The theme of this year's 11th Annual Cotati
Accordion Festival was "2001: an Accordion Odyssey". The festival
took place on August 25th and 26th in Plaza Park, Cotati and at
the entrance to the park is a life-size statue of deceased local
accordion hero, Jim Boggio, to whom the festival is dedicated.
This
year the Honarary Director of the festival was Joe Smiell, who performed
with his son, Joe Jnr. and daughter-in-law who accompanied him on
his button accordion which dates back to the 1800's. An entertaining
performance was given by Sourdough Slim who made accordion history
by being the first known accordionist to simultaneously twirl a
lariette, play the accordion, do a jig, and yodel! Sourdough Slim
also entertained with Blackwood Tom and this is the 7th consecutive
year they have played at the Festival. Over 2,000 people enjoyed
their renditions of old cowpoke favorites such as, "Ding Dong Daddy
from Dumas" and a Cole Porter composition, "Don't Fence Me In".
Other performers included Rene Pena-Govea with
her family band-Los Campas, the Balkan folk dance group, Anoush,
and the father and son duo of Steve & Michael Trucco.
Summer Seminar and Festival in
Palanga - Lithuania
Contributed
by Vladimir Ushakov
The 7th Annual Summer Accordion Seminar and
Festival was held in Palanga from August 8th to 16th, organized
by the Lithuanian Academy of music, the Lithuanian Accordion Association
and the Lithuanian Musical Union. Accordionists and teachers from
all over Lithuania took part in the seminar, which included a massed
orchestra (conducted by Professors Ricardas Sviackevicius and Eduardas
Gabnys) that performed at the final concert. Soloists Zita Abromavichiute
and Gennady Savkov also played at this concert.
The seminar also included open lessons, master-classes
and lectures with tutors Alexander
Dmitriev, Elena Dmitrieva, Vladimir Ushakov, Eduardas Gabnys,
Ricardas Sviackevicius, Gennady Savkov, Zita Abromavichiute, Elisabeth
Glauber and Raymond Bodell.
A variety of concerts were held with performances
by students of various musical schools and colleges of Lithuania
(Vilnius, Kaunas, Shiauliaj & Klaipeda), Alexander
Dmitriev (Russia), Peter Gerter (Germany), Henn Rebanne (Estonia),
Svetlana Stavitskaya (Latvia), Eduardas Gabnys and Gennady Savkov
(Lithuania), Vladimir Ushakov and Sergei Likhachev (Russia). Concert
halls were filled to overflowing at each concert, which shows the
popularity of the accordion in Lithuania.
All festival participants were awarded certificates
and the lecturers and teachers were given honourable diplomas.
Carrefour Mondial de l'Accordéon
Festival - Canada
The 13th Carrefour Mondial de l'Accordéon festival
began in Montmagny, Quebec on August 30th and will run until September
3rd. The festival will include a variety of outdoor concerts, exhibitions,
conferences, dances and opening and closing events. The Accordion
Museum has various exhibits highlighting the history of the accordion
and musicians and conferences will be held each morning. The museum
houses a collection of 130 music instruments, of which 113 are owned
by the museum, including a very rare melophone, a harmonieflute,
a very unique type of bass, and Asian instruments which show the
use of the free reed, dating back 4,000 years.
Festival guest artists include accordionists
from England, USA, Bulgaria, Colombia, France, Italy, Portugal,
Russia and Canada. For further details email: accordeon@montmagny.com
Musicians Union Concert - Japan
Contributed by Toru Katou
On September 1st the Japan Musicians Union will
hold a concert entitled "Music Fair III" at Cleo Osaka Nishi, Konohana
Ward, Osaka. For further information phone accordionist Hisaji Sugimura
at: +81 6-6622-4445
Successful 8th Beijing International
Accordion Festival - China
The successful five-day Beijing
International Accordion Festival ended on August 14th with a
final concert which had over 500 accordion guests in attendance.
The concert included the presentation of awards and prizes followed
by performances by prize winners. In addition performances were
given by Jiang Jie (President of the festival), American accordionists
Dan
and Kim Christian (who played the popular "Beer Barrel Polka")
and leading Beijing accordionists.
During
the festival, solo concerts were given by Mika Vayrynen (Finland),
Alexandre Skliarov (Russia) and Sergey Naik, which were all well
received.
