El nuevo CD “No Comment” de Friedrich Lips, llamado así por la obra del compositor lituano Merab gagnidze, presenta una interesante mezcla de obras de diferente carácter. El CD presenta música de Schnittke y Khatchaturian (arreglado por Lips) así como obras originales de Berinsky y Derbiendo, dedicadas al artista. Miniaturas de Solotarev, Shurbin, Precz y Londonov completan el variado programa de este CD, que tiene un frescor especial con dos grabaciones en directo.
En el CD aparece información sobre el gran honor que ha recibido recientemente Friedrich Lips. Por la resolución del parlamento regional de Cheliabinsk, esta escuela de música (en la foto) ha sido renombrada como “Friedrich Lips – Escuela de arte”.
En 1960 Friedrich Lips fue el primer alumno y en 1964 fue el primer graduado de esta escuela que ahora ha cambiado su nombre por el de su alumno más famoso. Lips se sitúa en un lugar donde hay pocos artistas de cualquier instrumento que hayan sido reconocidos por su labor en vida!
Muere William M. Samonek, ganador del Campeonato de Estados Unidos, Connecticut – EEUU
Información porKevin Friedrich
William M.Samonek, de 46 años, de Fairfield, murió el miércoles 3 de mayo de 2006 en Beacon Falls, Connecticut. Nacido en Bridgeport, se trasladó a Fairfield en 1961. Se graduó en la Escuela Superior Roger Ludlowe y acudió a la universidad de Bridgeport. Como acordeonista, quedó primero en el AAA Concurso de los Estados Unidos de 1977 y tercero en la el Concurso CIA Coupe Mondiale al año siguiente en Eindhoven, Holanda.
Bill fue también pianista y un músico libre. Además de sus padres, deja dos hijos William Samonek de Bridgeport y Jonathan Samonek de Derby, un hermano, Kenneth Samonek y su mujer, Nancy de Monroe, una hermana Caron Ann Fawver y su marido Harlem de New Hampshire, varios nietos, sobrinos y primos.
El funeral tuvo lugar el 6 de Mayo, con Rev Vadim Pismenny oficiando, para continuar en el Cementerio de St. John, Monroe.
Premio para artesano de Pigini, Ancona- Italia Información porHolda Paoletti-Kampl
El 1 de Mayo, en el Palacio de Gobierno de Ancona, Marino Ascani fue condecorado con la “Estrella al mérito del trabajo” en honor y reconocimiento a su trabajo como artesano. Marino recibió este premio por su excelente trabajo y profesionalidad en la fábrica de acordeón Pigini, donde él entrena y prepara a jóvenes trabajadores con la máxima atención y cariño.
La compañía Pigini quiere agradecer al Maestro Ascani su trabajo durante los últimos 33 años con total dedicación y pasión para producir los mejores teclados para acordeón. La foto: Marino Ascani y Francesca Pigini.
Nikolai Ryskov Performs for Royalty, London - UK
Contributed by Rob Howard
Russian accordionist Nikolai Ryskov performed in a concert on May 10th at Kensington Town Hall, in the presence of Her Royal Highness Princess Alexandra. The concert was part of the International Social Service Spring Fair, of which HRH Princess Alexandra is the Patron.
Also performing was the singer Dasha Kirilishina, a student at the Anglo-Russian music Academy ‘Musica Nova', based at 88 Cromer St, London WC1H 8DG. Nikolai Ryskov accompanied her as she sang ‘Nightingale’, by A. Alyabiev, and the famous folk song ‘Kalinka’. Nikolai’s solo pieces were 'Dark Eyes', 'Katusha', 'The Gold Moscow ', ' Ash Tree of the Urals', 'The Pedlars', 'The Heart', 'Moscow Quadrille', 'O Flowering Kalina', and some Russian waltzes.
Nikolai Ryskov, who was introduced to Princess Alexandra after his performance, teaches at the Music Academy 'Musica Nova'.
Renzo Ruggieri Performances – Albania, Italy, France
Contributed by Rob Howard
Italian accordionist Renzo Ruggieri makes the following appearances:-
May 21st, 10.30am, solo performance in the UniCredit Circle of Verona.
June 1st - Renzo and Luca Ciarla (jazz violinist) are in concert together at the Tirana Jazz Festival, Albania.
June 4th – solo performance at the Chartres Accordion Festival, France.
June 7th to10th – Renzo Ruggieri appears at the Dolci Romori Jazz Festival, Italy, as both Artistic Director and performer. Renzo will perform in the theatrical show La Spada Di Fuoco, by Pablo Neruda.
June 11th to 13th - the ‘Association for the Promotion of Art’ organizes the 1st Stage of Jazz/Modern Music, Roseto degli Abruzzi. Two days of ‘Full Immersion’ with lessons for 8 daily hours.
Concertina, Fiddle and Accordions Concert, Stockport – UK
Contributed byRob Howard
The Fosbrook Folk Education Trust are having a concert on May 20th, 7pm, at the United Reform Church, Maitland Street, off Hempshaw Lane, Heaviley, Stockport. The guests are Emma Reid and Robert Harbron (fiddle and English concertina), supported by the Fosbrooks – an ensemble of young folk musicians that includes several accordionists.
Emma Reed is a brilliant young fiddle player who has studied Swedish traditional music as well as working regularly with British folk musicians. Robert Harbron has a growing reputation for his work in the field of English traditional music. The concert is organised by Liza Austin-Strange MBE.
