Highlights |
Reports for Concerts, Masterclasses, Competitions, Festivals, etc. |
Future events |
CD Reviews |
New and Updated Sites |
Help Desk, Information needed, Readers CommentsSubmit Your Question, CommentNEW FEATURE! TRY IT NOW |
Random video 4UWatch the video |
Highlights |
Editors Note: World Accordion Day, 1829 Key Year for Innovation - Worldwideby Rob Howard |
![]() In the USA William A. Burt patented the typewriter, Rossini’s ‘William Tell Overture’ received its first public performance in Paris, and Oxford University won the first Boat Race. 1829 was also the year in which both the accordion and concertina were patented, in Vienna and London respectively. On May 6th 1829 Cyril Damian (that’s the anglicised version of Cyrillius Demien, 1772-1847) patented the accordion in Vienna, Austria. In 2009 the Confédération Internationale des Accordéonistes (CIA) designated May 6th henceforward as World Accordion Day, with the objective being to foster: “A unified global effort to celebrate and promote the accordion”. There is a list of events taking place in many countries to mark World Accordion Day on that official event website, and we welcome any additions to celebrate this great anniversary. |
Weekly News Initiates New Interactive Feature - Worldwideby Holda Paoletti-Kampl |
![]() This is titled “Help Desk, Information needed, Readers Comments” and is situated below the Weekly News. The exciting part of this concept is that readers can list their own comments about any accordion subject they wish, ask questions, ask the accordion world for information. Its YOUR Accordion World on Accordions Worldwide Weekly News. So please use and enjoy this new interactive tool, aimed at enabling greater communication amongst accordionists. |
V International Competition of Bayan and Accordion Players - Russiaby Herbert Scheibenreif |
![]() |
![]() Friedrich Lips and Herbert Scheibenreif have sponsored a website in English (2010 V International) which contains the full program requirements and information for contestants including entry application forms. 2010 V International. Entries close 25th September 2010. The full version of the competition rules containing all the conditions of the competition will be placed online soon. For further information email: 7712838@gmail.com |
10th International World Music Festival, Innsbruck – Austriaby Holda Paoletti-Kampl |
![]() |
![]() An evening Gala Concert with the accordion orchestra Untergrombach and the Festival Orchestra will take place in the Hall Tirol. In parallel, an International Concert with Accordeonova, from Denmark, and Alphen Opus II, from the Netherlands, takes place in the Hall Innsbruck, and a concert with the international award-winning Motion Trio, from Poland, is in the Dogana Hall. On Saturday during the ‘Night of the Nations’ in all parts of the convention center more musical highlights include Quadro Nuevo, the orchestral sound of Hohner, the first Cologne Accordion Orchestra, the Nuremberg Accordion Orchestra, Ars Harmoniae, from Austria, the Switzerland Accordion Orchestra, the trio Vadim Fyodorov (www.accordions.com/duetfedorov), from Iceland, and Christine Schmid, in form of a musical cabaret. Konstantin Ischenko, winner of numerous international competitions and thus a true master on the accordion, was the musical focus of attention at the official Press Conference at the Congress on May 6th. |
New Accordion Festival, Eastern Sarajevo - Bosnia-Herzegovinaby Francesca Pigini, Pigini Accordion Factory |
![]() The organizer and the artistic director of the festival is Professor Zoran Rakic, Dean of the Academy. The festival was supported by the Ministry of Culture and Education of the Republic of Srpska, many radio and TV broadcasts, as well as many companies from Bosnia and accordion manufacturers Pigini Accordions, Ballone Burini, Mengascini Nello, Cagnoni, from Italy. The competition in nine categories was held in the Music academy, with more than 160 contestants, 14 jury members and 2,000 Euro's prize money. Candidates were the best young accordion players from Serbia, Bosnia, Macedonia and Montenegro, and they showed really high levels of performance. This year’s guest of the festival was a well known Russian composer, Evgeni Derbenko, who presented his new works for children and some new repertoire for all generations. The evening programs included a concert by the famous ensemble ‘Beltango’, from Belgrade, an event that drew a lot of attention from both the audience and the media, and a recital of a young musician from Kragujevac, Aleksandar Andjekovic, prize winner of several prestigious accordion competitions. All the evening programs were held in elegant venue of the new business center ‘Tom’. |
