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Highlights |
Pietro Adragna Wins 5th Roland International V-Accordion Competition, Rome - Italyby Rob Howard |
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![]() There were competitors from 14 countries, including Italy, UK, USA, Germany, Hungary, Brazil, Canada, Spain, Russia, France, Netherlands, Japan and China. Adjudication took into account the best technical skills, musical interpretation, and ability to exploit the potential of digital accordions. The international jury included Raymond Bodell (UK), Sam Falcetti (USA), Graham Laurie (UK), Joseph Macerello (Canada), Kimmo Mattila (Finland), and Andreas Nebl (Germany). The winner was Pietro Adragna with 166.4 points, 2nd Matthias Matzke (Germany) with 165.8, and 3rd Qi Ma (China) with 164. The latter won the Ron Lankford Award, chosen by a panel of journalists. The evening concert opened with the talented brothers Alessandro and Gabriele Guglielmi, 9 and 11 years of age, who performed a program of complex classical music for diatonic accordion. ‘Taranta’, a folk dance group, featuring Danilo Di Paolonicola on Roland V Accordion also performed, and the hostess was actress and singer Mascia Foschi, who was accompanied by Sergio Scappini. Roland have confirmed that the 6th festival will again be held at the same venue in Rome. Daily Reports are online at 2011 Rome Festival. Read in detail about the competitors, the jury, guests and results. Picture below, left to right: Luigi Bruti Marketing Director of the Accordion Division Roland Europe; 3rd place Ma Qi (China); 1st place Pietro Adragna (Italy); Alfredo Maroni, Roland Europe President and 2nd place Matthias Matzke (Germany). |
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Las Vegas International Accordion Convention, Nevada – USAby Rob Howard |
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![]() The event begins with a Masquerade Dinner Concert, featuring Peter and Mady Soave, Mario Tacca and Mary Mancini, and Bruce Gassman. There are more than 50 workshops and classes scheduled. Dr. Ian Blair Fries, MD, an orthopedic surgeon, is a new addition and will offer a unique workshop on the anatomy of the hand and the accordion. Other concerts during the week involve Frank Marocco, Alexander Sevastian, the Soundscape Accordion Trio, Mary Tokarski, and Angelo Di Pippo with the Accordion Kings. The grand finale on Thursday evening will feature a 52 piece accordion orchestra with full symphony percussion, the Fourth Annual Las Vegas International Accordion Orchestra, conducted by Joan Cochran Sommers. Registration is open until 5pm on October 26th, and there is still time to become part of this event. Registration options are online at www.accordionstars.com. For further information visit the Las Vegas International Accordion Convention website. |
Beltango Quintet Shows – Serbia, Franceby Harley Jones |
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![]() In the first week of November, Beltango perform in concert at the Belgrade Tango Festival 2011, followed by appearances at the Festival Du Tango Au Lazaret in France. Concert details are: November 3rd, 8pm - Kolarac Concert Hall, Belgrade November 5th, 8pm - Central Military Club, Belgrade Hotel Royal, Music School "Dr Vojislav Vuckovic", November 11th and 12th, 10pm - Festival Du Tango Au Lazaret, Strasbourg, France “I am proud that the band such as Beltango exists in the world, and plays the music of my father the way it should be played. Obviously, my father’s music is completely universal, and Beltango proves it by their marvelous interpretations.” Daniel Piazzolla, Buenos Aires, Argentina. Pictured are Aleksandar Nikolic (bandoneon/accordion), Ivana Nikolic (piano/vocal), Jovan Bogosavljevic (violin), Bogdan Pejic (electric guitar) and Ljubinko Lazic (double bass). For further information email: info@beltango.com Trilogia Triple CD Pack available online at Beltango |
All Scotland Accordion & Fiddle Festival, Perth – UKby Rob Howard |
![]() The festival begins with a welcome ceilidh during the evening of October 28th, to the music of the Iain Anderson Scottish Dance Band. The following day is a full day of competitions for accordion and fiddle, involving mainly solo sections, plus trio and band categories. The accordion adjudicators are Ian Muir, Scott Gordon, Tom Orr and James Coutts. There will be a Grand Finale concert, 4.30 to 6pm, featuring accordion duo Gary Blair Senior and Junior, Bryan Gear (fiddle) accompanied by pianist Violet Tulloch, and Iain Cathcart and his Broadcasting Band. The Saturday evening final dance (run by Perth and District Accordion & Fiddle Club) will be to the music of the Neil Hardie SCDB. |
