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Highlights |
Daily Reports - 2011 Harmonika WM - Austriaby Holda Paoletti-Kampl |
Daily Reports - 2011 Harmonika WM - Austria |
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South Pacific Accordion Championships - New Zealandby Heather Masefield |
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South Pacific Daily Reports including results and photographs are online. The South Pacific Accordion Championships, which includes the New Zealand Accordion Championships, were held at Epsom, Auckland, on June 4th and 5th. South Pacific Daily Reports including results and photographs are online. |
Accordion Museum Castelfidardo 30th Anniversary - ITALYby Holda Paoletti-Kampl |
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![]() Important international accordionists have received many standing ovations from capacity audiences. The Tangaria Quartet with Richard Galliano (accordion), Philippe Aerts (double bass), Sébastian Surel (violin) and Rafael Mejias (percussion) performed on Wednesday 25th of May. On Saturday 28th of May the Fisorchestra "Città di Castelfidardo" directed by Maestro Riccardo Burattini and French artist Ludovic Beier on the digital accordion Roland were the highlights at the theatre. During these four days, several accordion personalities were honored with special awards for their long period of contribution to the accordion and accordion community in general. |
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International Festival Accordion Days in Bijeljina - Bosnia and Herzegovinaby Alexander Poeluev |
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![]() The festival events included concerts, master classes, a summer school, musical presentations and competitions for soloists, groups and chamber compositions in various age categories. The concert program included well known international guest artists: Vladimir Murza (Ukraine), Alexander Poeluev (Russia), Vladimir Oleynik (Ukraine) and many other performers from different countries in Europe. There was over 250 participants from 11 countries in the festival and competitions: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Austria, Hungary, Ukraine, Russia, Croatia, Macedonia, Slovenia. The winners and their teachers in all categories received cash prizes and the event was judged to be very successful. The 4th International Festival "Accordion Days - 2012" will be held from 17 to 21 May 2012. |
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International Accordion Championships and Festival, Sydney – Australiaby Harley Jones |
![]() The 2011 event promises to be a cutting edge accordion event with competitors coming from : New Zealand, Australia, China and Russia. On Sunday June 12th, from 10am, a Roland Digital Accordion presentation will take place, followed by the Accordion Master Class with Laureate of the 2003 Coupe Mondiale, Aleksey Peresidly. Aleksey was a runner up at the 2003 Coupe Mondiale and has graduated from the Gnessin Russian National Music Academy with tutor Professor Viatcheslav Semionov. Presented by the AATA and Roland Corporation Australia, the Accordion Gala Concert will be held on Sunday June 12th at 2pm (doors open at 1pm). Guest artists include: Duo ‘Espozito’ from Russia being Aleksey Peresidly (accordion) and Dimitry Zhdanov (saxophone), Sydney Balalaika Orchestra, Ross Maio, Quartet from the Beijing National Orchestra, Rebekah Greig (New Zealand), Accordigles, and more.... Please check closer to the event for the detailed timetable at: Australian International Championships Daily Reports with photos and results will be online here from Saturday 11th June. |
Vincent Lhermet Wins 4th Prize at the Gaudeamus International Competition, Amsterdam - Netherlandsby Francesca Pigini, Pigini Accordion Factory |
![]() The 38th edition of the International Gaudeamus Interpreters Competition took place from 10th to 17th April and was organized by Music Center, the Netherlands. There were 83 participants from 31 countries in the first round, of which 15 successfully reached the second round. Vincent Lhermet is currently finishing his Masters studies at the Sibelius Academy of Helsinki, Finland, in the class of Professor Matti Rantanen. He was laureate 1st prize at the Arrasate-Hiria International Competition, Spain (2006), and performs regularly as a soloist and chamber musician in many festivals throughout the world. For further information email: lhermet.vincent@gmail.com |
Reports for Concerts, Masterclasses, Competitions, Festivals, etc. |
Angel Luis Castaño´s Accordion Summer Course, Segovia - Spainby Raquel Ruiz |
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From July 24th to 31st, Angel Luis Castaño (Accordion Professor in the CSMA - Superior Music Conservatory of Aragón in Zaragoza, Spain),will be the accordion ‘guest teacher’ at the IV International Music Course in Segovia. This course is open to all levels without age limit and will be held at the IE University. The course offers individual and chamber music classes, free tickets for the International Music Festival of Segovia, and musical theatre and free time activities for the students. During the course there will also be organized some student and teachers’ concerts. The IV International Music Course includes instruments like piano, violin, viola, cello, organ, percussion and accordion. Angel has just returned home from Belgium and Holland where he has performed some concerts with the rejoice! ensemble. rejoice! is a new music trio formed by David del Puerto (electric guitar), Laia Falcón (soprano) and Angel Luis Castaño (accordion). Last weekend they played in Antwerpen (DeSingel Muziek Theater), and in Rotterdam (Operadagen Festival) the ballet ‘Carmen Replay’, by David del Puerto (concert version with video-images projection). ‘Carmen Replay’ was premiered in Madrid last year and it has been performed again in the Auditorio de la Universidad Carlos III five times last May (ballet version) with the National Dance Company 2. ‘Carmen Replay’ is a co-production of National Dance Company and Teatro Real and will do a tour very soon. Angel Luis Castaño plays V Accordion FR7Xb by Roland for these projects. For further information email: alcastano@gmail.com Angel Luis Castaño 7 CD's online. |
Vivant!- ‘The Kansas City Sound’ & Fremar Tour, Wisconsin – USAby Karen Fremar |
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Kansas City based ensemble Vivant! and Karen Fremar, US Champion (A.A.A.) and C.I.A. World Virtuoso Entertainment Champion, recently completed a successful and enjoyable concert tour of Wisconsin. The ensemble performed full concerts Sunday May 22nd on the Harrington Arts Center 2011 Concert Series in Superior, WI; and Monday May 23rd for the Milwaukee Accordion Club in Milwaukee, WI. The mixed ensemble programmed five original Fremar works, including A.A.A. Commissioned work in honor of Faithe Deffner – ‘Herricks Road’, ‘Jammin’, ‘Free’ (tango), ‘Whatever You Do’, and the Wisconsin Premiere of her new Courtney S. Turner Charitable Trust commissioned work, ‘Night at the Pla-Mor’. Mixing blues, swing, pop, tango, polka, and originals, Vivant! spans the gamut of musical tastes, but not without adding their original touch to each work. The innovative group of musicians was received with great enthusiasm by both audiences, with performances resulting in standing ovations and encore requests. Vivant’s program illustrated the versatility of the accordion in a setting of synthesized sound and innovative percussion. The group features from one to three accordions, two performers on Korg and Roland Synthesizers, vocals, and a an array of percussion; including set, congas, djembe, and other interesting percussion toys, such as the rain stick and hotel desk bell. Vivant! enjoyed a tour of the 1700+ fascinating bellows driven instruments in the World of Accordions Museum, given by Museum Director, Dr. Helmi Harrington, and also were treated to a beautiful reception following their Superior concert (which also celebrated Dr. Harrington’s birthday). The group was excited to find many enthusiastic accordion aficionados in Wisconsin and enjoyed sharing their new brand of music, now dubbed ‘The Kansas City Sound’. Sherry Huiras, Board President, and Shirl Berry, Past President of the Milwaukee Accordion Club Board, were instrumental in coordinating the group’s Milwaukee performance. For a full report of the group’s tour or for additional information go to the Vivant! website. |
Renée de la Prade’s 1st Solo CD and Tour – USAby Rob Howard |
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![]() Renée plays accordion and sings in a variety of styles - her eclectic music spans from traditional French and Irish to 1980's pop-punk to funny songs and children's music. She's happy to book gigs solo, duo, trio, or with a full band. When she's not performing, she repairs accordions at Smythe's Accordion Center in Oakland, CA. For further information email: squeezeboxgoddess@gmail.com |
‘14 Years Ago’ – Concert in China Involved Over 300 Children!by Rob Howard |
The Accordions Worldwide news for the week ending May 30th 1997 featured a report of a junior school concert in Beijing, China, involving over 300 young accordionists, watched by an audience of 1,800. This story is an indication of the huge potential for accordion development in China, where our favorite instrument receives encouragement from the government. CHILDREN'S ACCORDION CONCERT IN "THE 21st CENTURY" HOTEL - CHINA Contributed by Wu Shou Zhi, President of the Chinese Accordion Society On the 19th of May at 9.00 am., more than 300 pupils, who study in "Hapingchun" Primary School of Beijing, held an accordion concert at "Century Theatre" in the 21st Century Hotel in Beijing city. These students are the accordion students of Mr. Sun Renpu, an accordion teacher of Xianghe Children's Family in Beijing. The concert was held to celebrate Hong Kong's reverting back to China in July. An audience of about 1,800 watched the concert, including music teachers of schools, accordion students and their parents. Beijing TV Station broadcast the concert live. The young accordionists performed solos, duets, trios, and 230 students played in an accordion group, performing: "Chinese Young Pioneers' Song" and the "National Anthem". |
