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• 25,000 Attend Stadium Concert - Panama
• Finnish Accordionist Performs in Belgium
• French Music - Switzerland
• Y2K Concert - Germany
• "Best of Accordion Music" Festival - Wales
• Ningbo Accordion Examinations - China
• Hof Orchestra in New Zealand
• "Meeting of Accordion Fellows" - Japan
• "Celebrity Interviews"
• New Classical CD - Spain
• "Tango Argentino" - Switzerland
• Kepa Junkera at Dranouter Folk Festival - Belgium
• Emter Family Dinner Theatre Plan - USA
• Coba in Concert - Japan
• "Voglia d'arte" Music Centre Concert - Italy
• Open air Accordion Concert with a Difference - England
• Accordionist Performs for Dignitaries - New Zealand
• Annual Summer Union Concert - Japan
• Chiacchiaretta takes part in Major Musical Events - Italy
• Keeping Cajun and Zydeco Music Alive - UK
• Chinese Accordion Activities - China
• Quartet CD Release - Italy
• Accordionists Feature at Prestigious Venue - New Zealand
• Antique Accordion Information
• New Sites

Contributed by Carlos Burac

A concert to celebrate the opening of the New National Stadium was held recently to 25,000 people in Panama. Artists from Panama, Puerto Rico and Mexico (including Panameñian groups "Conjunto Plumas Negras" and "Samy and Sandra Sandoval") performed to the very excited crowd.

Conjunto Plumas Negras played their latest hit "Carta a un amigo" which was dedicated to the late Victorio Vergara, founder of the group and considered the most famous accordionist in Panama. Their performance was broadcast on television to Latin America through the SUR Network (Latin America satellite group).

Samy and Sandra (accordion and vocals) played songs from their new album "Tan Panameño como el Canal" including the No1 hit "Amiga Prohibida".

Finnish accordionist Mika Väyrynen will travel to Belgium to perform in a chamber music festival from August 26th to 29th. A group of ten Finnish musicians will also perform including pianists, violinists, cellists and singers. Mika will perform "Silenzio" by Sofia Gubaidulina (accordion, violin and cello) and "Blue Angel Suite" by Marius Constant.

For further information email: mika.vayrynen@pp.inet.fi

Contributed by Jean-Claude Pouly

Trio Musique Simili which includes Marc Haensenberger (accordion), Line Lodo (vocals) and Juliette du Pasquier (violin) and will perform Southwest French music (occitan) as well as Oriental and Balkan Music at Moods Jazz Restaurant in Zurich, on August 24th. For further information email: moods@access.ch

Contributed by Erhard Schwenk

The "Akkordeonorchester Bartenbach 1950 e.V." (conducted by Valentina Wanner) have a special Y2K concert planned in Göppingen, Southwest Germany, which will also coincide with their 50th anniversary. The 20 member orchestra will perform a varied program which will include works by J.S. Bach as well as newer pieces by Hans-Günter Kölz and Wolfgang Ruß.

The concert will also include a performance by the "Handharmonika-Spielring" (conducted by Theodor Däuber) who play traditional pieces, marches, polkas and original music.

For further information email: eschwenk@fto.de

Contributed by Tom Duncan

The "Best of Accordion Music" Festival will be held from September 17th to 20th at the 'Grand Hotel', Prestatyn, North Wales. The event will include workshops on jazz, classics, Scottish and vintage music, bass techniques and beginners' classes. Groups will be organized for tuition and the formation of bands, which will perform in the final evening concert.

Each night accordion entertainment will be provided including soloists and dance music. There will also be a "Trade Display of Accordions". Full details have been published in the "Accordion Profile" Magazine (edited by Tom Duncan and Heather Smith).

For further information email: ThomasDuncan@compuserve.com

Contributed by Li Cong

The Ningbo Accordion Association invited Li Cong (President of the Shanghai Accordion Association), Wang Cong Yu (Director of the Shanghai Accordion Association), Fang Ling (past winner of the Australian International Accordion Championships) and Zhou Li Fei (1999 6th International Beijing Accordion Competition Champion) to examine at the Ningbo accordion examinations from August 6th to 9th.