Reports for Concerts, Masterclasses, Competitions, Festivals, etc. |
Paddy O'Brien CD ‘Mixing The Punch’, Offaly – Republic of Irelandby Rob Howard |
![]() ![]() The 17 tracks include - Reels: The Tinker's Occupation/The Rambling Reel; Jigs: The Hearty Boys of Ballymote/Young Tom Ennis; Reels: Tossing the Feathers in County Clare/The Shores of Donegal; Reels: Seán Ryan's/Bitin' Bread and Aitin' It; Jigs: The Trip to Galway/Mixing the Punch; Slow Air: The Flight of the Wild Geese; Reels: Arthur Darley's/The Glen of Aherlow; Jigs (Felim Egan solo): Michael Doherty's/The Western Road; Polkas: The Wooden City Polkas; Reels: Connemara Stockings/The Union Reel; Jigs: Apples in Winter/Sliabh Russell; Reels: The Fashion that the Ladies Wore/Cormac Lunny's; Hornpipes: Poll Ha'penny/Gerry Egan's; Jigs: The Humours of Rahey/The Rambling Pitchfork; Reels: Imelda Roland's/The Flags of Dublin/Paddy from Donegal; Jigs: The Boys of the Town/The Hag with the Money; Reels: The Crosses of Annagh/Tom Doherty's For further information email: support@allcelticmusic.com |
‘14 Years Ago’ – Busking in Singapore made legal in 1997by Rob Howard |
The Accordions Worldwide news for October 24th 1997 included a true story concerning Leo Lim Peng Hor, a disabled accordionist whose problems with the city authorities in Singapore about busking in public happily resulted in licenses being issued. BLIND BUSKER AMONG FIRST TO SEEK LICENCE – SINGAPORE Southeast Asian newspaper "Straits Times" featured an article in early October on a blind busker Leo Lim Peng Hor, 38, who has performed illegally for 11 years and was among the first to apply for his busking licence. "I have three accordions and many harmonicas in the police station," he said of the times he was caught busking unlawfully in the Orchard Road underpass near the MRT station "Each time they only chased me away, but my instruments were confiscated.” He added: "I have been giving my feedback to the authorities since 1986 that busking should be legalised. I am glad they have finally acted. This is especially good news for me, as I am disabled." He thinks it a good idea that licences will be given to buskers linked with arts organisations and that what they collect has to go to the arts. He said he had, in any case, been donating about S$15,000 a year to various charities such as the NAC, the Singapore Association of the Visually Handicapped, and the Bishan Home for Intellectually Disabled. He also runs an entertainment company, Extra Touch Live Entertainment and Productions, which employs disabled performers. |
Future events |
‘Piaf - the songs’ Further Tour Dates – UKby Rob Howard |
![]() ![]() October 28th – Shirley Hall, Canterbury Festival November 9th - South Holland Centre, Spalding, Lincs November11th - The Courthouse, Otley, Yorkshire November 15th and 16th - Pavilion Theatre, Dome, Brighton November17th - Theatr Brycheiniog, Brecon, Wales November24th - The Forum Studio Theatre, Chester November 25th - Rosehill Theatre, Whitehaven November 26th - The Rose Theatre, Ormskirk December 8th - The Apex, Bury St Edmunds December 17th - Civic Hall, Barnsley January 21st, 2pm and 7.45pm - Festival Theatre, Chichester January 28th - Theatre Royal, Wakefield February 23rd – Playhouse, Alnwick, Northumberland February 24th – Tolbooth, Stirling, Scotland March 2nd – Lighthouse, Poole, Dorset There is now a CD of the show available; the songs include ‘Mon Dieu’, ‘Bal dans ma rue’, ‘Les Feuilles Mortes/Autumn Leaves’, ‘Mon Manege à Moi’, ‘L'Accordeoniste’, ‘Padam Padam’, ‘La Goualante du Pauvre Jean’, ‘L'Hymne à l'Amour’, ‘Sous le Ciel de Paris’, ‘Non, Je ne Regrette Rien’, ‘Milord’, ‘La Vie en Rose’, ‘La Foule’, ‘Les Mots d'Amour’, and ‘Les Flons Flons du bal’. For further information email: edward.jay@me.com |
João Gentil Concerts, Cantanhede, Buenos Aires – Portugal & Argentinaby Holda Paoletti-Kampl |
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Accordionist João Gentil performs in concert with a string quartet at the Auditório do Museu da Pedra, Cantanhede, Coimbra, Portugal, on Sunday October 29th, 9.30pm. The repertoire includes music by Astor Piazzolla, Ennio Morricone, Richard Galliano, JS Bach, and Johann Brahms. João Gentil will visit Argentina, November 11th to 13th, where he will play accordion, bandoneon and accordina with a tango quartet at concerts in Buenos Aires and Rosario. For further information email: joaogentil1@gmail.com |
Tony Kearney Gigs, Weybridge, Swindon,London – UKby Rob Howard |
![]() October 28th – Set Dancing Ceili, Social Services Club, Weybridge, Surrey October 29th – Bakers Arms, Swindon, Wiltshire October 30th - Ceili, Irish Centre, Camden Town, London For further information email: starr63@gmail.com |