Reports for Concerts, Masterclasses, Competitions, Festivals, etc. |
“Don-Art” 110th Anniversary Festival in Rostov-on-Don - Russiaby Alexander Poeluev |
![]() ![]() The festival was attended by over 300 people from different cities of the Rostov Region and Krasnodar Territory and included performers on the accordion, domra, balalaika, guitar, and ensembles of various types. Such musical festivals can identify talented young musicians and give them a strong impetus for further professional development. During the festival, a jury of eight tutors from the Rostov Art College auditioned performers of four categories and selected the best performers to participate in the gala concert. The jury was impressed with the high-level of musical skills displayed by these young musicians: 1. Matthew Levashov (accordion) Rassvet village, teacher, L.I. Eraksina 2. Philip Gagalayan (accordion), Rostov-on-Don, a teacher E.V. Levin 3. Maxim Alekhin (accordion) Bagaevskaya village, teacher S.N. Torochkov 4. Kirill Anisimov (accordion) Kagalnitskaya village, teacher O.I. Lebedev 5. Yuri Orlov (accordion) Tsymlyans'kyi district, teacher E.N. Sidon 6. Anastasia Grave (accordion) Matveev-Kurgan, teacher A.I. Savchenko AI 7. Alina Matyushenko (accordion), Rostov-on-Don, Professor V. Danilova 8. Artists on domra, balalaika, guitar The festival was also an educational conference where there were presentations from the school of accordion G.I. Krylova and a new musical score and methodical literature professor of the Rostov State Conservatory of S. Rakhmaninov, Professor Ushenin, and discussions on current issues in education in folk music with the leading teachers of the area. Particularly impressive was a demonstration film by the conference participants, titled "Folk Instruments of 21st Century", where there were some interesting presentations including performers around the world on various instruments. The Gala Concert concluded the festival and included the winner of the Competition Southern Russia, the Rostov Art College Russian Folk Orchestra under the direction Honored Russian musical society G.P. Shishkina. Participants of the festival were awarded diplomas and letters of thanks to the teachers. The whole event took place in an atmosphere of celebration and joy of communication. The Rostov Art College, convinced many that today's contestants and students will be the future professionals at the forefront of Folk music in the 21st century. |
Simone Mannarino Wins Varieté Senior, NAO UK Championships – UKby Holda Paoletti-Kampl |
![]() |
There was great success for Simone Mannarino during the recent NAO UK Championships, a promising young student of the class of modern accordion ‘Voglia D’Arte Academy’, directed by Antonio Spaccarotella. Simon Mannarino was classified winner of the Senior Varietè of this prestigious international competition where he performed a varied program with arrangements and unpublished authors as: (Bouvelle, Ruggieri, Corea). The event now in its 75th year has been guided under the direction of Raymond Bodell (President Confédération Internationale des Accordéonistes - CIA), in Blackpool, Lancashire, from April 23rd to 25th. The jury included Julien ‘Speedy’ Gonzales (France), Antonio Spaccarotella (Italy), Larisa Bodell (UK), and Djordje Gajic (UK). Simon is currently studying modern accordion, preparing himself for the selection process for the next CIA World Championships, to be held during the Strumenti & Musica Spring Music Festival in Spoleto/Italy. |
World Accordion Day in Siauliai - Lithuaniaby Raimondas Sviackevičius |
![]() |
