The Sata-Häme Soi Accordion Festival Presented a beautiful Plaque to Accordions Worldwide in recognition of the global work it is doing in the promotion of the accordion, and Finnish accordion activities.
In Ikaalinen alone, you will find the Sata-Häme Soi Accordion
Festival, the Finnish Accordion Association, the Finnish Accordion
Institute, the Accordion Museum and the Accordion Making School, the
CIA Headquarters and the CIA International Archive Center. Combined
with the other excellent activities such as those found in Helsinki
at the Sibelius Academy, both in Classical and Folk departments, the
work by outstanding Finnish artistes of varied styles including Mika
Väyrynen, Maria Kalaniemi, Kimmo Pohjonen and Matti Rantanen,
to name just a few, the commissioning of new works by renowned contemporary
Finnish Composers, the inclusion of the accordion at major Chamber
and Music Festivals throughout Finland, the Internet has helped promote
this work worldwide.
The
Award to Accordions Worldwide was made by festival Artistic Director
Kimmo Mattila (picture left) at the Closing Ceremony of the 35th annual
festival held in Ikaalinen, Finland. Accordions
Worldwide Director Harley
Jones’ sister Heather
Masefield, who had travelled from New Zealand to attend the festival,
accepted the award.
Mel Bay Publication's primary author for accordion, Gary Dahl has released a new book 'Getting Into Accordion.' This book was written keeping in mind that many of today's accordionists are recreational players that took lessons during their school age years, and now upon returning to the accordion need an adult oriented book that will teach and motivate the additional skills needed to become an advanced accordionist with the skills to learn and enjoy any style of music.
This book presents very high-level arrangements of favorite songs, including technique building exercises and beginning chord memorization. The ‘Getting Into Accordion Method’ fills an important pedagogical niche that provides a structured program to assure step-by-step development. $17.95 plus shipping - 100 pages including instructional CD.
Gary Dahl offers correspondence lessons to enhance the success of using the books. For a list of all books, sample of arrangements that are available, information on correspondence lessons and contact information, please visit: www.accordions.com/garydahl
'Night of the Accordion' Festival, Limburg - Germany
On Saturday July 14th, 8pm, a special celebration entitled 'Night of the Accordion' will be held at the Limburg City Hall in Germany in conjunction with the 30th Limburg Summer Festival. This free concert will feature Tango, Jazz and Balkan Polka performed by the Veronika Todorova Band, Tango Rova, and jazz accordion star Renzo Ruggieri, from Italy.
The Veronika Todorova Band features the charming sorceress on the accordion who dazzles with the vitality, flexibility and an originally sound while her teacher, the famed Renzo Ruggieri, is well known for his thrilling improvisations on the accordion and Tango Rova delights with its soulful elodies and passionated harmonies while performing the music of Piazzolla.
London-born diatonic accordionist, Anglo concertina player and folk singer is one of the British folk world’s most accomplished and respected performers. Apart from his solo work, Kirkpatrick has been a member of bands that include Steeleye Span, Brass Monkey, Umps & Dumps, Sultans of Squeeze, and the John Kirkpatrick Band.
On Wednesday 8th, at the Ham Marquee during Sidmouth Folk week, John Kirkpatrick will take part in a concert that includes various members of bands he was worked with. Kirkpatrick commented recently that: “I shall be seeing my whole life pass before me!”
The annual Frank Marocco Accordion Event takes place from January 24th to 28th 2008 in Mesa, Arizona. The event is limited to only 50 accordion playing registrants. Non-players are also welcome to attend (unlimited registrations).
Each day includes a hands-on workshop, a popular part of The Frank Marocco Accordion Event. This year's workshops will include Frank Marocco leading a workshop on bass patterns with accompanying sheet music, and other workshops led by Dr. Ian Blair Fries and by Lenny Feldmann (The CordeenMan).
There will be daily orchestral workshops (MD Frank Marocco), finishing with a performance in the final evening concert. Music (based on grade level) will be sent out at the beginning of December.
Frank Marocco is of the world's leading jazz accordionists. He has had a career spanning nearly 60 years and is one of the most recorded accordionists. His credits include over 300 movie soundtracks, over 200 TV series, shows and specials, and more than 150 commercials.
