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5th
International Festival of Accordion Orchestras - Italy
 The
5th International Festival of Accordion Orchestras was held in Treviso,
Italy from July 25th to 29th. This year Italian accordion orchestra
"Armonia" (Treviso) conducted by Angelo Smeazzetto) and the Russian
Ural State Orchestra of Folk Instruments (Ekaterinburg, Russia)
conducted by Leonid Shkarupa took part in the event.
 The
two orchestras performed concerts in Venice, Padova & Lesola before
their finale festival concert in the Embassy Theatre of Treviso.
Their program included "Omaggio ad Astor Piazzolla" and "Rossiniana"
(works by Vladimir
Zubitsky for accordion and orchestra), which were played at
the conclusion of the festival concert with the composer, and Italian
and Russian classical pieces and folk music.
This year's festival was so successful, over
800 people attended (some of whom had to stand), giving continuous
applause. After the festival, an official meeting was held with
the Mayor of Treviso, where it was decided make the town of Treviso
(Italy) and Ekaterinburg (Russia) sister towns.
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3rd Guangxi Province Accordion
Competition - China
Contributed by the Guangxi Province Accordion
Association
The 3rd Guangxi Province Accordion Competition
was held on July 19th and 20th at the Guangxi Art School, organized
by the Guagnxi Education Association and Guangxi Accordion Association.
Over 200 players from Guangxi and Guangdong
Provinces competed at the competitions, which included a variety
of solo, ensemble, accompaniment and sing-a-long categories plus
exam classes. The event also included a Teachers' Teaching Seminar.
Although it was a short event, participants still exchanged many
interesting ideas and enjoyed the competitions. The Beijing Office
of the Chinese Accordion Association sent their congratulations
to the event organizers.
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Monts Dore Musical Training Course
- France
 The
Monts Dore Music Association (Auvergne) began their first annual
training course for musicians on August 4th in Bourboule. This year
the event features the accordion and will run until August 12th,
with tutors Domi
Emorine and Roman Jbanov. Participants come from France and
Switzerland.
This training course will make it possible for
participants to discover other instruments as they have free access
to a variety of concerts with different artists each evening.
On August 6th, the Paris-Moscow Duo (Domi Emorine
& Roman Jbanov) entertained. On August 12th course participants
will perform at the Bourboule Theatre, showing the work they learnt
throughout the week.
Another training course is planned for next
year. For further details email: roman.jbanov@libertysurf.fr
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Accordion Catches Fire During
Performance - England
This week, Ananova News reported that well known
Australian entertainer, Rolf Harris was performing in a marquee
in Berkshire when his accordion caught fire! The fire was quickly
extinguished and nobody was hurt. Rolf then continued to play at
the event, which was a cabaret at Maidenhead and Bray Cricket Club.
Rolf has been awarded both the OBE and the MBE
and is a Member of the Order of Australia.
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Spanish Civil War Project - Spain
 Contributed
by Holda
Paoletti-Kampl
Accordionist Anne
Landa has taken part in the recording of a documentary based
on the Spanish Civil War. The recording was held in Biarritz on
August 1st and 2nd, and the project will allow musicians to perform
live as the documentary is presented at various festivals over the
next few months.
Anne's future projects include her continued
collaboration with diverse groups plus the performance of solo contemporary
and classic music, and more recently music for theater, folk and
tango.
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AFNA Festival in Los Angeles - USA
Contributed by Kevin
Friedrich
During the weekend of August 10th and 11th, accordionists
will gather to take part in the 47th annual Accordion Federation of North
America (AFNA) Festival. Activities will take place at the Radison Hotel
at LAX airport in Los Angeles, California.
The event will include a free Evening Concert consisting
of accordion groups, solos, etc. from the 3 day Music Festival/Competition.
AFNA history dates back to October 30th, 1955 when
Anthony Aretta and Andrew Ferraro called a special meeting to discuss
the formation of a new accordion organization. There was a great number
of subjects discussed and a great deal of work accomplished.
The purpose of this new organization was to stimulate
the general public's interest in the accordion and the improvement of
teaching methods. Four categories of membership were designed: Writers
and arrangers; Music store owners; Accordion school owners; and Instrument
wholesalers. The "Accordion Association of Southern California" (AASC)
was chosen as the name for this new group.
The AASC's members included George Howell, Anthony
Aretta, Andrew Ferraro and Peggy Milne; ATG
(Accordionists and Teachers Guild) members were Sidney Dawson, PhD., Nik
Nevel, Sylvia Prior and Ann Randall.