![]() The Lithuanian Accordionist Association’s Youth section under the guidance of the President Raimondas Sviackevicius, organizes a project ‘Nauji Vejai’ (‘Winds of Change). This was the second ‘Winds of Change’ event. During the conference, accordionists interacted via internet with famous accordion teacher Frédéric Deschamps and his students from his international accordion school. The members of LAA Youth section discussed the ideas of creating future opportunities for young accordionists in their country and abroad. This whole day event concluded with a substantial concert in the City Cultural Centre. The concert included various works by most famous composers and covered many contrasting styles. The very talented young and already famous and acknowledged Lithuanian accordionists: N. Bakula, A. Mikalkenas, R. Morkunas, A. Pazniokas, R. Erniulis, R. Kardušaite, J. Gecaite, M.Levickis, T. Motiecius, D. Jocius, E. Bartkeviciute, L. Šiukšteris, S. Paulauskas, E. Medelyte, E. Daduraite, A. Sidorenko, M. Vaicekauskas, J. Stonkus, V. Nociute, J. Bezumenko, A. Matuleviciute, L. Vlasenko, M. Berezina were featured on this splendid concert. All of them have won many prizes in the international competitions and participated in the major festivals. Fans of accordion music are always welcome in Lithuania! |
![]() |
World Accordion Day Live Web Master Class – Lithuaniaby Frédéric Deschamps |
![]() |
On May 4, Frédéric Deschamps was invited by Raimondas Sviackevicius, President of the "youth" section of the National Association of Lithuanian accordionists and Director at the Accordion Conservatory of Vilnius for a unique Master Class, via the Internet. At 1:30 pm, students in the class of accordion questioned Frédéric Deschamps about various aspects of pedagogy as it has developed in recent years, the mode of operation with many foreign students, international events that he regularly attends, and also about the various possibilities for development of the instrument's repertoire, its place in the world of music and professional openings available with our instrument in the near future. The talented Martynas Levickas opened the Master Class session. Martynas also intervened at the end of his Master Class with a series of very pertinent questions about the adaptation of teaching techniques of Frédéric Deschamps for the piano accordion and the latter's interest in chamber music, a large and very interesting subject which should be developed as one of the major ways for the future of our instrument. Frédéric Deschamps as a teacher and also President of the Confédération Mondiale de l'Accordéon (CMA) sincerely hopes that this discipline is an integral part of the Trophée Mondial in the near future. Morkunas Romas, also a student of Raimondas Sviackevicius, interpreted the Divertimento by Kusiakov, followed by another young student, Paulauskas Simaunas interpreting music of André Astier. These are extremely interesting initiatives using skype/web technology to have an international master class and also permit debate between two countries with such different cultures. Such communications shows the immense future possibilities that modern communications can bring, via this new teaching tool, for the future advancement of accordion teaching. Petar Maric, a student Frederic Deschamps, performed the world premiere of the new work, "Haiti" by Franck Angelis, to add another exciting dimension to this international sharing of knowledge and music. Other meetings, master classes and concerts will be organized by Raimondas Sviackevicius during 2010 as well as live concerts via the Internet. The aim is to decentralize, having such activities in small towns so that information is not exclusively reserved for university students in the capital, further enhancing the sharing of knowledge through modern communications. |
![]() |
Angel Luis Castaño´s New Book and Master Classes - Spainby Raquel Ruiz |
![]() In this Essay he includes information about the evolution, history, presence in the society (popular and classical music), past and present of the instrument, etc, completed by some photos of his own accordion collection. This book also includes 250 biographies of Spanish accordionists that made their activity in Castilla La Mancha (central region of Spain) and who were active during the years 1950 to 1980. Those biographies have been compiled by J.Jimenez. The book has been edited in Spanish by the Government of Castilla La Mancha and it is available in all Spanish book-shops. Angel Luis Castaño will again be the Accordion Professor in the 2010 Summer Music Master Classes in Oviedo (Spain), organized by Fundacion Principe de Asturias. The dates of the master classes will be held from July 20th until 31st. As every summer, there will be lectures, concerts, etc... For more information about the book or the summer master classes, contact Raquel Ruiz, email: raquelru@gmail.com |
