Editors Note

This week we have updated the "Readers Comments" page which has a great variety of recent comments received from our readers.

Wayne Knights Webmaster

Contributed by Vladimir Ushakov

The 1st "Music in the Muse's Temple" Festival was held from April 18th to 20th in the old Russian town of Kargopol (Arkhangelsk region, north Russia). Kargopol is well known for its architectural history and 16th century craftsmanship, including the famous ceramic traditional toys over 850 years. The festival was organized by the Cultural Department of the Arkhangelsk Region Government, Kargopol School of Arts, Kargopol Museum of History and Architecture, Yekaterina Zabaldina and Luidmila Podrezova.

The main guest artists invited to perform at the festival were soloists of the St. Petersburg Musette Ensemble, Svetlana Stavitskaya, Vladimir Ushakov and Sergei Likhachov. They performed a 2 hour concert which included a varied program of classical pieces, entertainment music and some jazz compositions.

The musicians also gave master-classes, lectures and seminars in the School of Arts. The main themes of the seminars were "Accordion - past, present and future", "The History of Accordion Genres", "Woman and Accordion", "Accordion in the Baltic States" etc. The lecturers were Vladimir Ushakov and Svetlana Stavitskaya. A special theme was "Description of Author Methods introduced in the V.V. Andreev Music School (St. Petersburg)" lectured by Sergei Likhachov, teacher of the music school and conductor of the children's accordion orchestra.

The event also included presentations of the publishing program "S.P.M.E. Editions" run by the St. Petersburg Musette Ensemble (over 100 publications). Vladimir Ushakov and Svetlana Stavitskaya took part in a concert in the medieval building of Zosima and Savvaty Church which had wonderful acoustics. They performed compositions by Astor Piazzolla such as "Tanti Anni Prima", "Meditango", "Ausencias", "Libertango".

The festival also included a competition of young students from the Kargopol district, a Literature evening "Flying line over Kargopol" and a gala concert of the festival participants. The festival provided the opportunity for participants to gain performing experience, left deep impressions for local music teachers and students, and encouraged new acquaintances - amongst them the wonderful duo of Vladimir Golovanov (Russian traditional diatonic accordion) and Svetlana Nedosekina (folk vocalist).

The festival was so successful that it was decided to arrange the next festival within two years. Enthusiastic citizens of Kargopol are looking forward to experiencing entertainment by a variety of new guests at their next festival.

Contributed by Tsvetana Kojuharova

The Bulgarian Organization of Accordionists (member of C.I.A.) will host the 3rd Accordion Spring 2003 Competition from May 15th to 17th at the Hotel complex Kamenitza in Plovdiv. Accordionists from Bulgaria, Macedonia, Albania and Serbia will compete in 9 age groups (6 solo and 3 ensemble). Due to the great number of participants, the competition will begin at 8am daily and continue until 11pm.

A number of concerts are also scheduled with performances by the Trio "Ars Harmonica" (Poland) - May 15th and Maria Dimitrova (Bulgaria) - May 16th. On May 17th a final Gala Concert will be held, which will include performances by competition winners.

Chairman of the Jury is well known Bulgarian accordionist Asen Vakarelov. Jury members include Professor Vasilka Spasova (Bulgaria), Assistant Professor Zorica Karakutovska (Macedonia), Alexander Vasic (Serbia), Diana Stancheva (Bulgaria) and two Bulgarian teachers whose students received the most points at the previous competition - Dimitrina Drenska and Tatiana Slavcheva.

In addition to diplomas, rewards and cash prizes, winners will receive, unique statuettes instead of the traditional cups. The statuettes are designed and manufactured by Bulgarian artist Peter Savov and stand 40 centimeters high made of coloured glass, featuring a stylized accordion keyboard in the shape of a bird's wing, using 234 hand-processed glass elements. Also, for the first time this year in each solo category spectators' prizes will be given. For further details email: biomagia@plov.omega.bg

Contributed by Nathaly Lamasset

The "Festival De L'accordeon" will be held at the L'Avant-Seine/Théâtre de Colombes in Colombes from June 5th to 8th. Performers include Richard Galliano Trio, Raul Barboza Quartet, Frédéric Guérouet, César Stroscio, Trio Esquina and Tony Calves Quintet (Bal Musette). For details phone:
+33 1 56 05 00 76

Accordionist Joseph Petric will perform a program of world and Canadian premieres by women composers at the Music Gallery in Toronto on May 13th. The concert will feature works written for Joseph by Jocelyn Morlock, Rose Bolton, Linda C Smith, Micheline Roi and Janika Vandervelde (USA). Special guest artists include violinist Reena Katz and choreographer Heidi Strauss.

This concert will be recorded live by CBC's National New Music Program "Two New Hours". For details email: jpetric@interlog.com

3rd Kells Music Festival - Ireland

Contributed by Rosemarie Kelly

The 3rd annual Kells Music Festival was held in the historic Heritage Town of Kells, Co. Meath on April 26th and 27th, organized by the Oristown Accordion Orchestra who are based in the area. The festival includes a competition for classical and traditional performers with classes for accordion, piano and traditional instruments such as the diatonic accordion, fiddle, tin whistle and many more. Categories include soloists both graded and age group, ensembles and accordion orchestras.

At the conclusion of the competitions the adjudicators recommend a small number of the top musicians for the Gala Concert. This is the highlight of the festival and the concert this year was well attended with an audience of 650. Proceeds from the event are donated to charity.

Results:

Classical Section:
1. Robert Cherry, Classical Accordion (London, England)
2. Evin Kelly, Classical Accordion (Kells)

Traditional Section:
1. Seána Davey, Harp (Trim)
2. Darach MacMathuna, Button Accordion (Rathcairn)

The 2004 Festival will be held on May 1st and 2nd. For details email: Kellsmusicfestival@eircom.net

Ponty Bone and the Squeezetones will entertain at the 32nd annual Kerrville Folk Festival, which begins in Texas on May 22nd and runs until June 8th. The festival will feature many well known folk music performers who will entertain the crowds and also join in the fun around the nightly campfires.

The Squeezetones includes Ponty Bone (accordion), Gabe Rhodes (guitar), Mike Gersmann (drums) and Wash Hamilton (bass). For concert details email: pb@pontybone.com

Accordionist Angel Luis Castaño performed at the Teatro de la Abadia in Madrid on May 7th in a new opera by Spanish composer Cesar Camarero entitled "Horizonte Cuadrado". The opera includes solos by the accordion (Angel Luis Castaño), saxophone (Jesus Librado), piano (J.C. Garvayo), cello (J. M Gomez) and violin (Miguel Borrego). The Opera was premiered at the Teatro La Alhambra in Granada and the Teatro Central in Seville last week with great success. The Opera will be recorded on DVD in June. For further details email: ANGELLUI@teleline.es

The "Piazzolla Quintet" will perform at the recently built Music Center in Moscow on May 15th. The quintet includes accordionist Yuri Medianik, winner of many accordion competitions such as Klingenthal (1997, II category), Moscow (2000) and Surgut (2001). The quintet was founded by Mikhail Khohlov, Honoured artist and conductor of the orchestra "Gnesin virtuosos" and includes Andrea Doynikov (marimba), Mario Durand (violin) and Mikhail Khohlov (bass). A CD by the quintet is currently being prepared. For details email: yuri@yurimedianik.com

Columbian Vallenato Youth Accordion Orchestra Visits Shanghai - China

Contributed by Li Cong

The Columbian Vallenato Youth Accordion Orchestra held concert at the Yifu Stage in Shanghai on April 22nd as part of their tour to China where they have performed concerts in Beijing, Qingdao and Shanghai. Members of the orchestra are aged from 6 to 16 years old and are students from the Columbian Music Conservatory.

The group has previously traveled all around European and American Continents and were invited to perform by the Chinese Cultural Ministry.

The Accordion Squeeze-Off begins on May 17th at the New Braunfels Museum of Art and Music in Gruene, Texas. The event is part of a special exhibit called Dance Halls and Last Calls featuring the history and music of Texas Dance Halls. Accordion music will be presented on May 16th by Mingo Zaldivar and Bradley Williams & the Gulf Coast Playboys. The following day an accordion workshop will be held, tutored by Jim Rommel. The Squeeze-Off will follow featuring Nick Ballarini, Jim Rommel, Greg Klugewicz & Dick Albreski, Willard Dyer & Joe Lancaster, Marilyn Monsivais, Sharon Seaton, Rafael Moras and The Jubilee Band. There will be a great variety of music including Country Western, cajun, German, Polish, Czech, Mexican and more. For details phone: +1 830 625-5636

Radio France Performance - France

Contributed by Holda Paoletti-Kampl

Accordionist Pascal Contet will perform on Radio France on May 11th from 9.30pm to 11pm. His performance is entitled "Tapages Nocturnes". For information phone: +33 1 56 79 02 89

Contributed by Eileen Fisher

Community Radio Station WDVR FM (89.7 & 91.9) in Sergeantsville, NJ is promoting the accordion as part of a "May National Accordion Appreciation Month". Many of WDVR's show hosts will feature accordion music during this month. The radio station is a little short of accordion music at the present time and would appreciate loans of accordion CDs and records as well as live performances by accordionists who can remain anonymous if they wish. For more details email: efisher93@earthlink.net

Carsten Heveling would like information on two bandoneons (pictured), one coloured brown and the other coloured black, stolen in Rome, Italy on April 23rd. Both instruments are of great importance and a reward of 500 Euro per instrument is offered. In addition two sets of bellows (pictured) were also stolen. Email: ballinfo@gmx.de

Dr. William Schimmel will make a return visit to the Village Vanguard as a member of the group "Odeon" on May 16th, 17th and 18th. Other group members include Ted Nash (reeds - Founder and Leader), Nathalie Bonin (violin), Matt Wilson (drums) and Wycliff Gordon (tuba & trombone).

Odeon's CD release "Sidewalk Meeting" was hailed the best new jazz CD of 2001 by the New York Times, the Village Voice, the Boston Globe and New York Newsday. It was also hailed as best new jazz CD by the Downbeat Magazine critics' poll and was chosen for a special radio broadcast where Village Voice critic Gary Giddons played one favored cut for each year dating back to the 1920's. His favorite cut for 2002 was Odeon's version of Debussy's "Premiere Rhapsody". Odeon will tour Brazil and Argentina this summer. For concert details email: GWILLIAMANDMICKI@aol.com

www.serenellini.com Updated information on Serenellini Accordion Manufacturers based in Italy

Bevan & Ellen would like information (such as age and history) on the "Doraphone" accordion (pictured), made by "Dora" in Saxony, Germany. The instrument is still in its original box with the registration numbers on the box. Email: bedmunds@ozonline.com.au

Kenneth Reec'e would like information on Nobility Accordions of Chicago, Illinois, USA. He believes the company is now out of business, but is interested in purchasing a Noble accordion from the 40's or 50's. Email: kabe_26@msn.com