Report
12th Anniversary Afternoon of Music
with Kevin Friedrich & Friends
Dargaville Museum, 31 March 2019, New Zealand
Accordion Gems by Kevin Friedrich
...A Master Collection of Accordions through Time...
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The Lighthouse Function Center in Dargaville, New Zealand was filled to capacity on March 31st, 2019 for the 12th Annual Afternoon of Music with Kevin Friedrich and Friends, a variety Show featuring accordionists and entertainers from N ew Zealand and Australia. The show called 'Music from the Stage and Screen'. Featuring a variety of artists the event serves as an annual fundraiser for the Dargaville Museum.
The afternoon gave a very unusual opportunity to feature a duo of instruments made from the very precious and rare native New Zealand Kauri wood. The wood, often 40,000 years old was used to make both an accordion and a drum, which were featured in duo during the concert (picture above). The Kauri accordion was part of a joint project between New Zealand and Finland where the instruments were hand made.
The show opened with the Auckland Accordion Symphonietta conducted by Lionel Reekie and included a stunning rendition of the theme from Schindler’s List by John Williams with Maiadean Martin as Violin Soloist (picture right). A young violinist from nearby Whangarei, Maiadean has performed each year at the concert with her talented siblings.
The concert featured the donation of an accordion from the Christchurch Accordion Orchestra, made available by member Merle Kershaw (picture with Kevin below). The instrument was formally accepted by Museum President Ross Newlove and used as part of the concert. Another instrument, the magnificent ANZAC Accordion was also unveiled, with a special feature on that instrument being published near ANZAC Day.
Local Multi Media specialist Ken Cashin prepared a fascinating 'Women of Note' presentation, showcasing many women from the area who have inspired the community through their love and gift of music.
Other artists included: Martin Rhodes (Vocalist), Rivertown Singers and Take 6 (Vocalists), Adrian Humm and Brenda Polwart (Vocalists), Pippa Howes (Flute), Roslyn Gilmour (Vocalist), Nolene Osbaldiston (Pianist), Dargaville Little Theatre, Kevin Jobbitt, Joe Staltare (Accordion) and Chris Davidson, Alanah Jones (Vocalist), Starlight Duo - Lionel Reekie and Maurice Jones, Linda Emmett Litt (Drums), Barbara Adams (Narrator),and Elena Reekie.
A link to a full review of the concert will be available in next week’s publication. Meanwhile, the next Afternoon of Music with Kevin Friedrich and Friends will be held as a Christmas Spectacular on 8th December 2019 and the 13th Annual Concert will take place on 29th March 2020.
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The capacity audience at the Lighthouse Function Center at the Dargaville Museum
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Above left: Kevin Friedrich and Sonja Palinich (President of the New Zealand Accordion Association) welcoming Guests.
