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  21 October 2005 This weeks news | Past News  | Send news
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Editor's Note

The 58th Coupe Mondiale takes place in Castelo Branco, Portugal from the 25th to 30th October. The organising body, the Confédération Internationale des Accordéonistes (CIA) was founded in 1935, and thus celebrates its 70th birthday this year. Accordionists and enthusiasts everywhere should be proud and inspired by the fact that this flagship event continues to light a beacon for our beloved instrument around the world. The results will be posted on AWW in the near future.

Rob Howard
 


  30th International Prize and Award "Città di Castelfidardo", Castelfidardo - Italy
The CIA and Castelo Branco, Portugal, Welcome the World
Annual Accordion SMASH, Florida - USA
Concert and CD Launch, Melbourne - Australia
Vladimir Sidorov Concert and CD, Montreal - Canada
Frank Marocco/Nick Ballarini Accordion Camp, Florida - USA
Toralf Tollefsen Archive Film, London - UK

  Alexander Shurbin's Birthday Celebrations, Moscow - Russia
Henry Doktorski's Recent Performances, Illinois - USA
Rock Accordion Summit, New York - USA

  5th Annual Accordion Gathering, Maine - USA
Concert and Live CD Recording, Hayfield - UK
Tony Vincenzo Concert, Paris - France
'The Annual Accordion Friends Christmas Party', Uxbridge - UK

 

Macdonald
30th International Prize and Award "Città di Castelfidardo", Castelfidardo - Italy
Contributed by Harley Jones

The 30th International Prize and Award "Città di Castelfidardo" for accordion soloists and bands was held in Castelfidardo from the 13th to the 16th October. Record competition entries were reported by event Artistic Director Paolo Picchio, and the festival concerts were well attended with excellent concerts enjoyed by the audiences. A star attraction was the Renato Borghetti Quartet from Brazil, which received great applause from the capacity audience.

Winner of the open solo class was Victor Semenkin, a student of Professor Alexander Dmitriev of St Petersburg. Winner of the open light music class was Alexander Shirunov, also a pupil of Alexander Dmitriev. You may view a detailed program of the event along with full results of the 30th Castelfidardo Festival.

Castelfidardo Mayor Tersilio Marotta and Holda Paoletti Kampl present the first prize to Victor Semenkin of St Petersburg. 
Edition Harmonia
The CIA and Castelo Branco, Portugal, Welcome the World
Contributed by Harley Jones

The 58th Coupe Mondiale in Castelo Branco will open on October 24th with a pre-festival concert featuring DANÇAS OCULTAS, with the official opening concert on Tuesday evening featuring 2002 CIA Virtuoso Entertainment Champion from Portugal - João Frade and his Trio, the 2004 Coupe Mondiale Champion Alexander Selivanov from Russia, and accordion and piano duo, Gonçalo Pescada and Natália Ryabova. The festival will conclude on October 29th, with the closing concert featuring winners from the 6 Coupe Mondiale categories, the Lusotango Quintet and the Esart Ensemble featuring Portuguese accordionist Paulo Jorge Ferreira.

Organized by the CIA member the Conservatorio Regional de Castelo Branco, this is the first time the Coupe Mondiale has been held in Portugal. Since its inception in 1938, the Coupe Mondiale International Competition for Accordionists has established itself as one of the world's most important accordion events, and this year has attracted almost 170 contestants and delegates from 27 countries, who will take part in the various competitions and 114th General Assembly meeting.

For those unable to attend this event, we invite you to visit the Coupe Mondiale website at www.coupemondiale.org for daily updates. If you can't be there in person, this is the next best thing! The website will be updated late in the evening, Portugal time, at the conclusion of the daily events. Full competition results will be posted after the CIA General Assembly has ratified them on Saturday afternoon.
 
A to Z of the Accordion
Annual Accordion SMASH, Florida - USA
Contributed by Rob Howard

The Florida Accordion Association, in conjunction with the South East Accordion Association, hosts the 2005 FAA SMASH from November 11th to 13th. The festival takes place at the Holiday Inn Select, 12125 High Tech Avenue, Orlando.

The accordionists involved include Frank Marocco, Betty Jo Simon, Tony Lovello, Denis Novato (Italy), Gregory Fainshtein (Belarussia), Lenny Feldmann, Dick Albreski, Nick Ballarini, Jerry Tramontozzi, Walter Kasprzyk (of the "K" Trio), Vince Aleandri, Carmen Vitanza, and Maricarmen Vazquez.

The festival also includes a trade show with displays by John Gaunt of 'Accordions & Keyboards', from Clearwater, Florida; Alex Chudolij of 'Music Magic Accordions', from New Jersey (featuring the Roland V accordion); and Nick Ballarini, from Dallas, Texas, with a Petosa and Ballarini. There will be a concert by an accordion orchestra conducted by Linda Soley-Reed, President of the AAA, performing a tribute to the late Myron Floren.

