The CNIMA, organised by Jacques Mornet, offers a wide range of accordion training courses. Teachers include Jacques Mornet, Nathalie Boucheix, Stéphanie Methot, Pascal Meurge, Claude Sauvage, Amélie Castel, Aurélien Noel, Isabelle Janvier, Claude Thomain, and Marie-Andrée Joerger.
The various courses take place from July 14th to 19th, July 21st to 26th, August 11th to 16th, and August 18th to 23rd.
The well-known composer and accordionist Franck Angelis will be present and involved in the July 14th to 19th sessions. Roland Virtual Accordion demonstrator Daniel Deruytere will take part in the July 21st to 26th courses, teacher Yuri Shishkin and singers Mylène Mornet and Olivier Heyte – August 11th to 16th, and guitarist Thierry Monchemy - August 18th to 23rd.
Organised by CNIMA, Franck Angelis will perform in concert on July 15th at the church du Mont-Dore, Yuri Shishkin is in concert on August 13th at the church in La Bourboule.
The 4th Pineto Jazz Accordion Festival takes place from July 25th to 27th. Pineto is a seaside resort in Teramo province in the Abruzzo region of eastern Italy.
The opening concert, on July 25th, titled the ‘Kappa Project’ features the Pineto Orchestra (MD Renzo Ruggieri pictured bottom right) performing ‘Omaggio a Gorni Kramer’. The program includes compositions by Gorni Kramer, who was both one of Italy’s finest accordionists and also a very well known composer/song writer. Special guests are Franco Cerri and Sylvia Pagni (pictured above right).
On July 26th, there is a concert starring Bruno De Filippi and the Max De Aloe Quintet, and on July 27th the festival ends with the Rossana Casale Quintet - special guest: Fausto Beccalossi – in concert.
Dirigenten-Orchester KV Rottweil travel to Chile - Germany
Contributed by Horst Fausel (Hohner product mananger/accordion)
20 years ago the Dirigenten-Orchester KV Rottweil made its first visit to Chile, organised by Victor Sepulveda, and its members made such a good impression that they have not been forgotten.
At the end of July, 27 orchestra members will fly in the far north of Chile, for a concert tour from July 26th to August 18th. The tour begins where Chile borders Peru and Bolivia. Chile has many unusual features, such as the highest and driest desert on earth, the highest lake, plus the magnificent peaks of the Andes. The orchestra will perform concerts in cities such as Arica, San Pedro de Atacama, Antofagasta, La Serena and Valparaiso. After travelling more than 4,000 tour kilometres, the group will then arrive in Santiago.
Also part of this tour will be Victor Sepulveda, and the musical directors are Uwe Rapp and Dieter Witz. They have prepared the program together and want to present to the Chilean public well-known entertainment music and some original compositions.
The international accordion ensemble known as Accordion Tribe, makes their sixth tour of Europe in July 2008 with four concerts. A 2009 European tour is also confirmed for April. The current line-up of Accordion Tribe is: Bratko Bibic (Slovenia), Amy Denio (USA), Maria Kalaniemi (Finland), Guy Klucevsek (USA), and Otto Lechner (Austria).
Tour dates:
July 24th – Zeltival, Karlsruhe, Germany
July 25th – Kulturzelt, Kassel, Germany
July 26th - Hafensommer, Wurzburg, Germany
July 27th - Sfinks, Bochoet, Belgium
Lars Hollmer has had to pull out of the July 2008 due to illness, and will be replaced by Amy Denio, from Seattle, USA.
In May 1996, five of the world’s most innovative contemporary accordionists converged in Europe for a three-week tour. Each of these players is recognized in classical, jazz, folk or avant-garde music circles for their playing skills, compositional ability, and an unquenchable thirst for adventure. Individually, they are uncompromising and driven by a deep passion for breaking down musical barriers.
Collectively, they make the challenge to integrate these forces into a whole, of which the combined energy is greater than the sum of its parts. Their program features solos and combinations, compositions and collaborations from individual and collective group members.
Accordion Tribe released a DVD, ‘Music Travels’, in 2005.
Well know French accordionist Eric Bouvelle plays an important musical role in the French language film ‘Faubourg 36’, starring Clovis Cornillac, Gerard Jugnot and Bernard-Pierre Donnadieu, which is set for release on September 24th.