Above right: Maiadean Martin, Violin Soloist and Lionel Reekie, Conductor |
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Auckland Accordion Symphonietta conducted by Lionel Reekie |
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Above left: Maiadean Martin, Violin Soloist performing Schindler’s List by John Williams
Above right:
Auckland Accordion Symphonietta conducted by Lionel Reekie |
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Auckland Accordion Symphonietta, Lionel Reekie (Conductor)
- Tango Pour Claude by Richard Galliano
- Schindler’s List by John Williams with Maiadean Martin, Violin Soloist
- Perpetuum Mobile, Op. 257 by J. Strauss, arr. Helmut Weinziert
Performers: Jessie Chen, Jessica Chen, Annabelle Ding, Kevin Friedrich, Christine Johnstone,
Alanah Jones, Lian Jones,
Amber Masefield, Eric Max, Jenna Doak, Sonja Palinich,
Alexandra Reekie |
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Above left: Martin Rhodes peforming
- Anthem from Chess by Tim Rice, Benny Andersson & Björn Ulvaeus,
- To Dream the Impossible Dream from Man of La Mancha by Leigh & Darion
- Stars from Les Misérables by Claude-Michel Schönberg
Above right:
Martin Family Strings
Maiadean Martin and Atawhai Martin (Violins), Xena Martin and Purotu Martin (Cellos) |
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Above left: Rivertown Singers and Take 6
- The Music of the Night from Phantom of the Opera by Andrew Lloyd Webber
Rivertown Singers: Allan Mortensen, John Bennett, Ian Stoddart, Geoffrey Prentice,
Ray Sofio,
Take 6: Hilary Herd, Pat Mortensen, Anneke van der Putte, Lynley Clements,
Mariann Warne, Rachel Kidd
Above right:
Roslyn Gilmour (Vocalist)
- Doing What Comes Naturally from Annie Get Your Gun by Irving Berlin |
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Above left: Alanah Jones (Vocalist) and Lian Jones (Piano)
- I Dreamed a Dream from Les Misérables by Claude-Michel Schönberg
Above right: Alanah Jones |
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Brenda Polwart and Adrian Humm (Vocalists)
- Get Me to the Church on Time from My Fair Lady by Alan J. Lerner & F. Loewe |
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Pippa Howes (Flute) and Matt Watson (Piano)
- Medley from 'Cats’ by Andrew Lloyd Webber
- Jazz Combo (Come Fly With Me, Tea for Two and Cheek to Cheek) |
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Above left: Lionel Reekie (Vocalist)
- Empty Chairs at Empty Tables from Les Misérables by Claude-Michel Schönberg
offered as a musical tribute to the citizens of Christchurch
Above right: The Christchurch Accordion
dontation made by Merle Kershaw, Christchurch Accordion Orchestra
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| Ross Newlove (President of the Dargaville Museum) with Kevin Friedrich accepting the Christchurch Accordion |
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Above left: Nolene Osbaldiston (Pianist)
- Evensong by (Frederick John) Easthope Martin and
- Legend of the Glass Mountain by Nina Rota
Above right: Nolene Osbaldiston and concert organizer Margaret Tier |
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Roslyn Gilmour (Vocalist) and Thomas Koloi (Piano)
- Summertime from Porgy and Bess by George Gershwin |
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| Chris Davidson (Guitar), Kevin Jobbitt (Australia - Guitar) and Joe Staltare (Australia - Accordion) |
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Brenda Polwart and Adrian Humm
- Something Stupid by C. Carson Parks |
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Starlight Duo - Lionel Reekie and Maurice Jones
- Jambalaya |
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Dargaville Little Theatre (Thomas Koloi, Piano Accompanist)
- Morning Hymn/Alleluia by Rodgers & Hammerstein (Nuns)
- The Sound of Music by Rodgers & Hammerstein (Maria)
- Finale Ultimo: “Climb Ev’ry Mountain by Rodgers & Hammerstein (Nuns & Maria)
Nuns: Trish Godfrey, Anneke van der Putte, Anna-Marie Russon, Julianne Parkinson,
Jessica McEwing, Sharlene Afoa, Yvonne Sumby, Rachel Kidd, Maria: Deborah Steele |
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Above left: performing The Sound of Music, Deborah Steele (Maria)
Above right: Women of Note Multimedia Presentation showing Doreen Emmett, the original teacher of Kevin Friedrich |
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Above left: Kevin Friedrich (Accordion)
performing Bel Viso by Pietro Frosini and
Kia Ora (Maori March) by Alexander Frame Lithgow
Above right: Kevin performing Ferdinand the Bull with his Aunty Barbara Adams (Narrator) |
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Above left: Kevin Friedrich performing a selection of Movie Waltzes
I. Moon River by H. Mancini, Loveliest Night of the Year by J. Rosas, arr. I. Aaronson
and Que Sera Sera by Jay Livingston & Ray Evanss
Above right: the beauitful 1936 Excelsior Accordion from New York City
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| The unveiling of the ANZAC Accordion by mosaic artist Kim Harrison, commissioned by Kevin Friedrich as a tribute to our New Zealand servicemen and women.