For further information email: FLACCASSOC@bellsouth.net
 
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Concert and CD Launch, Melbourne - Australia
Contributed by Rob Howard

Melbourne's main event on the accordion calendar takes place on October 31st, when Bernadette Conlon will present her eighth annual Melbourne Cup Eve concert for the Bentleigh Organ Club.

Bernadette Conlon writes: "This concert, which has grown annually since its inception, will be the launch of Bernadette's exciting, new ninth CD, entitled Abandon. This CD is a study of the painful, tragic beauty of sadness, loss and abandonment, as well as the surrender or abandon to life's consequences.

The concert will also feature a performance by the Accordion Orchestra of Melbourne, of which Bernadette is the conductor. The group, which was formed three years ago by Bernadette, aims to promote good, sound accordion playing, tempered with that special flair for which Bernadette is renowned, as well as friendship and an outlet for accordionists. Fortnightly meetings bring Melbourne accordionists in touch with what is happening in the accordion world in Australia and abroad, encourage and foster young players, as well as the wonderfully courageous mature players, who need inspiration to strive for greater goals"
.

For further information email: accordionbernadette@bigpond.com
   

Vladimir Sidorov Concert and CD, Montreal - Canada
Contributed by Rob Howard

Russian accordionist Vladimir Sidorov now resident in Canada, is to perform a concert with percussionist Marie-Josée Simard at Piano Nobile, Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier, Place des Arts, Montreal on November 27th, at 11am.

Vladimir Sidorov is now preparing to record his second CD, due to be released March 2006. The program includes music by A. Liadov, J. Williams, A. Piazzolla, V. Monti, F. Chopin, J. Rodrigo, V. Gridin and V. Sidorov.
  
Benetoux
Frank Marocco/Nick Ballarini Accordion Camp, Florida - USA
Contributed by Rob Howard

Accordionists Frank Marocco and Nick Ballarini are hosting a 4 day Accordion Camp at Blue Spring State Park, Florida. The camp runs from November 13th to 16th. There will be ensemble playing and individual lessons, workshops, jam sessions and performances.

For further information email: nick@accordionartistry.com
  
Yehuda
Toralf Tollefsen Archive Film, London - UK
Contributed by Rob Howard

British Pathé have announced that they have archive film footage of people and events covering most of the 20th Century for sale on video. One of the thousands of film clips is a rare performance of Toralf Tollefsen in a 1939 concert performance of 'Invitation to the Waltz'. The sound and picture quality are very good, and purchase details plus stills of the performance can be seen on the website www.britishpathe.com

Toralf Tollefsen (1914-1994) was Norway's first great international accordion star player, with a career that was equally successful in variety theatres and the classical concert world. He lived in England, where he was hugely popular, from 1935 until 1961, apart from the war years where he was involved with the Norwegian resistance movement. Tollefsen's performances, recordings and arrangements were the benchmark by which progress was measured for a whole generation of accordionists, especially in England.

For further information email: sales@itnarchive.com
 
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Alexander Shurbin's Birthday Celebrations, Moscow - Russia
Contributed by Dr.Herbert Scheibenreif of Friedrich Lips Productions

On the occasion of several events to honor the 60th birthday of the composer Alexander Shurbin, Friedrich Lips organized a concert of his students in the Moscovite 'House of Music', featuring exclusively the works of the composer. Shurbin finished his studies of composition in the class of Professor N. Pejko at the Gnessin-Institute (1969) to continue afterwards for so-called 'Aspirantura' at the Conservatory of St. Petersburg until 1973 (class of Professor J. Kon).

The concert program (presented by Lips'students S. Kotko, K. Shtybin, M. Vlassova, M. Burlakov, A. Sheliganov, S. Osokin and A. Gainullin) included the following works: 'Fantasy and Fugue' (1972), 'Toccata' (1970), 'Suite in 3 parts: Prelude, Gavotte, Scherzo' (1968), 'Sonata No 1' (1971), 'Konzertny Diptich: Choral and Allegro' (1967), 'Sonata No 3' (1984), Sonata No 2' (1982). To conclude this most successful concert a domra-ensemble (directed by N. N. Lips) played Schurbin's 'Concert-Burlesque' (1989).
 
Gary Darven
Henry Doktorski's Recent Performances, Illinois - USA
Contributed by Faithe Deffner of the Titano Accordion Company

The New Philharmonic Orchestra at the College of Du Page in Glenn Ellyn, Illinois, recently featured accordionist Henry Doktorski in two concert performances of Astor Piazzolla's 'Adios Nonino'. Doktorski also appeared as a guest soloist in a concert with the Northwest Indiana Symphony, directed by Kirk Muspratt.

In an article written by Michelle L. Quinn for the Hobart, Merrillville, Indiana Post/Tribune, the journalist compared Henry Doktorski to Bruce Springsteen when she described his appearance at the Salon Robinson Elementary School, where he delighted the first, second, and third-graders by playing his accordion.
 
