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Highlights |
52nd International Accordion Competition Klingenthal - Germanyby Holda Paoletti-Kampl |
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![]() Results and photos at: 2015 Klingenthal The winner of the Category IV, soloists no age limit, was Petteri Waris (Finland), 2nd Jedrzej Jarocki (Poland), 3rd Samuele Telari (Italy). This category is unique in the accordion world requiring the four finalists to perform a concerto. For 2015, this was "Accordion Concerto, Op. 60" for Accordion and Orchestra by Finnish composer Timo-Juhani Kyllönen with the Vogtland Philharmonie Greiz/ Reichenbach directed by Dorian Keilhack. You can download the program at: 2015KProgram The Category VI virtuoso entertainment category again this year and the results were: 1st Keqing Xu (China), 2nd Anatoli Taran (Belarus) and 3rd Elsa Gourdy (France). Results and photos at: 2015 Klingenthal |
16th Annual Las Vegas International Accordion Convention - USAby Paul Pasquali Event Organizer |
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![]() ![]() The 16th Annual Las Vegas International Accordion Convention will be June 22-25, 2015 at the Gold Coast Hotel located at 4000 West Flamingo Blvd., in Las Vegas, Nevada. This year we celebrate the return to a summer event with the theme “Summer Solstice”. Notable this year is a nearly complete new line up of accordion stars to help us celebrate! From Monday, opening night, June 22 with two-times Grammy Award winning Riders in the Sky (Nashville, TN), to our grand finale Thursday June 25, with Grayson Masefield (Zurich, Switzerland), five-time world champion. Las Vegas IS the place you will want to be – for the best in accordion entertainment! More great unforgettable STARS! Tuesday, Mary Tokarski (Northford, CT), our 2015 Honorary Director will be featured followed with Joey Miskulin plus his Las Vegas jazz trio. The famous group Europa Trio (Orlando, FL) will be performing Wednesday evening plus the noted accordion virtuoso/composer Stas Venglevski along with his duet partner Joan Cochran Sommers. Thursday Gala Concert will feature with Grayson Masefield, the first person to have won in the same year both the classical and entertainment categories of the prestigious Coupe Mondiale (CIA). He is followed by the 8th installment of the Las Vegas International Accordion Orchestra under the direction of the esteemed Maestro Joan Cochran Sommers. Completing the lineup of stars are Paul Betken (Phoenix, AZ), Jerry Cigler (Chicago, IL), Gina Brannelli, Gordon Kohl, Stas Venglevski, plus our friend from Las Vegas, the comedian Pete Barbutti! There will be dancing Wednesday night to Europa. Over 40 workshops and Masterclasses will be presented by the artists and clinicians with titles ranging from bellow control, to tango to ear training and more! Club Concerto is the after hours accordion club where everyone is welcome to perform on stage each night in a delightful cabaret atmosphere after the main concert. Registration fee for the event includes 7 superb Las Vegas banquet meals with concerts plus over 40 workshops and master classes taught by top experts. Special group room rates are only $36/$44 (Deluxe/Premium) per room Sunday thru Thursday nights (weekend nights $78/$99 a night) and special lowered resort fee of only $9.99 with group block (resort fee off block $12.99) a night per room – but you must use group code ACCORD5 to get these lowest guaranteed rates. Rates valid until the block fills or until May 22, 2015. The Gold Coast has cautioned that the hotel will fill rapidly this year. Recommended stays -- check in before 3PM Monday, June 22 and check out Friday morning, June 26, 2015. See our website www.AccordionStars.com for complete pricing options, or contact the Las Vegas International Accordion Convention at +1 801-486-1695 for personal assistance. We would love to have many of our polka friends join us! |
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2014 Coupe Mondiale Original Compositions Presentation - Bosnia and Herzegovinaby Anna Bodell |
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![]() Video 2: Zheng Zai composed Gorka Hermosa, performed by Xu Xiaonan (China) At the recent 6th Internacionali Festival Harmonike, Akordeon Art 2015 held in Eastern Sarajevo, CIA President Raymond Bodell presented diplomas to the two composers whose compositions were accepted into the CIA Portfolio 2014. The two renowned composers were Spanish composer Gorka Hermosa (picture right) for his composition Zheng Zai and Drazen Kosoric (picture lower right) from Bosnia & Herzegovina for his composition "The Wasteland". Videos of the performances above. This diplomas were for "Best New Original Work for Accordion - Classical" selected at the 67th CIA Coupe Mondiale held last November in Salzburg, Austria. This years Coupe Mondiale is to be held in Turku in October and composers are invited to make submission for the CIA Portfolio 2015. Full details and requirements for 2015 can be found at: www.coupemondiale.org/2015/fi_rules_oma.htm |
2015 International Festival Wazemmes L'accordeon - Lilleby Harley Jones |
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![]() ![]() The festival is back again this year from 9th to 24th May 2015 with a very colorful program. This primarily Lille regional event has international and French artists with concerts, balls, banquets, cinema, workshops, etc. Download program: 2015Wazemmes.pdf The opening celebrated the 70 years since the end of World War II with a ball of Liberation. May 22nd will feature Le Bal du Cheval Blanc. On the 24th is performing La Troba Kung-Fú (video above). So many events that make this festival one of the most important in the Lille region. |
Reports for Concerts, Masterclasses, Competitions, Festivals, etc. |
Patricia Bartell Sweeps Symphony with Solo, Spokane - USAby Harley Jones |
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![]() Two of the brightest planets in Spokane’s musical firmament teamed up this weekend, when accordionist Patricia Bartell joined Eckart Preu and the Spokane Symphony Orchestra on the stage. In keeping with Preu’s interest in expanding the repertoire, they collaborated in performing the Concerto for Bandoneon, subtitled “Aconcagua” (1979) by Argentine composer Astor Piazzolla (1921-1992), who is credited for bringing the tango into the realms of both jazz and concert music. Bartell’s appearance onstage brought the audience immediately to its feet, and occasioned a burst of whistling and shouting unusual in that auditorium. The Spokane musician is plainly a star, and the reasons are not hard to find. Her mastery of her instrument is absolute, which enables her to use the accordion as a resonator for her soul, able to reach across the gap between her and her listeners to make their thoughts and feelings vibrate in tune with hers. The symphony distinguished itself by mirroring Bartell’s kaleidoscopic range of color and mood precisely. Most memorable was the second movement, in which she engaged in intimate dialogue with concertmaster Mateusz Wolski, principal cello John Marshall and harp Earecka Tregenza Moody. The audience did not want Bartell to leave the stage without an encore, which she graciously supplied with an improvisation so brilliant that one felt that the whole orchestra was still playing. |
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Recent Performances of Volodymyr Runchak Works - Ukraineby Volodymyr Runchak |
![]() Concerts were in these halls: March 23, Great Hall of the Conservatory Dnipropetrovsk March 28, Concert Hall of the National Union of Composers of Ukraine in Kyiv April 3, Great Hall of the Kharkiv National University of Arts in Kharkiv April 4, Small Hall of the National Music Academy of Ukraine in Kyiv April 5, Concert Hall of Vinnytsya College of Music April 24, Ivano-Frankivsk Regional Philharmonic April 17, Lutsk Palace of Arts May 13, Chamber Hall of the Odessa Regional Philharmonic Videos of these performances will be published over the coming weeks. This week we have: Video 1: Two Confessions for Accordion, Iryna Serotyuk (accordion, Odessa\Ukraine). Video 2: Kyrie Eleison for violin and accordion performed by Iryna Serotyuk and Polina Chayka (violin, Odessa). |
Anthony Carrozza, Accordionist and Teacher, April 6,1931-May 9, 2015 - USAby Rita Barnea |
![]() He was born April 6, 1931 to Joseph and Mary Carrozza and was a lifelong parishioner of St. Mary and St. John Church in Chappaqua. He is survived by his loving and devoted wife of 58 years, Domenica (Mimma) Carrozza nee Raso, brother Patrick Carrozza and loving sister, Jean (Antonio) Ciccone, devoted nephews and nieces: Joseph (Ethel) Ciccone & children; Carmen (Nancy) Ciccone and children; Carmen (Adriana) Carrozza Jr. and children; Marianne (Larry) Carrozza-Smith and Mark (Karen) Carrozza & children. He is predeceased by his brother Carmen Carrozza; an infant sister Giovanna; and sister-in-laws Jean and Connie Carrozza. Anthony graduated from the Horace Greeley High School in Chappaqua, NY in 1951 and pursued his love of cars by working at the Ford dealer in Pleasantville, NY. He then served in the US Army for 2 years and upon his discharge he followed his musical talent with the accordion and piano. As a professional accordionist he performed at many different functions and went on to open the Carrozza Music Studio in Mamaroneck where he taught music. He was on the Board of the American Accordionists Association. In the 60’s he formed and conducted the Carrozza Accordion Orchestra made up of young accordion enthusiasts – teenagers and young adults - and they competed in AAA orchestra competitions, were champions many times and gave many concert performances including Carnegie Hall. Upon his retirement, Anthony Carrozza continued giving private piano and accordion lessons until his Parkinson’s disease put a halt to many things in his life. He deeply loved his family and was very much a family man. Anthony leaves behind many dear cousins and paisani locally and in Italy. He will be truly missed by all. The funeral was held Wednesday at the Church of St. John & Mary. |
2015 Big Squeeze Winners Announced - USAby Harley Jones |
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The Big Squeeze 2015 talent showcases have been running since February to arrive at 9 finalists and the three winners of the 2015 Big Squeeze competition organised by Texas Folklife were announced as above. Each winner was awarded a Hohner Corona accordion and will also play at Texas Folklife's Accordion Kings & Queens concert June 6 at Miller Outdoor Theatre in Houston, TX. |
Future events |
Coupe Mondiale Italian Selection, Nocera Terinese - Italyby Eleonora Ienaro |
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Sunday, May 17, starting 9:30 am, in Nocera Terinese (CZ), at the Conservatorio di Musica P.I.Tchaikovsky will be held the national selections of accordionists who aspire to enter the 68th Coupe Mondiale (CIA) to be held in Turku in Finland from 6th to 11th October 2015. This consolidates the partnership with the Conservatorio di Musica P.I.Tchaikovsky in cooperation with the Strumenti&Musica Festival in giving easier opportunity, for accordionists of southern Italy, to access selection for this prestigious international competition. The Cultural Association Italian Accordion Culture, Premiere Voting Member of the CIA IMC-UNESCO and promoter of the event, will support two of the musicians chosen by the international jury, during the hearings to be held in Nocera Terinese and later in the year in Spoleto, with the cost of the journey and residence in Finland. The hearings for the competitors entered for the various categories at the Conservatorio di Musica P.I.Tchaikovsky are open with free admission. For further information, email: antoniospaccarotella@gmail.com or phone: +39 346 5881850 |
Hainaut Belles Bretelles Accordeon Festival - Franceby Harley Jones |
![]() At the North of France, in the heart of Valenciennes and the Regional Natural Park Scarpe-Escaut, on the Belgian border, in a festive atmosphere and setting, Hergnies hosts many musical groups, and each group has one thing in common - it is the accordion! For three days, the accordion is the centerpiece of music in the region ... garden party, regional market, organic products, antiques, traditional games ... Artists, musicians, spectators, volunteers, artisans, producers ... Do not hesitate to join this beautiful, musical and friendly adventure that is the Hainaut Belles Bretelles Festival. |
2015 Long Beach Bayou Festival is Coming 6/20-21/15by Harley Jones |
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Video: Promotional video for the 2015 Long Beach Bayou Festival, 20th and 21st June. Two day family festival of food, music, dance lessons, crafish eating contest and a parade. Live peformances at the Zydeco stage, Blues stage and the Childrens stage. Can You Taste the Crawfish? Its Coming - The Long Beach Bayou Festival |
18th Val Tidone International Music Competition - Italyby Harley Jones |
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The 18th Val Tidone International Music Competition will be held from 11th to 21st June 2015 organised by the Fondazione Val Tidone Musica. Classical, contemporary, pop, folk, rock, ethnic and jazz music are all part of the International Music Competition of Val Tidone, grouped in different categories and instruments: accordion, piano, strings, singing, chamber music, composition. As usual, the contest offers valuable prizes: over € 20,000.00 in cash, 10 concerts and moreover recordings and scores publications for the composers. Entry closing date was 30th April 2015. Download rules and regulations: 2015ValTidone.pdf |
Video: Concertino Accordion Band Tour in July/August - Switzerland, Germany, Franceby Harley Jones |
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![]() From 25th July to 16th August, the Concertino Accordion Band are touring to Switzerland, Germany and France. Download the concert schedule: 2015Concertino.pdf From Moldava, they first started rehearsal in 2003 with the aim to achieve perfection. The Concertino Accordio Band has since won 19 competitions and performed all around the world: Canada, North-Korea, Italy, Russia, Austria, Czech Republic, France etc. Their home is one of the best concert halls in the capital Chi?inau, the Organ Hall, where these young musicians are based, practicing and making music. For further information email: info@concertino.md |
CD Reviews |
CD Review: L'armonica a mantice di Giuseppe Greggiatiby Alessandro Mugnoz |
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New and Updated Sites |
New Music eSheet Military Polonaise Arrangement by Zevy Zions - USAby Zevy Zions |
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Updated Site for Silvio De Pra, CD's and eTrack albumsby Harley Jones |
![]() A listening pleasure for all lovers of Italian song and beautiful music. |
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