Highlights |
Reports for Concerts, Masterclasses, Competitions, Festivals, etc. |
Future events |
CD Reviews |
New and Updated Sites |
Accordions TV |
Help Desk, Information needed, Readers CommentsSubmit Your Question, CommentNEW FEATURE! TRY IT NOW |
Random video 4UWatch the video |
Highlights |
2012 Coupe Mondiale Rules and Regulations Online - Italyby Harley Jones |
![]() |
![]() There are 8 competition categories: - 64th Coupe Mondiale - Masters Coupe Mondiale - Junior Coupe Mondiale - International Virtuoso Entertainment - Junior International Virtuoso Entertainment - International Competition for Ensemble Music - International Competiton for Digital Accordion - Best New Original Work (classical) The major change for 2012 is the expansion of the International Piano Accordion Category to include all accordions. This is renamed as the Masters Coupe Mondiale. The rules remain the same, 1 round, 15-20 minutes playing. This category is designed to be a stepping stone between the Junior Coupe Mondiale category and the lengthy programs required for the Coupe Mondiale category. The 2012 Coupe Mondiale is being hosted by the Italian Accordion Culture (IAC) in the beautiful cultural city of Spoleto, famous for its many annual music festivals. The event features very attractively priced accommodation for competitors and supporters. Full details will be online nearer the time. Entries will be available online from the May 1st and entries close on July 15th 2012. CIA President, Raymond Bodell looks forward to welcoming you to the to the 65th Coupe Mondiale and the 128th CIA International General Assembly of Delegates Congress in Spoleto, Italy, hosted by the Italian Accordion Culture (IAC) association headed by Mirco Patarini (Artistic Director IAC - picture left), Gianluca Bibiani (President IAC), Federica Celesti (IAC Executive) and Ilaria Bellini (IAC Communications). Full competition and festival information is on the Coupe Mondiale website. |
Accordionist John Jones Awarded M.B.E. in New Year's Honours List, Macclesfield - UKby Rob Howard |
![]() |
![]() John Jones has spent much of the last 20 years playing for charities in Macclesfield General Hospital and other locations, and has to date raised over £200,000 for the East Cheshire Hospice, Macclesfield Hospital Scanner Appeal, Macmillan Nurses, Cancer Research UK, Alzheimer’s Society, and many other good causes. In the process of his long term fund raising John, a member of the Stockport Accordion Club, has also proved to be a great ambassador for the accordion, entertaining countless members of the public with his music. Born in 1942, John Jones was a civil engineer, building bridges during the day, and a pub pianist at night. In the 1980s he began playing his late father’s 1936 vintage Ranco, joining Stockport Accordion Club in 1987. Playing the accordion took over John’s life when he retired from the day job, and by 1990 he had begun his marathon charity fund raising. For further information email: robaccord5@hotmail.com |
Castelfidardo International Accordion Competition and Festival - Italyby Harley Jones |
![]() |
![]() The 2012 festival starts with a Grand Opening Gala at the Astra Theatre and will end with a Closing Party on Sunday 23th September. The program of the Festival includes gala performances at the Astra Theatre, live concerts day and night, the Baby Club Music to entertain children, master classes, presentation CDs, exhibitions and display areas and a new Music Reality Show broadcast by live streaming web TV. The International Accordion Competitions "Città di Castelfidardo" is open to soloists and accordion bands for classical and light music. Download the Rules and Regulations at: 2012castelfidardo Entry closing date is 26 August 2012. Entry form download: 2012castel_entry Classical Music Section Cat Premio for accordion concert-soloists (no age limit) Cat. A Soloists up to the age of 12 Cat. B Soloists up to the age of 15 Cat. C Soloists up to the age of 18 Cat. D Soloists (no age limit) Cat. E 2-9 members accordion chamber music orchestras Light Music Section Cat. G Soloists up to the age of 18 Cat. H Soloists (no age limit) Cat. I Orchestras and groups without age limit, repertoire predominantly light music, jazz and compositions by Astor Piazzolla. For further information view the Castelfidardo website. |
Accordion-YellowPages.com Free Listing of Accordion Events - Cyberspaceby Harley Jones |
![]() |
