2023 Leon Kozicki Trustees Award Winner: Rich Zebrowski

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…

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2023 IPA Hall of Fame Inductees & 2022 Music Award Winners!

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…

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2023 Young Songwriters Competition Finalists

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…

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The passing of IPA Hall of Famer Walt Groller

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…

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The passing of IPA Hall of Famer Bruno Mikos

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,…

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The passing of IPA Hall of Famer Steve Meisner

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…

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IPA Polka Music Hall of Fame and Music Awards Banquet Tickets are Now Available

Saturday, August 31st 10:45 AM Arrival & Seating11:00 AM Luncheon Tickets are $50 per person and can be reserved only by advance reservation. Reservations must be made before August 16th, 2024. Tickets can be purchased: For check payment, please fill out below reservation form and mail to: Polka Music Hall of Fame and Awards BanquetPO Box 1484Plainfield, IL 60544 Please contact Banquet Chairperson Lindsey Mateja at banquet@ipapolkas.com with any questions. Ticket confirmation and seating arrangements will be…

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Parade of Polka Bands Picnic – Sunday, August 6th, 2023

Make your plans now to attend the Parade of Polka Bands Picnic on Sunday, August 6th, 2023 at the great Hammond Mohawks Picnic Grove – 4040 Calumet Ave., Hammond, IN. Doors will open at 12:30pm and dancing is from 1pm until 6pm. Admission is only $15 and features five great bands including Tony Blazonczyk’s New Phaze, IPA Tribute Band, Polka Mojo, Polka Generations and DynaVersaStickToneAires.

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2023 Joe Jozwiak Award Winner: EDWARD “GUS” KOSIOR

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…

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