Washington Metropolitan Accordion Society Update, Virginia – USA
Contributed by Mara Cherkasky
The WMAS celebrated Fathers’ Day with a members’ concert on June 17th. Players included Peter Di Giovanni, Phil Fox, Peter Fuehres, John Giunta on mandolin accompanied by Dale Wise (on ‘Oh, My Papa,’ the only father-specific piece), Robert Juszczyk, Joseph Kulick, Ken Kunec, Rick Nunno and Mara Cherkasky in duet, Joann Pankow, Mary Elizabeth Smith with her ‘Random Band’ (Karen, Phil, Peter and Mara), and four members of the Potomac Ensemble (Lou Silvia, Karen, Peter and Mara). Dale Wise was MC, and played a couple of numbers himself.
At next month’s meeting, on July 22nd, Ken Kunec will present a workshop on creative arrangements - ideas on improving your playing through the use of technique, style, improvisation and full use of the accordion's capabilities. If you’ve attended any recent meetings, you’ll know that Ken is a wonderful entertainer, so you’ll want to see what he has to show us.
We
want to submit our new WMAS shirt order in time to get the shirts
to wear at 2007 Coupe Mondiale,
August 13th to 18th, so orders need to be placed by July 9th. One
of the Coupe Mondiale highlights will be the massed band performance
at the U.S. Capitol on Friday, August 17th; another will be WMAS’s
‘After-hours’ party on August 16th. And then, of course,
there are concerts every night, a banquet, and loads of other activities.
Also, in honor of the Coupe Mondiale, the Kennedy Center’s Millennium
Stage will present free accordion concerts every evening at 6pm during
that week. Don’t miss the fun! And let’s have a strong
presence at the Coupe!
Klaus Paier performs at the Musikforum, held at Klagenfurt-Viktring from July 7th to 14th. Paier will be in a jazz quintet with Gerald Preinfalk – sax, Primus Sitter – guitar, Per Mathisen – bass, and Jojo Mayer – drums.
Virtuoso Serbian accordionist Milos Milivojevic performs at St Andrew’s Church, Deal, Kent CT14 6DY, on Wednesday July 11th, at 1pm. This event is part of the Deal Festival’s 25th Anniversary Year. Milivojevic’s program includes:
J.S.Bach - ‘Prelude and Fugue in E flat major, Book II: VII’
Domenico Scarlatti – ‘Sonatas in D minor K1, F-major K44 and F sharp minor K25’
Mendelssohn – ‘Choral from Organ Sonata No.6 in D minor’
Ben Fosket - new work (world premiere)
Magnus Lindberg – ‘Jeux D'anches’
Renato Borghetti is a Brazilian accordionist and composer of Italian descent. He works in many genres including traditional styles from his home state of Rio Grande do Sol, other styles of Brazilian music like samba, and international genres like jazz and European classical music. His main instrument is the 3-row diatonic button accordion. He won a Latin Grammy in 2005 for Best Brazilian Roots/Regional Album, for his album ‘Gaita Ponto Com’.
Renato Borghetti leads his quartet on a tour of Europe, as below:
July 16th - Infrasuoni 2007, Vergato, Bologna, Italy
17th – Suzzara, Mantua, Italy
19th - Kastav Summer Festival, Croatia
20th – Val Tidone Festival, Castel San Giovanni, Piacenza, Italy – with accordionist Raúl Barboza (Argentina)
22nd – Mundus Festival, Correggio, Italy
21st - Pineto Jazz Festival, Italy
23rd - Film Festival, Uherske Hradiste, Czech Republic 25th – Bergamo, Italy
26th – Folk Festival, Spilimbergo, Italy
27th - Restaurant Mirli im Irenental, Pressbaum, Austria
28th – Folk in Schloss, Bad Wildungen, Germany
29th - Suoni della Murgia, Altamura, Italy
30th - Suoni della Murgia, Santeramo in Colle, Italy
August 2nd – Trento, Italy
French jazz accordionist Ludovic Beier has several concert dates coming along, and has recently released a new CD ’Chilltimes’. Ludovic won the Prix Gus Viseur in 2005, and has performed with many top jazz musicians including accordionist Ken Peplowski, guitarists Birelli Legrene and Martin Taylor, and clarinet legend Buddy de Franco.
July 14th, 8pm – Private Evening Function, Paris
15th, 8pm – Noyers Sur Cher, France
20th, 8pm – Domont Jazz Festival, France
28th, 8pm – Lowell, Massachusetts, USA
29th, 8pm - Lowell, Massachusetts, USA
August 1st, 8pm – Django Concert, Rose Hall, New York
2nd, 8pm – Regatta Bar, Boston
4th, 8pm – Mr Hood Festival, Portland, Oregon
22nd, 6pm – Hotel D’Albret, Paris, France
30th, 8pm – Festival de Montmagny, Quebec, Canada
Accordionist Lorenzo Munari is in concert with vocalist Marina Coli and clarinettist Andrea Medici on July 19th, 9.30pm, at the piazza Falcone, Savignano. The concert is organised by the town council in collaboration with Art & Show Productions.
This concert will feature music from a wide spectrum – including classical, folk, jazz and tango.
From
October 29th to 31st, Finnish accordionist Mika
Väyrynen, tutor at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki will
be the guest teacher at the 9th International Accordion Seminar and
Concert in Plouay, Morbihan, France.
Accordionists of all ages, levels and styles of music who can demonstrate sufficient interest and teachers who wish to maintain effective teaching skills are invited to attend. Accommodation with host families will be provided free to those under the age of 20, and if space is still available, also to adults, however hotel accommodation is also available. The fee for attending the seminar is 170 Euro.
The new Article Historical
Accordion Events is a compilation of several reports of interest
that were sent to us by concert artist Alexander
Poeluev. These show some of the interesting events, he is invited
to, as one of the greatest young accordion artists, continuing his
concert career after graduation.
As this article is being published, Poeluev
has just performed a concert at the 2007 Sata-Häme Soi Accordion
Festival in Ikaalinen, Finland where the review read, he "performed
an outstanding concert" and "demonstrated his world
class artistry and techincal ability during his concert."
English
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Chinese 
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The
Award to Accordions Worldwide was made by festival Artistic Director
Kimmo Mattila (picture left) at the Closing Ceremony of the 35th annual
festival held in Ikaalinen, Finland. 
Mel Bay Publication's primary author for accordion, 
On Saturday July 14th, 8pm, a special celebration entitled 'Night of the Accordion' will be held at the Limburg City Hall in Germany in conjunction with the 30th Limburg Summer Festival. This free concert will feature Tango, Jazz and Balkan Polka performed by the Veronika Todorova Band, Tango Rova, and jazz accordion star 
John Kirkpatrick Career Celebration, Sidmouth - UK
The annual Frank Marocco Accordion Event takes place from January 24th to 28th 2008 in Mesa, Arizona. The event is limited to only 50 accordion playing registrants. Non-players are also welcome to attend (unlimited registrations).
The WMAS celebrated Fathers’ Day with a members’ concert on June 17th. Players included Peter Di Giovanni, Phil Fox, Peter Fuehres, John Giunta on mandolin accompanied by Dale Wise (on ‘Oh, My Papa,’ the only father-specific piece), Robert Juszczyk, Joseph Kulick, Ken Kunec, Rick Nunno and Mara Cherkasky in duet, Joann Pankow, Mary Elizabeth Smith with her ‘Random Band’ (Karen, Phil, Peter and Mara), and four members of the Potomac Ensemble (Lou Silvia, Karen, Peter and Mara). Dale Wise was MC, and played a couple of numbers himself.
Klaus Paier performs at the Musikforum, held at Klagenfurt-Viktring from July 7th to 14th. Paier will be in a jazz quintet with Gerald Preinfalk – sax, Primus Sitter – guitar, Per Mathisen – bass, and Jojo Mayer – drums.
Virtuoso Serbian accordionist Milos Milivojevic performs at St Andrew’s Church, Deal, Kent CT14 6DY, on Wednesday July 11th, at 1pm. This event is part of the Deal Festival’s 25th Anniversary Year. Milivojevic’s program includes:
Renato Borghetti is a Brazilian accordionist and composer of Italian descent. He works in many genres including traditional styles from his home state of Rio Grande do Sol, other styles of Brazilian music like samba, and international genres like jazz and European classical music. His main instrument is the 3-row diatonic button accordion. He won a Latin Grammy in 2005 for Best Brazilian Roots/Regional Album, for his album ‘Gaita Ponto Com’.
French jazz accordionist Ludovic Beier has several concert dates coming along, and has recently released a new CD ’Chilltimes’. Ludovic won the Prix Gus Viseur in 2005, and has performed with many top jazz musicians including accordionist Ken Peplowski, guitarists Birelli Legrene and Martin Taylor, and clarinet legend Buddy de Franco.
Accordionist 
The 
Italian diatonic accordionist Riccardo Tesi and his band play as follows:
From
October 29th to 31st, Finnish accordionist 
The new Article 