Altan Concert Dates in England and Wales - UK
Contributed by Rob Howard
Irish traditional music favourites Altan, featuring Dermot Byrne on diatonic button accordion, tour England in late May. Their dates are as follows:-
May 19th – Southport Arts Centre, England
20th – The Coliseum Theatre, Aberdare, Wales
21st – Victoria Hall, Saltaire, Bradford, England
22nd – Leeds Irish Centre
23rd – Sheffield City Hall
24th – Oswaldtwistle Civic Theatre, Accrington
25th – The Sage, Gateshead
26th – Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester
27th - Aberystwyth Arts Centre, Aberystwyth, Wales
28th - Theatr Mwldan, Cardigan
Accordion Concert, Vienna - Austria Contributed by Holda Paoletti-Kampl A concert takes place in Vienna on June 10th, at 6pm, starring accordionist Hermi Kaleta, and the ensemble ‘Akkordeonissimo’, featuring Christian Theueremann, Muamer Kebic, Lukas Schmied, Daniel Stratznig and Walter Schildberger (MD Roman Pechmann).
The venue is Volksheim GroB Jedlersdorf 1210, SiemenstraBe 17.
Domi Emorine and Roman Jbanov, known as the Paris- Moscow Duo, are to perform the following concerts:-
June 10th, 8.30pm – Agora, Genlis, France
16th to 18th – Bucharest Festival, Romania
21st, 8.30pm – Issoudun, France
27th, 6.30pm – Ancennis
July 6th to 9th – Ransäter Festival, Sweden
16th, 8.30pm – Pfaffenhofen, Germany
21st, 9pm – Rouret, France
22nd, 9pm – Colomars
23rd, 9pm – Valberg (Nice)
29th, 10pm – Casino, La Bourboule
July 30th to August 4th – Master Classes, La Bourboule
Main Squeeze Orchestra Concert, New York - USA
Contributed by Rob Howard
The Main Squeeze Orchestra, an all-female accordion orchestra (MD Walter Kuhr) based in New York City, perform at Mo Pitkins House of Satisfaction, 34 Avenue on June 22n,at 7.30 pm.
Balkanfolk Seminar, Bankya - Bulgaria
Contributed by Rob Howard
The 9th Balkanfolk Seminar takes place in the resort of Bankya, 15 km away from the Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, from July 17th to 30th. This event, the only practical seminar for Balkan Folklore in Europe, takes place in the hotel ‘Jeravna’.
The program of Balkanfolk 2006 includes the following courses: accordion - Bulgarian music, gaida, kaval, dvoyanka, duduk, gadoulka, tamboura, tapan, tarambouka, taragot - Romanian music; folklore dances, Bulgarian folk dances , Romanian folk dances ; Bulgarian folk singing.
Participants will have the option to visit Melnik (the smallest town in Bulgaria), the Rozhen monastery, National park Vitosha and the 10th International folk festival ‘Vitosha’.
Bruno Maurice Master Classes and Concerts, Bordeaux, France
Contributed by Holda Paoletti-Kampl
French accordionist Bruno Maurice currently is Professor of Accordion at the national Conservatory of Bordeaux, France. He has won several international competitions, made three solo recordings, and often performs with other musicians.
During the summer of 2006 he is to perform and hold master classes:-
July 15th to 28th – International Music Academy and Festival of Les Arcs.
August 12th to 26th - International Music Academy and Festival of Guérande
Debate Proposed for Improving Bayan Design - Belgium
Contributed by Rob Howard
Belgian accordionist Stefaan Walraet likes to play a wide range of classical music, such as organ pieces by Johann Sebastian Bach and other composers. For this music he believes it is important to use the thumb of the left hand on the 3 rows in a very flexible manner.
Current designs of free bass accordions only allow the use of 4 fingers of the left hand on the bass side of the accordion, and Stefaan would like to see a more ‘ergonomical’ design for the accordion, so that accordionists can use 5 fingers. They would then be able to use the same fingering for the right hand and for the left hand! He believes accordion education would improve much in doing so, possibly reducing study time. The theory is that if the same fingering can be used for both hands, the brain is less ‘troubled’, enabling one to play more easily.
In the USA, 1979 AAA US Champion Don Severs, from Des Mines, Iowa, has produced a design for an ‘ergonomical bayan’. Stefaan Walraet would like to propose to organise a seminar or symposium or congress around this subject.
En 1960 
Premio para artesano de Pigini, Ancona- Italia
El 1 de Mayo, en el Palacio de Gobierno de Ancona, Marino Ascani fue condecorado con la “Estrella al mérito del trabajo” en honor y reconocimiento a su trabajo como artesano. Marino recibió este premio por su excelente trabajo y profesionalidad en la fábrica de acordeón 
Russian accordionist Nikolai Ryskov performed in a concert on May 10th at Kensington Town Hall, in the presence of Her Royal Highness Princess Alexandra. The concert was part of the International Social Service Spring Fair, of which HRH Princess Alexandra is the Patron.
Italian accordionist 
Accordion Concert, Vienna - Austria
Domi Emorine and Roman Jbanov, known as the 
Main Squeeze Orchestra Concert, New York - USA
The 9th Balkanfolk Seminar takes place in the resort of Bankya, 15 km away from the Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, from July 17th to 30th. This event, the only practical seminar for Balkan Folklore in Europe, takes place in the hotel ‘Jeravna’. 
French accordionist Bruno Maurice currently is Professor of Accordion at the national Conservatory of Bordeaux, France. He has won several international competitions, made three solo recordings, and often performs with other musicians.
Belgian accordionist Stefaan Walraet likes to play a wide range of classical music, such as organ pieces by Johann Sebastian Bach and other composers. For this music he believes it is important to use the thumb of the left hand on the 3 rows in a very flexible manner.