Vivant! and World Accordion Champion Grayson in Exciting Concert, Kansas City - USAby Karen Fremar |
![]() |
Vivant! teamed with World Accordion Champion, Grayson Masefield to perform an exciting and interesting program for an appreciative audience recently in Kansas City. For this celebration concert, the festive stage was decorated in turquoise and silver balloons, turquoise being the color of the day. Masefield took the stage and his energetic presentation and virtuosic passagework wowed the crowd. He shared some interesting tidbits about the works he performed to the delight of the audience. Vivant! kept things lively by presenting fresh new works and arrangements by their Musical Director, Karen Fremar, while rolling out their new CD, ‘Whatever You Do’. Vivant! is loaded with hot percussion and brass which supports the accordions and a unique blend of interesting electronic sounds on keyboards. Vivant! members include Dee Sligar - bass keyboard, Gail Overly – accordion, Julie Silfverberg - accordion/keyboard, Karen Fremar - accordion/keyboard, Sarrah Cantrell - percussion/mallets/keyboard, and Janne Silfverberg - trombone/percussion. Hannah Cantrell assisted the group as auxiliary percussionist for this concert. Fremar explained that ‘Sterling Illusions’, a new work for trombone, vibraphone and accordion, was commissioned by group trombonist, Janne Silfverberg, and was premiered the previous week at his senior trombone performance recital. ‘Herricks Road’, the recent work commissioned by the American Accordionists' Association for Faithe Deffner's Lifetime Achievement Award, was presented by Vivant! in a new setting that employed additional percussion, accordion, bass, and keyboard strings and woodwinds. Following Masefield's variety program segment, Fremar took a few moments to interview him - asking him to share with the audience some of the special aspects of his concert accordion, and also to describe a typical day in his training regimen in France. "We hit the first note at 6 am," Masefield told the astonished audience, "and after a break of a couple of hours for lunch, we practised into the evening, with a lesson at 9 or 10pm each evening." Vivant! then presented Masefield with a Vivant! T-shirt and a Kansas University hat, making him an ‘Honorary Vivanter’, as the crowd erupted into cheers and warm applause. Both Vivant! and Masefield left their audience enthused and wanting more as they were greeted with several standing ovations and encore requests. The final treat of the afternoon of musical surprises was an impromptu duo of International Entertainment Champions Masefield and Fremar with Vivant! backing them in an electric version of Piazzolla's ‘Libertango For a complete report, visit the Vivant website or for further information email: vivant@vivantsound.com |
![]() |
European Forum on Music and EMC Annual Meeting, Vienna – Austriaby Herbert Scheibenreif |
![]() |
The European Forum on Music, held in cooperation by the European Music Council (EMC), the Austrian Music Council and the University of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna, April 15th to 18th, was an event that will surely linger in the participants‘ minds for a long time to come. The theme of the forum, itself titled ‘Musical Diversity: Looking back, Looking forward’, encouraged the delegates, who came from nearly 30 countries, to reflect on how musical diversity had developed over the past decade and how they and their organisations could help shape the future. Discussions took place regarding the roles that education, the digital environment, the EU 2020 Strategy, the UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions and the role that cities have in promoting musical diversity. Conclusions and recommendations that resulted from these discussions include the idea that the concept of ‘culture impact assessment’ should be introduced, that regulators should have to prove that their measures have positive effects, that EMC members should focus on the field of music education in their activities, that the EMC should play a key role in redefining the UNESCO Roadmap for Arts Education and that advocacy work be governmentally holistic, going beyond the ministries of culture and education. Apart from the discussions and presentations, the Austrian Music Council and the University of Music and Performing