‘Faubourg 36’ is set in a suburb of north-east Paris between December 1935 and July 1936 during the turbulent ‘revolutionary’ period of the Popular Front (who introduced the first paid holidays and a shorter working week). Three unemployed performers decide to take over by force the music hall where they worked a few months earlier and stage a show there.
Much of the movie was filmed in Prague, Czech Republic, which resembles Paris of the 1930s more than present day Paris.
Sir Jimmy Shand (1908-2000) was an accordionist of many accomplishments. He had a recording career that lasted from 1933 until the mid-1990s, helped design an accordion that became world famous – the Shand Morino, had a railway engine named after him, and became the first accordion player to be knighted.
The ‘Sir Jimmy Shand Tribute Day’, held annually at St Andrews Town Hall, was special as it marked 100 years since the birth of this outstanding musician. Throughout the afternoon, the 300-strong audience were able to follow Sir Jimmy's life on a screen showing photographs and videos of his career, and tributes were paid by some of the people who had known and worked with him.
A concert followed, featuring accordionists Jimmy Shand Junior (the event organiser), Ian Cruickshanks, David Cunningham, Jack Delaney, Jack Stalker, Bill Stewart, Colin Dewar, Alasdair MacLeod, Simon Howie, Robert Black, and Graeme Mitchell.
Three pieces of music were performed for the first time - the ‘Sir Jimmy Shand Centenary March’, a composition begun by Sir Jimmy and finished by Jimmy Jnr.; ‘Lady Anne Shand’, a Strathspey by Jimmy Jnr. named after his late mother, and ‘David Shand's 42nd Birthday March’, which Jimmy Jnr. wrote for his brother but never recorded. The concert finished with all players together on stage for a grand stramash.
The event raised around £3000 for charity, which was divided between CHAS and the Dalgairn Centre, Cupar.
Concerto Del Nova 4TET Alla Festa Europea Della Musica 2008, Rome - Italy
The concert held on June 20th by NOVA 4TET during the European Music Festival was greatly appreciated by a large audience. The quartet formed by Salvatore Cauteruccio -accordion, Enzo Campaign - guitar, Antonello Mango – bass, and Angel Sirufo – drums, has performed at the Academy Belgica proposing a repertoire of (Tango, Waltz Musette, Standard Jazz). Currently, the NOVA 4TET is involved in several concerts in various festivals as well as in the first CD registration which official release is scheduled for September/October.
The city of Chartres, situated in northern France, is probably known internationally for its magnificent Cathedral, one of the finest medieval buildings in Europe. Since 1988 Chartres has also been home to the Rencontre Européenne de l'Accordéon, a large-scale celebration of the accordion that features top players from France and many other countries. This event has been organised from the beginning by Claudine Aucher.
The 20th Rencontre Européene de l’Accordéon took in June, with events taking place in the Hotel de Ville, the parc Leon Blum, and other parts of the city centre. Many of the events were held in the open air, thanks to the good weather, and were free.
The guest artiste list included Michel Farez, Claude Caron, Laurent Pire, Emmanuel Rolland, Stéphanie Moreaux, Mathilde Royet, Dorothée Lhoir, Jean-Marc Torchy, Bertrand Hembert, Franck Vilain, René Grolier, Bruno Lorenzoni, Yvette Horner, Raynald Quellet, Bruno Gendron, Benoit Bourque, Alons-Y Tant Qu’C’est Chaud!, Carine Vigny, Sabrine Rivière, Jean-Pierre Ménager, Henry Lemarchand, Kerar’s World, Réne Guy, Nelson, Didier Couturier, Gabriel, Chantrieux, and André Loppe. There were also two surprise guests - Julian ‘Speedy’ Gonzales, and Benoit Nortier – two rising stars of the French accordion scene.
Victor Prieto Trio at Chelsea Arts Museum, New York – USA
Jazz accordionist Victor Prieto, with Carlo De Rosa – bass, and Vince Cherico – drums, perform at the Chelsea Art Museum,
556 West 22nd Street, New York, NY 10011, on Saturday July 12th,12 noon.
Accordionist Patric Brugalière accompanies singer Caroline Loeb in a stage show titled ‘Mistinguett, Madonna et Moi’, July 10th until August 2nd, 6pm, at "LA TACHE D'ENCRE", 1 rue de la Tarasque, Aviginon in the South of France.