All concert, competition and festival organizers are reminded to list their Future Events for 2012 in the Accordion-YellowPages.com website. Its free to list and you can do it yourself. You can also change and update your listing yourself as further information becomes available. The Accordion-YellowPages.com Future Events calendar displays at the top right hand side of this Weekly News of accordions.com in all 7 languages and also on the USA News, Diatonic News and Russia News. Huge numbers of readers, more than 50,000 per week, view the Future Events calendar display, so all accordion event organizers are reminded to take full advantage of this free service to keep the accordion community informed. Any internet challenged organizers may email their event details: harleyaccordion@yahoo.com |
Reports for Concerts, Masterclasses, Competitions, Festivals, etc. |
Lácides Romero TV Broadcast, Bogota – Colombiaby Rob Howard |
![]() His accordion solos included the Waltz from the film ‘Amelia’ by Yann Tiersen, Monti’s ‘Czardas’, ‘Brise Napolitana’, by Guerino/Peyronnin, the premiere of ‘De Paseo’, for accordion and symphony orchestra, by Colombian compser Juancho Valencia. Music Educator graduated of the “Universidad Pedagógica de Colombia” in Bogota (2003), folklore researcher, composer and concert accordionist. He currently is professor for harmonic keyboards and accordion at the “Universidad Pedagógica Nacional” in Bogota, and for the “Colombia Creativa” Iniciative at the University of Antioquia. He is also working in his own recording studio. |
Italy's Accordion Industry: Tiny And Thriving, Syndicated News Report - Italyby Harley Jones |
![]() |
Rita Davidson Leads Pleasantdale School International Festival with Accordion - USAby Harley Jones |
![]() |
Photo above of Rita Davidson (accordion) and Deborah Rees (guitar). On December 15th, 2011, 56 fifth graders, members of the Pleasantdale School Chorus, New Jersey, presented their Annual Fifth Grade International Festival for family, friends, and members of the West Orange, New Jersey, public school system. The annual Fifth Grade International Festival is a Pleasantdale tradition that goes back about 15 years. Read the full article by Rita Davidson at 2011Pleasant. |
Merv Conn Passes Away, Maryland – USAby Rob Howard |
![]() Merv Conn was born Mervin Aaron Cohen on Febuary 19th 1920 in Washington DC. He took the Conn surname later as a musician. He began playing the accordion as a teenager, and started as a professional musician playing local events and on radio programs. His repertoire was enormous, and he could play just about any kind of gig - bar mitzvahs, Oktoberfest fetes, Washington Senators baseball games, weddings, dances, concerts on cruise ships, Christmas parties, etc. His fame was such that he performed private recitals for US Presidents Truman, Johnson and Nixon. From the mid 1940s, Merv Conn gave accordion lessons, and his students included President Richard M. Nixon’s daughters. At one point he employed five instructors who taught more than 300 students a week. During World War II, he worked as an auditor for the Treasury Department. It was there he met Rhoda Silverman, whom he married in 1942. She died 1989. Merv Conn is survived by two children, Robert Conn of Silver Spring and Maria Cohen of New York. AAA Historian Joan Grauman has written a very nice article for the Accordion USA News titled "Memories of Merv Conn". http://www.accordionusa.com/default.aspx#art948 Washington Post obituary: MervConn |
Marco Lo Russo’s New CD ‘Modern Accordion’, Rome – Italyby Rob Howard |
![]() The tracks on ‘Modern Accordion’ are: Moments in Life, Taksim Accordion, Solemn Promises, Big Fun, Dernière Valse, Flamentango, Bajo La Piel, Eastern Fiesta, Dreamers, Moon Over Catarmarca, Luces De La Ciudad, Deep Tango, Obscurity, Pulaciones, Evoluciones, Morning Star, Punjab Tango. For further information email: stampa@marcolorusso.com |
Argentine Tango Milonga, Axiouploi – Greeceby Rob Howard |
![]() The event took place at the Taste Archontaki restaurant in Axiopoli, and involved members of the local Argentinean Tango Club plus visitors from Thessalonika and other areas. Present was the Deputy Mayor Anastasios Derventis and municipal consultant Elena Liakopoulou. The highlight of the evening was a dance display by Diego Mastrantzelo and Evi Risen. For further information email: tpecanov@yahoo.com |
‘14 Years Ago’ – Joan Sommers in Puerto Ricoby Rob Howard |
