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Two Russian Bayan
Masters' Visit Shanghai - China
Contributed
by Li Cong,
President, Shanghai Accordion Association
 Two
Russian bayan accordionists, Professors Albin Repnikow and Vladimir Solovyev,
from the Petrozavodsk State Conservatory, will be visiting China during September.
Their visit is at the invitation of the Music Department of Shanghai Normal University
and the Shanghai Accordion Association. There will be a concert on 18th September,
commencing at 7.15pm, at Huangpu District Teenagers Centre. They will give a workshop,
plus introduce the Accordion Course in Russia and information on studying in their
homeland. Two other concerts are also planned, at venues in the cities of Zian
and Xiamen. For further information, please contact Mr Hu Yunyun on 0086-13601721604
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Polish Trio Visit
Vienna - Austria
Contributed
by Dr Herbert Scheibenreif
Manager of Friedrich Lips Productions
The
Motion Trio from Poland (Janusz Wojtarowicz, Marcin Galazyn and Pawel Baranek),
are performing at Joe Zawinul's 'Birdland' from September 21st to 25th. Their
repertoire largely consists of compositions by Janusz Wojtarowicz, and their style
is an exciting fusion of jazz, rock and original music. The Motion Trio have a
new CD ready for release on October 25th, titled 'Pictures from the Street'.
For further information email management@motiontrio.com
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Californian Accordionist's
New Website - USA
Contributed
by Kevin Friedrich
Accordionist
Bob Fantone started his musical
adventure when he was twelve years old. While shopping in downtown Long Beach,
California with his mother he stopped in front of a music store where he spied
a12 bass accordion. He signed up for accordion lessons and from that day in 1948,
he has been totally committed to every aspect of learning, playing and performing
accordion music.
From playing in "The Mello Accordions", to 3rd
place in the Western Accordion Festival, to the Long Beach City College Jazz Band,
Bob has enjoyed a lifelong career with the accordion.Today, he is active as an
entertainer performing a wide variety of accordion music for a large variety of
events. His performances include casual music gigs for events such as weddings,
anniversaries, birthday parties, store grand openings and special events, wine
tasting parties and holiday events. He works mostly within a 50-mile radius from
Long Beach, California.
For
further information and to hear a sample of his playing, please visit Bob's new
website: www.accordion-fantone.com
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Autumn
Accordion Festival, Bridlington - UK
This
year's Autumn Accordion Festival at The Spa, Bridlington, is set for 13th to 17th
October. The first Autumn Accordion
Festival took place in November 1982, in Weston-Super-Mare, organised by the
late Malcolm Gee. The festival moved to Seaton in Devon, then to a holiday center
at Caister where it established a permanent presence until moving to Bridlington
in 2001.
The 2004 Bridlington event features Mikael Vigneau (France), The
Fleurs Brothers (Argentina), David Vernon (Scotland), plus English-based accordionists
Harry Hussey, Me & Im (George Syrett & award winning drummer Rodney McNamara),
Gina Brannelli, Fiona Titterington, Jennifer Maxwell, Ann Wilson, the Burton Ensemble,
and the Ronmar Accordion Orchestra.
Mikael Vigneau, who won 3rd place in
the Coupe Mondiale Junior Virtuoso
Section in 2002, made his British debut earlier this year at the inaugural Rhyll
Accordion Camp to great popular acclaim. Still a teenager, he has recorded a CD
titled 'Descente Infernale' - a selection of French musette music, at which he
excels.
The festival offers concerts, dancing and workshops. There is also
a trade show. The workshops include Intermediate Orchestra (Ron Hodgson), Elementary
Orchestra (Michael Irving), Beginners' Orchestra (Brenda Webster), Scottish Orchestra
(Alistair Cameron), Vintage Orchestra (Jean Hanger), Playford music (Tracey Middleton),
Songs of Praise (Rev John Robinson), 'Anything Goes' (George Syrett & Rodney
McNamara) - plus others to be confirmed.
For further information, email
organiser Loretta
Rolston Bridlington@AccordionFestivals.co.uk - website www.AccordionFestivals.co.uk
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Jason Webley's Concert
Dates - USA
 Seattle-based
rock singer/accordionist Jason Webley has a busy schedule during late September.
He appears on September 18th at the 2nd Annual Rock Summit in New York City, after
which he heads off to California to appear on the 20th at the Caffeine Den, Stockton;
21st, Scripps College; 22nd, Redlands College; 24th, Che Café, San Diego;
26th, Henry Miller Library, Big Sur.Webley's
new CD, 'Only Just Beginning', is now on sale in record stores.
For further
information, email Jason@jasonwebley.com
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Accordion Concert,
Sheffield - UK
Contributed
by Rob
Howard
On October 2nd, the annual accordion concert in aid of charity, organised by local
accordionist Ray Burgon, takes place at St Mary's Church, Bramhall Lane, Sheffield
(7.00pm start). The artistes appearing this year include The Stockport Accordion
Club Band (MD Peter Whiteley) and Orchestra (MD Brian Jenkins), The Burton Four
Ensemble, The Strings and Reeds Three, solo accordionists George Syrett, Margaret
Mitchell, Andrew and Rachel Hesslewood. The MC is Stockport AC President, Johnny
Coleclough.
