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Highlights |
BREAKING NEWS: Young Basque Country Performer Oroitz Maiz Passed Away - Spainby Accordions Worldwide |
![]() Oroitz Maiz (Gabiria, Basque Country, 1983) began his musical studies age 7 and continues his studies in classical accordion at the "International Studies Center Acordeonísticos" with teachers Carlos Iturralde and Miren Iñarga. He studied harmony and counterpoint with the composer Jesús Torres, in Madrid and later still perfecting his accordion studies in Barcelona with Professor Iñaki Alberdi, and chamber music with Harry Sparnnay and Charles Tunnell. Later he moved to Germany to deepen their acordeonística training with the renowned Professor Stefan Hussong. He has given recitals and concerts throughout the Spanish geography, Portugal, Germany, France, Italy, Canada, Egypt ... in auditoriums and concert halls as The Palace of Catalan Music, the venue, Gran Teatre del Liceu, National Auditorium, Auditori de Barcelona ... and has performed as a soloist with the Orchestra and Chorus of the Gran Teatre del Liceu, National Chamber Orchestra of Andorra, Barcelona Symphony Orchestra i Nacional de Catalunya (OBC), Symphony Orchestra of Bilbao, Barcelona 216, Granollers Chamber Orchestra under the baton of directors like Fabien Gabel, Sebastian Weigle, Yasuaki Itakura, Ernest Martinez Izquierdo, among others. He has been awarded numerous competitions at state and worldwide as the Iberian Accordion Competition (Alcobaça, Portugal); International Competition of Les Corts, Guipuzcoano Accordion Competition, the International Accordion Competition (Andorra), music Youth of Spain, among others. He has recorded for various media how: BTV, Catalunya Radio, National Radio of Spain, Com Radio, ETB. He has also collaborated with several composers premiering their works for accordion: Joan Riera, German Moreno, Xao Ching ... |
BREAKING NEWS: Tulio Gasperini Passed Away - USAby Harley Jones |
A name synonymous with the accordion, Tulio Gasperini passed away on Friday, February 20, 2015, at the age of 92. He was the beloved husband of Dolores (Brogi) Gasperini for 66 years and resided in Lincoln for 61 years. A full obituary article is on the USA News. |
75th Anniversary ATG Festival July 22-25 in Lisle, Illinois - USAby Rita Barnea |
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![]() ![]() The ATG is a non-profit educational organization devoted to the accordion. President is Betty Jo Simon (picture left). It is for all accordionists, young and old, not just teachers or professionals! Details are being added to the website almost daily. The Accordionists & Teachers Guild, International (ATG) is proud to present distinguished virtuosos featured guest artists. Among them are: - Yuri Shishkin, from Russia as a featured guest artist. Yuri has won numerous international competitions in Germany and Italy, including ATG’s 1990 Anthony Galla-Rini International Competition. - Frank Petrilli and his Quartet will also perform. His debut CD, ”Totally Frank,” was recorded in Italy last year. - Stas Venglevski, will also be a featured soloist during the Festival as well as performing as the soloist with the Festival Orchestra of one of his newest compositions, "Rondo-Fantasy", written especially for this event. - Cory Pesaturo (“C Pez”) is one of only four accordionists to win a World Championships competition on both the Acoustic and Digital Accordion. - Gary Blair from Scotland will open the ATG Festival Wednesday night by hosting a fun evening of Celtic Ceilidh Dance music and will teach the dance steps so all can dance along. - ATG Festival Orchestra directed by Prof. Joan Sommers (picture right) aims to have at least one member from every state in the union participate. You can help spread the word to all of your accordion friends throughout the USA. Let’s see how many states we can have represented in this always popular orchestra! - Dr. Helmi Harrington with her display of rare instruments; she will also present a lecture/demonstration of these instruments. - Original compositions concert on Friday afternoon. - Competitions. ATG is offering solo, duet, and ensemble categories and even some with cash prizes. All details on the ATG website. For complete information regarding the ATG 75th Anniversary Festival, please see: Accordionists & Teachers Guild, International (ATG) |
