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Highlights |
Happy Easter to all our readers around the world - Worldwideby Rob Howard |
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Accordions Worldwide wishes all our readers a very Happy Easter, wherever you may be, and that you will continue to enjoy your accordion music throughout the next year and beyond. This website exists to serve the needs of accordionists everywhere, and contains a vast amount of information if you navigate our many links and pages. Our weekly news keeps you in touch with events and communiques from around the world, and we welcome your contributions. Don’t eat all your Easter eggs at once!! Rob Howard - Editor |
Mika Väyrynen Celebrates 30 years of Concerts – Finlandby Kevin Friedrich |
![]() On March 12th Mika performed with St. Michel’s Strings under the direction of Sasha Mäkilä, performing Aulis Sallinen´s ‘Barabbas Variations’ for accordion and string orchestra. Mika has performed this work more than 40 times with various orchestras. In addition to his teaching at The Sibelius Academy in Helsinki, Mika Väyrynen has recently been appointed to the position of Visiting Professor of Accordion Playing at the Music Academy at the University of Pula in Croatia. As well as performing and teaching, Mika is putting the finishing touches to his upcoming CD ‘Danse Macabre’. The 22nd CD in what has become an extensive collection of recordings, his new CD will include four world premiere recordings of music by Paavo Korpijaakko, Pasi Lyytikäinen, Aulis Sallinen, and his own work. Other tracks are romantic style pieces from Rachmaninow, Galynin, Grieg, and Saint-Saens/Horowitz. The CD will be released at the end of the summer, and will be available at Coupe Mondiale 2015 in Turku, where Mika will perform as one of the guest artists in a solo recital on October 9th, in Turku. For more information, please visit www.accordions.com/mika |
Report on the 2015 National Acordion Convention (NAA) in Texasby Laura Niland, President of the San Antonio Accordion Association |
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The 2015 National Accordion Association (NAA) Convention took place at the Southfork Hotel and Conference Center from March 5-7, 2015 in Plano, Texas. The convention theme was "Duet Together" and the 2015 NAA Convention featured many duets. A unique new addition for 2015 was the "Artists Interpretation of Music Art Show". NAA President Norman Seaton reports a very successful event and Laura Niland has prepared a superb Acrobat pdf report with lots of pictures that you can view at: 2015Convention.pdf |
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AAA Update on Faithe Deffner Accordion Competition - USAby Rita Barnea |
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![]() FAITHE DEFFNER ACCORDION COMPETITION Sponsored by the American Accordionists' Association (AAA) July 8-12, 2015 at the Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites - 625 King Street in Alexandria, Virginia. $25,000 in Cash Awards Entries due June 1, 2015. Full details of the Faithe Deffner International Accordion Competition and entry form at: 2015Deffner.pdf Individuals planning to compete in the Faithe Deffner Accordion Competition MUST contact the AAA on or before April 15, 2015 in order for us to coordinate the percussion rehearsals for Karen Fremar's, "Herricks Road"which is a requirement. Fees and details are not required at this time (due on or before June 1st), but the AAA must have confirmation of participation as soon as possible. Please confirm your participation via email: ameraccord1938@gmail.com or fax: 203-484-5095 |
Reports for Concerts, Masterclasses, Competitions, Festivals, etc. |
REELZ TV Reality Series Features the Accordion - USAby Rita Barnea |
![]() ![]() Polka Kings is a REELZ original reality series premiering Saturday, April 11 at 9:30pm ET/ 8:30pm CT and featuring the Chardon Polka Band in their foot-tapping quest to survive each other and bring polka to the masses. The group is always finding themselves in crazy situations ranging from private parties to nursing homes, Ukrainian summer camps to the Duct Tape Festival in Avon, Ohio. Each week Polka Kings follows the dynamic group’s attempts to break through and achieve mainstream status. “Meet the Polka Kings” on Saturday, April 11 at 9:30pm ET/ 6:30pm PT. In “Meet the Polka Kings” viewers can get to know the band members Jake Kouwe, Pops Magooch, Mike Franklin, Emily Burke and Paul Coates—all who have interesting day jobs and hobbies when not on the road for the band. Jake Kouwe, 27, is the charismatic leader, accordion player and vocalist of the band, and also the glue holding the group together over the past decade. This REELZ original series shows the incredible journey the band embarks upon as they try to survive each other and keep their personal and professional lives from derailing their quest for stardom. ?? For further information: Rbass@reelz.com Phone: 505-212-8809 |
Luciano Ligabue Visit Castelfidardo Accordion Museum - Italyby Holda Paoletti-Kampl |
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Picture above: Mayor of Castelfidardo Mirco Soprani, Francesca Pigini, Luciano Ligabue and Vincenzo Canali. Luciano Ligabue currently touring with his sold out "Monovision Tour", was welcomed to the Accordion Museum Castelfidardo by Mayor Mirco Soprani and Vincenzo Canali, founder of the Accordion Museum. The rocker had two exceptional guides during this strictly private visit to the Museum Castelfidardo which houses the 150-year history of the accordion collection. Luciano Ligabue recently wrote a song featuring folk accordion and the company Pigini (Francesca Pigini pictured above) presented an instrument asking that in his upcoming concerts, Luciano Ligabue promotes the accordion to his audience. |
Traditional Finnish Accordion With Markku Lepistö - Finlandby Harley Jones |
Video: Markku Lepistö Trio live at Helsinki Music Centre 26th November 2013, video published 14 December 2014. |
Mirko Satto Sell Out Recital, Mantova - Italyby Rob Howard |
![]() Mirko Satto performed music by Vivaldi, Albinoni, Couperin, Daquin, Rossini, Solotarjow, Fancelli, Lecuona, Rota, Galliano, and Piazzolla. His performance earned a standing ovation. |
Video: ZDF tivi - Heidi TV Titlesong by Andreas Gabalier - Austriaby Harley Jones |
Video: ZDF tivi program titled Heidi. The title song is by Andreas Gabalier, Published on Feb 10, 2015. |
Aniceto Molina (1939-2015), Texas - USAby Harley Jones |
![]() Born in El Campano, Córdoba, Colombia in 1939, Molina began playing the accordion at the age of 12. He quickly took to the cumbia rhythm, mining the triplet beat for incredible squeezebox riffs. In 1973, the 34-year-old singer and accordionist moved to Mexico City, where he established a successful recording career with his band Los Sabaneros. In 1984, Molina moved to San Antonio, Texas, setting up shop in a city quite fond of the diatonic accordion. In addition to his popularity in San Antonio, Columbia and Mexico, Molina had a particularly strong following in El Salvador. |
Video: 123 Musette TV program - Franceby Harley Jones |
Popular 123 Musette TV program hosted by Pierre-Yves Lombard and Jérôme Richard, with invited accordionists. |
Video: José Valadez Concert, Monterrey - Méxicoby Harley Jones |
Video 1: 1st movement, Concerto Armonico by Roberto Caberlotto Video 2: 2nd movement Video 3: 3rd movement Accordionist José Valadez, accompanied by the Orquesta Intermedia, conducted by José Bartolomé Martínez, performed a classical concert on March 25th at the Escuela Superior de Música y Danza de Monterrey, Monterrey, México. The program included music by Schubert, Rossini, Ponchielli, J.S. Bach, and others. |
‘14 Years Ago’: Jörgen Sundeqvist and Oivind Farmen UK Tour, March 2001Jörgenby Rob Howard |
![]() ![]() The Accordions Worldwide news for the week ending April 6th 2001 included a report about Jörgen Sundeqvist (Sweden) and Oivind Farmen (Norway), who had just performed a concert in Hull, UK. It is not often that two virtuoso accordionists team up together for a tour of England, and audiences were treated to a series of exceptional performances, including a memorable one at the writer’s Stockport Accordion Club on Tuesday March 27th 2001. Successful Radio Interview for Sundequist & Farmen – England Contributed by Heather Smith The Kingston upon Hull Accordion Club presented a concert on March 20th, featuring Scandinavian accordionists Jörgen Sundeqvist and Oivind Farmen. The evening's entertainment began with a performance by the club ensemble, who played ‘World's Fair March’ (Charles Nunzio), ‘Janita’ (tango) and ‘Spanish Eyes’, followed by 10 year old John Cleland (picture right of Farmen and Cleland) who played two pieces. John's teacher Heather Smith then played duets with another of her students, Colin Milner. Guests Jörgen and Oivind completed the successful program. Prior to this concert, Jörgen & Oivind were invited to the BBC Radio Humberside studios, for an interview with presenter Steve Massam (picture left), who asked them to play two pieces of music live. Their performance of a Frosini composition and a beautiful Russian folk song greatly impressed the studio team and can only help in the promotion of the accordion. |
Future events |
Beltango April/May Tour Dates – Germany, Austria, Netherlandsby Harley Jones |
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The Beltango Quintet will be on tour in Germany, Austria, and the Netherlands during April and May, as follows: April 5th - Bielefeld, Germany April 10th - Trossingen, Germany April 11th - Biberach, Germany April 12th - Munich, Germany April 25th - Feldkirchen, Austria April 30th - Bonn, Germany May 1st - Doorwerth, Netherlands May 2nd - Munster, Germany May 11th - Bautzen, Germany May 14th - Berlin, Germany May 15th - Hamburg, Germany May 16th/17th - Flensburg, Germany May 20th - Dortmund, Germany May 23rd - Karslruhe, Germany May 24th - Bregenz, Austria May 26th - Budapest, Hungary Beltango was founded in Belgrade, Serbia, 1998, by Aleksandar Nikolic. They present an abundance of tango repertoire including traditional tango pieces, compositions of the tango nuevo trend of Astor Piazzolla and modern tango, and also their own Beltango compositions from their ‘Balkango’ opus. Internationally well-travelled, Beltango is the only European tango orchestra to be invited by the Ministry of culture of Buenos Aires to perform at the ‘World Tango Festival - Buenos Aires, 2007’. CD releases include the Trilogia Triple CD Pack, the recently released CD Theatre of Soul and a duo CD titled Tango Reaction, all available online at: Beltango For further information email: info@beltango.com |
‘Accordions of London’ Re-Opening Day, London – UKby Rob Howard |
![]() ![]() On Easter Sunday April 5th, 11am to 4pm, there will be an open day featuring several accordionists entertaining. ‘Accordions of London’ carries a large number of new and used accordions, from a wide range of makes. |
Accord Orchestra Potsdam Tour – Maltaby Rob Howard |
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The 54 strong Accord Orchestra Potsdam (MD Guido Roß), from Germany, visit Malta next week for a short tour, performing three concerts in conjunction with the Santa Maria Accordion Band (MD Marthese Busuttil Cassar). Performances: Easter Monday April 6th, 7.30pm .B.C.A- St Joseph’s Home, Santa Venera Thursday April 9th, 7.30pm – St Aloysius College, B’kara Friday April 10th, 2pm - Wuerth (Wurth) Ltd Complex, opposite Toyota Main Showroom in Zebbug. All proceeds to Puttinu Care For further information email: lutz.lorenz@accordorchestra.de |
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Krzysztof Dobrek Concert, Vienna – Austriaby Rob Howard |
![]() For further information email: krzysztof@dobrek.com |
Marko Kassl Diary Dates - Germanyby Rob Howard |
