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Reports for Concerts, Masterclasses, Competitions, Festivals, etc. |
Future events |
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Highlights |
Note from the Founder: Shorter News this Weekby Harley Jones |
The Weekly News is considerably shorter than normal this week due to the large Daily Reports of the 2015 40th PIF International "Città di Castelfidardo" which runs from Wednesday 16th September to late Sunday 20th September. After reading the Weekly News today and reading the Daily Reports to date at 2015Concorso we ask you to return on Monday evening for the completed Daily Reports and results. Harley Jones Founder |
Daily Reports For 40th PIF International "Città di Castelfidardo" - Italyby Holda Paoletti-Kampl |
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The 40th PIF International "Città di Castelfidardo" runs from Wednesday 16th September to late Sunday 20th September. There will be Daily Reports of pictures, video and ALL RESULTS each day of the event at: 2015Concorso |
2015 Paolo Soprani Award to Andrea Bocelli - Italyby Holda Paoletti-Kampl |
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![]() The idea was to create a prestigious award in the name of the founder of the accordion industry of Castelfidardo and to make the award every year to a person who achieved something at very high level for the image and diffusion of Italian accordion. The award is usually presented during the “Musei in Musica” event. The Mayor of Castelfidardo Mirco Soprani, the President of Scandalli Accordions Mirco Patarini and the President of the International Accordion Museum Vincenzo Canali announced the 2015 Paolo Soprani Award to Andrea Bocelli (picture above) at the Opening Concert of the Castelfidardo International Competitions and Festival, for having raised the image of the accordion all over the world, thanks to his extraordinary musical activity. Due to previous commitments, Andrea Bocelli could not attend this Opening Concert but a video of the presentation to him was shown to the audience. Video above. Previous winners of the prestigious Premio Paolo Soprani Award are: 2010 to Gian Mario Spacca, President of Marche Region; 2011 to Vincenzo Canali, President of the Accordion Museum Castelfidardo; 2012 to Harley Jones, Founder of Accordions Worldwide internet news/culture sites; 2013 to Viacheslav Semionov, composer, concert artist and teacher; 2014 to Raymond Bodell, President of the Confédération Internationale des Accordéonistes (CIA); 2015 to Andrea Bocelli for having raised the accordion image all over the world. The award sponsor is Scandalli Accordions and the Premio "Paolo Soprani" Award statue is the design creation of famous Italian sculptor Franco Campanari and is a real work of art in bronze, coming complete in a specially designed box with a published book about the art of Franco Campanari. Daily Reports of pictures, video and results each day of the event at: 2015Concorso |
Carmen Carrozza Memorial Concert and Dinner, New York – USAby Rob Howard |
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Carmen Carrozza (1921-2013) was one of America’s most renowned and highly accomplished concert accordionists. Born in Italy, his family moved to the USA in 1930, settling in New York. He was also a past President of the American Accordionists' Association (AAA). The American Accordionists' Association (AAA), on October 2-4th, hold the Carmen Carrozza Memorial Concert and Dinner to benefit the Carrozza Scholarship Fund. This event will be held at the Double Tree by Hilton, 455 South Broadway, Tarrytown, NY 10591. Download Carrozza Poster and Reservation Form: 2015Carrozza.pdf Download Carmen Carrozza Memorial Award Competition Information and Entry: 2015CScholarship.pdf The weekend begins with an Open Meeting and Dinner/Concert, and includes a memorabilia exhibition, the Carmen Carrozza Scholarship Competition, and the Carmen Carrozza Memorial Concert and Dinner. Performers include: The Connecticut Accordion Orchestra, Linda Soley Reed, Conductor; The “K” Duo with Mary Tokarski & Julie Cardona; Eddie Monteiro & Frank Toscano; Mary Mancini & Mario Tacca, Gia Ciccone; Beverly Roberts Curnow; Busso Trio; Enzo Pizzimenti & Dominick Karcic; Mary Tokarski, Winners of the Carrozza Competiton Dinner; Entertainment provided by Emilio Magnotta and Frank Carozza Group; Performance of Flight of the Angels. For hotel reservation and other information see the extended version of this article in the USA News. For further information email: ameraccord1938@gmail.com or mary.tokarski@comcast.net |