Martynas’ Concert Schedule – Ireland, Denmark, Germany, Belgium, Ukraine, Hungary, France, Lithuania, Turkeyby Rob Howard |
![]() Lithuanian accordion virtuoso Martynas Levickis has a very busy international concert schedule in the next three months: February 24th, 7.30pm - Jenisch Haus, Hamburg, Germany March 4th, 6.30pm - Y. Menuhin Concert Hall, European Parliament, Brussels, Belgium March 10th, 6pm - National Academic Operetta theatre, Kiev, Ukraine March 11th, 5pm - The sound of Europe at the Ministry of Finance, Berlin, Germany March 12th, 7pm - Budapest, Hungary. March 17th, 7pm - The Académie Diplomatique Internationale, Paris, France March 21st - Kaunas Philharmonic society, Lithuania April 8th, 6 pm - concert with Lithuanian Chamber Orchestra, Klaipeda Concert Hall, Lithuania April 11th - performance in TEDx, Vilnius, Lithuania April 14th - concert with Geneva Camerata, Istanbul, Turkey April 30th - concert with St. Christopher's Chamber Orchestra - Piazzolla Tango project, St. Catherine's Church, Vilnius Martynas Levickis, known usually by his forename Martynas, has emerged as an international star of the accordion in recent times. Born in Lithuania, and a graduate of London’s Royal Academy of Music, Martynas has won several awards, including the Coupe Mondiale Piano Accordion category, and in his own country, the popular TV show ‘Lithuania’s Got Talent’ where he became a primetime television star. Now recognized as a local hero in Lithuania, Martynas has also been appointed as a tourism ambassador by his country’s government. |
Accordion Class Starting 2015 at Conservatorium van Amsterdam - Netherlandsby Marko Kassl |
![]() ![]() The Conservatorium van Amsterdam (CvA) is the largest and most diverse conservatory in the Netherlands. With outstanding teachers at its disposal, situated in one of Europe's most vibrant musical centres, the conservatory takes full advantage of Amsterdam's multifaceted musical climate. The conservatory is therefore well-placed to help students develop into versatile musicians at the highest level. The CvA offers courses ranging from classical music, jazz and early music to opera, Latin, popular music and music in education. Owing to the many special projects, the curriculum guarantees a strong link between theory and practice. Both in the Bachelor's and the Master's Degree programs, students are given ample opportunity to make individual choices and go their own way. And now finally there is an accordion class at the CvA! Download information at: 2015CvA.pdf For further information email: markokassl@hotmail.com |
Video: Biagio Antonacci with Accordion/Bandoneon Quartet - Italyby Holda Paoletti-Kampl |
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Video: Famous Italian singer Biagio Antonacci recently on the big stage of the Ariston Theater in San Remo, presented famous songs of his career, in a fresh arrangement with the accordionists Massimo Tagliata, Daniele Donadelli, Antonio Rimedio, Marco Fabbri (bandoneon) and Massimo Varini (guitar). Thank you to MusicTech for the video. |
Michael Bridge One of the Four Concerto Winners, Toronto – Canadaby Rob Howard |