For further information, email robaccord5@hotmail.com
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UK Accordionists
Appear at Italian Festival
Information
supplied by Heather Smith
  UK
accordionists Gary Blair (left), Heather Smith, Bert Santilly and David Lukins
are toappear at a festival called: '13th Raduno Nationale Veterani della Fisarmonica
(The 13th National Meeting of the Veterans of the Accordion). The festival - which
runs from October 8th to 10th - is organised by Elio Bertolini (right), head of
the Recoaro Terme Music School.
As part of the festival, certain accordionists
are honoured for their artistic achievements by having imprints made of their
hands for display in the Accordion Museum in Recoare Terme. On the recommendation
of Giancarlo Caporilli, the four British guest accordionists have been selected
for the honour this year, to be included with more than 50 imprints. This is the
only accordion museum of its kind in the world, and the first time UK Accordionists
have been honoured.
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Lecture on Harmonica
Development - Austria
On September 24th, Wolfram Märzendorfer will lecture on the history and development
of the various types of the harmonica. The lecture begins at 7pm, and the venue
is the Harmonikazentrum, Griegasse 24, Graz.
For further information,
email info@harmonika.co.at
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Oktoberfest Accordion
Competition, Texas - USA
The Texas town of Addison bids "Willkommen Y'All!" to the Oktoberfest
Accordion Competition on September 19th, at 2.30pm. A total of $1675 prize money
awaits the top five contestants, and the venue is the Stage Bowl, Addison. There
is a strict 4 minute time limit and music entries must be 'Oktoberfest' related
i.e. polka, waltz, mazurka or march.
For further information email Greg
Klugiewicz at gklugie@comcast.net
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Accordion Teacher
Amongst Dead in Beslan Siege Tragedy - Russia
The
recent siege of the school in the Russian town of Beslan is a tragedy that has
shocked the world. A report in the New Scotsman revealed that amongst the death
toll of over three hundred children and adults, local accordion teacher Sima Alikova
and her young daughter were among the victims.
The news report begins:
"The accordion Sima Alikova once played lies mute on a bed in her family's
living room, amid a pile of clothes, pictures, toys and even a toothbrush that
her nine-year old daughter, Irena, once used…'I still don't believe this
situation - it's like a bad dream', says Sima's husband, Vladimir Beryozov, aged
45". The report also adds: "Alikova, 45, worked at the town's Palace
of Culture, where she played accordion and gave lessons, and was remembered as
one of Beslan's best musicians".
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Pascal
Contet, Concerts and Updated Website - France
 Pascal
Contet, regarded by many critics as a leading figure in the renaissance of
the accordion in France, has a number of concerts in his diary. On October 15th,
he performs at the Castelfidardo
29th Premio e Concorso Internazionale, Italy; on October 20th he is in concert
at St Etienne du Rouvary, near Rouen; and on the 30th he performs at Bescancon.
For further information, email pascalcontet@wanadoo.fr
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New CD from Mark
Roberts - Canada
 Canadian
accordionist Mark Robert began studying the accordion at the age of six, and by
the time he was 12 had attained 2nd place in the World Junior Championships, and
had also given a solo recital at the Royal Danish Conservatory of Music. At 13
he achieved the distinction of becoming the youngest ever competitor at the senior
Coupe Mondiale in Helsinki, Finland.
Mark later trained to become a doctor, but maintained his interest in music, and
has now produced his first solo recording, a CD titled 'Beneath the Stars', featuring
many of his own compositions.
For
further information email mvroberts@bigwhitedogmusic.com
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Quote of the Week
Did
You Know? by Willoughby
Walshe
Two
outstanding Cajun and Zydeco music events in Europe take place in France and Germany.
The Cajun & Zydeco Nights Festival at Saulieu, France, (in August each year)
is billed as one of the most cheerful festivals in the world with outdoor balls,
Cajun-Creole restaurant, and film festival. The Cajun and Zydeco Festival in Germany
is held at two towns, Baasem and Unna - where, in September, performing bands
play the same sets on succeeding evenings.
Find
out more….. "Walshe
Essential Guide to Accordion and Harmonica Events" link
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New & Updated
Sites
www.accordions.com/garydahl
- Updated information on music and books available from composer and arranger
Gary Dahl. The updated site includes some new .mp3 sound files offering examples
of his work. Site contains information on ordering books and music as well as
other services such as correspondence courses and biographical information.
www.accordion-fantone.com
- Active entertainer Bob Fantone performs a wide variety of accordion music for
a large variety of events within a 50 mile radius from Long Beach, California.
www.accordions.com/finland
- Updated Finland site and Celebrity Interview with Lasse Pihlajamaa contributed
by Kevin Friedrich.
www.accordionusa.com
- United States National News September edition is now online with news and upcoming
concerts in the United States.
Article titled 'Craig's
Excellent Accordion Adventure' - "This year, my band, the Gypsy Wranglers,
was hired to play at Carrefour Mondial de l'Accordeon in Montmagny, Quebec".
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From
October 15th to 20th, the 