Future events |
Rafal Luc and Ksenija Sidorova, RAM Final Recital Examinations, London – UKby Rob Howard |
![]() Rafal Luc, from Poland, and Ksenija Sidorova, from Latvia, have been studying with Professor Owen Murray. Both have enjoyed many successes in competitions and in concerts, displaying huge potential as performers. For further information email: o.murray@ram.ac.uk |
‘Wir sind daheim’ Opera Premiere, Mainz – Germanyby Holda Paoletti-Kampl |
![]() The work is arranged for 4 classical singers and a ‘modern’ instrumental ensemble: electric bass, electric guitar, electric violin, drums, keyboard and accordion. The text, by Helmut Krausser, is a mixture of absurd and black humor, and is challenging for both cast and musicians. |
‘Musical Nights in District XVI’, Camerata Bacasis - Spainby Holda Paoletti-Kampl |
![]() The concert features Roger Illa (piano), Mary Lucas coli (guitar) and Manuel Lopez (accordion www.accordions.com/sabadell), under the direction of Jordi Coll. Performed will be a full repertoire of works by Piazzolla. Free admission, and in case of rain the event will take place inside. For further information email Manel López i Besa: manelobe@gmail.com CD available from: Sabadell Orquestra d'Acordion |
London Tango Quintet Concert, London - UKby Rob Howard |
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The highly accomplished London Tango Quintet are performing at St Michael and All Angels Church, Bath Rd, Chiswick, London W4 1TT, as part of the Bedford Park Festival on June 20th, 7.30pm, playing tangos by the great Argentinean composer Astor Piazzolla. The members of the London Tango Quintet are Craig Ogden - guitar, David Juritz – violin, Milos Milivojevic – accordion, Richard Pryce – bass, and Paul Bateman – piano. For further information email: milosmusic@hotmail.com |
5th Accordion Art Festival Entries Closing – Italyby Rob Howard |
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The entries for the 5th Accordion Art Festival are closing on the 5th June 2011. The event takes place over the weekend of June 10th to 12th in Pineto, Teramo, Italy. The Artistic Director is Renzo Ruggieri. Download Regulations: 2011ArtFestival Friday June 10th: - Arrivals - 4pm, Club Voglia d'Arte Meeting Saturday June 11th: - 10am, CMA and CIA National Selection - 5pm, sound check for Roland's candidates - 9pm, Roland Italian Final: V-Accordion; special guest: Danilo Di Paolonicola Ethnic Project Sunday June 12th: - 8.30am, International Contest for the Italia Award - 9.30pm, Concert featuring Friedrich Lips and Igor Zavadsky, plus announcement of nominations for the Orpheus Award; announcement of the World Trophy CMA 2011 Download Regulations: 2011ArtFestival |
Paris Moscou Duo Accordion Training Course, Seurre – Franceby Rob Howard |
![]() For further information email: duopm@sfr.fr |
Kennet Accordion Orchestra @ White Horse AC, Wiltshire - UKby Rob Howard |
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The Kennet Accordion Orchestra (MD David Watson) are the guests at the White Horse Accordion Club on Sunday July 3rd, 2pm. Support players are welcome. The White Horse AC meets at Westbury Leigh Hall on the A3098, Westbury Leigh, Wiltshire BA13 3GN. The organiser is Sue Coppard. For further information email: white-horse@blueyonder.co.uk |
CD Reviews |
Norwegian Safari CD by Øivind Farmenby Joan C. Sommers |
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New and Updated Sites |
Charnwood Publications releases 4 new musicby Charnwood Publishing |
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Peter Piccini release 1 new workby Peter Piccini |
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H S Production updates all his eSheet music pages online.by Herbert Scheibenreif |
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Glubochenko Vassily updates all his eSheet music pages onlineby Glubochenko Vassily |
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May Accordion USA News Online 1st Mayby Rita Barnea |
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May Accordion USA News Online 1st May |
May 2011 Diatonic News Online 1st Mayby Werner Weibert |
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May 2011 Diatonic News Online 1st May |
May Accordion Russia News Online 1st Mayby Yulia Amerikova |
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May Accordion Russia News Online 1st May |
Amy Jennings updates and releases 4 of her new worksby Amy Jennings |
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Help Desk, Information needed, Readers CommentsSubmit Your Question, CommentNEW FEATURE! TRY IT NOW |
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