![]() April 7th, 8.30pm - Ensemble Black Pencil, Unerhorte Musik, Mehringdamm 34, D-10961 Berlin, Germany April 8th, 7.30pm - Ensemble Black Pencil, mon ami, Goetheplatz 11, D-99423 Weimar April 10th, 7.30pm – ‘Fiddler on the Roof’, Theaterkarree 1-3, D-44137 Dortmund April 12th, 5pm - Soloist with the accordion orchestra Bayer-Uerdingen 1950, Evangelische Kirche, An der Linde, D-47445 Moers April 22nd, 8pm - Ensemble Stationen NRW, Citykirche MG, Kirchplatz, D-41061 Mönchengladbach April 23rd, 7.30pm – MIR, Kennedyplatz, D-45881 Gelsenkirchen April 27th, 7.30pm - duo with Anna Agathonos (mezzo-soprano), Kaffeehauskonzerte Buer, Ophofstraße 7, D-45894 Gelsenkirchen Concert and other details can be found on Marko Kassl’s website. For further information email: info@marko-kassl.de |
Akkordeonale 2015 - Germany/Austriaby Harley Jones |
![]() Performers: Teija Niku (Finland), David Yengibarian (Armenia), Niamh Ní Charra (Ireland), Thilo Plaesser (Germany) and Servais Haanen (Netherlands). Servais Haanen writes: “It’s always huge fun for me to invent a new program every year with musicians from the most diverse countries, to be on tour with such a great gang and to put on such a great concert!” Concerts: 8th April 2015 in 76131 Karlsruhe, Tollhaus, 9th April 2015 in 72762 Reutlingen, franz k, 11th April 2015 in 10117 Berlin, Admiralspalast 12th April 2015 in 29308 Winsen (Aller), Evangelische Kirche St. Johannes 14th April 2015 in 55122 Mainz, SWR live” im SWR Foyer 15th April 2015 in 79761 Waldshut-Tiengen, Stadthalle 16th April 2015 in 77654 Offenburg, Reithalle 17th April 2015 in 63303 Dreieich, Bürgerhaus Sprendlingen 18th April 2015 in 79106 Freiburg, E-Werk 19th April 2015 in 90530 Wendelstein, , Waldorfschule 20th April 2015 in 01097 Dresden, , Dreikönigskirche 21st April 2015 in 07743 Jena, Volkshaus 23rd April 2015 in A-8020 Graz, Gersthofen, , Stadthalle Gersthofen 24th April 2015 in A-9761 Greifenburg, Kulturhaus 26th April 2015 in 82256 Fürstenfeldbruck Veranstaltungsforum 28th April 2015 in 53129 Bonn, Harmonie 29th April 2015 in 50169 Kerpen, Schloss Loersfeld 30th April 2015 in 28816 Stuhr, Gutsscheune Varrel For further information about venues: http://www.akkordeonale.de/ |
Roy Hendrie @ Renfrew Accordion & Fiddle Club, Scotland – UKby Rob Howard |
![]() Roy Hendrie, a well-known dance band leader and recording artist in Scotland, appears at accordion clubs and festivals throughout the UK. |
Max Bonnay Master Class, Monte Carlo – Monacoby Rob Howard |
![]() On April 18th the master class begins at 11am until 1pm, and on April 17th the times are 10am until 12midday, and 6.30pm until 8.30pm. |
Victor Prieto Jazz Accordion Master Classes, Ourense – Spainby Rob Howard |
![]() The master classes cover improvisation (using improvisation in different styles such as pop, rock, bolero, as well as jazz), accompaniment, policordes (Victor’s technique of chords in both hands), styles (jazz, blues, Brazilian, traditional Tango, Tango and other new styles of modern harmony), and more. For further information email: victorprieto2001@yahoo.com |
Accordion Class @ Music Festival, Perpignan – Franceby Rob Howard |
![]() It will take place from Wednesday July 29th to Monday August 10th in Perpignan in the south of France. This multidisciplinary meeting - in addition to instrumental and chamber music lessons provided by major figures of the classical or jazz disciplines - offers a wide range of workshops for many instruments. There will be four days of intense festival activity, and thirty concerts given by more than sixty artists will close the Academy. More information is available at: www.academie-dels-monts.com For further information email: fanny.vicens@orange.fr |
New and Updated Sites |
Updated Site: Franco Cambareri New Work Cocolito Beachby Franco Cambareri |
![]() Catalog No: cfranco194 - Cocolito Beach (solo) as an eSheet, able to be purchased online with credit card and sent to you by email. Cocolito Beach is a happy Latin beach party dance. |
Work Titled Koriana Released for Online Sale by Gary Daverne - New Zealandby Gary Daverne |
![]() ![]() This work won the 2009 Confédération Internationale des Accordéonistes (CIA) Award for Best New Original Work. The soundtrack of the 2009 Coupe Mondiale prize giving performance by Edward Giffney is available online at: Catalog No: coupe2009 Updated Site: Gary Daverne Homepage and eTracks (mp3) Page |
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