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ConcertinaMusic.com has compiled a list of Concertina People; individuals who have made a contribution to the chemnitzer concertina through their efforts as bandleaders, composers, innovators, manufacturers, musicians, promoters, retailers, teachers, and technicians. Each person is listed by name with basic information about them and their contribution to the concertina.

You can browse the list of Concertina People by selecting one of the individual letters from the menu. Each page includes a list of last names that begin with only that letter. The Search feature may be helpful for finding specific people.

Waksmonski, Frank (1927 – 2018)

  • Hatley, Wisconsin
  • Musician, Promoter (dancehall owner)
  • Honors: World Concertina Congress Hall of Fame (2004)
  • Detailed Biography

Frank Waksmonski; 2007

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Walensa, Chester P. (1900 – 1972)

  • Milwaukee, Wisconsin
  • Musician, Teacher

Chester P. Walensa; undated

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Walensa, Ervin J. (1921 – 1991)

  • Milwaukee, Wisconsin
  • Musician, Promoter, Teacher
  • Honors: World Concertina Congress Hall of Fame (1992)
  • Detailed Biography

Ervin and Dick Walensa; undated Ervin Walensa; 1939 Ervin Walensa; 1990

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Walter, David A. (1969 – )

  • Parma, Ohio
  • Musician
  • Bands: Frankie Liszka and The Brass Connection, This-n-That, Bruno Mikos and The Harmony Stars, Brass Works, Tower City Push
  • Honors: United States Polka Association – Best Album (1993, 1994)

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Wanderlich, Tommy (1966 – )

  • Buffalo, New York
  • Musician
  • Bands: John Gora and Gorale
  • Honors: Grammy Nomination (1998)

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Wanha, Joel (1948 – )

  • Minneapolis, Minnesota
  • Band Leader, Musician
  • Bands: The Polka Playboys, Art Fenske and The Jolly Coppersmiths, Joel’s Polka Band

Joel Wanha; 2012

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Wanous, Luverne (1936 – )

  • Owatonna, Minnesota
  • Band Leader, Musician
  • Honors: World Concertina Congress Hall of Fame (2019)

Luverne Wanous; unknown Luverne Wanous; unknown

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Wanta, Adam

  • Hatley, Wisconsin
  • Composer, Musician, Teacher
  • Honors: World Concertina Congress Hall of Fame (1993)
  • Detailed Biography

Adam Wanta; 1993 Adam Wanta; 2006

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Wanta, Andy

  • Marshfield, Wisconsin
  • Musician

Andy Wanta; 2009

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Wanta, Dave

  • Hatley, Wisconsin
  • Musician

Adam Wanta; 1993

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Watters, Pat

  • Minneapolis, Minnesota
  • Musician, Promoter, Retailer (Arnold Concertina)
  • Honors: World Concertina Congress Hall of Fame (1976)
  • Detailed Biography

Marie Watters and Pat Watters; undated Pat Watters; 1976

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Weber, Gary (1954 – 2008)

  • Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
  • Musician
  • Bands: Electra Tones, Treltones

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Wehr, Brad

  • Waterton, Wisconsin
  • Musician, Technician

Brad Wehr; 2010 Brad Wehr; 2011 Brad Wehr; 2012

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Weiss, Chris

  • Sunbury, Ohio
  • Musician
  • Honors: World Concertina Congress Hall of Fame (2008)

Chris Weiss; undated Chris Weiss; 2006 Chris Weiss; 2007

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Welinski, Gene (1939 – )

  • Anoka, Minnesota
  • Musician

Gene Welinski; 2008

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Wendinger, Paul (1951 – 2010)

  • New Ulm, Minnesota
  • Band Leader, Musician
  • Bands: Peter and Paul Wendinger Band
  • Honors: Minnesota Ballroom Operators Old-Tyme Band Award (1985), World Concertina Congress Hall of Fame (2005), Polka Hall of Fame (2005), Minnesota Music Hall of Fame (2007)

Paul Wendinger; 2005

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Wendinger, Peter (1949 – )

  • New Ulm, Minnesota
  • Band Leader, Musician
  • Bands: Peter and Paul Wendinger Band
  • Honors: Minnesota Ballroom Operators Old-Tyme Band Award (1985), World Concertina Congress Hall of Fame (2005), Polka Hall of Fame (2005), Minnesota Music Hall of Fame (2007)

Paul Wendinger; 2005

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Wenninger, Gail

  • Pulaski, Wisconsin
  • Musician

Gail Wenninger; 2009

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Whalley, John L. (1910 – 1988)

  • Milwaukee, Wisconsin
  • Composer, Musician, Technician (Karpek Concertina)
  • Honors: World Concertina Congress Hall of Fame (1988)
  • Detailed Biography

John Whalley; undated

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Wheatstone, Sir Charles (1802 – 1875)

  • England
  • Innovator (English Concertina), Musician
  • Honors: World Concertina Congress Hall of Fame (1976)
  • Detailed Biography

Charles Wheatstone; undated

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Wilfahrt, John (Whoopee John)

  • St. Paul, Minnesota
  • Band Leader (Whoopee John Band), Musician
  • Bands: Whoopee John Band
  • Honors: World Concertina Congress Hall of Fame (1977)
  • Detailed Biography

John Wilfahrt; unknown John Wilfahrt; unknown John Wilfahrt; 1977

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Willfahrt, Fritz

  • Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin
  • Band Leader (The Fritz Willfahrt Orchestra), Musician, Promoter (Polka DJ)
  • Bands: The Fritz Willfahrt Orchestra

Fritz Willfahrt; 2007 Fritz Willfahrt; undated

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Williams, Bradley

  • Austin, Texas
  • Musician
  • Bands: Gulf Coast Playboys

Bradley Williams; 2005 Bradley Williams; 2007

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Wiltscheck, Smiley

  • New Ulm, Minnesota
  • Musician

Smiley Wiltscheck; 2003 Smiley Wiltscheck; 2006

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Winiarz, Tony

  • Milton, Ontario
  • Musician

Tony Winiarz; 2013

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Wintheiser, Bill

  • Sleepy Eye, Minnesota
  • Musician, Promotor (First President of the Sleepy Eye Concertina Club)

Bill Wintheiser; 2009

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Witthus, Rudy (1915 – 2011)

  • Arlington, Minnesota
  • Musician
  • Honors: Czech Area Concertina Club – Lifetime Achievement Award (2005), Minnesota Music Hall of Fame (2005), World Concertina Congress Hall of Fame (2006)

Rudy Witthus; 2003 Rudy Witthus; 2005

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Witucki, Dan

  • Winthrop, Minnesota
  • Musician
  • Bands: Walt Disney World – Epcot (Germany); Dan Witucki and the Music Masters
  • Honors: World Concertina Congress Hall of Fame (2005), Minnesota Music Hall of Fame (2024)

Dan Witucki; undated Vinny Lech and Dan Witucki; undated Vinny Lech and Dan Witucki; 2004 Josh Sellner and Dan Witucki; 2017 Dan Witucki and Mein Heimatland Musikanten; 2023

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Wogsland, Cheri

  • Shawano, Wisconsin
  • Bandleader, Musician
  • Bands: Cheri’s Polka Euphonics

Cheri Wogsland; undated Cheri Wogsland and Les Bondowski; undated Cheri Wogsland, Jim Soufal, Les Bondowski; undated

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Wojahn, Harry (1934 – 2022)

  • Fairfax, Minnesota
  • Band Leader, Musician
  • Bands: Harry Wojahn Band
  • Honors: World Concertina Congress Hall of Fame (2019)

Harry Wojahn; 2005 Harry Wojahn; 2008 Harry Wojahn; 2010

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Wojahn, Patti

  • Las Cruces, New Mexico
  • Musician

Patti Wojahn; 2008

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Wojkiewicz, Dennis

  • Green Bay, Wisconsin
  • Musician

Dennis Wojkiewicz; 2009

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Wolf, Ambrose ( – 1990)

  • Cold Spring, Minnesota
  • Musician
  • Honors: World Concertina Congress Hall of Fame (2011)

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Wolf, Betty (1921 – 2008)

  • St. Joseph, Minnesota
  • Musician, Promoter
  • Bands: The Deutschmeisters
  • Honors: World Concertina Congress Hall of Fame (1977), Minnesota Music Hall of Fame (1999)
  • Detailed Biography

Tony Wolf and Betty Wolf; 1977 Betty Wolf; 2008

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Wolf, Leonard

  • Shawano, Wisconsin
  • Musician
  • Honors: World Concertina Congress Hall of Fame (2007)

Leonard Wolf; 2006

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Wolf, Tony ( – 1980)

  • St. Joseph, Minnesota
  • Bandleader, Musician, Promoter, Teacher
  • Bands: The Deutschmeisters
  • Honors: World Concertina Congress Hall of Fame (1977), Minnesota Music Hall of Fame (1999)
  • Detailed Biography

George Servatius and Tony Wolf; undated Tony Wolf and Betty Wolf; 1977

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Wolfe, Anton (1922 – 1997)

  • Bentonville, Arkansas
  • Musician, Manufacturer (Wolfe Concertina)
  • Honors: World Concertina Congress Hall of Fame (2021)
  • Detailed Biography

Anton Wolfe; undated

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Wolfe, Patti Groshek

  • Milwaukee, Wisconsin
  • Musician
  • Honors: World Concertina Congress Hall of Fame (1984)
  • Detailed Biography

Patti Wolfe; 1984

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Wolter, Ardell

  • Norwood, Minnesota
  • Musician

Ardell Wolter and Claion Reece; 2007

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Wundrow, Leo (1910 – 1985)

  • Poplar Grove, Illinois
  • Musician, Teacher

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Wundrow, Leslie

  • Poplar Grove, Illinois
  • Musician, Teacher

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Wundrow, Matthew

  • Poplar Grove, Illinois
  • Musician

Matthew Wundrow; undated

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Wuske, Scott (1965 – )

  • Plover, Wisconsin
  • Bandleader, Musician
  • Bands: Scott & Co, Polka Nitro, Polka Pals

Scott Wuske; 2007 Scott Wuske; 2007

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Wydra, Al (1926 – 2003)

  • Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin
  • Musician, Retailer (Galaxy Concertina)

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