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The Slovenian
Home Regulars - USA
 Barbara
and Carol Vargo cannot see the waltzers on the dance floor, but they
can hear the polka music. The twins, 58, blind since birth, are regulars
at the monthly jam sessions at the Slovenian National Home. They wear
dark sunglasses, matching outfits in cheerful patterns of florals
or stripes, and gold necklaces with crucifixes.
The club is a yellow brick building in South Lorain, Oregon. The accordions
squawk and heave out the sounds of a summer festival as old as time.
When the sisters, who live in Brook Park, first started coming to
the club, they would just listen to that music. It wasn't long before
Carol decided she wanted to be the one playing an accordion for the
audience. Her disability didn't dissuade her.
Ralph E. Szubski, aka ''The Accordion Man,'' agreed to teach Carol
but had his doubts. Szubski specializes in good times and has said
he is happiest, when in front of a crowd. He'd never taught a blind
person so ''I would close my eyes and see if what I was saying was
right,'' Szubski said. After a couple of months, Carol was ready to
perform at the Slovenian club for the first time. Bonnie Knepper,
who serves on the club's board of directors, remembers the first time
Carol played her accordion and sang with Barbara at the club.
''This place was so quiet you could hear a pin drop,'' Knepper said.
''Nobody at the bar talked. It sent chills up my spine. That's unusual
to stop a bar. Everyone turned around and no one spoke. They couldn't
believe what they were seeing.''
Story from The Morning Journal
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Uxbridge
Accordion "May Club Night" - UK
 The
Uxbridge Accordion "May Club Night" which featured guest
artist Lisa-Lee Leslie and Laura Leslie was a successful event.
UAC members say Lisa-Lee, daughter of international adjudicator, teacher
and accordionist John Leslie, gave a "faultless" performance
at the event which took place at The Anglers Retreat. The UAC holds
a "special guest" club night every month during which club
regulars and guests are entertained by an invited guest. Lisa-Lee
gave a high standard performance that included a wide variety of music
which Lisa often used humour to introduce. The night also included
a duet with sister Laura and two duets with John Leslie. The Uxbridge
Accordion Club meets on the 2nd Monday of each month and is based
at the "The Anglers Retreat" in Middlesex.
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Accordion
Jamboree - USA
The smell of warm pastries, the sound of accordions and the sight
of brightly costumed dancers will welcome visitors to the 26th Annual
Far West Button Accordion Jamboree from 29th to 31st May at the Sons
of Italy Hall in Fontana.
"People should expect one big, fun day," said Frank Vidergar,
event chairman and president of the Fontana Slovene Button Accordion
Club, host of the jamboree. The three-day festival will feature a
variety of dancing, mostly polkas but also waltzes and fox trots on
professional-quality floors inside and outside the Sons of Italy Hall,
Vidergar said.
"A jamboree consists of ... alternating musicians and bands on
the stage every 30 minutes," Vidergar explained. Some of the
more exciting parts of the event are the daily jam sessions and a
concert and contest on the festival's final day. Jam sessions give
musicians with different styles and different sounds the opportunity
to create music with one another. "It is a ball," Vidergar
said. While the festival centers around Slovenian-style polka music,
other styles will be represented, including Italian, German and Polish.
Sunday's contest will pit players against one another, according to
their skill levels, Vidergar said. "We have some who have been
playing a long time," he said. "We also have some pretty
new beginners." Proceeds from the event go to the Slovene National
Benefit Society Scholarship Fund.
Story by Elena Arnold, The Press-Enterprise
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Towersey
Village Festival - UK
Entries
will close on 31st May for the Towersey Village Festival which will
be held at Towersey, Nr Thame from 27th to 30th August. The festival,
celebrating its Ruby Anniversary will include a weekend full of accordion
concerts, ceilidhs, workshops, arena shows and a children's festival.
Some of the artists scheduled to perform at the festival on 27th August
include Roy Bailey, The Demon Barbers Waxed, The Fagans, Steve Tilston,
The Woodpecker Band, Kate Burke & Ruth Hazleton, Mick Ryan &
Pete Harris, The Queensbury Rules, Steamchicken and Moor Music.
