William Schimmel

[2][3][4][5] He received a Composers' Citation from The American Accordionists' Association in honor of his composition, "The Spring Street Ritual", which was the test piece for the 1979 Coupe Mondiale World Competition.

He received The Confédération internationale des accordéonistes Merit Award for his contributions as a composer, performer and philosopher on the international accordion scene.

[2][3] He has performed with most major symphony orchestras in the U.S, including The Kirov, has been performing with the New York Philharmonic for 45 years, has a long performing and recording relationship with the Minnesota Orchestra, virtually every chamber group in New York, The Met and City Opera as well as with rock (most notably Tom Waits), jazz (most notably Ted Nash's Odeon and The Jazz at Lincoln Center orchestra), and avant-garde groups (including ICE, Talea, The Absolute Ensemble, North South Consonance, Composers Concordance and The Argento Ensemble).

[2][6] Schimmel conducts a yearly three-day Master Class and Concert Series (The Seminars) sponsored by the American Accordionists' Association,[1] dedicated to the exploration and establishment of an accordion culture, which is in its twenty sixth season.

Together they founded the Studio Muse Dance/Music/Theatre Troup and produced concerts in the New York, New Jersey and Philadelphia area.