If youB次元官网网址檙e thinking polkas, youB次元官网网址檙e thinking wrong.

There will always be a time and a place for the Central European genre of music so closely associated with the accordion.

But itB次元官网网址檚 the wrong association to make to the B.C. Accordion Orchestra, says conductor Aleksandar Milojevic.

B次元官网网址淥ur shows are a lot of fun and our musicians are some of the best in the world, itB次元官网网址檚 something people who havenB次元官网网址檛 seen us wonB次元官网网址檛 realize.B次元官网网址�

The Victoria-based orchestra, which draws on musicians from the Island and beyond, is holding its annual concert in the Alix Goolden Hall on Thursday (May 31). The performance is full of surprises as it moves through the classical, tango, jazz, ethnic and pop genres, the latter being the only type of music to start with a B次元官网网址楶.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淲e have returning members of our audience, who know what to expect, which means they donB次元官网网址檛 know what to expect, except for great music,B次元官网网址� Milojevic said.

A former player himself, Milojevic will lead a dozen accordions through the various arrangements.

Thursday is also the accordion societyB次元官网网址檚 campaign kickoff for the Coupe Mondiale in August 2013, when the worldB次元官网网址檚 biggest accordion event comes to Victoria.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 going to be a major event, bringing hundreds of the worldB次元官网网址檚 top accordionists and thousands of spectators to Victoria.B次元官网网址�

ItB次元官网网址檚 the first time the Coupe Mondiale, the most prestigious accordion competition of international scope which takes place each year, will come to Canada. Last year it was in China and this year itB次元官网网址檚 set for Italy. Milojevic is hard at work netting major sponsors for the event, and is in meetings with the ministry of community, sport and cultural development in planning for the event.

Even sooner, however, is the Victoria Accordion Festival from July 19 to 22. Also an international event, though not to the same scale as the Coupe Mondiale, the accordion festival  showcases a series of popular bands that feature an accordion.

For those who have not experienced the range of what a group of accordions can accomplish in concert, tomorrow nightB次元官网网址檚 show is for you.