Young Valley musicians to compete in accordion playing contest

EDCOUCH - When Heriberto Rodriguez pumps his accordion, his father's memory helps squeeze out sweet melodies.

When he was 6, his father taught him to play piano.

Two years ago, when Enrique Rodriguez died, his son carried on the family tradition.

"Everything in music I've done for him," said Rodriguez, 16, a sophomore at Edcouch-Elsa High School.
June 6, Rodriguez will compete in Texas Folklife's Third Annual Big Squeeze in Houston, a competition that showcases the state's top young accordionists.

This year's Accordion Kings and Queens showdown includes Gloria Jean Cantu, a 16-year-old from San Benito who's the only girl to compete in the contest's history.

The two Rio Grande Valley natives will compete in a contest that includes Anthony Ortiz, 16, of Austin and Jorge Vasquez, 25, of Houston.

"They're already stars on the stage," said Sarah Rucker, Texas Folklife's program manager in Austin. "They can really rouse the crowd and they're extremely talented."

The four accordionists climb into the grand showdown after competing in the contest's semi-finals May 2 in Austin.

"It was overwhelming," said Cantu, 16, a sophomore at San Benito High School. "I feel like all my hard work is paying off."

Last year, Rodriguez competed in the finals, falling short of winning the crown.

"I'm really excited," Rodriguez said.

At school, Benny Layton, an accordion legend who pioneered public school classes in conjunto music, helped coach him, Rodriguez said.

"I've gotten a bit better, making every note cleaner and I'm used to playing in front of crowds, dancing and moving," Rodriguez said.

In San Benito, Cantu is paving the way for other girls who dream of playing the accordion.

Cantu, who's starred on three middle school football teams, is a trailblazer.

"People are in shock. ‘Wow! A girl playing the accordion," she said.

For Cantu, the Big Squeeze showdown gives her a chance to show she can compete in a man's world, she said.

"In Houston, it's going to be a big challenge. I want to try to get the people dancing," she said.

"It's a lot of practice - more of my dance moves. I'm shy on the mike and I'm trying to get over that. I want to talk to the people because you get a response from the audience. You can tell where the audience is at in terms of your performance."

The contest's finalists, who will win $300 cash prizes, will perform before an audience of 6,000 that will include music industry executives at Miller Outdoor Theater in Houston, organizers said.

The champion will win two tickets to Germany and a daylong recording session at Sugarhill Studios in Houston.

"It gives kids a venue to show off their talent," said Layton, a renowned music teacher who plays accordion with his band Los Hermanos Layton.
"The winner will get a lot of notoriety and exposure from the music industry."