Results:
10 years and under: 1st - Fu Zi Ran 12 years and under: 1st - Zhang Xiao Yi 15 years and under: 1st - N. B. Nekrasov (Russia) 17 years and under: 1st - Dai Yu Open Class: 1st - Tang Jia Artist Class: 1st - Liu Dong 12 years and under Ensemble Class: 1st - Guo Xiao Ou & Huang
Xing Ning 15 years and over Ensemble Class: 1st - Gu Jia, Chen Xuan,
Yi Hang & Yu Fei 17 years and over Ensemble Class: 1st - Dong Liang Fei, Liu
Dong & Sun Shao Qiang Open Ensemble Class: 1st - Beijing Weiliang Accordion Art
School Ensemble
The 9th International Accordion Festival will
be held in August next year. For more information email Li Cong:
licongk@online.sh.cn
New Accordion Film - USA
A new film by Micki Goodman entitled "The Unforgivable
Sin - Evidence" was completed earlier this year and is based on
the theatre collaborations of accordionist/composer William Schimmel
and dancer/choreographer Micki Goodman. The film received its first
preview performance at the American
Accordionists' Association master class and concert series in
July and is the first in a series of films concerning the work of
Schimmel and Goodman. It will be shown at various film and video
festivals throughout the world. For further details email: GWILLIAMANDMICKI@aol.com
Conservatory of Music Concert - Puerto
Rico
Contributed by Jane Berkovitz
The Accordion Association Orchestra of Puerto Rico
has been evaluated and accepted by the Puerto Rico Institute of Culture.
This is a prestigious acknowledgment that the Orchestra is an official
representative of the organization which represents and guards the culture
of Puerto Rico.
The orchestra has been invited to perform on September
23rd at the Conservatory of Music which hosts a monthly concert that has
become an acclaimed family event. Their repertoire will include classical
and popular pieces which will give the public the opportunity to appreciate
the versatility of the accordion. For further details email: janeberkovitz@msn.com
"Sound Ways" 13th International
New Music Festival - Russia
The
"Sound Ways" 13th International New Music Festival will be held
in St. Petersburg from November 18th to 25th. This annual festival
is widely recognized as one of the most important new music events
to take place in Eastern Europe. This year the festival will include
a variety of concerts given by internationally reputed ensembles
and soloists such as the Chamber ensemble of Zurich Conservatoire,
Moscow New Music Ensemble, Berliner Clavier Duo, John Palmer, Frank
Michael, Reinhard Wolschina, Matthias Mueller and many others.
The opening concert will include the premiere
of a new work by Alexander Radvilovitch entitled "Simfonia Sacrae"
(for accordion, violin, tuba and choir) performed by the St. Petersburg
Youth Chamber Choir, Chamber Ensemble of St. Petersburg Philharmony
and accordionist Sergej
Tchirkov.
Sergej will also take part in five concerts,
including the Russian premiere of Luciano Berio's "Sequenza XIII"
and an evening dedicated to Sofia Gubaidulina (at which Sergej will
perform both solo, in duo with Swiss cellist Annina Voellmy, and
in trio with violinist Michail Kroutik).
A special concert on November 26th will take
place at the JFC Jazz Club, and include performances by Kontratrio,
James Clapperton, Andreas Gutzwiller, Frank Michael, Sergej
Tchirkov, Reinhard Wolschina, Elena Antonenko, Alexandra Savina
and others. For more information email: tchirkov@accordions.com
The 23rd International Jazz Festival was held
in Saalfelden (Austria) from August 24th to 26th. The accordion
has been always represented at this festival in past years by accordionists
such as Richard Galliano, Klaus Paier, etc. This year accordionist
Kimmo Pohjonen (Finland) performed his unusual show which included
many differing tune experiments and light effects (light design
by Ari Virtanen). Other entertainers included Jean-Louis Matinier
(accordion) and Renaud Garcia-Fons (double bass) from France who
joined jazz and folkore elements to passages influenced by tango
and flamenco.
9th Accordion Meeting - Italy
Contributed
by Carlo Fortunato
The 9th Inter-regional Accordion Meeting of
Rigoroso di Arquata Scrivia, held on August 2nd in the province
of Alessandria, was once again very successful with positive newspaper
reviews. This festival, which is open to accordion enthusiasts and
anyone with a passion for the instrument, attracted over 1,000 accordion
lovers from several regions including Piedmont, Liguria, Lombardy
and Emilia.
This year's event reiterated important concepts
regarding the accordion, especially those which concern its image.