Arts, Vienna, gave delegates the opportunity to experience Vienna’s musical diversity first hand with performances from the university’s students, a concert of new Viennese music at the legendary Porgy and Bess Jazz Club and a stunning performance by the Wiener Symphoniker at the world famous Musikverein. Alongside the forum, elections for the EMC Board 2010–2012 were held. The new board consists of Timo Klemettinen (Finland), Christian Höppner (Germany), Stef Coninx (Belgium), Erling Aksdal (Norway), Helena Maffli-Nissinen (Switzerland/Finland), Frank Stahmer (Austria) and Kaie Tanner (Estonia), as well as a co-opted Working Group Youth member of Claire Goddard (UK/Germany). |
‘Happy and Romantic Alpine Music’ CD, Florida – USAby Rob Howard |
![]() |
![]() Shirley Evans is an all round entertainer, composer and writer, well-known for playing the accordion in The Beatles' 1967 film ‘Magical Mystery Tour’. For further information email: alpinemusiccd@yahoo.com |
Andrea Germano performs at 1st of May Concert, Tortora – Italyby Holda Paoletti-Kampl |
![]() Andrea, winner of several competitions (Accordion Revolution, Accordion Art Festival, National Award Pollino, and others), presented his repertoire of Varietè accordion to a large and attentive audience. The crowed appreciated the performance of fourteen Calabrese with enthusiasm. Andrea studies at the Accademia Musicale Cauteruccio (a school affiliated to the National Club Voglia d'arte), under the guidance of Maestro Salvatore Cauteruccio, where he is currently attending the Intermediate Course ‘Musica D'Insieme’. For further information email: info@salvatorecauteruccio.it |
Future events |
‘World Accordion Day’ Concert, Larne – Irelandby Rob Howard |
![]() |
A concert, featuring the East Antrim Seniors Accordion Orchestra and the students of East Antrim Accordion School, takes place on May 8th, 2pm, at the Broadway Bandstand, Larne, Antrim, in celebration of ‘World Accordion Day’. The concert includes a mixture of ensemble, solo and duet performances of light entertaining pieces. For further information email: asrz33@dsl.pipex.com |
‘Accordion Fascination’ Concert, Wiesbaden – Germanyby Holda Paoletti-Kampl |
![]() For further information email: MirjanaPetercol@gmx.de |
Zagorelos 1st CD and Concerts, St.Petersburg – Russiaby Holda Paoletti-Kampl |
![]() Zydeco, created in New Louisiana, is based on Creole music, including blues and rhythm & blues elements. Zagorelos’ Zydeco style harmonically combines forro, musette, Cajun music and even Balkan influences. Zagorelos play a mixture of traditional and original music, and their instrumentation includes accordion, washboard, violin, guitar, bass guitar and drums. Zagorelos have recorded their first CD, and the tracks include: ‘Dont mess with my toot, toot’, ‘I feel good’, ‘Jolie Blond’, ‘Baiao combo’, ‘Gypsy rhythms’, ‘Zeitnot’, ‘I try to call you Baby’, ‘Co Co Zydeco’, ‘Infiniti’, ‘Balkan’. Next performances in St.Petersburg include: May 9th - open air concert, Palace Square (performance devoted to day of victory in 1945) 15th – Stereobar (Gypsy jazz) 19th - Chaplin Club (French chanson) 21st - The Farm Club (evening of style musette) 29th - open air concert: a ‘City Day’ on Palace Square (Zydeco) For information contact Sergey Petrov |
Stafford Folk Music Day, Staffordshire – UKby Rob Howard |
![]() The tutors include Heather Bexon - accordion, Shane Day - accordion, Ted Morse - accordion, Rod Stradling - accordion and concertina, Howard Mitchell – melodeon and concertina, Dave Brown – melodeon, Aiden Broadbridge – fiddle, and Colin Hume - calling. For further information email: info@staffordfolkplayers.co.uk |
Paris-Moscow Concert Dates – Russia, Franceby Holda Paoletti-Kampl |
![]() May 10th to 14th, 7pm - Salle de Philarmonie, Kurgan, Russia 28th - St Laurent les tours (46), France June 4th, 8.30pm - Salle des fêtes, Saint-Sauves d'Auvergne (63), France 9th, 8.45pm - Salle du Casino, Le Mont-Dore (63), France 21st - Saint-Genis-Pouilly (01), France |
Vadim Fyodorov Trio, Innsbruck - Austriaby Holda Paoletti-Kampl |
![]() ![]() The Vadim Fyodorov trio were formed by Vadim, a Russian accordion virtuoso. The group performs French musette and jazz virtuoso entertainment music. Their instrumentation is accordion, double bass and guitar. Since 2005, the trio Vadim Fyodorov has been given numerous concerts in Iceland. For further information: www.accordions.com/duetfedorov |
