Archived video further down the page:
- Primus Ikaalinen VIII



10.00 - 18.00
The Accordion Fair

Venue: Ikaalinen Business College
Free entry


11.00
see below
The Finnish Accordion Folk Musician Championship
Folk music competition for Chromatic Accordions. Categories for 12-, 15- and 18-year-olds, Adults and Veterans.Vigorous Finnish Folk Music at its best.

Venue: Oma Tupa
Tickets: Adult 15, Child 5

12:00 - 18.00 Music on the Festival Park Stage and at the Pub Tent
Domestic groups and International Guests.

Venue: Festival Park
Free entry

16.00
Primus Ikaalinen VIII - Final Rehearsal 2012
The Final rehearsal for the Finale. Eight young International soloists preparing for the Live Competition Show.

Venue: Ikaalinen Hall
Tickets: Adult 25, Child 10 K-Plussa card holders 15)

19:00
see below

Primus Ikaalinen VIII - Final 2012
Eight young accordion virtuosos from different countries compete for the VII Primus Ikaalinen victory on live TV.
Representatives from Russia, France, Moldova, Kazacstan, China, Germany, Lithuania and Finland is represented by the Golden Accordion 2012 winner. Presenters Silja Sillanpää and Kimmo Mattila. Direct live TV broadcasting from 19.00

Venue: Ikaalinen Hall
Tickets: Adult 35, Child 15 K-Plussa card holders 30€)


20.00 - 01.00
Festival Park and the Pub Tent
Festival Park - Teemu Harjukari & Taivaanrannanmaalarit entertain
Pub Tent - Ikaalinen Viulupelimannit, among others
 
Venue: Festival Park
Tickets: Area Ticket 6 / Family Ticket 20 / Park Pass Thu-Sat 25

22.00
Jorma Uotinen & Trio Yksin (Alone)
Russian super band´s 25th anniversary tour. Jonna Pirttijoki, soloist

Venue: Oma Tupa
Tickets: Adult 30


Traditional Accordion music, such as the polka, mazurka, jenka and waltz, played by musicians of all ages. There are separate competitions for 5-row accordion, as well as for one and two row instruments in different age groups respectively.

The Finnish Accordion Folk Musician Championships 2012 were held for chromatic accordions (5 row). In all categories two traditional Finnish accordion pieces were played. For the first time the audience could also listen to the competition via internet broadcasting and vote for their favorite.

The Finnish Accordion Folk Musician Championship for Chromatic Accordions results are as follows:

12 years and under
1. Janina Suihkola, Sievi 191 p
2. Sonja Lampinen, Saarijärvi 184,5 p
3. Veikka Jänkävaara, Rauma 174 p

15 years and under
1. Aleksi Laukkonen, Kauhava 195,5 p
2. Sami Salonen, Lohja 181,5 p
3. Essi Elomäki, Pori 177,5 p

18 years and under
1. Anniina Luukkainen, Kitee 184 p
2. Juuso Vesterinen, Taipalsaari 176 p
3. Pinja Liljavirta, Mäntsälä 155 p

Open
1. Hannu Hänninen, Lahti 183 p
2. Pekka Jolkkonen Polvijärvi 177,5 p

Vetrans (50 years and over)
1. Glenn Qvarnström, Espoo, 189,5 p
2. Ahti Similä, Inari 176,5 p
3. Seppo Onali, Heinola 171 p


 
Final meetings, sound checks and rehearsals took place for the eight contestants in the Primus Ikaalinen VIII Competition.
 
Prior to the final rehearsals the Judges met for a briefing with director of the competition Kimmo Mattila
 
Germany: Radu Laxgang
 
Germany: Radu Laxgang
 
France: Elsa Gourdy
 
France: Elsa Gourdy
 
Moldova: Dorin Grama
 
Moldova: Dorin Grama
 
Finland: Henriikka Santamaa
 
Finland: Henriikka Santamaa
 
Kazakhstan: Samgar Tollyknkhan
 
Kazakhstan: Samgar Tollyknkhan
 
Russia: Ekaterina Utkina
 
Russia: Ekaterina Utkina
 
Lithuania: Martynas Levickis
 
Lithuania: Martynas Levickis
 
China: Tan Jia Liang
 
China: Tan Jia Liang
 
Above and Below: The contestants rehearsing the Finnish Medley
 

 
          2012 Primus Ikaalinen International Accordion Competition
Video directed by Mike Rossi for the www.DeschampsCHANNEL.com Web TV

 
Tan Jia Liang from China has won the VIII Primus Ikalinen Competition in an exciting musical run-off with seven other superb International performers including contestants from: Russia: Utkina Ekaterina, France: Elsa Gourdy, Moldavia: Dorin Grama, Kazacstan: Shamgar Tolkynhan, China: Tan jia Liang, Germany: Radu Laxgang, Lithuania: Martinas Levickis and Henriikka Santamaa, Finland.

The International Primus Ikaalinen Accordion Competition is already known around the world, in its eighth year, through live TV broadcasts. It is a uniquely composed accordion show / competition, where young world class performers will become known to a worldwide audience, as they perform a live broadcast show, accessable via the Internet.