Incorporating mirrors to reflect people’s spirit, the instrument also includes:
Red Poppy (after being inspired by the sight of Poppies growing in battle-scarred fields after the First World War, the Red Poppy was adopted as a symbol of Remembrance); Purple Poppy (representing animals in war); White Poppy (representing all people and Peace); Black Poppy (representing anyone affected by war, including civilians); Red Cross (representing Medical personnel); Hammerhead (representing courage and strength) Wings (representing the Air Force); Rope (representing the Navy); Soldiers (representing the Army); New Zealand Music (representing the spirit of the Maori Battalion) |
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| ANZAC Accordion by mosaic artist Kim Harrison |
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| ANZAC Accordion by mosaic artist Kim Harrison |
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- Song of Peace by Gary Daverne for the unveiling of the ANZAC Accordion by mosaic artist Kim Harrison
- Por Una Cabeza from ‘Scent of a Woman’ by Carlos Gardel |
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| Performing an original composition 'Maivs, Valse Serenade' written for his dear friend and popular citizen of Dargaville, Mavis Pattinson |
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Above left: Maivs, Valse Serendae written for Mavis Pattinson
Above right: Kevin with Mavis |
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performing Kauri Suite - Settler Serenades from the Kaipara
I. Dalmatian Dances, trad. Yugoslav
II. Flower of Scotland by Roy Williamson
III. Māori Battalion by Anania (Nan) Amohau
Kevin Friedrich (Kauri Accordion) and Linda Emmett Litt (Kauri Drum). Interestingly it was Linda's Mother
Doreen that was Kevin's original accordion teacher in Dargaville. |
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Above left: Music from the Stage and Screen: New York, New York by Kander & Ebb
Above right: Don’t Cry For Me Argentina by Andrew Lloyd Webber with Linda Emmett Litt (Percussion) and Nolene Osbaldiston (Piano) |
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| - Music from the Stage and Screen: Edelweiss by Richard Rogers & Oscar Hammerstein (with Roslyn Gilmour, Vocalist) |
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Above left: In what traditionally has become a light hearted part of the Afternoon of Music and Friends, a Skit is performed. This year, there was a surprise visit from Santa in preparation for the Christmas Show on December 8th, 2019.
Above right: Santa gave a performance of '12 Concerts of Kevin, Mavis Gave to Me'
using an amusing series of Kiwi-ana to mark the various verses. |
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| Santa with Mavis and some help from 'Two Visitors' all the way from the USA, Jimmy and Richard |
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Above left: Kevin Friedrich
Above right: Kevin and his mother Val after thanking her for her lifelong support of Music and making his early accordion education possible. |
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- Do You Hear the People Sing from Les Misérables by Claude-Michel Schönberg
Rivertown Singers: Allan Mortensen, John Bennett, Ian Stoddart, Geoffrey Prentice,
Ray Sofio Take 6: Hilary Herd, Pat Mortensen, Anneke van der Putte, Lynley Clements,
Mariann Warne, Rachel Kidd and Kevin Friedrich (Accordion), Linda Emmett Litt (Timpani) |
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- Po Kare Kare Ana, trad. Maori Love Song
- God Defend New Zealand (Maori and English) by Woods & Bracken
- Now Is The Hour by C. Scott, lyrics by M. Kaihau & Dorothy Stewart
- Auld Lang Syne, Trad. Scottish, lyrics by Robert Burns
Rivertown Singers: Allan Mortensen, John Bennett, Ian Stoddart, Geoffrey Prentice,
Ray Sofio Take 6: Hilary Herd, Pat Mortensen, Anneke van der Putte, Lynley Clements,
Mariann Warne, Rachel Kidd and Kevin Friedrich (Accordion), Linda Emmett Litt (Timpani) |
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