The new year seems to have just begun but already this week we have details in the Weekly News of major competitions in France and Germany during May. These competitions will soon be upon us, so please remember to check our Future Events for information on upcoming competitions and festivals.

We also have news of a concert by Accordions Worldwide Office Manager Tatiana Lanchtchikova who performed recently in Rotorua, a popular geothermal tourist area of New Zealand.

Wayne Knights Webmaster

• 2001 Klingenthal Competition - Germany
• 34th International Competition - France
• Accordionist Plays at First Inaugural Ball - USA
• Tango Show - South Africa
• Australian "Wombats" Performing in USA and Canada
• Concerts and Masterclass - Greece
• Soave in Rome - Italy
• Accordionist Entertains Villagers - Fiji
• Tangoneando Performance - Spain
• Polish Accordionist Gives Masterclass in Austria
• Carnegie Hall Performance - USA
• French Brittany Music Training Course - France
• Accordion and Cello Concerts - Russia
• Improvised Music with Dance, Poetry & Mime - Italy
• Accordionist Welcomed to Teaching Team - England
• Mardi Gras Celebration - USA
• Kimmo Pohjonen Tours Belgium
• AWW Office Manager Performance - New Zealand
• New CD "Acordeon De Concierto" - Mexico
• 14th Annual Accordion Festival and Symposium - USA
• Tokyo Concerts - Japan
• Upcoming CD's - Finland
• "Tango Tango" Performance - USA
• CD Presented at Frankfurt Music Fair - Germany
• New Edition of East News Now Online
• New Sites
• Unusual Request

The 2001 Klingenthal Competition will be held from May 4th to 10th in Klingenthal. Jury members include Professors Wang Yu Ping (China), Dobler (Germany), Ganzer (Germany), Reidys (Germany), Wall (Germany), Rantanen (Finland), Mornet (France), Owen Murray (Great Britain), Radomir Tomic (Yugoslavia), Lech Puchnowski (Poland), Friedrich Lips (Russia), E. Moser (Switzerland), Racz (Slovakia), Joan Sommers (USA), Mrs Dyremose (Denmark), Mr M. D. Fraas (Germany), Mr Morgenstern (Germany), Mr Seifert (Germany), Mr Inaki Alberdi (Spain) and Mr Fenjuk (Ukraine).

Performances will be given by international soloists and groups such as the Trio Galliano (Richard Galliano, Jean Marie Ecay & Jean Phillippe Viret) and Vogtlandphilharmonie Greiz/Reichenbach. For further competition details see the Klingenthal Competition site.

Contributed by Guy Vivier

The 34th International Competition for accordion, piano, organ, synthesizer and guitar will be held in Argenteuil from May 24th to 27th. Special awards include the "Accordion and Piano French Trophy" and the "Guy Vivier Special Prize". The competitions will be held in two separate venues, the "Foyer A. Croizat" (May 24th and 26th) and the "Sale Jean Vilar" (May 25th and 27th).

Over 200 candidates are expected to compete in this event, which offers 27,000 French Francs in prize money. Entries close April 22nd at midnight. For further information email Guy Vivier at: Guy.vivier2@libertysurf.fr

Accordionist Jim Vandelly and his ensemble "Beltway Balalaikas" was invited to play at the ABF Education Foundation's New Millennium Unity First Inaugural Ball, one of the official Presidential Inaugural Balls held on January 20th, the day that George W. Bush was sworn in as President of the USA. The ball theme was "Unity Through Diversity" and the ensemble (which consists of balalaikas, domras, piano accordion and bayan) performed a program of authentic Russian and Ukrainian folk music.

The ensemble has played several times at the Russian Embassy in Washington, D.C. over the last few months.

Accordionist Stanislav Angelov is currently performing in a Tango Show with the Cape Town Tango Quartet until February 3rd. The show, held in the famous Oude Libertas Amphitheatre, Stellenbosch, Cape Town is written, designed and directed by Marthinus Basson and features the music of Astor Piazzolla. Other performers include a dance trio led by Mark Hoeben and actors Antoinette Kellermann and David Minnaar.

The Oude Libertas Amphitheatre is an "under the stars" theatre, surrounded by some of the Cape's finest vineyards. For further details email: sangelov@netactive.co.za

Australian folk music and dance band "The Wombats" will play at various venues on the west coast of North America and attend the 13th Annual International Folk Alliance Convention during February in Vancouver. The group, which consists of David De Santi (accordion), Jane Brownlee (violin, viola & piano), Tania De Santi (piano) and Bruce Cameron (guitar & mandolin) play traditional and contemporary Australian folk songs and dances.

Following the conference the group will play at concerts and bush dances in Washington, California and San Francisco. For further details email: ddesanti@keira.hotkey.net.au

Accordionist Viatcheslav Semionov is in Greece, giving concerts and masterclasses at the Athens Conservatory in Athens until February 6th. His concert program included compositions by Muchel, Piazzolla, Khatchaturian, Paganini, Liszt, Lorentsen, Beloshitsky and Novikov as well as his own works.

Viatcheslav will also give daily lessons covering the art of performing, interpretation, sound and technique. For details email: conservatory@nakas.gr

Peter Soave performed in Rome on February 1st with the Orchestra from The Academy of St. Cecilia Roma conducted by Ernesto Gordini. Their program included Piazzolla's "Suite Punta del Este" and Aldemaro Romero's "Piazzollana, homage a Astor Piazzolla - Concerto for Bandoneon and Orchestra". This was followed by a concert in Antrodoco the next day, which included Romero's "Suite de Castelfidardo" and Piazzolla's "Five Sensations".

New Zealand accordionist Campbell Bettridge entertained over 200 villagers on the island of Kadavu in Fiji recently. To get to the venue Campbell had to transport his accordion via a small boat, then carry it up a winding track by torch light! The villagers enjoyed Campbell's program which included "Flight of the Bumblebee" and a Rock 'n Roll medley.

"Tangoneando" which includes accordionist Iñaki Alberdi, performed a concert at the University of Santander recently. The group, which also includes Estibalitz Galardi (violin), Jose Abel González (piano), Ritxi Salaberria (contrabass) and Pascal Gaigne (guitar) performs a program of works by Argentinean composers such as Astor Piazzolla.

Contributed by Dr Herbert Scheibenreif Manager of Friedrich Lips Productions

Krzysztof Olczak (Polish composer and accordion teacher at the Gdansk Music Academy) gave a masterclass at the University of Music in Graz, Austria on January 22nd. The masterclass featured a lecture on new Polish accordion literature.

The following day Krzysztof gave a concert in Vienna with Georg Schulz (accordion teacher at the University of Graz). Their program included works by Zbigniew Bargielski, Johannes Kern, Sofia Gubaidulina and Krzysztof's own works.

Contributed by Gerald Prolman

Vocalist Raquel Bitton will sing "A little bit of Paris" at Carnegie Hall on March 30th accompanied by accordionist Dominic Cortese and a 20 Piece orchestra. Their program will include songs from the romantic Parisian era of the 1920's, 30's and 40's by Edith Piaf, Charles Trenet, Paul Misraki, Jean Sablon Lucienne Boyer and others. For ticket information phone: + 1 212 247 7800

A French Brittany music training course (Vannetais gallo genre) will be held on February 17th and 18th at Ti Kendalc' H, St Vincent sur Oust, Brittany. Speakers include Wenceslas Hervieux (piano accordion) and Jean-Yves Le Bot & Alain Pennec (diatonic accordion). For further information email:
groupement-culturel-breton@wanadoo.fr

Russian accordionist Dmitry Makeev and Elena Alyoscina (cello) will perform a program of classical and modern music from February 2nd to 25th. Their tour will include concerts in Moscow, Smolensk, Eletz and Egorievsk. For further details email: makkeev@mail.ru

Jazz accordionist Renzo Ruggieri played improvised live music in "The Firesword", a play by Pablo Neruda staged recently at the Centrale Theatre in Ostia, near Rome. The intriguing approach chosen by director Paolo Perelli meant that Renzo was asked to provide a "mood" rather than playing a specific part. The show featured dancers Caterina Filippini and Enzo Guarracino, as well as mime artist Andrea Belmonte.

Accordionist Karen Tweed has been welcomed onto the teaching team by Folkworks in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne (England) to be an integral part of the Degree Course in Folk Music which starts in September 2001. This is the first degree course of it's kind to be launched in England and is eventually to be housed in Gateshead. For details email: sharon.durant@folkworks.co.uk

Also during January Karen played concerts with her groups "The Poozies", "SWAP" and "2 Duos Quartet".

Contributed by Janet Burchfield

A Fasching (German Mardi Gras Celebration) will be held on February 9th at the Moravian Hall, Corpus Christi. The event will feature accordionist Chris Rybak. For further details email: janmit@juno.com

Contributed by Joeri De Jongh, Accordo Magazine

Finnish accordionist Kimmo Pohjonen toured Belgium from January 17th to 31st giving concerts with sound and light-effects to large Belgian audience in many theatres. His unique style was a new experience for the audience, with young people enjoying the avant-garde concerts. Radio and television were interested in Kimmo's accordion style.

Contributed by Christine Adams

Accordions Worldwide Office Manager Tatiana Lanchtchikova performed recently at the Millennium Rotorua 2001 Chamber Music Festival held at the Rotorua Convention Centre Theatre in Rotorua, a popular geothermal tourist area of New Zealand. Performing with the Rotorua Festival Chamber Orchestra, their program featured the accordion for much of the concert and included works by Piazzolla and Stravinsky. The concert was one in a series of eight held during January 2001.

Mexican accordionist Antonio Barberena has just released his new CD entitled "Acordeon De Concierto". The CD includes music from the 16th century (Hernando Franco), 17th century (Gaspar Sanz & Joseph de Torres) 18th century (J. S. Bach & Mexican Baroque Sonatas), 19th century (Suite Gothique - L. Boellmann) and 20th century (A. Volpi, V. Zolotariev and R. Mederos). For further details email: byacsa@prodigy.net.mx

The American Accordion Musicological Society will present its 14th annual Accordion Festival and symposium from March 2nd to 4th at the Holiday Inn, King of Prussia, Pennsylvania. Events include concerts, competitions (including the selection of a millennium festival champion), workshops, musicales, demonstrations, accordion repairs, displays, accordion related paraphernalia, accordion flea market (new and used instruments) etc.

Guest performers include Vitaliy Pirog (Ukraine), Carmen Carrozza (USA), Tony Dannon, Joe Cerrito, Dee Langley, Rita Davidson, Msg. Kloskowski, Bobby Rae, Sam Fire, Ron Onda, Lenny Feldmann, Stanley Darrow, Frank Hodnicki, Joanna Arnold, Westmont Philharmonia Accordion Orchestra, Rick Kaplan, John Opiela, Joe Grum, Fred Kitchen and many more.

This years events and Banquet will be a tribute to the memory of Sherrie Darrow, a founder member of the AAMS. The deadline for competition entries is February 10th 2001. For information phone: + 1 856-854-6628

Contributed by Toru Katou

Accordionist Mie Miki will perform at Katsushika Symphony Hills in Tokyo on March 21st and at Casals Hall, Ochanomizu, Tokyo on March 23rd. For further information phone: + 81 3-3711-0979

Finnish accordionist Mika Väyrynen will record four new CD's this Spring, beginning this month. The first will include works by Finnish composers such as Jouni Kaipainen (Vento op.58), Juhani Nuorvala (Prelude and toccata), Matti Murto (Partita) and Leif Segerstam (Seven Questions to Infinity). This CD (produced by Naxos) will be available in early April. For details email: mika.vayrynen@pp.inet.fi

Accordionist John Stuller will perform with his group "Tango Tango" at Borders Books in Fairview Heights, Illinois on February 3rd. The group, which also includes Anna Lackschewitz (violin) and Heather Baker (bass) play a varied program of tango pieces. John Stuller performs frequently in the greater St. Louis area and is a Professor Emeritus of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Missouri-Rolla.

Contributed by Holda Paoletti-Kampl

Sylvia Pagni is currently working on her new CD, which will be presented at the Frankfurt Music Fair, an event Sylvia attends every year under the banner of the Excelsior Company from Castelfidardo.

Verona Christmas-Best would like to interview German female conductors as part of her PhD at the University of Jena. Email: e5vech@rz.uni-jena.de