Accordion Pops Concert, Enschede – Netherlandsby Rob Howard |
![]() The program will include music by ABBA, Simon & Garfunkle, and Michael Jackson, numbers associated with The Motion Trio, and ‘West Side Story’, by Leonard Bernstein. For further information email: info@animatohengelo.nl |
BCA/LSM Annual Concert, Birkirkara – Maltaby Joseph P. Grima |
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The Santa Maria Accordion Band (MD Mrs. Marthese Busuttil Cassar L.B.C.A.) perform for the annual British College of Accordionists/Leicester School of Music concerts on October 29th and 30th, 5.30pm. These take place at St. Aloysius College, Birkirkara. The concerts will feature the music from Klaus Bodelt to Johann Strauss and Alexander Bodell (UK) has been invited as a guest performer. The Santa Maria Accordion Band, formed in 1992, play at celebrations, community events, festivals, church services, and national events. For further information email: josephpgrima@gmail.com |
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Zydeco @ Rock N’ Bowl, New Orleans – USAby Rob Howard |
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![]() October 27th, 8.30pm - Nathan & the Zydeco Cha-Chas November 3rd, 8.30pm – Rosie Ledet 19th, 9.30pm – Rockin Dopsie Jr & the Zydeco Twisters 24th, 8.30pm – Geno Delafose & French Rockin Boogie |
Milos Milivojevic Concert, High Wycombe – UKby Rob Howard |
![]() All Saints' Church is a beautiful 11th Century church in the centre of High Wycombe – ideal for an accordion recital. For further information email: jane.hunt06@gmail.com |
Semir Hasic Concert, Zagreb – Serbiaby Rob Howard |
![]() performs in a concert titled ‘From Bach to Sevdaha’ on November 2nd 8pm at MD V.Lisinski Zagreb For further information email: semir.sammy.hasic@gmail.com |
Akkordeonorchester Unterpfaffenhofen e.V. Concert, Munich – Germanyby Rob Howard |
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The Akkordeonorchester Unterpfaffenhofen e.V. perform in concert at the Stadthalle Germering, Orlandosaa, Munich, on November 6th, 5pm. For further information email: info@aou-ev.de |
‘Accordion Samurai’ Concerts – Belgium, Netherlands, Englandby Rob Howard |
![]() November 17th and 23rd, 8pm - ‘Accordion Samurai’ perform their international music at Toernee Mondial, Flanders, Belgium, Flanders. These concerts are part of a Womex festival. November 27th - Oosterpoort, Trompsingel 27 9724 DA Groningen, Netherlands December 11th – The Face Bar, Chatham St, Reading RG1 7JF, UK For further information email: support@songkick.com |
CD Reviews |
“Russian Favourites” CD by Alexander Sevastianby Joan C. Sommers |
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New and Updated Sites |
Franco Cambareri releasing 2 of his new musicby Franco Cambareri |
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November Accordion USA News Online 1st Novemberby Rita Barnea |
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November Accordion USA News Online 1st November |
November 2011 Diatonic News Online 1st Novemberby Werner Weibert |
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November 2011 Diatonic News Online 1st November |
November 2011 Accordion Russia News Online 1st Novemberby Alexander Selivanov |
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November 2011 Accordion Russia News Online 1st November |
Charnwood Publishing New Websiteby Anna Bodell of Charnwood Publications |
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Charnwood Publishing New Website is now online with updated shopping basket system and multi currency online credit card capture through secure server international Worldpay system. |
Karthause Schmulling New Websiteby Ulrich Schmülling of Karthause Schmülling |
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Accordions TV |
Roland Streaming Video of 5th International V-Accordion Festival and Competition - Romeby Alessandra Curzi, Roland Europe |
Live Streaming Video from the Roland 2011 5th International V-Accordion Festival and Competition in Rome at 2011 Rome Festival. |
Help Desk, Information needed, Readers CommentsSubmit Your Question, CommentNEW FEATURE! TRY IT NOW |
What is the value of my button accordion please in US dollars?by | Modify | Delete |
Very old 27 cms wide 22 cms high |
Hohner Button Accordionby | Modify | Delete |
Lavorazione Specialeby | Modify | Delete |
The accordian is marked as follows; STRODELLA COoPERATIVA C'ARMONICA ITALIA LAVORAZIONE SPECIALE Many thanks in anticipation, Brian Eastwood. |
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