Gorka Hermosa News – Spainby Rob Howard |
![]() They recently recorded music for the production company Eurodelta, for transmission on TV channels such as Telemadrid, Canal Sur, and Televisión Canaria. For further information email: gorka@gorkahermosa.com |
Kimberley International Oldtime Accordion Championships, BC - Canadaby Rob Howard |
![]() |
The annual Kimberley International Oldtime Accordion Championships take place from July 5th to 10th at Kimberley in the south-eastern of British Columbia. The contests focus on competitors’ ability to play in a truly distinctive ‘Old Time’ style. For the purposes of the competition, ‘Old Time’ accordion music refers to the manner and style of playing, not the selection itself or its ethnic origin. Styles may include music used for dancing the Polka, Waltz and Schottische as used in Western Canadian communities during the past century. Competitors are judged on a combination of the technical merit and the danceability of their playing. The competition is open to accordionists from any nation. The festival also includes accordion and dance workshops, jam sessions, pancake breakfasts and barbecue. Evening events include: July 5th - concert, details TBA, followed by a dance with The Softones 6th – concert featuring Michael Bridge; dance with the Smilin’ Scandinavians 7th – ‘Spaghetti Night’ concert: Cory Pesaturo, Alex Meixner; dance - Alex Meixner 8th – dance featuring the Best of the Platzl Jams 9th – ‘Friday Night at the Movies’ concert: Spokane Accordion Ensemble; dance to the music of Northwind 10th - Massed Band concert; dance to the music of Alex Meixner For further information email: info@kiotac.ca |
Julien Gonzales Coming Performances - France, Madagascarby Anna Bodell of Charnwood Publications |
![]() He was selected between 250 other groups with his Duo (Duo Syrius) for the Finale which one was held in “Grand Hall Shostakovich” of St Petersburg. From the 24th to 27th April, Julien ‘Speedy’ Gonzales adjudicated at the by The National Accordion Organisation of United Kingdom (NAO) for the UK Championships 2010 and for the UK National Finals of the Roland-V Competition. Over the coming months Julien ‘Speedy’ Gonzales will be performing at: - 9th May – Villeneuve Saint Georges (Paris-France) with Duo Syrius - 28th, 29th, 30th May – Strasbourg (Alsace-France) - 20th to 30th June – Tunisia (Tunis, Sousse, Sidi Bou Saïd…) in collaboration with French Embassy. - 28th July to 10th August – Festival de St Céré (France) with Duo Syrius - October/November – Tour in Madagascar Island (Antananarivo…) This 22 years old World Accordion Champion Confédération Internationale des Accordéonistes (CIA), Confédération Mondiale de l'Accordéon (CMA), Klingenthal, Ikaalinen, Alcobaça…) is also teaching, arranging and performing in different styles of music (Classic, Virtuoso, Musette, Tango, World Music…). |
CD Reviews |
Nuevo Mundo Duoby Joan C. Sommers |
![]() |
New and Updated Sites |
Mario Tacca releases new musicby Mario Tacca |
![]() |
Gary Dahl release new and updated workby Gary Dahl |
![]() |
Franck Angelis release new musicby Franck Angelis |
![]() |
NAA Publications New Music Releasesby National Accordion Association |
![]() |
Gary Dahl Releases One New Workby Gary Dahl |
![]() |
Help Desk, Information needed, Readers CommentsSubmit Your Question, CommentNEW FEATURE! TRY IT NOW |
Jacqueline Polka by Giuseppe Caringiby | Modify | Delete |
I wonder if you might be able to help find a piece of music that I am looking for. It is called Jacqueline Polka by Giuseppe Caringi, published by Farfisa, Italy in 1964. I have tried everywhere that I can think of and no one can find it for me. Do you know if it is still possible to get this music? Mary: mary.fraser7@btinternet.com |
Paolo Soprani Fidardo Classic Accordianby | Modify | Delete |
I have inherited a Paolo Soprani Fidardo Classic accordian. It has a serial number - 567A. I have been advised that it maybe of value or of interest to a collector. If so, can you advise me as to how I can go about selling it. I can send photographs if necessary. e-mail: chaffers122@hotmail.co.uk Yours sincerely, Sheila Chaffin-Power |
vintage Hohner accordionby | Modify | Delete |
I would like to sell two Hohner vintage accordions. Please contact me using my e-mail: ilona.ivanashvili@gmail.com |
Random video 4UAdd your video!TRY IT NOW |