While the ATG members had experience in structuring
the competitions, the AASC members had experience participating and judging
in several nationwide competitions. The very first festival was scheduled
for April 21st to 22nd, 1956 at the Long Beach Municipal Auditorium.
As attendance and membership grew to include states
other than California, as well as contact with organizations in Mexico
and Canada, the AASC changed its name to Accordion Federation of North
America (AFNA) in 1972.
For further information regarding the AFNA organization
and the August Festival, please email Sandra Martin at: AFNA@Musicion.org
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Lips Accordion Workshops - Austria
 Contributed
by Dr
Herbert Scheibenreif Manager of Friedrich
Lips Productions
The period from August 17th to September 1st
will be dedicated to the further formation of musicians, clowns
and artists in Imst (near Innsbruck), Tyrol. A variety of workshops
will be open to the public and cover jazz (piano, bass, drums, violin),
Austrian march music (all instruments) and classical music (violin,
piano and accordion). Accordionist Professor Friedrich
Lips (from the Gnessin Academy of Music in Moscow) and Roman
Pechmann (Conservatory of Klagenfurth, Austria) were chosen to give
solo lessons and teach chamber music. The accordion course will
be held from August 19th to 22nd. In his recital, Friedrich Lips
will be joined by his son, Svjatoslav Lips to perform pieces by
Podgaits, Sergejewa, Berinski, Piazzolla, J. Strauss and others.
For further information email: info@imst.at
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Accordion Meeting During FisAlMuseo
- Italy
 Contributed
by Carlo Fortunato
The 10th Rigoroso di Arquata Accordionists'
Meeting took place in Rigoroso di Arquata (province of Alessandria)
on August 1st. This annual celebration is open to everyone (so long
as they bring their accordion and join in the performances), and
was attended this year by accordionists and enthusiasts from Piedmont,
Liguria, Lombardy and Emilia.
The meeting, organised by Carlo Fortunato and
hosted by the "Circolo Fratellanza Rigoroso", was part of the FisAlMuseo
event this year, sponsored by the Alessandria city and provincial
councils. Musical guests of the evening included Athos Bassissi,
Giancarlo Salaris (Cossato), jazz accordionist Tiziano Chiappelli
(Modena) and the young and talented Romeo Aichino (pictured).
The event was attended by many other accordionists
who spontaneously joined in the performances.
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New Cajun Book Released by Gary
Dahl
 Contributed
by Kevin
Friedrich
Gary
Dahl has released a new book published by Mel Bay Publications,
entitled "15 Louisiana Cajun Classics." This book (recording CD
is available) transcribed/arranged by Gary is graded at an Intermediate
Level and includes "Le Jig Francais", "Chere Te Mon", "Port Arthur
Blues", "J'ai Passe devant ta porte", "Two Step D'Amede" and many
others.
You may also preview and purchase the music
of Gary
Dahl on-line at www.musicforaccordion.com
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New Sites/Updated Sites
www.accordions.com/orchestraliberina
New site on the Orchestra Liberina (Italy) directed by Pasquale
De Marco.
www.ktrio.com
Completely updated site on the outstanding "K" Trio ensemble. Site
now includes bios on each of the members, complete concert history,
repertoire, recordings, yearly reviews, plus much more!
www.accordions.com/jason
Updated information on New Hampshire based accordionist Jason Stephen
who recently won the ATG Piano Accordion Championship in Orlando,
Florida and will be competing in Copenhagen, Denmark at the 2002
CIA Coupe Mondiale.
www.accordions.com/noton
Updated information on French accordion entertainer Jean-Louis Noton
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An
accordion festival will be held on August 14th and 15th around the
fountain of Saint Léger Sous Beuvray organised by A.P.E.R.E.M. /
Compagnie Héritage, which will include a Concert and Ball featuring
LesTraîne-Bûches (rock and roll), Christian Maes Quintet and Michel
Macias. Concerts will also be held by Jac Lavergne - Cie Léon Larchet,
Emmanuel Pariselle / Didier Oliver, Raul Barboza (Argentina), Bernard
Ariu and Trio Morvan.
Accordionist
Young
accordionist Moreno Straccialini, a student in the Entertainment
course at 
Andreas
Kalker would like some information on the 96 bass Serenelli piano
accordion (pictured). The instrument is believed to have been manufactured
in the early 1950's. Email: