Recently, a world-renowned accordionist played on NPR's "Prairie Home Companion" and during the performance a friend stated, "This is the most romantic, French café-style squeeze box I have ever heard."

It turns out the accordionist was Stas Venglevski, a native of the Republic of Moldova (part of the former Soviet Union), who emigrated to the United States in 1992 and currently lives in Brookfield.

"My wife was part-time student at UWM," he explains.

Most recently, Venglevski was elected as the President of the Accordionists and Teachers Guild, International (ATG). Established in 1940, the ATG is committed to improving teaching standards and all phases of music education. Thanks to Venglevski, the 2004 ATG Festival will be held in Milwaukee, July 21-25.

Considered a virtuoso, Venglevski toured extensively throughout the former Soviet Union, Europe and the United States. He frequently performs with symphony orchestras throughout the world, including the MSO, and has played with conductor, Doc Severinsen.

All of that said, Venglevski also jams with local Irish band Leahy's Luck, singer Robin Pluer and Milwaukee mandolinist Michail Litvin.

And yes, Milwaukeeans, despite his penchant for playing Bach, Weber, Liszt, Schubert and Rachmaninoff, Venglevski still cranks out a polka now and again and has squeezed at Art's Concertina Bar on the South Side.

"I do know lots of polkas. Often I play it for fun," says Venglevski, who is close friends with American accordion guru and polka king, Dick Contino, a regular visitor to Festa Italiana and a controversial figure.

"He is a good man," says Venglevski, a graduate of the Russian Academy of Music in Moscow who received a Masters Degree in music.

Specifically, Venglevski plays the bayan, a concert accordion that's one of the most popular folk instruments in Russia. Because the bayan has 106 buttons on the left and 120 on the right, it can produce a tremendous range of sounds (his version of "Flight of the Bumblebee" will make you cross pollinate on the spot) and is very versatile, allowing the player to draw from many genres of music.

"The accordion is a very unique instrument which lends itself to all types of music," says Venglevski. "Popularity seems to be on the increase."

Indeed, it does. Hipsters as well as mainstreamers have rediscovered the instrument in recent years and accordion groups have popped up all over the country, including Milwaukee's Riverwest Accordion Club.

Venglevski, who started playing at five years old, will perform on Valentine's Day at Bay View's Joyce Parker Productions (2685 S. Kinnickinnic Ave.), and the very next day, will start a three-week European tour.

Sounds about right for Stas Venglevski.

For more information, go to www.accordions.com/stas/.