![]() JOAN C. SOMMERS, GUEST OF HONOUR - PUERTO RICO Contributed by Kevin Friedrich Joan Sommers, professor of Accordion at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, recently returned from San Juan, Puerto Rico where she directed a series of accordion orchestra workshops and master classes for the Puerto Rican Accordion Association. The accordion in Puerto Rico has enjoyed a resurgence in popularity and they were keen to benefit from the expertise of Joan Sommers. During her visit, Joan met with the Chancellor of the Casals Conservatory in San Juan, to discuss the importance of the Accordion in the music field today and was received with great enthusiasm. While a guest of the Puerto Rican Accordion Association, Joan delivered master classes, private lessons and lectures on the accordion related activities found at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, Conservatory of Music. Joan Sommers was recently pictured in newspapers across the world when she conducted an accordion orchestra on the steps of the Capitol building in Washington, DC during the AAA (American Accordionists' Association) National Festival. |
Future events |
Roland V-Accordion - Check it out at NAMM 2012by Luigi Bruti Roland V-Accordion Division & Marketing Director |
![]() |
Roland V-Accordion - Check it out at NAMM 2012, 19-22 January 2012, LA, USA |
10th ‘Ascoltate 2012’ International Competition, Kaunas - Lithuaniaby Rob Howard |
![]() The competition is open for young accordionists of different ages, as soloists or as the members of an ensemble or an orchestra. There will be Classical and Variete categories. The number of the participants will be limited. The organizing committee will admit the first 100 application forms of the candidates in both categories. Entries close 15 February 2012. For the Classical sections, competitors must perform not less than 2 compositions: a) Baroque, classical or classical style composition(s); b) Free choice program. The program should consist of pieces reflecting different moods. The competitors in the Variete sections must perform not less than 2 compositions in variete style. Rules and Regulations: 2012ascoltate For further information email: mindaugas@akordeonas.lt |
‘Accords des Montagnes’ Festival, La Bresse – Franceby Rob Howard |
![]() For further information email: accordsdesmontagnes@gmail.com |
RAM Accordion Students Perform, London – UKby Rob Howard |
![]() Polish-born accordionist Bartosz Glowacki, also presently a student at the Royal Academy of Music, is in the final of the RAM Patrons Wigmore Award competition on January 17th, 1pm, in the Wigmore Hall, London. Accordion students from the RAM (accordion tutor Owen Murray) have participated in this event for the last 4 years. |
Entries Closing for Montrond les Bains International Competition – Franceby Frédéric Deschamps |
![]() |
![]() The 15th edition of the International Montrond baths (France) will be held this year on 14 and 15 March. Photo left: Alexander Kolovski (Macedonia - left) Pavel Zyabko (Russia - right) along with Frédéric Deschamps, who had prepared for the event the first and second places of the 2011 Concours International de Montrond classic category. A total of € 5,100 will be divided between the junior and senior classic and variety categories. New for 2012, is the very international jury composed of Crystal Wang (China), Gorka Hermoza (Spain), Alexander Selivanov (Russia), Grayson Masefield (New Zealand), Andreas Nebl (Germany), Franck Angelis and Albenach Bernard (France). The International Concert includes a new work "Ka Mate Ka Ora" composed by Gorka Hermoza (composer of the first successful "Fragilissimo") on the theme of Haka New Zealand which will have its world premiere by Grayson Masefield (picture right) at this concert, with the composer in attendance. Andreas Nebl lead the World Hohner Accordion Orchestra and Alexander Selivanov interpret some great works of classical repertoire. The entire event will be broadcast live on the CMA Channel, and Mike Rossi, son of the famous French accordonist "Joé Rossi" will be responsible for producing and broadcasting the event on the Web. With the new formula for the jury, we know that many candidates have already sent their entries to participate in this major event that aims for accordionists of the highest level. This is the first competition of the year in the international calendar. The deadline for entries is January 14: Download 2012 Montrond Rules and Entry Form For further information email Gérard Chassagneux: jeunes-talents@montrond-les-bains.fr |
![]() |
VAMÖ Accordion Competition, Vienna – Austriaby Rob Howard |
This year’s VAMÖ Competition for solo accordionists of various age categories takes place on February 26th at the Waldmüllerzentrum, Hasengasse 38, 1100 Vienna. The closing date for entries is January 14th. For further information email: kaleta.hermi@aon.at |
Guy Klucevsek and Alan Bern Concert, New York – USAby Rob Howard |
![]() |
Guy Klucevsek (accordion - picture left) and Alan Bern (accordion and piano) perform in concert together on January 15th, 8pm, at The Stone, Ave. C/2nd Street, New York. Their program will include selections from their 2008 CD ‘Notefalls’. For further information email: gklucevsek@mac.com |
SAO Gurtweil Concert, Höchenschwand – Germanyby Rob Howard |
![]() |
The Schlüchttal Accordion Orchestra Gurtweil perform in concert on January 22nd, 10am, in Höchenschwand, Baden-Württemberg, Germany. Above is the very nice New Year message from the Schlüchttal Accordion Orchestra, artwork by Uli Ebner. For further information email: vorstand@sao-gurtweil.de |
Balkan Accordion Workshop Afternoon, Istanbul – Turkeyby Rob Howard |
A Balkan music workshop involving accordions and other instruments featuring Fati Fehmiju and Ertigul Senturk takes place on Sunday January 29th, 2pm. The venue is Caferga Mh, Agabey Sk No: 12, A Kadikay, Istanbul. For further information email: ibeka@mynet.com |
CD Reviews |
Accordéon liturgique CD by Philippe Borecekby Alessandro Mugnoz |
![]() |
New and Updated Sites |
Orchestra Lad Updated Website - Belarusby Orchestra Lad (Belarus) |
![]() |
Orchestra Lad (Belarus) for talented youth with artistic director and conductor Galina Anikeeva, winner of the Belarus Special Presidential Fund has an updated website. |
Karen Fremar - accordionist, composer releases three new compositionsby Karen Fremar |
![]() |
Gary Dahl updated musicby Gary Dahl |
![]() |
Paul Chamberlain selling his new CDby Paul Chamberlain |
![]() |
Accordions TV |
Deschamps Channel Activitiesby Frédéric Deschamps |
![]() |
UPCOMING Deschamps Channel events: From Sunday15th to Friday 20th January, Deschamps masterclasses will be broadcast daily from 18.00 to 22.hours Paris time. The courses will be in three languages, French, English and Italian. Performers : Semen Kuzovchikov (Russia), Guillaume Fric (France), Elsa Gourdy (France), Antonio Simeone (Italy), Sebastien Innocenti (Monaco). RECENT Deschamps Archives you can view include: December:19 to 23 and 26 to 30 from 6.00 PM to 9.00 PM (GMT+1) Two weeks of Master Classes with Frederic Deschamps with students from around the world, broadcast live on "Deschamps Channel." Classical and Variete programs. December 24th, Frédéric Deschamps and his students celebrated Christmas Night with accordionists of the world thanks to the cameras of Mike Rossi (www. GrandCircusProds.com), director of "Deschamps Channel" and Samuel Léton - Cameraman. A real "LIVE" reality TV with Interview of personalities and friends from various parts of the world: Viacheslav Semionov (Russia), Raymond Bodell (UK), Augustinas Rakauskas (Lithuania), and many others… December 31st New Years was another similar evening. Attendance during the Christmas and New Year period jumped with 135,000 minutes viewed during the 10 days period with viewers from 85 countries. Even some unexpected countries such as Thailand, United Arab Emirates, Malaysia, Qatar, Phillipines. Photo below: Christmas filming |
![]() |
CMA Channel Upcoming Eventsby Frédéric Deschamps |
![]() |
From January 15 on CMA Channel, find live interviews of delegates and the winners who will present activities in 2012. Upcoming on the CMA Channel is: Alexander Selivanov and Yulia Amerikova who will present their latest album. Alexander Petrossian (Russia) and Sergei Voitenko (Russia) that will tell you about a preview of the 2013 Edition of the Trophée Mondial to be held in Samara (Russia) between the 23 and 30 September, 2013. Mindaugas Labanauskas will preview the 2014 edition of the Trophée Mondial to be held in Kaunas (Lithuania). Patricia Bartell (United States) that will give us the latest news about the organization of the 2012 Trophée Mondial to be held in Spokane (United States) from 23 to 27 October 2012. The details of all live events will be announced regularly on the accordions.com Weekly News as well as various Facebook notices. |
‘1,2,3 Musette’ TV Showby Pierre-Yves Lombard |
Video from ‘1,2,3 Musette’, which is the only weekly TV show broadcast in France and Belgium, devoted to 100% musette accordion. Above is: Jérôme Richard performing "Le madison des jours heureux" Weekly guest is Frédéric Buch. Frédéric Buch performs "C'est encorze la rumba" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yEgwyQs741o Interview with Frédéric Buch: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ee9EY3JP8Kg Traditional DVD available: New DVD, ‘1,2,3 Musette’ Volume 2 Available for only €21. Cat No: 123musette02 This DVD follows the sold-out Volume 1 DVD. Cat No: 123musette02 Volume 2 consists of the best of the TV program ‘1,2,3 Musette’. |
Help Desk, Information needed, Readers CommentsSubmit Your Question, CommentNEW FEATURE! TRY IT NOW |
Random video 4UAdd your video!TRY IT NOW |