Ernie Felice (1922-2015), California – USAby Rob Howard |
![]() Born in Campbell, California, 1922, young Ernie used to watch accordionists playing at weddings and other festive occasions. He took lessons from Earl Sylvester and won the California Juvenile Championship for two successive years, when he was nine and ten years old. When the Felice family moved into San Jose, California, Ernie continued to study music until he finished school. He often played at parties, either solo or with a drummer. A neighbour who played saxophone asked Ernie to work out some sax arrangements for him. Ernie, who was studying arranging in school, experimented on his accordion, playing up to four different sax parts simultaneously. He liked the different effect, promptly adopting it in his attempt to modernize his style. San Jose State College gave a yearly show called the Spartan Revelries. The Musical Director of the event, a friend of Ernie's, invited him to do the show score in 1936. It featured a large orchestra. Ernie's score was sensationally successful. After that, Ernie associated all his accordion arrangements with the music of a large band. After graduation from High School in 1937, Ernie joined a small group in San Francisco, known as the Four Sharps. They played at Tommy Harris' club on Geary Street (Tommy's). Duke Ellington, then appearing at the Golden Gate Theater, used to drop by often. He encouraged young Ernie to stick to his original style and develop it. The Four Sharps stayed in San Francisco almost two years. They were booked at the Los Angeles Town House, where they remained for six months. At their next engagement, the Colorado Springs Broadmoor Hotel, they were equally successful. Bing Crosby saw their act and gave Ernie more praise and encouragement. The group disbanded because of enlistment following Pearl Harbor on December 7th 1941, and Ernie entered the Army Air Corps, and was assigned to an entertainment unit, which toured the country helping to sell bonds and to promote recruitment. When the war ended Ernie met Benny Goodman, and joined his sextet. "As a kid, I listened to Benny Goodman for inspiration. I loved the way Benny's full saxophone section played, and that's how I followed with my style of swing. The clarinetist in my groups played lead and I played what would have been four or five instruments underneath on the accordion. My voicing emulated how Benny's sax section sounded.” The couple of years spent performing and recording with Goodman strongly influenced the way Ernie Felice played thereafter. Working mostly with his quartet - accordion, clarinet, guitar and bass - Ernie had a long and very successful career. He played and sang in cabaret, recorded for Capitol, appeared in the Hollywood movies The Big Clock (1948), Smooth Sailing (1947), Panic in the Streets (1950), and With A Song In My Heart (1952), and was often featured on the radio and TV. His many accomplishments are detailed on an interesting website www.erniefelice.com, maintained by his son, Dan Felice. Ernie Felice died peacefully in his sleep on September 13th 2015 at the age of 93. |
Reports for Concerts, Masterclasses, Competitions, Festivals, etc. |
Cotati Accordion Festival Report, San Francisco - USAby Rob Howard |
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Shirley Brim, newsletter editor of the San Francisco Accordion Club writes: We are so lucky to have the great annual accordion celebration in Cotati! As a first-time visitor I was impressed by almost everything at the festival, including the organization of the event. Although space in the pretty little park is limited, the layout was perfect. There were friendly local folk at the gates, a separate parking for handicapped drivers and musicians, and enthusiastic people running everything, everywhere I turned. The event was just the right size and had a great mix of vendors, food, performance and seating. I will be going back! This festival draws lovers of the accordion from many states and from a number of other countries. There were two main performing stages in La Plaza Park in the center of town, and another in the Polka Tent in the same