The First Primus in 2005 was won by the Spanish Idoia Laburu from the Basque Country. In the following years the winners’ list has been made by Dmitri Saussard, France, Julien Gonzales, France, Mario D’Amario, Italy, Grayson Masefield, New Zealand, Pietro Adragna, Italy and last summer Cory Pesaturo, USA. Finnish musicians have also been quite successful, the most successful being Sami Hopponen, who came second with his memorable “duel” with the French Julien Gonzales in the summer of 2007.

The Primus Ikaalinen contest has eight musicians from eight countries. The competitors are selected during the previous winter, from a number of other competitions and festivals, as well as an open enrolment basis. The players will bring to the Primus from their own country a dash of colour from their own national music, which makes the event even more interesting. Primus Ikaalinen is definitely one of the Sata-Häme Soi Festival highlights, with its warm and happy international atmosphere. At the Primus one can feel how the music connects all people and language barriers are non-existent.

The 2012 contestants are:

Russia: Utkina Ekaterina
France: Elsa Gourdy
Moldova: Dorin Grama
Kazakshtan: Shamgar Tolkynhan
China: Tan jia Liang
Germany: Radu Laxgang
Lithuania: Martinas Levickis
Finland: Henriikka Santamaa

Membes of the International Jury:

  • Kevin Friedrich, USA/USA juryn puheenjohtaja/president of the jury
    Kansainvälisen harmonikkaliiton CIA:n pitkäaikainen puheenjohtaja ja nykyinen ambassador.
  • Frederic Deschamps, France
  • Grayson Masefield, New Zealand
  • Yulia Amerikova, Venäjä/Russia
  • Jörgen Sundeqvist, Sweden
  • Kaisa Kujanpää, Suomi/Finland
  • Juryn sihteeri ja avustaja/secretary Aino Ojakoski

Jari Puhakka (conductor-piano), Jarmo Nikku (guitar), Seppo Helin (keyboard), Risto Salmi (wood winds), Jari Heino (bass) and Miri Miettinen (drums) ready for the sound test rehearsals with the contestants.
 

Members of the Jury: Frederic Deschamps (France), Kaisa Kujanpää (Finland), Yulia Amerikova (Russia), Jörgen Sundeqvist (Sweden), Grayson Masefield (New Zealand), Kevin Friedrich (USA) juryn puheenjohtaja/President of the Jury
Co-hosts: Mari Turunen and Kimmo Mattila
 
Silver Accordion Winner: Kalle Makkonen (8), Jyväskylä
 
Germany: Radu Laxgang
 
France: Elsa Gourdy
 
Moldova: Dorin Grama
 
Finland: Henriikka Santamaa
 
Kazakhstan: Samgar Tollyknkhan
 
Russia: Ekaterina Utkina
 
Lithuania: Martynas Levickis
 
China: Tan Jia Liang
 
Above and below: Contestants enjoying the Finnish Folk Medley
Members of the Jury: Kevin Friedrich (USA) juryn puheenjohtaja/President of the Jury, Yulia Amerikova (Russia), Grayson Masefield (New Zealand), Kaisa Kujanpää (Finland), Frederic Deschamps (France), Jörgen Sundeqvist (Sweden),
Juryn sihteeri ja avustaja/secretary Aino Ojakoski and co-host Kimmo Mattila
Members of the Jury: Kevin Friedrich (USA) juryn puheenjohtaja/President of the Jury, Yulia Amerikova (Russia), Grayson Masefield (New Zealand), Kaisa Kujanpää (Finland), Frederic Deschamps (France), Jörgen Sundeqvist (Sweden),
giving their points for a contestant
Tan Jia Liang (China) and Dorin Grama (Moldova) taking part in the exciting Liebertango Duel Finale
 
Dorin Grama (Moldova) and Tan Jia Liang (China) as Kevin Friedrich (USA) - President of the Jury
announces the Winner of Primus Ikaalinen 2012
 
Kevin Friedrich (President of the Jury) congratulating winner Tan Jia Liang (China)
 
Winner of Primus Ikaalinen VIII, 2012 - Tan Jia Liang (China)
 
Some of the Primus Ikaalinen Contestants after the competition: Russia: Utkina Ekaterina, France: Elsa Gourdy, Germany: Radu Laxgang, China: Tan jia Liang, Moldova: Dorin Grama and Kazakshtan: Shamgar Tolkynhan
 
Ulla Majuri (Festival Director), Tan jia Liang (China) Primus Ikaalinen 2012 Winner and Organizer/Host Kimmo Mattila

 
Jorma Uotinen & Trio Yksin (Alone)

The charming Jorma Uotinen with his velvety voice and charismatic interpretation create a strong and, at the same time, sensitive experience.

The songs selected for this concert have been found on his travels around the world. Human loneliness, desire, fine melodies, and Petri Ikkelä's arrangements challenge him as an interpreter of music. The French chanson has been with him since the 1970's.

Petri Ikkelä; accordion, bandoneon and Jari Hakkarainen; piano, Helena Paavola; cello.

 
 
 

 
Pictures of people and happenings from around Ikaalinen.
 
Above and Below: Music in Festival Park at Midnight

   

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