4th European Festival of Accordion Orchestras 2006 - Czech Republic Contributed by Rob Howard
The Czech Accordion Association and the concert and travel agency Club Tours Agentur Prague are together organising the 4th European Accordion Festival of Accordion Orchestras, in Prague. This international event takes place from April 20th to 23rd, with the competition all taking place on April 22nd.
The festival takes place in the impressive hall of the Vinohrady National House and in other halls in the city of Prague. The festival includes accordion orchestras from Czech Republic Estonia, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Norway, Russia, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Switzerland and the UK. The categories include:- 1) Junior Accordion Orchestras, under the age 16 year 2) Classical Music, no age limits, at least 10 accordions 3) Light Music, no age limits, 12 or more players.
The annual NAO UK Accordion Championships is to be held from May 5th to 7th in Scarborough. The Opening Gala concert on Friday evening features the Classic Buskers, Julian Gonzales (France) picture right, the current CIA Junior Variety and CMA Senior Variety Entertainment Champion, and Romany Rye.
The competition classes to be held throughout Saturday and Sunday involve some 350 plus entries and include a complete range of solo, duo, group and orchestra classes. After the prize presentation on Saturday evening, the traditional Scottish Ceilidh will be held with Gary Blair and his band.
A full trade show will be held in the Green Lounge, including accordions, music, CDs, throughout the three days.
Miller Theatre at Columbia University in New York City, has launched a new three-year project to commission twelve world-class composers to write twelve new Pocket Concertos - works for soloist and sinfonietta - and to present the world premieres of four of these new works each season for the next three seasons.
A roster of outstanding musicians will play the new works. The magician of the instrument, Guy Klucevsek (pictured), will perform the first, Accordion Concerto by Julia Wolfe, on April 22nd, at 8pm. It was written for accordion and chamber orchestra.
The Pocket Concerto Project is a major initiative of Miller Theatre's longstanding commitment to commissioning and presenting new works. The Theatre's goal to make lasting and substantial contributions to the repertoire now includes a work featuring the accordion.
Pearl Adriano Resumes Her Career, Barnsley - UK Contributed by Rob Howard
International accordion virtuoso Pearl Adriano, previously known as Pearl Fawcett, has resumed performing after a long break due to personal reasons. Pearl, who was married to the late Adrian Dante (birth name Dante Adriano), was one of the UK's most notable innovators: the first to the first to teach and to give accordion recitals at a Conservatoire in Great Britain, and the first give recitals on television. She was also the first Western female accordionist to make a solo concert tour of the USSR. Pearl was also the first leading UK player to use and promote the electronic accordion.
Pearl was the CMA Junior and Senior World Champion, and her other competition successes include winning numerous British and Commonwealth titles at every age level. She has made many recordings of classical, Continental and dance music, and also has several compositions to her credit.
Pearl Adriano's performing engagements for 2006 include:- September 29th, 30th and October 1st - Recoaro Terme, Italy (15th Raduno Internazionale Veterani Della Fisarmonica) October 7th - Soar Valley Accordion Club, Leicester October 13th to 16th - Eastbourne Accordion Festival November 2nd to 6th - Accordions International 2006, Caister November 21st - Stockport Accordion Club.
Performing En Route to the Fair, Hamburg - Germany Contributed by Rob Howard
Accordionist, organist and Excelsior demonstrator Jon Hammond has travelled to Germany, performing in Hamburg prior to moving on to the Musikmesse Fair, Frankfurt, which takes places from March 29th to April 1st. Jon writes as follows:- "Two of our three Hamburg gigs are done before we head out to Frankfurt. Last night was excellent and fun, the club was directly in the Harburg train station in Harburg-Hamburg so we heard the train going by every 2 minutes (music to my ears!). Tomorrow night we make our 'Multimedia Party' in INDRA located in St. Pauli Hamburg. INDRA is the original club where the Beatles played here before they moved over to the Star Club (which later burnt down). I know some old-timer Star Club characters here so we are hoping they will join us tomorrow night."
Viktor Romanko Appearances, Frankfurt - Germany
Russian accordionist Viktor Romanko will be demonstrating for the Hohner accordion company at the Musikmesse Fair in Frankfurt, March 29th to April 1st. He will be demonstrating at the following times:- March 29th - 12 noon and 2.30pm March 30th - 12noon, 2.30pm and 6pm March 31st - 11am, 12 noon and 2.30pm April 1st - 12 noon and 3pm
On April 2nd - Viktor Romano performs in concert at the Klosterkirche (cloister church), Kassel, at 5pm.
Viktor Romanko is Professor of Accordion at the Urals Conservatory at Jekaterininburg, Russia. He has many recordings and international concert tours to his credit, and tours regularly in Germany.
Easter Accordion Break, Somerset - UK Contributed by Rob Howard
London-based accordion teacher John Leslie is to provide tuition to all levels at the Easter Accordion Break, held at St Audrie's Bay Holiday Club in Somerset.
The event, which runs from April 10th to 14th, includes accommodation, breakfast, evening meal, workshops, and practical and theory lessons.
La Bottine Souriante, Quebec - Canada La Bottine Souriante, a nine-piece ensemble from Quebec featuring Pierre Belisle on piano accordion and Pierre-Luc Dupois on 3-row button accordion, have performed traditional French Canadian music since 1976. They perform at music festivals and concerts around the world, and have a loyal following in many countries.
La Bottine Souriante (whose name literally means 'The Smiling Boot') are to appear at the Festival International de Lafayette, Louisiana, USA, on April 28th and 30th. On April 29th, they appear at the Houston International Festival in Texas.
Isle of Skye Accordion & Fiddle Festival, Scotland - UK Contributed by Rob Howard
The second Isle of Skye Accordion & Fiddle Festival takes place from May 25th to 27th, at the Royal Hotel, Portree, and at other venues on this Scottish island. There are concerts and ceilidhs, and also the launch of a new CD by accordionist Ross MacPherson.
The festival involves many accordionists, including Ross MacPherson, Ian Cameron, the Marian Anderson Scottish Dance Band, and the Ballochmyle Ceilidh Band.
Bruno Maurice Summer Master Classes and Concerts - France Contributed by Holda Paoletti-Kampl
Accordionist Bruno Maurice is to conduct master classes and also to perform in concert at the International Festival of Les Arcs, held from July 15th to 28th, and at also the International Festival of Guérande, from August 12th to 26th.
Bruno Maurice is Professor of Accordion at the National Conservatory of Bordeaux, and an international accordion soloist. He studied at the Tchaikovsky Academy in Kiev, Ukraine, and has won accordion competitions in France, Italy and Sweden.
Free of Charge - Advertising Theme of the Eurovision Song Contest, Athens 2006. Israeli arranger, composer and performer Yehuda Oppenheimer has just released in cooperation with MusicForAccordion.com an arrangement of the Te Deum Prelude, which was written by M.A.Charpentier (1643-1704). This melody is the advertising theme of the Eurovision Song Contests, which is next being held in Athens.
This year the Eurovision Semi Final is being run on 18 May and the Final on 20 May. As a promotional gift, the new arrangement is being sent free of charge to all MusicForAccordion.com February and March 2006 clients. So buy any music, book or CD from MusicForAccordion.com in March 2006 and you will receive free of charge, this new arrangement by Yehuda Oppenheimer. Listen to the sample tracks of the beautiful Oppenheimer CD now online as well as view samples of his fine compositions and arrangements.
A new site selling a book titled 'L'Accordéon & SA Diversité Sonore'. Book in French language about the accordion reeds and the sound and how to tune and repair the reeds of the accordions. Author is Thierry Benetoux of France.
James O' Brien - composer, arranger and performer, releases another 5 new works for accordion available for purchase online. 'As I Went Out' (traditional), 'Bagpiper's Carol' (traditional), 'Carnival of Venice' (traditional), 'Cicirinella' (traditional), 'Hopak' (traditional). Samples of this music are available on the site. The music is in eSheet format, able to be emailed to your computer. Purchase with credit card.
The American Accordionists' Association (AAA) site has been updated to show current competition information for 2006 including the national festival comeptitions and the $10,000 first prize 'Vivian Vivio Stolaruk International Entertainment Competition for Accordionists' which will be held from July 12-14, 2006 at the Adams Mark Hotel, Buffalo/Niagara Falls, NY.
GSB srl, Manager: Markus Rumpf. GSB srl specialise in:- Keyboards of accordion and electronic keyboards assemblage. Mechanical assemblage of all kind of accordions. Constituent elements of accordion assemblage. Accordion repairing. Revisione generale per fisarmonica. Accordion general reconditioning.
James O' Brien - composer, arranger and performer, releases another 6 new works for accordion available for purchase online. 'Talk To Me' (traditional), 'Tarantella-Napolitana' (traditional), 'Tiritomba' (traditional), 'Vieni Sul Mar' (traditional), 'Wild Mountain Thyme' (traditional), 'Windmiller Polka' (traditional). Samples of this music are available on the site. The music is in eSheet format, able to be emailed to your computer. Purchase with credit card.
Vassily Glubochenko releases a new composition of 'Walk With the “Mops”'. Sample of the music is available online. The music is in eSheet format, able to be emailed to your computer. Purchase with credit card.
The annual 
Miller Theatre at Columbia University in New York City, has launched a new three-year project to commission twelve world-class composers to write twelve new Pocket Concertos - works for soloist and sinfonietta - and to present the world premieres of four of these new works each season for the next three seasons.
International accordion virtuoso Pearl Adriano, previously known as Pearl Fawcett, has resumed performing after a long break due to personal reasons. Pearl, who was married to the late 
Accordionist, organist and 
On April 2nd - Viktor Romano performs in concert at the Klosterkirche (cloister church), Kassel, at 5pm.
London-based accordion teacher John Leslie is to provide tuition to all levels at the Easter Accordion Break, held at St Audrie's Bay Holiday Club in Somerset. 
Accordionist Bruno Maurice is to conduct master classes and also to perform in concert at the International Festival of Les Arcs, held from July 15th to 28th, and at also the International Festival of Guérande, from August 12th to 26th.