park. In addition, there was accordion music at all three Oliver’s Markets (Santa Rosa, Petaluma and Cotati), The Redwood Cafe, Friar Tuck’s Pub and the Lagunitas Brewing Company. It was an embarrassment of riches - who could cover all that territory in two-and-a-half days? The absolutely perfect weather gave us beautiful days for sitting in a lawn chair, eating guilty-pleasure carnival food and drinking a beer while listening to our favorite musical instrument. The charming outdoor venue drew performers and audience together for an intimate shared experience. The Cotati Festival attracts many excellent accordionists, and this year’s schedule boasted an amazing variety of instruments, musical genres and performing styles - Stas Venglevski, Those Darn Accordions (reunion), Mattias Matke, Steve Albini, Ginny Mac, and more. From Sourdough Slim to the Great Morgani and many stops in between, the accordion inspires musicians to express their most authentic selves - and we love it when they do! |
Kalinka Duo Video at Castelifdardo Festival - Italyby Harley Jones |
Kalinka Duo Video at 2015 40th PIF International "Città di Castelfidardo". Daily Reports of pictures, video and results each day of the event at: 2015Concorso |
Lacides Romero Workshops, Heredia – Costa Ricaby Rob Howard |
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![]() The week included a concert by Lacides Romero and pianist Edwin Marin, performing works by Astor Piazzolla and several other South American composers. |
Alan Crookston Ceilidh Band debut CD, Scotland – UKby Rob Howard |
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![]() This is dance music in a brisk ceilidh tempo, generally taken at a faster pace than for Scottish Country Dance music, and presenting perennial favourites such as the Gay Gordons, Dashing White Sergeant, Canadian Barn Dance, Pride of Erin, Postie’s Jig, Flying Scotsman, Eva Three Step, Gaelic Waltz, Brittania Two Step, Highland Scottische, and the Orcadian Strip The Willow. In contrast, there’s also a Slow Air – ‘Sarah’s Song’, written by Phil Cunningham. It’s mainly lively stuff, played very well indeed, and typically meant for fit dancers! The CD, published by Glasfield Records, can be obtained via the Alan Crookston Ceilidh Band website. The band line-up is Alan Crookston (lead accordion), Gary Sutherland (2nd accordion), Iain Anderson (fiddle), Liam Stewart (bass/piano), and Alan Irvine (drums). For further information email: a.crookston@sky.com |
‘14 Years Ago’: ‘Women of the Accordion’, Argentina, September 2001by Rob Howard |
The Accordions Worldwide news for the week ending September 21st 2001 included an article concerning a concert, ‘Women of the Accordion’, held in Buenos Aires, Argentina, featuring only women accordionists. This was the second such event, and is it still being held in 2015? Women of the Accordion – Argentina Contributed by Florencia Herrera On September 15th an event entitled "Women of the Accordion" was held for the second consecutive year in Buenos Aires with participants from all over the Entre Rios province. Performances were given by Gloria Casadey, Vilma Salvetti, Fátima Ferrabut, Silvina Vello, Thelma Gonzáles, Miriam Gutierrez, Marta Balbuena, Yanina Hirschfeld, Juana Izaguirre, Mary Barrios, Mariana Duarte, Zulma Graz Pereyra, Florencia Herrera and Marcia Muller. Their program included a variety of popular chamamés, chamarritas, fox-trots, tangos, two steps, cuambia and Brazilian tunes. |
Future events |
Natasha Enquist @ ‘Gorrlos’, Berlin – Germanyby Rob Howard |
![]() Each performance begins at 8.30pm. The soundtrack to ‘Gorrlos’ was recorded by Natasha Enquist by the show’s musical director Matresanch. German-based Miss Natasha Enquist recently shot a music video for her upcoming debut single, from her soon-to-be-released album ‘MNE’. For further information email: info@natashaenquist.com |
Joseph Soprani in Variety Concert, Philadelphia – USAby Rob Howard |
![]() An interesting program is planned with the Munier Mandolin Ensemble and tenor mandolin soloist Frank Tenaglia and the Kovriga Russian Balalaika Orchestra with Joe Soprani appearing as accordion soloist. An exciting grand finale with the two ensembles and soloists is planned. Ticket sales are going great and a sell-out is likely. For further information email: joesoprani@gmail.com |
