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Editors
Note
New
Ideas. There are some, who feel, that the popularity of the accordion
is affected by not having a modern enough image. They point to a declining
numbers of young accordionists in parts of the world and claim that
a change of image is necessary to increase the number of beginner
accordionists. Are they correct?
Looking at the positive, I see in countries like France, large numbers
of young players having an exciting time with their wild colored accordions
and also receiving tremendous radio and TV performance opportunities.
Every week in our news, there are examples of the educational achievements
and popularity of our loved instrument.
Can we be doing more? What ideas do you have to promote the accordion
and encourage more beginner accordionists? Please send them to me
for publication and for study by accordion industry representatives.
Email: harley@accordions.com
Harley
Jones
Acccordions Worldwide Director
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Big
Prizes In AAA International
Entertainment Competition - USA
US $12,000 in prizes are offered in the International Entertainment
Competition (July 11-12) which takes place as part of the American
Accordionists' Association annual festival at the Marriott Hotel
in Boston (Quincy) Massachusetts.
Two categories, titled the Vivian Vivo Stolaruk are International
Entertainment Competition for Accordionists, are open to accordionists
from all countries. The Virtuoso Entertainment section is for contestants
up to 32 years of age and a Junior Entertainment section is for
those up to 18 years of age. Both are for solo accordion only. Contestants
will be judged on basis of originality, variety, musicianship, professionalism
and stage presence.
Complete details are available at the AAA
website www.ameraccord.com
The AAA festival will run
from Sunday, July 11 through Thursday, July 15 at the Marriott and
will include concerts, workshops, exhibits,
competitions and other accordion-related activities.
For further details email: AAA1938@aol.com
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Important
Affirmation of Renzo
Ruggieri - Russia
Contributed by: Holda
Poletti-Kampl
  In
collaboration with Prof. Alexander
Dmitriev, Renzo Ruggieri
made an important concert tour to Russia from 29th October to 5th
November. In the cities of St. Peterburg, Celianynsk and Petrosavodsk,
three important cultural centres, Renzo
Ruggieri performed fiveconcerts and three seminars. Ruggieri performed
repertoire previously unknown in Russia that he composed or improvised
from the "Single Accordion Project" and music also drawn
from the "Renzo Ruggieri Group". The Russian concerts includedRussian
artistslike Gary Bagdasary (drums)and Robert Piliakalnis (double bass).
The many demands for encores showed how much the Russian audiences
appreciated the music. The seminars emphasised jazz harmony development
as applied to the accordion with parallels between jazz for accordion
and jazz with other
instruments. Renzo
Ruggieri performances and music style truly has an international
appeal.
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Leyland
Accordion Club - UK
 Leyland
Accordion Club has successfully received support for its regular program
of events, and knowing of this formula might be helpful for other
club organizers to enjoy the same success. The club meets on the first,
third and if there is one, the fifth Wednesday of each month. The
first and fifth Wednesdays of the month are informal practice nights,
the third Wednesday is always a concert night. All levels of player
are welcome as well as listeners who just enjoy meeting a nice crowd
and hearing some good music.
Practice Nights are sitting around, talking about accordions and learning
from each other. The practice nights are also a chance for people
to get together in an informal atmosphere with no audience in sight.
A concert night features a concert by the clubs own players, each
player taking to the stage for five to fifteen minutes giving the
night a good variety night feel. Even on guest artist nights, a part
of the evening is dedicated to enthusiastic amateurs giving their
best. No reasonable offer to play will be turned down. We hope greater
knowledge of these successful concepts help other club organizers.
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Beyond
The Pale on Live CD Recording - Toronto
 The
Band “Beyond The Pale” is now preparing to record their
long-awaited second CD, and they’re inviting all their friends
and followers to be a part of it with them. The concerts will be held
on the 24th and 25th January at Al Green Theatre, Miles Nadal.
 They’ll
be debuting some new original material and they will be joined by
their goodfriend and frequentguest, theinimitable Josh Dolgin
(vocals, keyboards, and magic tricks). The band will featureBretHiggins
(bass), Bogdan Djukic (violin), Milos Popovic (accordion), Eric Stein
(mandolins), Martin van de Ven (clarinets). Attendees at these concerts
will have the opportunity to pre-purchase the new CD at a discounted
price.
For further details email: btpklez@sympatico.ca
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Saint
Chartier Traditional Music Festival - France
The Saint Chartier Traditional Music Festival will be held at La Châtre
in July 2004 (annual). The Festival takes place annually at a beautiful
Loire chateau, south of Orléans in the Berry region.
The festival attracts instrument makers from all over Europe to play
and exhibit their unusual, often forgotten, folk instruments. One
of the only places to see such a wide-ranging collection, the festival
includes hurdy-gurdies, bagpipes and diatonic accordions. A lovely
setting to enjoy the displays and sounds of traditional folk music
from around the world.
For further details email: info@saintchartier.com
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 Irish
American Sensation “Bohola” Concert – Australia
The Irish American Sensation “Bohola” and Australian duo
“Myriad” successfully performed in concert on the 4th January
at the Illawarra Leagues Cllub, Wollongong. Myriad is a young traditional
style duo comprising of Hannah Croke and Gordon Wallace from Sydney
who are regarded as on the way up! Bohola consists of Jimmy Keane
(accordion), Sean Cleland (fiddler extraordinaire), Pat Broaders (player
and singer) and Kat Eggleston, (singer and guitarist). Irish music’s
newest “supergroup” as penned by The Irish Herald. Bohola
play a driving, muscular, and yet very emotive style of Irish music
with deep roots in the ‘pure drop’ tradition, which has
been forged with the raw and gritty urbanized musical vernacular of
the Irish-American experience.
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NAMM
Trade Fair - USA
 NAMM
(National Association of Music Merchants) wrapped up it's annual 4
day trade fair on January 18th at the Anaheim Convention Center in
California. The event was well attended and accordions of all types
were evident throughout the show. One computer plugin demo utilised
an accordionist which proved one thing: computers can do almost anything
in music…. except play the accordion!
The motto of this year's show was: "Before there was an association
or even an industry, there was a belief...a Belief In Music."
Bonnie Raitt held a press conference together with the Boys and Girls
Club of America to encourage the musical instrument manufacturers
to donate musical instruments and support music education for urban
youth. The traditional opening parade around and through the exhibits
sounded off with the song: "Takin' Care of Business" by
Bachman Turner Overdrive.
The general consensus was that this year's NAMM had the best attendance
since September 11 terrorism affected the business. Many of the exhibitors
will also be exhibiting at Frankfurt Musikmesse which will take place
slightly later than usual: March 31 through April 3rd.
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Eastbourne
Festivals and Seminars - England
 Carrillon
Studio’s will feature at two different festivals in February.
- On 6th to 9th February - Keyboard and Organ Festivals. Four days of
good company and excellent music in a friendly atmosphere. The programs
include concerts by leading British musicians. You will also get the rare
chance to hear these musicians jam together in several open sessions and
there will be seminars on a number of musical subjects.
- On 20th to 23rd February, Accordion Festival. Due to demand from our
keyboard and organ festival guests we have decided to organize an accordion
festival run on the same lines. Thus four days of good company and excellent
music in a friendly atmosphere. See instruments and products at the stands
for the WEM, Trevani Music and Gifts, Worthing Accordion School, Hinkley
Music Store, including Orla UK, Carillon Studios as well as others. Guests
are welcome to bring their accordion for the daytime workshops. Performers
include: Harry Hussey, George Syrett, Charlie Watkins, Trevani, Genaro
Fiondella, John Romero, Hinkley Music Store, Orla UK, and Carillon Studios.
For further details email: jr@carillonstudios.co.uk
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Strictly
Munidial Istanbul 2004 - Turkey
Strictly Mundial Istanbul 2004 invites professionals from around the
world to Istanbul to meet and experience local (and global) music
in concerts that will be held from 21 to 24 April. The event introduces
Turkish professionals and music-lovers to the heritage of their own
and their neighboring countries, and to those from far away. The event
also aims to enable the exchange of information and discussions between
all involved.
Accordionists like Faiaz Ali Faiz (Pakistan), Dyner Dogan (Turkey),
Baba Zula (Turkey) and Dhruba Ghosh (Northern India) are some of the
musicians taking part in this festival of many concerts
Or
Groups with accordionists like Galata Mevlevi Ensmbele (Turkey), Camut
Band (Spain) and Kora Jazz Trio (Senegal) are taking part in this
festival of many concerts..
For further details email: email@istanbul2004.info
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 Tulle
Accordion Festival - France
The Tulle Accordion Festival will be held in September 2004 in Tulle.
Think of the accordion and you might think of France and this annual
festival, known as the Nuits de Nacre (Mother of Pearl Nights), promises
to be a real slice of French musical tradition. A plethora of concerts,
dances and exhibitions are held in cafés and cultural venues
throughout the town.
For further details email: office-de-tourisme-de-tulle@wanadoo.fr
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Contributed
by:
Victor
Prieto is performing with others in various combinations during
January.