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Maria Telesheva was born in Eugene, Oregon with music in her soul. A tiny accordion in her living room, along with a father who is an internationally recognized, multi award winning accordionist was all this young musical spirit needed to soar to heights that few seventeen year old musicians could reach... particularly on a musical instrument that is too often overlooked.
That little accordion called her. Her soul heard the call. And then, at the tender age of 6, she asked her father the simple, yet profound question that started an incredible musical journey.
“Can you teach me how to play this?”
It was a perfect match. A mere 2 months after studying with her father, Maria won her first international competition. Since then, she has won international accordion competitions in the United States, Canada, Australia, Italy, Belarus and Ukraine. Maria and her father have become a well-known duo called “Two Accordions” and they tour nationally and internationally. Father and daughter founded the Accordion Star International Competition, an online event that has drawn accordionists from over 30 countries.
Maria and her father play classical, tango, waltz, jazz, rock, pop, folk world and original music on a traditional Russian button accordion. Maria is also an accomplished singer. “Two Accordions” often features Maria as vocalist. She has also performed as a back -up singer for the world-renowned Chicago cover band, “Leonid & Friends!” You can visit their YouTube Channel, SergeiTeleshevAccordion.
In the summer of 2025, Maria won first place awards in both open and classical categories at the Leavenworth International Accordion Celebration in Washington State. Further, she was recognized by “From the Top,” a nationally broadcast program on NPR that highlights exceptional young classical musicians. She subsequently went on to apply for the 2025 Jack Kent Cooke Young Artist award, a competitive grant given to 20 students each year. She was the sole accordionist in that 2025 group of award-winning young musicians.
She also became a laureate of the Planet of Art, 2025 international competition organized by UNESCO. It featured young talent from all over the world in instrumental, vocal and choreography categories. Maria represented the USA on accordion, performing on accordion with a symphony orchestra in Almaty, Kazakhstan.
Currently in her senior year at North Eugene High School, Maria will go on to college next fall. Her future is bright. The music in her soul will forever guide her.
Marilyn O’Neil had the opportunity to interview Maria and her father, Sergei, on March 5 of 2026.
Marilyn: My name is Marilyn O'Neil and I'm a proud AAA member. Hello everyone and welcome to the first Artist Interview that is sponsored by the American Accordionists’ Association. Hopefully this will be the first interview of many.
I am honored to present accordionist Maria Telesheva to you today. She's from Eugene, Oregon and the daughter of world-renowned accordion champion Sergei Teleshev, who's also with his daughter tonight. Maria has been studying accordion with her father since she was six years old. In addition to solo performance, Maria tours nationally and internationally with her father in a duo appropriately called “Two Accordions.” Currently 17 years of age, Maria has already accumulated a number of national and international awards, winning her first international competition only two months after beginning accordion studies with her father at the tender age of six.
Hello, Maria. And hello, Sergei! So nice to have you here today! It's always a pleasure to highlight young accordionists, especially in this day and age, since many of our seasoned players grew up in a different era when it was more common for our instrument to be seen and heard, at least in the United States. That being said, let's get into your story.
Q: Maria, can you tell us about your introduction to the accordion? What drew you to it?
A:Yes. So, obviously I grew up hearing my dad play the accordion, with many other groups and touring all over the United States, and we had this miniature little accordion in our living room. So, I came up to him one day and I said, "Hey, can you teach me how to play this?" And honestly it just started with a few chords and I kept progressing and now I am here today.
Q: What actually drew you to it?
A: I would say how versatile it is. My dad played with many different groups consisting of different instrument combinations and also solo. So, I feel like it's just a great instrument as an addition to any band or to present music on your own as a soloist.
Q: Were you singing to yourself as a little girl? Always listening listening to your father, fascinated with his music a little bit?
A: Yes, I did start, I think, before playing the accordion I sang a little bit but just for fun. I never really took any professional lessons.
Q: Did you initially play by ear or did your dad teach you to read music right off the bat?
A: I did initially play by ear. And it was much easier for me than learning how to read sheet music and I preferred it that way. But obviously having my dad as a professional musician, he started teaching me very early on how to read sheet music. So now I can do both.
Q: I Notice when I see you playing that you don't have any music in front of you. And I've said to myself, she memorizes all of these really complicated pieces. I mean, you play complicated pieces! You memorize them?
A: Yes. I say I would say it definitely adds to the performance when you can actually look at the audience and kind of feel the music rather than reading it. You kind of have more of a connection to it when it's memorized.
Q: What kind of accordion do you play? I know it's a button type, right?
A: So, I play specifically a “B system“ chromatic button accordion and it is a Jupiter.
Q: Do you practice every day? Do you have a regular practice routine? Does your father get on you to practice every day?
A: I wouldn't say he really forces me to, but I practice pretty much every day. Usually a couple hours a day, but when we're preparing for something, usually more.
Q: How do you fit it in your homework and practicing?
A: Well, currently I'm a senior, so I don't have very many classes, so I have a lot more free time. But even when I did have a full schedule, I still had enough time. I mean, I had to prioritize practicing as opposed to hanging out with friends and doing other things, but I still have time for that.
Q: Wow. Here comes the big question. Because I know you've accumulated a lot of experience and accomplishments as a performer, what are the most notable ones? I know about some of them. You can go through the list and tell me which ones are the are more notable to you.
A: I would say the most the most notable recent honor I have had was to perform for NPR's Tiny Desk Concerts. Considering I've seen many celebrities and people that I admire on the program as well. So it was just surreal to be able to go and stand in the same place that they were all in. And I would also say it was a pleasure to perform for UNESCO.
They hosted an international youth festival over in Kazakhstan. So I got to fly out and work with other young musicians, but I was the accordion soloist and I performed a few pieces with the symphony orchestra. which was my first time performing with an orchestra. So it was very special and we had dance, other dancers and vocalists as a part of the festival as well. So it was very, very special.
And I would say NPR's From The Top radio show was kind of what helped me get started with those accomplishments. And it was also a special experience because they bring young classical musicians onto the program and I'm not solely a classical player, but I do love classical music. And it was also very special to meet other people my age and to share the accordion as a classical instrument.
Q: I'm sure just the way you play, you probably really bring it to life to a general audience in ways that other folks don't ever get to see it.
Sergei: By the way, I would add couple more accomplishments that she's got recently. Some of her YouTube videos, especially some shorts, has about 9 million views. Several of them have four, three, two million views. So, she's getting popular all over the place during the YouTube channel as well. Yeah, she's got so many great comments every single day. Yeah, like hundreds of amazing. And watching them from all over the place.
A: I actually started my own YouTube channel last January. in January of last year. And in the past year, it's gained over 5,000 subscribers. So, I'd say it's going pretty well.
Q: Wonderful. Wow! And I guess you'd have no way of knowing what the age span of the subscribers would be or who some of these people might be, right?
A: Absolutely. There are statistics on YouTube. But in general that's people from like maybe 20% from United States and the other 80% from all over the world. Lots from Germany, Italy, France, Russia.
Q: You play all kinds of music, right? Because I've seen you play classical. I've seen you play other more traditional type things, but what do you enjoy playing the most?
A: Honestly, I really do enjoy playing different styles, but currently a couple of my favorite pieces are ThunderStruck by AC/DC, which is a bit of rock and roll. I would say it's very fun to play on the accordion and it's not something the audience would expect; as well as “And I Love Her” by The Beatles.
Q: Now, you did Thunder Struck together, didn't you? With your dad.
A: Both of them. As well as Beatles. Yes.
Q: Yes. I saw that. It was beautiful. It was absolutely beautiful. How about jazz?
A: Actually, I never really used to play much jazz. I sing jazz more, but I actually just auditioned for the jazz studies program over at the UFO because I want to learn how to play jazz. So, I've learned a few jazz pieces in the past couple of months and it is definitely something I will be working on in the near future.
Q: With your dad?
A: With my dad and solo. Yeah.
Q: So what kind of music do you listen to in your spare time?
A: Well, I try to listen to a lot of music, but I do listen to a bit of jazz in my free time. And I listen to a lot of pop, you know, just like current albums that come out just to stay updated. Just many different genres, honestly.
Q: So, you have other musical interests and talent that I'm aware of. Can you tell us about them?
A: Yes. So, I am also a singer. I have been taking professional singing lessons for the past few years, and it is something I've wanted to incorporate into our duo program. Because not everybody wants to sit through two hours of just two accordions playing. So adding vocals into it is definitely much more fun in my opinion. And also we incorporate a little bit of dance into our programs as well as some percussion.
Sergei: Yeah, she's a good percussionist.
Q: Yes, I noticed that. Yes. When your dad was playing solo and you played along with him, you look very comfortable on stage doing it and you really get lost in the music, Maria, it shows, you know? What other non- musical activities or hobbies do you enjoy?
A: So, I really enjoy reading. I've been reading quite a lot recently. And also I go to the gym a lot, surprisingly. The accordion is pretty heavy. I would say. Mine is about 35 pounds and so I need to be pretty strong to handle it for a couple hours a day.
Q: Yeah. It's tough on the shoulders, tough on the neck after
years of playing, you know. Have you discovered that Sergei? Oh, also your neck and your shoulders.
Sergei: Yeah, I joined her for gym lately as well. And her instrument is very heavy because it has a free bass system as well. And very rich and good sound that makes it heavy as well.
Q: You mentioned that you've played along with other instruments in one of your more recent activities. I also noticed that you played with a Chicago cover band.
A: I actually sang with them. Yeah.
Q: Sang with them?
A: Uh huh. I was a guest artist for them a couple times when they came here to Oregon and it was a very fun experience to perform.
Q: I listened. They were really good. How was that different for you, that experience? What did it make you have to do?
A: Well, I usually don't perform with many people on stage and sort of like big bands. So I honestly wasn't used to the earpiece system because I had to put in an earpiece so I could hear myself and a couple specific instruments, but not the whole band, because it's just so loud on stage. So I got used to it but it took a few minutes for me to get used to it. But it was also just the energy on stage, like the more people there is the more exciting it is I would say and the audience is very riled up. So it was just very exciting.
Q: Yes I I watched that performance. They were excellent. And then they had a female singer also who was really, really excellent. I guess they embraced you wholeheartedly as well, right? Your youthfulness, your energy...nice. Now, did you play accordion with them at all?
A: No, I just sang with them.
Q: Just sang with them. How do your current teachers and friends view the accordion?
A: At school, I would say I am very supported. A lot of people, well, most people know about my accomplishments. And I'm really glad that I'm able to kind of let them know what the accordion is capable of.
Sergei: We actually gave a concert just this last month.
A: Yes, we performed at my local school, North Eugene High School, and we gave a full performance to all of my teachers and classmates. So, that was super exciting. And many people came. It was very successful. And I would say, yeah, I have a lot of support at school.
Sergei: And you also can tell about your next performance of Fiddler on the Roof.
A: Oh, yes. And I actually will be collaborating with our theater program at school. They will be doing a production of Fiddler on the Roof and I will be in the musician pit performing for their music. It will be a 3 hour long show. So, I'm currently learning a lot of music for that. 107 pages, I believe 107 pages of sheet music, which I got a couple days ago.
Q: It really is beautiful. I've played it in orchestras as well. Beautiful music. Yes. So, you'll be on accordion the whole time, right? Will you be doing any singing for that?
A: No. It's just the accordion.
Q: And so you have performed at the school you've attended. When you were younger, like six, seven, you know, in grammar school, grade school, did you perform at school for your classes and your teachers?
A:Yes, we did. I usually came in with my dad and we performed at my elementary school and at my middle school as well. And currently, we're actually working with Lane Arts Council which is our local sort of musical program that brings music into local schools. So I've also performed all around local schools over here.
M: How do the kids react to you? How do they react when they see the accordion? What do they do?
A:They're usually very fascinated. I mean, it's very interesting to them, very new. And they're usually very excited about it because we present, it's kind of an educational program. So, we tell them about the instrument, how it works, and about music in general, about musical styles. And they're usually very interested and want to know more and ask questions at the end. We also motivate them by offering some small prizes for their listening and answering questions. We bring a little prize box with us which definitely helps.
Q: I have found also that the stereotypes are starting to wear off. You probably have seen it more but we've played for school audiences as well and the kids are fascinated with it. It's like “what is that? That's so cool!” You know, especially the teenagers are just like, “what is that?” They don't know what it is sometimes, you know? It's really interesting to see because it was so very prevalent when I was a little girl and playing. But it's almost like it's a brand new thing, you know?
Sergei: Yeah. Actually we played educational programs not only in our state, we play that in California, Washington, Montana, Texas and Wyoming.
A: So we go give our educational programs all over the United States and I would say it definitely helps in shaping the youth's view of the accordion.
Q: How do you market that?
Sergei: Well, so we are working with different agencies and so lots of time when people getting the whole concert for their community. So like an evening show. They also include a couple of educational programs at the next day or day before in their local
schools. So, it's kind of like a package. They want us to perform an evening show as well as a couple educational programs on a different day for their community. Schools can pay the part of our concert fee and stuff like that.
Q: Wow. Great! But it's a lot of work to do, the marketing, I would imagine, huh?
Sergei: Yeah.
A: A lot. Yes, I've done that, too.
Sergei: It's not easy these days.
Q:Yes. Wow. That's wonderful. Really? And the fact that there's so many states that are so welcoming of it and willing to have you and incorporate you the way they have, that's really, really good. Yes. Your post high school plans? You mentioned the University of Oregon already. What are your thoughts about what you want to do when you go on from high school?
A: Well, I would definitely like to continue pursuing music. I love being a performer and that is something I would like to continue to do. And as I mentioned, I auditioned for the jazz studies program. So, I will be most likely studying jazz and jazz performance.
And I would also like to minor in something else or double major for something that pairs well with music to have something else besides music as well. But it is definitely something I would like to continue to pursue.
Q: What's the music program like at the University of Oregon? Is that what you're looking at?
A: It's very nice. I mean, it's one of the top public music programs in the state.
Sergei: I will continue to teach her mainly on accordion, but she's going to take some lessons from piano players.
A: Piano players for the jazz program because they don't have an accordion teacher.
Q: I fiddled around with a music major when I was going on to college and I realized I would have to learn how to play the piano after playing accordion for so many years and it's like, oh gosh, you know! The left hand is difficult to learn when I'm just so used to having buttons over here. And that was one thing that deterred me. I played guitar for a little while but piano seemed to be so daunting. But it's the foundation of everything it seems. Do you play piano Sergei?
Sergei: Well, just a little bit, yeah, but I had to learn how to play piano since I got master's degree in Russia many years ago. And you have to play piano as well. But of course, accordion is my first instrument.
Q: Of course. Yeah. We always come back to our first love. You mentioned that you've been doing these classes and that's pretty extensive. How do you manage your schoolwork with all of the traveling you do? You've been asked this question a million times. I could tell. How do you manage it?
A: Well, all of my teachers are aware of my situation and that I travel to perform. So, they really just work with me. I try to get all my work done either beforehand or afterwards. And they're usually pretty flexible with me, so it's really not a big deal for me.
Sergei: She's pretty smart Cookie. Yes.
Q: Yeah. And a high achiever, too.
Sergei: Yes.
Q: Do you have to be perfect at everything you do? Do you put pressure on yourself to do it perfectly?
A:Well, I mean, school is not very much of a pressure for me, so I don't know. I really just focus on my music mostly.
Q: Wow. That's wonderful. Once you have music in your life, you don't ever get rid of it, right, Sergei? It's always there. Yep.
Sergei: Yep.
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