Ross Maio

Ross Maio is an acclaimed accordion player whose musical capabilities and joyous performances have taken him all over the world.

Born on the beautiful island of Sicily, he immigrated to Australia with his mother in 1954, to reunite with his father who had moved here two years earlier. They were in search of a new life after the war.

He wanted an accordion but was forced to wait until he was 10 years old, when his relative brought a brand new (and small) accordion over from Italy. A Greek cafe-owner overheard the sounds of Maio’s magical playing and convinced his father to let him start gigging at 11 years old in the cafe.

For Ross, life has been rich in performance and travel opportunities including the Variety Club’s Royal Command Performance at the Sydney Opera House, in the presence of royal guests, Prince and Princess Michael of Kent.

His career has kept him constantly on the move, captivating audiences not only in the Australian club circuit, but also in leading hotels in Hong Kong, Singapore, The United Arab Emirates, New Caledonia, and Mauritius, as well as on cruise ships worldwide.

When asked on his favourite setting to perform in, Maio emphasised that it is the variety which keeps him inspired. Whether performing in an orchestra at the Sydney Opera House or playing in an intimate setting – diversity and sharing are for Maio, the spice of life. When not performing, he is an inspiring music teacher of both adults and children.

Maio’s accordion is capable of playing a huge variety of songs, from traditional, folk, tarantella, to tango, and contemporary music such as Elvis Presley, The Beatles and David Bowie. “I want people to hear a contemporary tune on an accordion,” he said.ross-maoi