It is not by wearing a tuxedo that one raises the prestige of the
accordion. The ingredients needed are commitment, a serious cultural
approach and the performer's ability to develop a specific style.
This was well demonstrated in the performances
of the guests. These included Gianluca Campi (1st place at the 2000
Trofee Mondiale de l'Accordeon in Alcobaca, Portugal), Athos
Bassissi (who performed swing music and Argentinean tangos) and
Romeo Aichino, whose simple yet effective style included a series
of French swing-waltz pieces.
Yuri Yunakov Ensemble Concert -
USA
Contributed by Joyce Clyde
The Yuri Yunakov Ensemble will perform two concerts
of Bulgarian and Romani music with Bulgarian accordionist Ivan Milev
during September. The ensemble includes saxophone, accordion, clarinet,
trumpet, vocals, synthesizer and drums. Their first performance
will be held at the Slavonic Center in San Francisco on September
14th and the second will be held at the Custom House Plaza, Monterey
World Music Festival in Monterey, California on September 16th.
For further details phone: +1 510 841-0934
Traditional
Bielefeld Irish Sessions - Germany
Traditional Bielefeld Irish concertina music
sessions resumed at the Café Biscuit, Stieghorst Centre this month.
The event will be held regularly on the first Sunday of each month
and musicians who enjoy listening to or playing Irish music are
welcome to attend. For further details email: M.Kliemann@online.de
Kirkpatrick at Royal Oak - England
John Kirkpatrick will play the concertina, melodeon
and button accordion at the "Royal Oak" in Lewes on September 6th.
This concert is the first in the new season of exciting concerts
and events for the newly refurbished venue. For further details
email: tinvic@globalnet.co.uk
The Akkordeon Landesjugendorchester Baden-Wurttemberg
performed four concerts and gave workshops in Fiji as part of their USA/New
Zealand/Fiji tour.
On August 13th the orchestra performed a free concert
for school children at Natabua High School in Lautoka, followed by two
concerts for the children at Swami Vivekananda College in Nadi on the
15th.
Anatoli Senine Concert - Netherlands
Contributed by Herman De heer Weyers
Anatoli Senine (bayan) will perform a solo concert
at the Loge Silentium for the "Open Monumentendag" in Delft - centrum
on September 8th. For further details email: evenementenbureau.delft@wxs.nl
Sergey Naik Performs in Harebin
- China
Contributed
by Li Yuan
Russian accordionist Sergey Naiko held a solo
concert in the Harebin Concert Hall, Heilongjiang Province on August
8th, by invitation of the Heilongjiang Accordion Association. Hundreds
people from all over the province attended and were not only impressed
by Sergey's superb technique, but also learnt about the bayan and
its rich sound and musical expression capabilities. Sergey played
fifteen different styles of music at the concert.
Chemnitzer Concertina Jam - USA
A Chemnitzer Concertina jam will be held at
the Addison Town Hall, Allenton, Wisconsin from August 31st to September
2nd. Hundreds of box players are expected to attend impromptu jam
sessions on multiple stages, in parking lots, sidewalks, park benches
etc. For further details phone Lloyd Conrath at: +1 262 255 3454
East European News Updated
The East
European News has been updated to include new information on
concerts, festivals and CD releases in Eastern Europe. If you would
like to contribute an item for this news please email Sergej
Tchirkov at: tchirkov@accordions.com
New Zealand group, the North Shore Accordion
Orchestra (conducted by Lionel
Reekie) will tour the Gold Coast in Australia from September
7th to 11th. The orchestra includes a group of enthusiastic accordionists
aged from 10 to 16 years who will perform at the "Sea World" fun
park and entertain at a concert hosted by the Queensland Accordion
Club. For further details email: ghia@ihug.co.nz
"Voglia d'Arte" Music School Successes
- Italy
Accordionist
Bernardo Di Bonaventura and "Grandi Emozioni" (a group featuring Antonio
and Luca Mancini) have just completed their debut albums. These musicians,
all students at Renzo
Ruggieri's "Voglia d'Arte" music school, graduated from the entertainment
music class with very high marks and were offered a recording deal by
the Musicomania label, which is also going to look after the distribution
of their works. Both albums feature tracks of various genres, ranging
from variety to piano bar style, all performed with personality and flare.
These soloists are past winners of national and international competitions.