![]() On the weekend of January 10th and 11th Michael Bridge progressed through both rounds of the competition and was selected as one of the four winners who will perform with the orchestra during the 2015/16 season. Michael performed the Italian-America composer Paul Creston's 'Concerto for Accordion and Orchestra' with a piano reduction (by the composer), performed by Dr. Hye Won Cecilia Lee. The date of the orchestral performance will be announced in the coming months. Widely known in accordion circles as a Canadian Roland digital accordion champion and a high-energy polka-rock entertainer, Michael's driving passions revolve around classical, contemporary and chamber music and the recognition of the accordion as a serious concert instrument. Michael has studied accordion performance at the University of Toronto with Professor Joseph Macerollo since 2011. In 2015, Michael will graduate with his Bachelor's degree in accordion performance, and plans to continue with a Master's degree next September. Michael Bridge’s spring/summer schedule includes touring through West Virginia, Washington, Quebec, Ontario, and Alberta. University of Toronoto is one of the few remaining facilities in North America where you can get an accordion degree, the other being at the University of Indianapolis, where accordionists can attain an undergraduate degree in accordion with Dr. Marko Petricic. |
Reports for Concerts, Masterclasses, Competitions, Festivals, etc. |
Video: Yuri Medianik and Emotion-orchestra Group Perform Campo Afuera - Russiaby Harley Jones |
Popular accordionist, violinist and conductor Yuri Medianik and a group from the Emotion-orchestra performing Campo Afuera (Rodolfo Biagi) in a live performance at ZIL culture center in Moscow. Release 16th February 2015. |
The Most Accordion Shaped Camper Ever - Netherlandsby Harley Jones |
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![]() In the right situation, you can go fishing from the deck! It might even double as a portable concert stage with dressing rooms!!! Featuring a bedroom with privacy canvas, a sitting room with transparent canvas for an excellent view, and an interior room with stove, sink, table, and multiple storage places, this camper would be a wonderful talking point for any accordion enthusiast to own. |
Igor Zobin, Accordionist and Conductor, Pesaro – Italyby Francesca Pigini, Pigini Accordion Factory |
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Igor Zobin was born in Trieste in 1983 and studied the accordion at the Slovene Music Institute in Trieste and at the State Music Conservatory in Pesaro. He was awarded a degree at the Conservatory Gioacchino Rossini in Pesaro and was selected to represent Italy at the 52nd CMA Trophée Mondiale. For the first time in Italy and in the history of the famous Accademia Musicale Pescarese, accordionist Igor Zobin also gained his degree in conducting. Igor Zobin, had already decided which style he would like to follow for his career. He spoke about it in an interview for “Musica Colta” where he declared: “Accordion, or the bayan in my personal case, is a extraordinary instrument, that allows you to explore music in each single dimension. Accordion is a young instrument that has a great future, but that also gives to the musician an instrument to understand and perform many different music styles from the past to the present. Accordion put your musicianship to the test. Accordion has always been my personal orchestra, but I always desired to grow as musician, to pursuit the art of music. Conducting and directing an orchestra is an art, hard to merely describe. It’s great and complex, and it demands a lot of energy from you. I am very happy to get this degree at the Academy and I am proud of this path!”. Igor Zobin intends his career to combine orchestra director together with the accordion performance. We wish Igor Zobin all the best for a shining future with these goals for his life. |
Video: Lucy Alves, Presenter Voltamos and Her Group on Sala de Reboco - Brazilby Harley Jones |
![]() At 5:50 Lucy picks up the accordion. Published on Feb 11, 2015 TV Tambaú. The other accordionist in the band is Giordano Mahatma Costa who won 3rd place at the 2014 Coupe Mondiale Senior Virtuoso Entertainment category. |
Video: Ksenija Sidorova at the Arte Lounge, Berlin - Germanyby Harley Jones |
Ksenija Sidorova performing Revelation by Sergey Voitenko at the Arte Lounge, Berlin. Published on Feb 10, 2015 |
Video: Gina Reis Performing for a Dance - Portugalby Harley Jones |
Accordionist Gina Reis playing and singing at a recent dance in Portugal. |
‘14 Years Ago’: Documentary ‘Accordion Dreams’ premiered in March 2001by Rob Howard |
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The Accordions Worldwide news for the week ending February 23rd 2001 included an item about the premiere of a documentary film titled ‘Accordion Dreams’, which was soon to be screened at a festival in Texas. The documentary focused on conjunto, the accordion-driven music of the Tex-Mex community. This genre has thrived though the years, and in last week’s Accordions Worldwide news we reported that accordionist Flaco Jimenez, conjunto’s most successful player, has recently received a Lifetime Grammy award. Well done, Flaco! Documentary ‘Accordion Dreams’ at Film Festival – USA Contributed by Evy Ledesma ‘Accordion Dreams’, the newest film by Hector Galan will premiere at the SXSW Film Festival in Austin, Texas, during March. ‘Accordion Dreams’ is an exciting journey into the heart and soul of conjunto music. The documentary explores the historical and cultural impact that accordion based conjunto music has had while revealing how a younger generation of squeezebox trailblazers are keeping the music alive. Accordion Dreams will be broadcast nationally in the United States on PBS. |
Video: Andrej Hraško Performs Gorka Hermosa Guernica 26/4/1937by Harley Jones |
Andrej Hraško Performs the Gorka Hermosa composition Guernica 26/4/1937. Gorka Hermosa wrote, "Bravo!! Really nice interpretation!" Video published on Oct 14, 2014 by Andrej Hraško. |
Future events |
Trio Akk:zent Concert Tour - Austria, Germany, Belgium, Ukraine, Hungary, Lithuania, Turkeyby Rob Howard |
![]() Trio Akk:zent perform in concert as follows: 20 February, 8.30pm – Jazzclub STEP, Volkermarkt, Austria 21 February, 8.30pm – Kammerlichtspiele, Klagenfurt, Austria 22 February, 11am – Schloss Wolfsberg, Austria 8 March, 8pm - Schwarzberg, Austria 4 March 6.30 pm European Parliament, Y. Menuhin concert hall, Brussels, Belgium. 10th March 6 pm National Academic Operetta theatre, Kiev, Ukraine. 11th March 5 pm, The sound of Europe at the Ministry of Finance in Berlin, Germany. (www.sound-of-europe.de) 12 March 7 pm Budapest, Hungary. 17 March 7 pm The Académie Diplomatique Internationale, Paris, France. 21 March Kaunas Philharmonic society, Lithuania. 8 April 6 pm Concert with Lithuanian Chamber Orchestra in Klaipeda Concert hall, Lithuania. 11 April Performance in TEDx Vilnius, Lithuania. 14 April Concert with Geneva Camerata in Istanbul, Turkey. 30 April Concert with St. Christopher's Chamber Orchestra - Piazzolla Tango project at St. Catherine's Church, Vilnius, Lithuania. |
Marco Lo Russo Solo Recital, Fondi - Italyby Rob Howard |
![]() Marco Lo Russo is currently making some recordings and doing an interview with Benedetta Rinaldi for Rai Community, a programme for Italians abroad, on the TV station RAI World. For further information email: stampa@marcolorusso.com |
Gradam Ceoil TG4, Trad Irish Music Awards Concert Live on TG4 – Irish Republicby Rob Howard |
![]() ![]() A concert titled "Gradam Ceoil TG4 – The Traditional Irish Music Awards 2015" takes place at Cork Opera House on Sunday February 22nd at 9.30pm. Gradam Ceoil TG4 returns to Cork after an absence of more than 10 years. The Traditional Irish Music Awards 2015 will be broadcast live for the very first time ever from Cork Opera House on Sunday, February 22nd 2015. Featuring the very best of Irish music and song, the night will also recognise the outstanding achievements of the 2015 recipients across six various strands of Irish Traditional Music. Dáithí Ó Sé and Aoife Ní Thuairisg will present the show and will be joined on stage by a host of well known personalities. The main award, Gradam Ceoil TG4 goes to Galway virtuoso Máirtín O’Connor whose accordion-playing wizardry and range of compositions have been dazzling audiences for over thirty years. The Lifetime Achievement Award goes to legendary player Bobby Gardiner (picture right), a Clare native now exiled in Tipperary but well-known throughout the land for well over a half-century for his warm and gentle style of playing and teaching. |
Zoltan Orosz Trio Concert, Budapest – Hungaryby Rob Howard |
![]() Zoltan Orosz (born 1966) studied both the accordion and the organ at the Bela Bartok Conservatory in Budapest, then at the Franz Liszt College, Budapest. He has since pursued a very successful international career as an accordionist, with several recordings to his credit. |
Tony Kearney Gigs, Slough, London, Luton – UKby Rob Howard |
![]() February 20th – private function, Irish Centre, Slough February 21st – Irish Club, Eastleigh February 22nd - Ceili, Irish Centre, Camden Town, London February 24th – English Martyrs Hall, Elephant & Castle, London February 27th – Maznod Club, Quex Rd, Kilburn, London March 1st - Ceili, Irish Centre, Camden Town, London March 6th - Ceili, Irish Club, Wimbledon, London March 7th – St Margaret’s Club, Luton March 8th - Ceili, Irish Centre, Camden Town, London Tony Kearney, from Inchigeela in County Cork, plays the Shand Morino and is highly regarded in Irish communities as a solo accordionist. He has three CDs to his credit, and is also a singer. For further information email: starr63@gmail.com |
Giorgio Felicetti Concert, Civitanova - Italyby Holda Paoletti-Kampl |
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‘The Brandon McPhee Show’, Inverness – UKby Rob Howard |
![]() Brandon McPhee, from Caithness in the north of Scotland, burst on the accordion scene in 2008 with his first CD, ‘A 'Starr' Is Born’. Brandon plays the Shand Morino 3-row British chromatic button accordion, and the CD title pays homage to the memory of the late Will Starr, one of Scotland’s button accordion legends and a great influence on Brandon. Brandon has since made two more CDs and two DVDs, and has won many competitions in Scotland. |
‘The Day of the Accordion’, Washington - USAby Rob Howard |
‘The Day of the Accordion’ takes place on Saturday February 28th at Crossroads Mall, 15600 NE 8th St, Bellevue, WA. The event includes performances by Lenny Luzzi, David Locke, Rod Miller and Einar Tapio, the Ken Olendorf Tribute Band, NWAS Members Showcase, Murl Allen Sanders, the Northwest Accordionaires, the Folk Voice Band, the Smilin’ Scandinavians, Bonnie Birch Trio, and the Lyle Schaefer Band. There will be free accordion lessons and a Young Students Showcase as part of the proceedings. For further information email: dorisosgood@frontier.com |
Chapter House Ensemble Concerts, Edinburgh – UKby Rob Howard |
![]() Thursday February 26th, 7pm – The Constitution Bar, Edinburgh Wednesday March 4th, 2.45pm - Palmerston Place Church, Edinburgh Saturday March 7th, 4.30pm - St. Cuthbert's Church, Edinburgh Friday March 13th, 4pm – St Mark’s Church, Edinburgh Friday March 13th, 8pm – St Cuthbert’s Church, Edinburgh Friday 13th March 2015, both at St. Mark's Church, Edinburgh at 4pm and St. Cuthbert's Church, Edinburgh at 8pm. The Chapter House Ensemble members are Shane Brogan (accordion) and Jörn Pfaff (piano) with special guests. Their music is an eclectic repertoire of Argentine tango, classical, ethnic, jazz and popular music. For further information email: shane@shanebrogan.com |
Vincent LHermet In Rameau Recital, Paris – Franceby Rob Howard |
![]() The concert is a celebration of the life and music of Jean-Philippe Rameau (1683-1764), one of the most important French composers and music theorists of the Baroque era. Vincent LHermet (born 1987) is one of the most accomplished French accordionists of his generation. He graduated from the Sibelius Academy of Helsinki, Finland, and was the first ever accordionist to be admitted to the Doctorate of Music Performance (PhD) at the Paris Conservatoire, Sorbonne University, Paris. He has won first prize in the Arrasate-Hiria International Competition in Spain (2006), and regularly performs as a soloist with orchestras, ensembles and chamber groups. He is currently teaching accordion at the Boulogne-Billancourt Conservatoire and the Higher Arts Education Centers of Lille and Paris/Boulogne-Billancourt. For further information email: lhermet.vincent@gmail.com |
