|
| Saturday 31 May Daily Report Sunday 1st June Daily Report |
New Zealand in Accord on Music
|
 Oksana Strokovskaya is a Journalist by profession in Russia and is also the mother of 2014 South Pacific Accordion Solo Championships winner Arseniy Strokovskiy. She writes about her first visit to Auckland City for the South Pacific International and New Zealand National Accordion Championships and Festival. |
| New Zealand, it turns out, is famous for not only hobbits and stunning nature, but also its musical scene. The New Zealand Accordion Championships and Festival has taken place in New Zealand some 44 times, every year since 1971! Since 1993 the New Zealand Accordion Association also hosts the South Pacific International and New Zealand National Accordion Championships and Festival. This year the event was held in Auckland over the Queen's Birthday Weekend holidays, Saturday 31st May and Sunday 1st June 2014. At this great weekend you see performing and competing accordionists of all ages, and levels - New Zealand, Australia, China, Russia. There were Festival items, soloists, duets, groups and orchestras. It was not only a top level presentation but also top level performers who proved immensely inspirational for present, future professional accordionists who would soon take their place. Beginners were genuinely encouraged to reach future excellence by example. It is also noteworthy that within the framework of the competition there were categories pertaining to beginners, such as "More than one year playing" and "Up to two years playing". Spectators, teachers and musicians were grateful to the organizers of the competition for the opportunity to contest in a high quality, wonderful and cozy concert hall with excellent lighting and acoustics. Parents of contestants noted: "Spectators appreciated the luxury setting and also admired the quality of performance, and our children were delighted by the prestige and comfort, performing on such a stage". On Sunday afternoon there was the wonderful Finale Concert, featuring a guest starring by Mirco Patarini from Italy, a world class accordionist, the festival orchestras, the top categories competition winners and other musical acts. Audience enjoyed a range of classical, variety and jazz music. On Sunday evening was a Gala Dinner during which the organizers of the competition presented trophies to the happy winners of the top international categories.  This evening featured a sound wealth of classical acoustic and electronic accordion music. Now we can confidently say that the festival skills, fun, friendship, camaraderie, communication, and amazing music was enjoyed by all, all the way through. It is notable that for the first time in the history of the competition there was a Russian winner - Arseniy Strokovsky in a very competitive top solo category. The South Pacific International and New Zealand National Accordion Championships New Zealand and Festival isn't finished yet. Ambitious accordionists from the different countries who want to try their hand at competitions are more than welcome next year! Stay with us. Oksana Strokovskaya Moscow |
 |
 |
 |
| Home | Prospectus | Past Reports and Champions | History Book Site constructed and hosted by: Accordions Worldwide
at www.accordions.com |