In addition to this, the group also gave a concert to over 200 local accordion enthusiasts on August 6th.

Contributed by Harley Jones

The Canterbury Accordion Association was privileged last night to host the Akkordeonorchester Hof (Germany) for the first concert of their New Zealand tour. An audience of 400 enthusiastic people packed the Christchurch Girls High School Auditorium and were treated to a feast of accordion music.

The program began with the Christchurch Accordion Orchestra (conducted by Meg Fidler), followed by local professionals Stuart Bougen and the Lizzie Cook Band. Akkordeonorchester Hof conducted by Gunther Zeilinger completed the rest of the evening with a wide variety of music from their extensive repertoire.

Contributed by Toru Katou

On August 21st and 22nd, the annual "Meeting of Accordion Fellows" in West Japan will be held at the Kansai-Area University Seminar House, Sanda, Hyogo Prefecture. Guest accordionist Patrick Nugier (France) will perform with Japanese accordionist Tetsuya Kuwayama (member of TAM - Tokyo Accordion Mates).

For further information phone Toru Nakagawa + 81 723-35-3126

Questions for our "Celebrity Interview" with famous accordion personality Faithe Deffner have now closed. This interview will be published on August 24th.

The "Celebrity Interview" with Vladimir Zubitsky, Russian composer, teacher and artist is now on line.

The Classical Accordion Duo of Angel Luis Castaño and Raquel Ruiz are currently working on their new CD "Versión acordeón". The CD, which is due for release in September, includes transcriptions by Bach, Saumell, Piazzolla, Liadov, Moussorgsky and Stravinsky.

For further information email: acasta5@almez.pntic.mec.es

Contributed by Jean-Claude Pouly

On August 28th Gilberto Pereyra (bandoneon) will perform "Tango Argentino" (from Pugliese and Salgan) with the "Estufa Caliente" Tango Orchestra (string quartet, piano & bass) at Moods Jazz Restaurant in Zurich.

For further information email: moods@access.ch

Contributed by Joeri de Jongh, Editor of Accordo Magazine

Well known melodeon player Kepa Junkera (Basque, Spain) performed recently at the 25th Folk Festival in Dranouter, Belgium, which was held from August 6th to 8th. Kepa and his band opened the festival to an audience of several thousand people who enjoyed their performance of "Trikitixa" music. Over 60 concerts were heard throughout the festival including a performance by Norwegian accordionist Gabriel Fliflet.

An unexpected surprise was a performance by 12-year old Jemma McCally who played Irish pieces on the concertina while tap dancing.

An article on The "Emter Family Button Accordionists" appeared in this week's "Fargo Forum" in North Dakota, USA. The article included details on the family's recent White House performance and John F Kennedy Centre for the Performing Arts concert as part of a special millennium program.

Following this performance, Roger Emter was in Jamestown looking at sites for a planned dinner theatre. The family, now based in Glen Ullin, have released four albums and traveled the USA playing the accordion. As the children (aged 13 to 18 years old) are growing up, the family have decided they want a permanent place to perform.

Contributed by Toru Katou

On August 22nd popular accordionist "Coba" (Yasuhiro Kobayashi) will perform at a concert entitled "Let's ride on the notes" at Orchard Hall, Shibuya Ward, Tokyo. The event will feature classical, jazz, and gospel music. For further information phone: + 81 3-3477-3244

Students of Renzo Ruggieri's "Voglia d'arte" Music Centre gave a musical performance recently at the "Palazzo del Mare" in Roseto degli Abruzzi (near Teramo, Italy). A prestigious jury consisting of Massimiliano Pitocco and Dario Flammini presided over the "end of year" and "end of course" examinations. Students completed "Beginners", "Intermediate", "Entertainment" and "Modern Music" courses. Performances were also given by many students to an enthusiastic audience.

Contributed by David Batty

The Leyland Accordion Club held their first open air concert with a difference recently. A large stage was erected on a farm on the outskirts of Leyland, Lancashire and the audience positioned their cars in the field facing the stage. The concert was broadcast on an FM radio frequency which the audience tuned into, so accordion music was audible all over the place in crystal clear FM quality!

