. Below is a statement posted by his family. The news we are forced to share with all of you will be as shocking and difficult for everyone to read as it is to write. It is with great…
So you think you can compose a hit polka or waltz?
Edward “Gus” Kosior was born and brought up in the Village of Florida, N.Y, right down the street from Jimmy Sturr. He grew up listening to Polka Music on the local radio station and at his high school dances. He and Jimmy went to school together at their local High School. When Jimmy thought of starting UNITED POLKA ARTISTS, he thought of Gus coming in as a partner. It happened back in 1969. Since that…
With great sadness in our hearts, we inform you of the passing of Chester Pala of the Pala Brothers Orchestra. Chester, along with his brothers Wally and Al, formed their polka band in the 60s playing banquet halls, clubs and taverns throughout the Chicagoland area, Northwest Indiana, and across the country. Their upbeat “Chicago style” of polkas has lasted through many generations and continues to be performed and re-recorded by many of our current polka…
Make your plans now to attend the 55th Annual IPA Festival and Convention September 1 – September 3, 2023 Labor Day Weekend DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Pittsburgh-Cranberry DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Pittsburgh – Cranberry 910 Sheraton Drive, Mars, PA 16046 For Hotel Reservations: Our primary hotel is sold out. We have made the following list available of local hotels in the area. The IPA HAS NOT secured any special rates at these hotels. 3 Fun-filled…
It’s with great sadness that we inform you of the passing of Fred Bulinski. Fred was inducted into the IPA Hall of Fame in 1992, he served on the IPA Board for several years as a director, was appointed the Chairman of the International Polka Association Hall of Fame in 2014 and held that title until October of 2020 and has been a Trustee since 2013. He was a polka musician, bandleader, songwriter and fantastic…
With great sadness, we inform you of the passing of Eugene Thoms, a past director of the IPA. Eugene Walter Thoms September 14, 1938 – December 5, 2022 If you knew Gene, you were better for it and perhaps bemused for it. Gene could read, write, and speak tirelessly on his five favorite topics: food, railroads, polkas, geography, and ethnicities. Spend enough time with him, and you were bound to learn something about cuttlefish, steam…
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