On 28th August, performers include Martin Simpson, Flook, Rory McLeod,
Roy Bailey & Martin Simpson, The Fagans, Steve Tilston, The Doghouse
Skiffle Group, The Oxford Waits and The Queensbury Rules. The performers
for 29th August are Andy Irvine, Malinky, Chris Norman Ensemble, MZN,
Threlfall Ellison Edwards, Florida, Daily Planet, David Francey, Mas
Y Mas and Rachel & Becky Unthank. On the last day, 30 August,
John Tams & Barry Coope, The Demon Barber Roadshow, John Spiers
& Jon Boden, Corazon FlamencoKarin Polwart, The English Acoustic
Collective, Threlfall Ellison Edwards, Stomp, David Francey and The
Stepback Special will perform. Organizers say The Towersey Village
Festival is usually a wonderful family friendly festival with a unique
relaxed atmosphere. "Whether you want to attend workshops, dances
or concerts from dawn to dusk or would rather spend time enjoying
the 'easy' Festival feeling or a bit of both then Towersey is the
place for you," the organizers said.
For more information, email info@towerseyfestival.com
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Accordion
Documentary in the Making - USA
Accordionist Rawn Erickson II will be traveling the USA this summer
filming various accordion festivals with the plan to combine the material
into a yet to be named accordion documentary. If you would like to
be included in this film extravaganza e-mail Rawn at RawnE@excite.com
with information about your club or event.
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2nd Chinese
Accordion Music Works Award Concert in Beijing - China
Contribute
by Lian
Jones of Accordion
House
The
Chinese Musicians Society Accordion Association's 2nd Chinese Accordion
Music Works Award Concert was held in Dongcheng Children's Palace
in Beijing on the 2nd May. The guest list included; Wang Shiguang,
Vice President of the Chinese Musicians Society; Dr Yao Henglu, professor
from the Chinese Central Conservatory and Li Yi Ding, the female composer
from Chinese Central Television.
Awards during the night went to Yang Chunhong (from Shandong Fine
Arts Conservatory); Chen Nan (Tianjin Music Conservatory); Yao Henglu
(Central Music Conservatory) and Yang Yi (Beijing Comrade-In-Arm Song
and Dance ensemble). There was also two major performances were displayed;
"Spring Field in Chendu" and "Dance of the Sea".
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AAA
Afternoon of Music and Fun - USA
Contributed
by Linda Reed
 The
American Accordionists'
Association will host the 2nd Annual Afternoon of Music Food and
Fun at the Winery in Wallkill, New York on 6th June from midday to
5.00pm. The event is held each year to raise money for the The Carmen
Carrozza Scholarship Fund for the advancement of promising young accordionists.
The program will include wine tasting, hors d'oeuvres, several course
meal and several accordion performances by guest artists which include
Carmen Carrozza, Danny Desiderio, Domenic Karcic, Frank Toscano, Mario
Tacca and singer Mary Mancini.
For more information, email AAA1938@aol.com
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Ellery
Eskelin Trio Concert - USA
The Ellery Eskelin Trio will perform at the Issue Project Room in
East Village, New York, 8pm on 30th May. The trio who have been together
for 10 years, include Andrea Parkins on accordion and samplers, Jim
Black on drums and Ellery Eskelin on saxophone. The trio promise a
night of blues and bop.
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Jazz
Book - Italy
Contributed
by Holda
Paoletti-Kampl
A jazz book, titled "Practical Notebook of Jazz Music" was
recently released by International Jazz accordionists, Renzo
Ruggieri and Paul Di Sabatino. The book helps jazz lovers to learn
various interesting jazz techniques in an easy but thorough way. "Practical
Notebook of Jazz Music" is published by Sinfonica Jazz and distributed
by Carisch. In the book, Ruggieri
teaches jazz enthusiasts how to integrate the accordion into more
traditional jazz instruments. The book comes with a CD-ROM compilation
of popular jazz tunes in MP3 format.
For more information, email info@renzoruggieri.it
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Misty
River Band - USA
Hailed
as one of Northwest America's finest musical groups, Misty River displayed
its talent at a concert on 27th May at the Majestic Theatre, Corvalis,
Oregon. The concert, sponsored by the Marys Peak Group - Sierra Club,
celebrates the release of the group's third CD, "Willow."
Misty River is an all-female band that performs a variety of Americana
music, from familiar folk melodies and upbeat country and bluegrass
favorites to Celtic tunes, mysterious haunting ballads and award-winning
original songs. This award-winning quartet (two of whom are mother
and daughter) support their blend of harmonic voices with unique combinations
of accordion, guitars, fiddle, banjo, mandolin and bass.
Pamela Rooney of CD Baby Magazine writes, "When these four ladies
set out to churn out bluegrass music, they don't miss a beat. Violin,
upright bass, accordion, guitar and banjo plus some searing and precise
part-upon-part-upon-part harmonies equals stunning music."
Misty River has sold more than 15,000 CDs in three years and achieved
regular airplay on public and commercial radio not only in America,
but also in Canada and Europe. Together since 1997, Misty River consists
of Dana Abel on accordion; Chris Kokesh, Carol Harley and her daughter
Laura Quigley.
Story from www.gazettetimes.com
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5th Festival
Europeo dei Duchi D'Acquaviva - Italy
The 5th Festival Europeo dei Duchi D'Acquaviva will be held at Atrite
from 16th August to 7 September. The program includes a Master class
from 16th to 18th August conducted by Massimiliano Pitocco. The class
will conclude with a concert with the "Orchestra from Room. E"
along with the chance to be included in a CD compilation of best performances
at the festival. The organizers of the festival are working to increase
thescope of interest in accordion, especially amongst young musicians.
This years festival will be the fifth and will again attract accordionists
and accordion teachers from nearby countries.
For more information, email info@amicidellamusica2000.it
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The Ms.
Accordion San Francisco Pageant - USA
 All
Things Accordion, in association with the historic Cannery at Fisherman's
Wharf in San Fransisco will host the Ms. Accordion San Francisco Pageant
on 5th June at the Del Monte Courtyard, as part of the 14th Annual
San Francisco Accordion Festival. Festival spokesperson, Tom Torriglia
said the pageant was a favorite event at past festivals. 
In addition to the prestige of being Ms. Accordion San Francisco,
the winner and runner-ups will receive prizes from local merchants.
Contestants will be judged on accordion-playing ability, reasons why
the contestants love the accordion, reasons why they want to be Ms.
Accordion San Francisco and on their outfit for their performance.
Past winners have included Ruth Peckham of the Squeegees' polka band,
Suzanne Garramone and J. Raoul Brody. The original Ms. Accordion San
Francisco was San Francisco's accordion princess, Big Lou. Entering
the Pageant is free. The audience will judge the competition
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Dr.
William Schimmel in New York - USA
Contributed
by Kevin
Friedrich
 Dr.
William Schimmel performed the solo accordion work 'Eclipses' by
Steven Gates at the Mata festival in New York on 15th May. The Mata
(Music At The Anthology) was founded by Phillip Glass to promote
the works of young emerging composers. The performance took place
at St. Peter's Church in the Chelsea section of Manhattan.
On 25th May, Dr. Schimmel performed the works of Wolfgang Rihm and
Sofia Gubaidulina at the White Box Gallery, also in the Chelsea
section of Manhattan as Part of the 'Modernworks' series. Dr. Schimmel's
busy teaching schedule includes directing the Neupauer Conservatory
'Order of the Shield Program' in New York, a private studies conservatory
program on both Graduate and Post Graduate level. Currently, there
are ten candidates for the next graduating class: Benjamin Ickies,
Cristina Spelligene, Rembert Block, Dr. Mark Birnbaum, William Komaiko,
Michael Sahl, Deborah Magosci, Kamala Sankram, Dr. Robert Young
McMahan and Micki Goodman. In addition, there are seven Philadelphia
candidates who will be announced at a later date.
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Quote
of the Week
Teaching Quote of the Week Edited by Willoughby
Walshe
"Sata-Hame Soi Accordion Festival held annually the first week
of July in Ikaalinen, is Finland's largest accordion festival. Part
of the festival is devoted to the Golden and Silver Finish accordion
championship finals. The competition has become such an important
part of Finish culture that it is televised and broadcast lives nationwide."
Find
out more... "Walshe
Essential Guide to Accordion and Harmonica Events"
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New &
Updated Sites
www.mastersound.it
& www.rancoaccordions.it
- information about Mastersound and Ranco Accordions new catalogue
2004 with all the new models and some other interesting news.
www.accordions.com/aata
- More information on the upcoming Australian International Accordion
Championships and Festival to be held from 29th to 30th May.
www.accordion.co.nz
- More information on the upcoming New Zealand and South Pacific Championships
to be held on 4th to 6th June.
www.accordions.com/finland
- with updated information about the annual Sata-Häme Soi Accordion
Festival to be held in July.
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