X International Competition "Cittá di Greci" - Italyby Rob Howard |
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The musical association "Art Muzikor” with the patronage of the town of Greci (AV) organizes the 10th International Music Competition, which takes place in Greci, southern Italy, from March 22nd to 29th. The competition includes the following categories: Classical Guitar, Guitar ensemble (two or more persons), Accordion, String instruments (with or without accompaniment), Wind instruments (with or without accompaniment), Vocal, Piano, Piano 4 hands, Piano interpretation, and Chamber music. Full details are now available in Italian and English at: 2015Greci.pdf The closing date for entries is Saturday March 14th. For further information email: info@angelomiele.com |
Weird Al Yankovic ‘Mandatory World Tour’ gigs – USAby Rob Howard |
![]() Since his first-aired comedy song in 1976, he has sold more than 12 million albums, recorded more than 150 parody and original songs. He is not related to the late polka accordionist Frank Yankovic, though they have performed together. Weird Al begins his ‘Mandatory World Tour’ in May, with a total of 88 concert dates in the USA, Canada, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Netherlands, Belgium, UK and Ireland. The first of these dates include: May 12th to 16th – Planet Hollywood, Las Vegas, Nevada May 19th – Brady Theater, Tulsa, Oklahoma May 20th – Hudson Performance Hall, Oklahoma City May 22nd – Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Biloxi, MS May 23rd – Ryman Auditorium, Nashville, Tennessee May 24th – Horseshoe-Tunica Bluesville, MS May 26th – Center for the Performing Arts, Bloomington, Illinois May 28th – Murat Theatre at Old National Centre, Indianapolis, Illinois May 29th – Soaring Casino and Resort, Mount Pleasant, Michigan May 30th – Jacobs Pavilion at Nautica, Cleveland, Ohio May 31st – Palace Theatre, Greensburg, PA |
CD Reviews |
CD Review: Let Me Tell You A Story CD by Random Encounterby Joan C. Sommers |
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New and Updated Sites |
Updated Site: Guardia Nueva Tangokonzert Berlin Philharmonie Double CDby Harley Jones |
![]() The popular Guardia Neuva, founded and conducted by Raimo Vertainen (picture right) has enjoyed popular success in Finland and internationally. This double CD costs Euro 20 plus postage or you can download the eTracks mp3 files double album at: gnueva03 |
Updated Site: Yehuda Oppenheimer Composition Released - Israelby Harley Jones |
![]() ![]() This work was previously only published in the book about Yehuda Oppenheimer titled: The Man The Accordion And The Legend Catalog oybook |
Updated Site: Gary Dahl Update eBooks Collection Special Priceby Gary Dahl |
![]() Individual eBooks: DH01-eB - Latin Spectacular! Collection #1- eBook DH02-eB - Favourite French Standards Collection #2 - eBook DH03-eB - The American Songbook Collection #3- eBook DH04-eB - Favourite Waltzes and Polkas Collection #4 - eBook DH05-eB - Easy Listening Variety Collection #5 - eBook DH06-eB - Easy Listening Variety Collection #6 - eBook DH07-eB - Traditional Polish Carols Collection #7 - eBook |
Updated Site: Yehuda Oppenheimer Arrangement Released - Israelby Harley Jones |
![]() ![]() This work was previously only published in the book about Yehuda Oppenheimer titled: "The Man The Accordion And The Legend" Catalog oybook |
Updated Site: Franco Cambareri New Work Danza Guapaby Franco Cambareri |
![]() Catalog No: cfranco192 Danza Guapa (solo) as an eSheet, able to be purchased online with credit card and sent to you by email. Danza Guapa is a Happy Paso Doble Dance. |
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model identificationby | Modify | Delete |
Could you identify the accordion, and give a ball-park valuation? It's in excellent condition apart from a sticking bass button. Thanks for your time. Peter Mason p.mason90@hotmail.co.uk |
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