July 14th, 9pm - Marco Lo Russo accompanies singer Eva Lopez on accordion and pianoforte at Notteri, Villasimius, Cagliari
July 18th, 9pm – Latina, with flautist Marco Celli Stain
19th,9pm - Monte San Giacomo, Salerno
August 14th - Museo di arte contemporanea MADRE, Naples
15th – Festival, Paestum
The 4th annual Northwest Montana Polka Festival will be held in the Flathead Valley, at Eagles Aerie #234, 37 1st Street West, Kalispell, Montana. The festival begins on July 18th, 4pm, until July 20th, 6pm.
The event includes music and dancing for all ages with an emphasis on polkas and waltzes; however many styles of music will be presented. Some of the crowd pleasers will include country, big band, standards, Latin, Hawaiian, and Cajun. Two bands will be featured at this new event - The Al Lindborg Band from Polson, Montana, and Don and The Hi Rollers, from Billings, Montana.
The venue has a beautiful ballroom with a wooden dance floor and air conditioning. Food and beverages will be available. The dances on Friday will be held from 4pm to 11pm, Saturday's dances will be from 1pm to 12:00am, and Sunday's dances will be from 1pm to 6pm.
From July 23rd to 27th during the 14th Savinese Music Festival, there will be a special course dedicated to the accordion. Lecturers for this course will be Roberto Caberlotto and Gilberto Meneghin.
The course is open to all accordionists of any age, country and with any type of instrument and repertoire. They will discuss literature for soloist and chamber (duo, trio, quartet and accordion ensemble) and a space will be devoted to the anatomy of the instrument. The course is also open for spectators.
The Régis Huiban Quartet will be performing throughout the summer during the ‘fest-noz’ in venues in Brittany, including:
July 14th - Hennebont
15th - Fest-Noz - Lannion
16th - Fest-Noz - Trébeurden, with Wipidoup
18th - Carnac, with Les Soeurs Bervas
19th - Carhaix, with Wipidoup
22nd - Lesconil, with Wipidoup, les "apéros breizh"
23rd, 9pm – solo concert in Quimper
25th, Fest-Noz - Quimper, with Wipidoup,
28th, 9pm – solo concert, Quimper
29th, Le Guilvinec, as a duo with Philippe Gloaguen
Régis Huiban became a professional musician in 1994 and has performed his unique 'world-music' mixture of improvised Breton traditional music and jazz in dance halls, musical shows, and in concerts. Régis Huiban is recording a new CD, due for release in February 2009.
Gary
Dahl - accordionist as well as a composer, arranger, recording
artist and music educator, release 1 new work for accordion available
for purchase online, ‘Crazy’.
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.
Crazy has continued to be as popular as it was in the late 1940's
as a billion seller recording. This arrangement follows the original
Patsy Cline billion seller and it still remains the best version.
English
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The 
The various courses take place from July 14th to 19th, July 21st to 26th, August 11th to 16th, and August 18th to 23rd.
4th Pineto Jazz Accordion Festival, Abruzzo – Italy
Well know French accordionist Eric Bouvelle plays an important musical role in the French language film ‘Faubourg 36’, starring Clovis Cornillac, Gerard Jugnot and Bernard-Pierre Donnadieu, which is set for release on September 24th.
Sir 
The concert held on June 20th by NOVA 4TET during the European Music Festival was greatly appreciated by a large audience. The quartet formed by Salvatore Cauteruccio -accordion, Enzo Campaign - guitar, Antonello Mango – bass, and Angel Sirufo – drums, has performed at the Academy Belgica proposing a repertoire of (Tango, Waltz Musette, Standard Jazz). Currently, the NOVA 4TET is involved in several concerts in various festivals as well as in the first CD registration which official release is scheduled for September/October.
The city of Chartres, situated in northern France, is probably known internationally for its magnificent Cathedral, one of the finest medieval buildings in Europe. Since 1988 Chartres has also been home to the Rencontre Européenne de l'Accordéon, a large-scale celebration of the accordion that features top players from France and many other countries. This event has been organised from the beginning by Claudine Aucher.
Jazz accordionist Victor Prieto, with Carlo De Rosa – bass, and Vince Cherico – drums, perform at the Chelsea Art Museum, 
Accordionist Tony Compton (right) and well-known jazz trumpet player and writer Digby Fairweather (left) team up for a series of concerts, as follows:
Accordionist 
The Régis Huiban Quartet will be performing throughout the summer during the ‘fest-noz’ in venues in Brittany, including: