N e w s   A r c h i v e   February   2001

• International competition for accordionists - St.Petersburg
• Psoy Korolenko and "eNsemble" in a New Music concert - St.Petersburg
• Raimondas Sviackevicius performs at the festival - Lithuania
• Accordion Festival in Moscow - Russia
• LAA celebrates 15th Anniversary - Lithuania

International competition for accordionists

An international competition "Assamblies of Peter and Pavel" was held from April 21st to 28th in St.Petersburg, organized by the St. Petersburg City Administration's Culture Commitee, State Rimsky - Korsakov Conservatoire and Music College of St.Petersburg. The event (also known as "Baltic Harmonica") has become so popular, that this time over thousand performers from Latvia, Lithuania, St.Petersburg, Slovakia, Germany, Russia, Moldova, Ukraine, Belorussia, Kazakhstan competed in more than 50 categories. The competition is open to nearly everyone who plays any kind of reeds instruments: one could choose either amateur or professional "Classic" category, either bayan-accordion or - what is even more important, - piano - accordion separated category , either solo performance or in ensemble...

The jury included artists such as Friedrich Lips (Russia), Ricardas Sviackevicius (Lithuania), Ari-Matti Saira (Finland), Patricia Kavanah (Ireland), Vladimir Chuchran (Slovakia), Nikolai Davidov (Ukraine), Alexander Dmitriev, Oleg Sharov, Nikolai Kravtsov , Yury and Vladimir Smirnovs, Anatoli Tikhonov (St.Petersburg), Anatoli Belyaev, L. Varavina, Alexander Kroupin, Vladimir Soloviev, Alexander Timchenko (Russia).

The "Classic" category (with no age limits) was won by Kontantin Ischenko (St.Petersburg). The jury (chairman - Prof. Friedrich Lips) decided to award Konstantin the Grand -Prix for his splendid performance which included workd by Scarlatti, Semyonov, Zubitsky. First prize went to Ivan Krainin (Ulyanovsk, Russia) followed by Adrei Kolomeez (Moscow, Russia), Yuri Skorko (Ukraine) and Al. Popov (Russia) Kontantin Ischenko is a student of Alexander Dmitriev, whose pedagogical talent manefested itself once again at the competition: five students of Prof. Dmitriev were awarded first and second prizes in different categories!

Evening concerts were held by the "Pavel Smirnov" Orchestra, ensembles and Pavel Fenjuk (Ukraine) - a highest level virtuoso, Docent of Kiev State Conservatoire who performed a variety of works by Vivaldi, Paganini -Davidov, Bizet -Vaksman, Mozart, Beloshitsky, Brahms- Fenjuk, Brahms- Jashkevich. In addition, Friedrich Lips, Vladimir Chuchran, Nikolai Davidov presented their lectures on accordion performance and teaching at the conference which was held during the competition.

Psoy Korolenko and "eNsemble" in a New Music concert

"eNsemble", which includes accordionist Sergej Tchirkov performed in the State Museum of St.Petersburg's History, at the "PRO ARTE" Institute on April, 20th. This time the performance included a new work by Peterburger composer Yury Krazsavin, which is based on F. Schubert songs, arranged for ten instruments (two violines, viola, cello, double-bass, flute, clarinet, accordion, synthesizer and percussion), and voice, with some short interludes by Mr. Krasavin, breaking up with the text, which has been written by Psoy Korolenko and which tells about the life of r. Yone. Psoy is a singer, poet, writer e.t.c. from Moscow. At the concert he appeared both as the author of the text and the soloist -singer. Regarding Schubert songs, not only music has been arranged, but the text has been translated in Yiddish too!

The show was so warmly received by the audience that the musicians had to 'encore' the last movement of the work, - it was famous "Serenade".

The project "eNsemble" is lead by Boris Filanovsky (Art. Director) and Irina Leskovskaya (Manager).

Raimondas Sviackevicius performs at the festival

One of the most prominent Lithuanian accordionists Raimondas Sviackevicius will perform at the "Sugrizimai" Festival which is organazed by the Lithuanian Foundation of Supporting Musicians ("Lietuvos Muziku Remimo Fondas") and the Lithuanian Ministry of Culture. The purpose of the organizers is to support the musicians who study abroad. Among the performers who have taken part in the event were the best Lithuanian cellists, vilolinists, pianists e.t.c This year the event will feature the recital, given by Raimondas Sviackevicius who is currently studying at the Royal Conservatory in the Hague, the Netherlands, under Professor Friedrich Lips.

The concert will be held on April, 29th and will consist of two parts. The program will include solo works by Jurgen Ganzer, Bogdan Precz, Sofia Gubaidulina, Erkki Jokinen, Vyatcheslav Semionov , as well as chamber music for accordion and cello; works by B.Tarenskeen and K.Volkov, which will be performed in duo with Roma Jaraminaite, the cellist of Lithuanian National Opera & ballet orchestra.

In addition, Raimondas will give a premiere of a new work which was written for accordion in 2001 by renowned Lithuanian composer Nomeda Valanciute - "Atsisveikinimas su ginklais" (Farewell with weapon).

Recently, Raimondas performed at the ceremony, which was organized by LMRF and which took place in the President Hall of Lithuania followed by the concert of recent competition prizewinners, which was held in the Big Hall of Lithuanian Government. President of Lithuania Valdas Adamkus personally thanked Raimondas and congratulated him on his competition successes.

The concert was attended by the most important politicians of Lithuania: President of Lithuania Valdas Adamkus, Prime Minister of the Government Rolandas Paskas, Chairman of Seym Arturas Paulauskas and others. The event was broadcasted by the national TV.

Accordion Festival in Moscow

The International Festival of Accordion will be held in Moscow, from March, 30th to Arpil, 2nd. The performances will be given by the best young accordionists of Moscow. Guest performers will include Pavel Fenjuk (Ukraine), Vitali Dmitriev and Sergej Tchirkov (St. Petersburg)

For more information email: tchirkov@accordions.com

LAA celebrates 15th Anniversary

The Lithuanian Accordionist Association (LAA) will celebrate its 15th Anniversary on April 4-5, 2001. The event will include concerts, workshops, seminars, master classes and is organized by the Lithuanian Music Academy and LAA. Tutors will include Professor Lech W. Puchnowski (Warsaw, Poland) and Professor Oleg Sharov as well as the teachers of the Music Academy: Professor Ricardas Sviackevicius, Professor Eduardas Gabnys, Doc. Zita Abromaviciute . The concerts will be given by O. Sharov, Professor L. Puchnowski's class students M. Majkusiak (Accordion) and B. Karwowski (Clarinet) and the best ensembles of Lithuania.

For more information email: laa@takas.lt