Rock Accordion Summit, New York - USA
Contributed by Faithe Deffner of the Titano Accordion Company

The third annual Rock Accordion Summit of New York City took place September 30th at The Delancy, a trendy downtown club that features contemporary events. Organized by accordionist Benjamin Ickies, who noted that "the accordionists hail from all over the country and they all rock the squeezebox in totally different ways!"

The Summit featured Benjamin Ickies and Friends (an electronic group with Ickies on accordion and effects pedal, Kamela Sankram on electric sitar and Steve La Rosa on drums), Alec K. Redfern & The Eyesores (Providence, Rhode Island's #1 chamber rock group), Julz A (a hip-hop accordionist who writes and produces his own beats), Brian Dewan (who has toured with They Might Be Giants), Uncle Moon (a new, group based in New York), and Unicornicopia (a synth-accordion player from Orlando, Florida).
   
Zubitsky

5th Annual Accordion Gathering, Maine - USA
Contributed by Rob Howard

On October 22nd, from 10am to 10pm, the 5th Annual Accordion Gathering takes place at the Grange Hall in Trenton Maine, New England. The event includes jam sessions, workshops, trade show, and an evening impromptu concert. All types of accordions and related instruments are invited and welcome, including supporting instruments for ensemble fun. The event has been growing over the years, attracting amateur and professional accordionists representing all levels of playing experience, including beginners.

This impromptu festival has no competition, and is just about sharing music. Any style of music is welcome, with jazz, folk, Irish, Scottish, Acadian, Balkan, German, Russian and Klezmer being genres represented at past gatherings. Piano, chromatic, diatonic button, bandoneon, concertina, and even reedless type accordions are all expected as in the past and shows the diversity of the accordion instrument family, as well as the styles of music they are played with.

There are extra accordions around for those who may have never played and would like to try. There is a $10.00 donation asked at the door to help defray the cost of the hall and heating. Accordionists and non-accordionists, or complete beginners will all get into the fun, share some knowledge, and a experience a good time from this event.
 
Tom
Concert and Live CD Recording, Hayfield - UK
Contributed by Rob Howard

On October 22nd, at 8.30pm, Jamie Schofield (accordion and piano), Nicola Lyons (fiddle, accordion, piano, vocals and step dance), Thomas Fairbairn (fiddle, viola and piano), Phil Cawsey (bass) and Phil Strange (guitar) will perform a folk music concert at the George Hotel, Hayfield, Derybyshire. The concert is to be recorded for a CD, and the band want lots of people to turn up and help create a good atmosphere. Admission is free.

For further information email: fosbrooks@thetidyhouse.fsnet.co.uk
  
Gary Dahl
Tony Vincenzo Concert, Paris - France
Contributed by Rob Howard

Tony Vincenzo, accordionist and bandoneon player, is to perform a concert at la Salle des Fêtes (20 rue Rochebrune), Rosny Sous Bois Town Hall, on October 29th at 8.30pm. The first half of the concert is mainly Argentinean tango music, including compositions by Astor Piazzolla. The second half features jazz, swing and gypsy music. There will be also an exhibition of accordions, presented by 'Paris Accordions'.

For further information email: vrenier@fr.dea.it
 
Lips
'The Annual Accordion Friends Christmas Party', Uxbridge - UK
Contributed by Rob Howard

On December 17th, 7.30 for 8pm, the annual 'Accordion Friends Christmas Party' takes place at The Coachman's Inn, Cowley, Uxbridge, Middlesex. There is a traditional three-course Christmas menu plus accordion entertainment by Harry Hussey and guests. The organiser, Ron Bennett, advises that ticket availability is limited, and it is not too soon to book.

For further information email: accordionfriends@aol.com
 
Ferreira
Stolen Accordions

Jon Halvor Kvamme, living in Grotli, Norway, had his black Victoria accordion stolen on October 2nd. The model is a 'Fire', a modern instrument with 5 rows of black and white treble buttons, and 13 treble couplers, 120 bass and seven bass couplers. This latest stolen instrument will be added to the growing list of stolen accordions on the Stolen Accordion List site. Even accordions stolen some years ago are welcome to be added to this list.

Please email: elle@fjellnett.no
 
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A new CD Review:

of
Classical Accordion Recital.

Review by
Joan Cochran Sommers.
Bernadette
Peter Piccini releases 6 compositions of 'Bella MusetteI, 'Feel Free ', 'French Mood', 'Groovy', 'Just Fine ' and 'Little Bird'. Samples of the music are available online. The music is in eSheet format, able to be emailed to your computer. Purchase with credit card.

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Yehuda Oppenheimer releases 3 arrangements of 'Hungarian Dance No.4', 'Ukrainian Song', 'Shepherd's Song'. Samples of the music are available online. The music is in eSheet format, able to be emailed to your computer. Purchase with credit card.



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