Conferencia de prensa Internacional para la Coupe Mondiale de la CIA 2005, Castelo Branco- Portugal
Información por Kevin Friedrich

La ciudad de Castelo Branco en Portugal abre sus puertas al mundo, incluyendo a los acordeonistas, delegados, un jurado internacional, participantes y distinguidos visitantes de todo el mundo que se darán cita en el Concurso de Acordeón 58 Coupe Mondiale organizado por la Confederación Internacional de Acordeonistas (CIA) y su 114 Asamblea de Delegados.


En una reciente rueda de prensa en Castelo Branco, miembros de la prensa se reunieron con el presidente del Ayuntamiento local, Joquin Morao, El vicepresidente honorario de la CIA 2005 y productor artístico Paulo Ferreira, el organizador de la Coupe Mondiale 2005 Carlos Semedo y el presidente de la CIA Kevin Friedrich donde hablaron sobre los planes para la Coupe Mondiale, que tendrá lugar en el Conservatorio Regional de Castelo Branco.

Desde su creación en 1938, la Coupe Mondiale de la CIA se ha establecido como uno de los acontecimientos de acordeón más importantes. La CIA está encantada de estar en Portugal por primera vez para celebrar el 70 aniversario de esta Asociación. La excelente cooperación y grandiosa hospitalidad del Conservatorio, políticos y comerciantes auguran una semana de Coupe Mondiale llena de conciertos, concursos, encuentros y Asambleas generales así como otras actividades importantes educativas y sociales, será un inspirado y memorable acontecimiento.

La Coupe Mondiale 2005 ofrece seis categorías incluyendo Coupe Mondiale, Junior, Piano Accordion, Varieté, Junior varieté y Música de cámara.

La obra obligada para la Coupe Mondiale 2005 "O medo do ritmo" del conocido compositor portugués Carlos Marecos, ha sido encargada para este acontecimiento y ya está circulando por todo el mundo.

Para una información más completa sobre el Festival Coupe Mondiale, venta de entradas, programa, obra obligada e información sobre viajes a Castelo Branco, visitar www.coupemondiale.org

Noches musette con Mario Bruneau, Montreal- Canadá
Información por Rob Howard

El acordeonista Mario Bruneau, junto a la cantante Helene Cardinal, presentan noches de música musette y baile en los viñedos Les Blancs Coteaux, Ciudad de Quebec, del 16 al 30 de Julio y el 13 de Agosto desde las 20,00 horas hasta medianoche. Es una oportunidad de escuchar musette y clásicos de Edith Piaf, beber buen vino y divertirse en un ambiente francés.

El lugar es 1046, Bruce, Route 202, Dunham, Quebec.
   

Chango Spasiuk gana el premio BBC, Londres - Reino Unido
Información por Rob Howard

El acordeonista argentino Chango Spasiuk ganó recientemente el premio musical BBC. Un argentino de origen ucraniano, Spasiuk es un exponente del estilo de música folk del Nordeste argentino llamado Chamamé. Spasiuk y su grupo, incluyendo Juan Nuñez al bandoneón y el violinista Victor Renaudeau además de la percusión, un contrabajo y dos guitarras acústicas interpretados por excelentes músicos.

Chamamé es una música que aglutina, con influencias del Guaraní nativo de Argentina y los sucesivos caminos de las nuevas migraciones, desde Africa a Rusia, Ukrania, Polonia, Italia y País Basco. Chango Spasiuk, en relación a la distinción entre el popular chamamé entre el pueblo rural y el original Tango de la ciudad dice "Chamamé es música para el país, un lugar donde la tierra es roja, la temperatura siempre es alta y donde hay junglas y grandes ríos".

Junto con acordeonistas argentinos como Raúl Barboza, Chango Spasiuk es el actual exponente del Chamamé, pero el no se conforma con la tradición, su chamamé está ricamente influenciado por el rock, jazz y otras referencias de vanguardia. Nacido en una familia musical en 1968, Spasiuk comenzó a tocar el acordeón con 11 años y ha realizado seis albums en Argentina , tres de los cuales han sido lanzados internacionalmente como The Charm of Chamamé (2003). Su último CD es "Tarefero de mis pagos (2004)"
 

Accordion Orchestra's 70th Anniversary Concert, Cologne - Germany
Contributed by Rob Howard

Cologne Accordion Orchestra's first 70 years were celebrated in fine style with a sell-out concert, before an audience of 2,000 people. The Willy Ketzer Trio's swing music got the evening off to a lively start, followed by the Blaeck Foeoess band.

The Cologne Accordion Orchestra, with fifty members, was conducted by Matthias Hennecke, who also played a little 48-bass accordion on an arrangement of 'Orpheus of the Underworld'. The concert finished with the audience out of their seats as all the musicians came on stage for a grand finale.

The whole event was a fitting tribute to the CAO's founder conductor, Heinz Gengler, who is still with the orchestra. All concerned are now already looking forward to the presentations and surprises in the anniversary concerts on the December 3rd and 4th in the University of Cologne.
   

AAA Announces $10,000 Winner in 2005 Festival, Michigan - USA
Contributed by Kevin Friedrich

Dearborn, Michigan was the venue for the American Accordionists' Association annual Competition and Festival, which sponsored one of the biggest prize pools for any accordion competition, with an impressive $10,000.00 First Prize, $3,000.00 Second Prize and $2,000.00 Third Prize.

Home town accordionist Julien Labro (originally from France) took the top honors with Alexander Poeluev (Russia) close behind and French accordionist Phil Bouvier (France) taking 3rd Place. The top three contestants were separated by less than one point!

The distinguished Jury for the competition included: Louis Coppola, Dick Contino, Jeff Lisenby, Michal Shapiro and Dave Westerskov. After hearing 19 contestants over the course of almost 10 hours, many of them already international champions, the jury was extremely impressed with the superior standard of the contestants and stated that it was almost impossible to choose three prize winners, when the playing level was so high.

The competition was made possible, under the auspices of the American Accordionists' Association through the generous donation of the prize money by Mr. Steve Stolaruk, who offered the competition funds to host the competition in the memory of his wife, the late Vivian Vivio Stolaruk. Mr. Stolaruk was so impressed with the standard of the competition, that in addition to the top three prizes totalling $15,000.00 he gave each of the other 16 contestants $250.00 each in appreciation of their efforts.

Pictured left, Julien Labro - USA/France, Alexander Poeluev - Russia, Phil Bouvier - France, , Steve Stolaruk and competition organizer Mrs. Faithe Deffner with a portrait of the late Vivian Stolaruk. At the conclusion of the final contestants program, when recognized for his magnificent financial support of the competition, the 300 strong audience who had been listening all day long to the various programs, gave Mr. Stolaruk a moving five minute standing ovation in appreciation of his efforts.

Below are the top 3 places in the competition. For a full list of results, please visit www.ameraccord.com

1st - Julien Labro (USA-France) 94.05
('Besame Mucho', 'Migliavacca', 'Russian Dance', 'Autumn Leaves' & 'Pick Pocket')

2nd - Alexander Poeluev (Russia) 93.38
('Oblivion', Medley of Waltzes, 'Bassanova' & 'The Bee')

3rd - Phil Bouvier (France) 93.25
('Tanguango', 'Le Parrain'/'La List de Shindler', 'Tendre Mystere' & 'Besame Mucho')
 

Accordion Orchestra of Puerto Rico Tours South America
Contributed by Kevin Friedrich

The Accordion Orchestra of Puerto Rico recently returned from a successful tour of South America, where they were welcomed by Anibal Gomez, President of the AIDA (Accordiones International de Argentina).

They presented workshops and concerts in Colonia Caroya, Buenos Aires, Enstancia Bonita, San Andres as well as a sightseeing visit to Iguazu Falls. Their concert in San Andres was in celebration of the 125th anniversary of the Red Cross.

For a full diary of the tour to South America, please visit www.accordionusa.com
     

Giorgio Dellarole Concerts -Italy
Contributed by Holda Paoletti-Kampl

Accordionist Giorgio Dellarole's forthcoming concert dates are as follows:-
July 20th - Castello di Sarre (Aosta) 'Incoerente Duo' (Alessandro Tampier - Baroque violin and Giorgio Dellarole)
Program: Bach, Vivaldi, Castello...July 26th - Cervinia (Aosta)
Giorgio Dellarole - solo concert
Program: Bach, Scarlatti, Campogrande, Tschaikin

August 2nd - La Thuile (Aosta)
Akkordeon Ensemble di Aosta
Program: Seiber, Iturralde, Piazzolla

August 3rd - Saint-Pierre (Aosta)
Aosta Accordion Ensemble
Program: Seiber, Iturralde, Piazzolla...

August 4th - Dolonne-Courmayeur (Aosta)
Giorgio Dellarole - solo concert
Program: Bach, Scarlatti, Campogrande, Tschaikin

August 5th - Valtornenche (Aosta)
Trio Corelli (Antonio Sacco (violin), Massimiliano Limonetti (clarinet),Giorgio Dellarole)
Program: Bach, Vivaldi, Corelli

August 6th - Torgnon (Aosta)
Aosta Accordion Ensemble
Program: Seiber, Iturralde, Piazzolla...

August 13th - Ceres (Torino)
Klezmer Trio (Antonio Sacco (violin), Massimiliano Limonetti (clarinet), Giorgio Dellarole)
Program: traditional Hebrew music
  

Franco Evangelisti International Composition Competition 2005, Rome - Italy
Contributed by Harley Jones

The Franco Evangelisti International Composition Competition is restricted to compositions for the Bayan accordion by composers of any nationality.

There are two categories:-
o compositions for solo bayan accordion
o compositions for bayan accordion in ensemble (trio to quintet)

Entries may have already been performed but must not have won a prize in any other competition. The closing date for entries is September 15th 2005.

Members of the Jury include Azio Corghi (Chairman - Italy), Bernard Cavanna (France), Pascal Contet (France), Ada Gentile (Italy), Fausto Sebastiani (Italy), Mika Väyrynen (Finland), and Vladimir Zubitsky (Ukraine).

For further information email info@nuovaconsonanza.it
   

Stories Involving Accordions, Newfoundland - Canada
Contributed by Harley Jones

Dale Jarvis is a storyteller living and working in St John's Newfoundland, and is looking for any sort of traditional stories or folktales that involve accordion or an accordionist! Dale Jarvis is involved with a group called the St. John's Storytelling Circle, and their next meetings are on August 11th and September 1st.

If you can help, or for further information, email: hauntedhike@nf.sympatico.ca
     

Help Required

Johnny Cassidy, who is registered blind, lives in Chichester, West Sussex, and is looking for an accordion teacher.

Email john@cassidy2754.wanadoo.co.uk
   

MusicForAccordion.com is publishing a grade 2 arrangement of 'Longing', grade 3 arrangement of 'Oh-Leh' and grade 3 arrrangement of 'Librty'. These music are composed by Oyehuda Oppenheimer. Samples of these music are available on the site. The music is in eSheet format, able to be emailed to your computer. Purchase with credit card.
 

A new site selling a book titled Book 1 Romantic Solos. Original Compositions for Accordion by Stas Venglevski.
   

A new site selling a book titled Book 2 Illusions Duets. Original Compositions for Accordion by Stas Venglevski. Purchase online with credit card.
 

James O' Brien - composer, arranger and performer, releases another 6 new works for accordion available for purchase online. 'Oh No, John. No!' (traditional), 'Petite Russie' (traditional), 'Rocka My Soul' (traditional), 'Soldier's Joy' (traditional), 'St. Patrick's Day' (traditional), 'Streets of Laredo' (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.