Longford Collection Weekend, County Longford - Republic of Irelandby Rob Howard |
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This weekend, September 18th, 19th, and 20th, sees the Longford Collection taking place at venues in Longford Town, County Longford, Republic of Ireland. This is a weekend of musical activities, starting with a Friday night concert at Barney's Bar and Restaurant, 12 Main Street, Longford Town, featuring accordionist Karen Tweed doing a solo spot and also as a duo with diatonic accordionist Nick Wiseman-Ellis, together presenting a musical whizz around France and Scandinavia with a few tangos thrown in. On Saturday September 20th, 10am until 4pm, Karen Tweed and Nick Wiseman-Ellis will hold workshops, held at the Longford Arms Hotel and Spa in Longford Town. Karen will be concentrating on Irish traditional music techniques using repertoire from the Bunch Of Keys Tune Book 1, polkas, slides, and perhaps a waltz as well. Nick will be concentrating on Irish traditional music, French, and Swedish music. These workshops are not suitable for beginners. On the Saturday evening, there will be a ceili at The Temperance Hall, Longford Town, with music by The Longford Collection. Karen Tweed and Nick Wiseman Ellis continue workshops on Sunday, 10am - 3.30pm. Karen and Nick will be creating a performance big band (all instruments - including woodwind and brass welcome), which will perform in a public concert that day at 5pm at the Longford Arms, to conclude the weekend. For further information email: karentweedsmailinglist@gmail.com |
Vladimir Ushakov and Svetlana Stavitskaya Concerts – Denmarkby Rob Howard |
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Victor Prieto Trio at Lake George Jazz Festival, New York - USAby Rob Howard |
![]() With accordionist Victor Prieto are Edward Perez – bass, and Vince Cherico – drums. On Sunday September 27th, 11am, the Victor Prieto Trio perform at the City Winery in New York City. Spanish-born Victor Prieto teaches master classes in US Berklee College of Music, and also in Spain, Italy, and Portugal, and has taught jazz accordion studies at the Brooklyn Conservatory, New York. For further information email: info@victorprieto.net |
Paul Chamberlain and Michael Haywood Concerts – UKby Rob Howard |
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On Saturday September 19th Paul Chamberlain (accordion) and Michael Haywood (sax, violin, clarinet) will perform in Scotland as part of National Chamber Music Day which aims to bring music to the general public in a wide variety of settings. Their destination is the Isle of Arran on the west coast of Scotland and performances will take place in 'Little Rock' Cafe and then a concert on the ferry crossing from Brodick back to the mainland. October sees the duo return to the South of England to perform a sold-out concert in Faversham as well as concerts in Nottingham and Hawick. The duo have also recently recorded a CD which will be released later this year. September 19th - Little Rock Cafe, Isle of Arran - 12.30pm / Caledonian MacBrayne Ferry - 3.15pm October 11th - Assembly Rooms, Faversham October 12th - Theatre Royal, Nottingham October 18th - Hawick Music Live, Tower Mill, Hawick |
Jack Delaney SDB @ Beith Accordion & Fiddle Club, Scotland – UKby Rob Howard |
![]() Jack Delaney, one of Scotland’s most accomplished accordionists, has played and recorded with the bands led by Andrew Rankine, Jim Johnstone, Alex McArthur, Sir Jimmy Shand, Jimmy Shand Junior, Bert Shorthouse, Robin Brock, Colin Dewar, and Iain MacPhail. |
Pascal Contet Concert/CD Release, Paris – Franceby Rob Howard |
![]() There will be two performances, at 7.15pm and 8.30pm, and both performances will last for 15 minutes and be in complete darkness. Entry is free. This event is in conjunction with a promotion for Pascal Contet’s new CD ‘Utopian Wind’, which was released on August 31st. For further information email: pascalcontet@wanadoo.fr |
Kosmos Concert, Kent - UKby Rob Howard |
![]() Kosmos are Harriet Mackenzie – violin, Meg Hamilton – viola, and Milos Milivojevic – accordion. Their programme, inspired by music from all around the globe, includes wild gypsy fiddling, emotive Jewish and Greek music glide, hot-blooded tango, alongside interpretations of Japanese, Polish and Sephardic songs, new arrangements by and for the ensemble, and with references to classical composers including Bach, Brahms and Sarasate. |
Gianluca Campi @ Guildford Accordion Club, Surrey – UKby Rob Howard |
![]() Gianluca Campi, from Genoa, studied the accordion with Giorgio Bicchieri and harmony with Paolo Conti. As a teenager he twice won the Vercelli International Competition for accordion and subsequently also came first in the Italian Championship. He was complimented by Wolmer Beltrami, who called him an "enfant prodige" and the "Paganini of the accordion", for his interpretation and love of the violin virtuoso's music. As a soloist he has performed in many theatres, to great acclaim. In 2000 he won the ‘Alcobaça World Trophy’ in Portugal, as the best accordion player in the ‘Variety’ category. Gianluca Campi’s wide repertory ranges from Bach to Albeniz, Adamo, Volpi, Rossini, Piazzolla, Khatchaturian, Schubert, and more. He often collaborates with the chamber ensemble of the ‘Niccolò Paganini’ Conservatory of Genoa and, as a teacher, gives lessons in Alessandria and at the ‘Francesco Cilea’ Music School in Savona. For further information email: myrabee@btinternet.com |
Richard Galliano Quartet Concert, Dusseldorf – Germanyby Rob Howard |
![]() The concert is titled ‘30th Anniversary on New Musette’, referring to a style developed by French accordionist Richard Galliano that has been described as “a synthesis of elements of jazz and the traditional waltz of the Parisian suburbs”. The concert takes place at Theaterzelt, Burgplatz, Dusseldorf. |
New and Updated Sites |
Updated Site: Friedrich Lips New CD Released, Fachwerk | Kapote - Austriaby Dr Herbert Scheibenreif Manager of Friedrich Lips Productions |
![]() 1. Fachwerk by Sofia Gubaidulina (1931 - ) composed in 2009 for accordion with percussion and string orchestra. 33.44 mins This was recorded in Moscow’s Gnesin Concert Hall on December 13th, 2013, Friedrich Lips soloist with the Symphony Orchestra of the Russian Gnesin Music Academy, conducted by Alexander Solovyov. 2. Kapote by Giya Kancheli (1935 - ) composed in 2006 for accordion with percussion, bass guitare and string orchestra. 28:24 This was recorded by the ”Orpheus” Radio Symphonic Orchestra, conducted by Sergei Kondrashev. Notes about these two major works by Friedrich Lips are on the website about the Fachwerk | Kapote CD at: CD027 You can order online in Euro or US$ via the high security eCommerce site run by WorldPay.com, one of the world's largest payment processing system at: CD027 |
Updated Site: Renzo Ruggieri "Up To Christmas" €10 CD Special - Italyby Harley Jones |
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![]() ![]() There are sound samples online so you can hear the vast array of music on these 11 CD's. If you buy all 11 CD's, the postage within Europe is for €11 and outside Europe €21 Euro. Email musicforaccordion@yahoo.com for how to order all 11 CD's. The online shopping basket links to the high security eCommerce site run by WorldPay.com, one of the world's largest payment processing system. Click the links below to hear sound samples and to order. rruggieri01 Improvvisazioni Guidate rruggieri02 Storie di Fisarmonica Vissuta rruggieri03 Accordion Voyage rruggieri04 Bends rruggieri05 Spaghetti Time rruggieri06 Terre rruggieri07 Renzo Ruggieri Collection rruggieri08 Kramer Project - Renzo Ruggieri Orchestra rruggieri09 Opera? rruggieri10 Inni D'Italia rruggieri11 Valentino è Tango |
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New Site: Wurzburger-Musikverlag Music and CD Catalog - Germanyby Holda Paoletti-Kampl |
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![]() ![]() Wurzburger-Musikverlag has a new website selling sheet music, tutor books, music books and CD's. |
Updated Site: Gorka Hermosa Flamenco Etxea Album - Spainby Harley Jones |
![]() José Luis Montón and Gorka Hermosa offer us in "Flamenco - Etxea" (flamenco house in Basque) a very original fusion of flamenco and Basque music, from his own compositions, to flamenco versions of Bach. |
Site Updated: Milwaukee Accordion Club - USAby Sherry Huiras, Milwaukee Accordion Club |
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On Monday, September 28, the Milwaukee Accordion Club (MAC) meeting has ‘Bill Anderson with a Little Bit of Heaven' as their featured program. The MAC site has been updated with future events, club officials, and updated contact information. |
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