Performers included David Batty, Rebecca Postlewhite and Dugald McCallum who played a variety of popular music such as Whispering Hope, 12th Street Rag and Tailspin.

This event was a "tester" for a full weekend concert planned next year with a 40 foot HGV curtain sided trailer as the stage.

Contributed by Steve Collins

On August 16th accordionist Tracey Collins performed at "Novotel" Hotel in downtown Auckland for an "Alliance Francais de Auckland" event. The large audience included dignitaries Jacky Musnier (French Ambassador), Phillipe Grelon (French Honorary Consul) and Michael Thurston (USA General Consul). Tracey's program included a variety of French popular music.

Contributed by Toru Katou

The annual "Union Concert in Summer" will be held at the Takatsuki City Shougai-Gakushu Center Hall, Takatsuki, Osaka Prefecture on August 27th organized by the All-Kansai Accordion Association. For further information phone the AAA Chairman Ryuji Horibe: + 81 06-6386-5554

Contributed by Holda Paoletti-Kampl

On August 14th accordionist Cesare Chiacchiaretta performed in Pescara with the famous soprano Carmela Remigio and Luciano Pavarotti's pianist, Leone Magiera. From September 2nd to 5th Cesare will tutor an advanced accordion course organized by the Italian Classical Accordion Association in Baragiano (Potenza Province). For further information email: cesaremagnum@hotmail.com

Contributed by Jim Jeffery

Popular UK group Daisy Belle will perform on August 27th at the Beeston Youth and Community Centre, West End, Beeston, Notts organized by "Cajun UK". A free dance workshop will be held prior to the band's performance.

Cajun UK was formed two years ago by a group of enthusiasts who were concerned about the gradual disappearance of Cajun and Zydeco venues in the Midlands. The mission of Cajun UK is to help keep the UK Cajun and Zydeco music and dance scene alive. They promote concerts and provide dance workshops and Cajun food.

For further information email: jim.jeffery@knoll.co.uk

Contributed by Li Cong

This summer Chinese accordionists have benefited from a variety of national accordion events including the 6th Beijing International Accordion Festival, which was enjoyed by hundreds of accordion teachers and players nationwide. Accordion exams organized by the Chinese Music Society and the China Central Music Conservatory have been held all over China. Jean Louis Noton's concert tour to Neimen, Yingchuan, Guizhou, Tianjing and Shanghai was extremely well received.

In early September a province wide accordion competition will be held in Haerbin, Heilongjiang Province, which will include a concert to celebrate 41 years of accordion teaching by Professor Sun De Lun. Following this, thousands of people will attend concerts during the Anhui Accordion Festival in Anqin, Anhui Province organized by the Anhui Accordion Association.

The "Tango e altre storie" quartet recently released a CD by the same name, which includes "Oblivion" (A. Piazzolla), "Accordeon" (S. Gainsbourg), "Lagrima" (A. Rodriguez) and "Innocent when you dream" (Tom Waits). Group members Beppe Turletti (accordion), Alessandro Cora (vocals), Mario Poletti (guitar) and Saverio Miele (double bass) performed at the Terrazza sul Po in Turin on August 9th. The quartet also played at the summer series of concerts held in Alessandria on August 11th.

For further information email: igitur@libero.it

Accordion entertainer Lionel Reekie, is currently playing every night at the prestigious Tamarind Restaurant in Auckland's Sky City Casino complex. This restaurant, one of the country's premier establishments, has a visiting chef from Italy and Lionel has been strolling among the happy diners playing authentic Italian melodies during this promotion. Customer response has been excellent with many people bursting into spontaneous applause. Italian accordionist Silvio de Pra will be concluding the season next week.

Caroline Emory would like some information on a Stradavox Eldorado accordion. If you can help please email: jccase@gilanet.com

Jim Shirley would like some information on a "Silvio Soprani" accordion, which has been passed down in the family for many years. Please email: cj@crazyjims.com

http://www.accordions.com/cm Information on accordion manufacture and construction, tuning, reeds etc. by Ci and Emme s.r.l. in Italy