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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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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The passing of Chester Pala

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…

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Annual International Polka Association Festival & Convention

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…

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Passing of IPA Hall of Famer and Trustee Freddy Bulinski

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…

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