For further information please email: info@musicomania.it
"Voglia d'Arte" music school students also took part
in "Quando c'è musica" (When There is Music), a television show aired
by the "Digital TV" local channel. This was followed by the school's end-of-year
recital, which was held in Roseto degli Abruzzi (Italy). The concert featured
all of the students, who performed in front of a prestigious examination
board including musicians Livio Bollani and Nicola Penna. The exams held
on this day saw Moreno Straccialini, Antonio Mancini and Andrea Sottanelli
successfully complete the entertainment music course.
All Japan Festival - Japan
Contributed by Toru Katou
The All Japan Festival, which began on August
29th will close today. The event, which was held at the Osaka Temmangu
Shrine in Osaka, included performances by accordion soloists and
traditional bands..
Arbroath Accordion & Fiddle Club
Meeting - Scotland
Contributed by Sheona Smith
The Arbroath Accordion & Fiddle Club will hold
their next meeting at the Viewfield Hotel, Arbroath, Angus on September
2nd with guest Bruce Lindsay. The club holds regular meetings on
the first Sunday of each month. For further details email: ssbolshan@btinternet.com
"The Sounds of Italy" Entertains
in Orlando - USA
"The
Sounds of Italy" (which includes accordionist Jimmy
Bubaloni) will entertain diners at the MaMa Dellas Restaurant
in the Portifino Bay Hotel, Universal Studio, Orlando, Florida on
Friday and Saturday evenings. The group, which includes Italian
vocalists, perform a variety of popular songs such as "Come back
to Sorrento", "Arivaderci Roma", "That's Amore", "Roman Guitar"
and many more. For further details email: jimbu1@juno.com
New Article
A new Article
entitled Piazzolliana by Vladimir Ushakov is now online in English
and Russian.
www.accordions.com/zubitsky
Updated information on accordionist, teacher and composer, Vladimir
Zubitsky including new sound files
www.accordions.com/alessandrini
Updated and new information on accordion manufacturer, Fratelli
Alessandrini in Italian, English and German languages
Accordion Information Required
Greg
would like some information on the 120 bass piano accordion pictured,
made in Italy. The instrument has no manufactures name on it. If
can help with its identity please email: amos1@ntl.sympatico.ca
Antique Accordion Information
Yvonne
Meschke would like information (such as - is it of German or Italian
origin) on a 48 bass Firotti piano accordion, which she believes
is over 50 years old. Email: miss_sunshine@firemail.de
Contributed
by 
This
year the Honarary Director of the festival was Joe Smiell, who performed
with his son, Joe Jnr. and daughter-in-law who accompanied him on
his button accordion which dates back to the 1800's. An entertaining
performance was given by Sourdough Slim who made accordion history
by being the first known accordionist to simultaneously twirl a
lariette, play the accordion, do a jig, and yodel! Sourdough Slim
also entertained with Blackwood Tom and this is the 7th consecutive
year they have played at the Festival. Over 2,000 people enjoyed
their renditions of old cowpoke favorites such as, "Ding Dong Daddy
from Dumas" and a Cole Porter composition, "Don't Fence Me In".
Contributed
by Vladimir Ushakov 
Contributed
by 
During
the festival, solo concerts were given by Mika Vayrynen (Finland),
Alexandre Skliarov (Russia) and Sergey Naik, which were all well
received.
The
"Sound Ways" 13th International New Music Festival will be held
in St. Petersburg from November 18th to 25th. This annual festival
is widely recognized as one of the most important new music events
to take place in Eastern Europe. This year the festival will include
a variety of concerts given by internationally reputed ensembles
and soloists such as the Chamber ensemble of Zurich Conservatoire,
Moscow New Music Ensemble, Berliner Clavier Duo, John Palmer, Frank
Michael, Reinhard Wolschina, Matthias Mueller and many others. 
Contributed
by 
Contributed
by Carlo Fortunato
Contributed
by 
Contributed
by Li Yuan 
Accordionist
Bernardo Di Bonaventura and "Grandi Emozioni" (a group featuring Antonio
and Luca Mancini) have just completed their debut albums. These musicians,
all students at 
"The
Sounds of Italy" (which includes accordionist 
Greg
would like some information on the 120 bass piano accordion pictured,
made in Italy. The instrument has no manufactures name on it. If
can help with its identity please email: 
Yvonne
Meschke would like information (such as - is it of German or Italian
origin) on a 48 bass Firotti piano accordion, which she believes
is over 50 years old. Email: