El Conservatorio de Trossingen ha invitado al joven profesor francés Frédéric Deschamps a dar unas clases a los estudiantes alemanes que se preparan para la próxima Coupe Mondiale, que se celebrará del 13 al 18 de agosto en Washington CD, EEUU.
El pasado año, Matthias Bender representó a Alemania en la categoría Varieté por primera vez desde hace mucho tiempo pero, gracias a la colaboración entre Frédéric Deschamps y Andreas Nebl, profesor de acordeón del Conservatorio de Trossingen, esperamos que este candidato sea el primero de muchos otros.
El presidente del Consortium Music Marche, Paolo Picchio ofreció una conferencia sobre el acordeón durante la Feria Musical de Frankfurt en el stand de la I.C.E (Instituto comercial “Sound-Italy”), donde estaban presentes multitud de instrumentos acústicos de varias regiones de Italia. Fueron varios los encuentros donde se trataba sobre instrumentos como solistas o en grupos.
Paolo Picchio ofreció mucha información sobre la historia, la evolución en la fabricación y la importancia para la economía, los métodos de producción del acordeón y sobre Castelfidardo como punto de referencia en la industria del acordeón en todo el mundo.
La conferencia estuvo acompañada con la presencia de interesantes participantes como Renzo Ruggieri. Durante esta ocasión Paolo Picchio presentó oficialmente el certificado de origen y calidad para acordeones “Made in Castelfidardo”, que lleva el Consortium, como homenaje a la larga tradición de 150 años en la producción manual.
La revista de este mes de Acordeón et Accordéonistes incluye varios artículos sobre mujeres francesas acordeonistas y noticias sobre los jóvenes artistas franceses de Hohner: Phil Bouvier, Cyril Blanchard, Benoit Chabod y Julien Conzales, quienes viajaron recientemente a Fiji y Nueva Zelanda con Frédéric Deschamps.
El premio del Colegio Británico de Acordeonistas viaja a Malta
El Premio Sir James Anderton de Excelencia Musical, un premio que da el Colegio Británico de acordeonistas al candidato que obtiene la máxima calificación en los exámenes de 6º Grado, ha sido en el pasado 2006 para Mariel Agius, de Rabat, Malta, una estudiante de Antoinette Borg.
Mariel obtuvo las máximas calificaciones tanto en el examen práctico como teórico. El trofeo fue entregado de las manos del Representante de la BCA Mro Jo Psaila al Director de la BCA, Raymond Bodell al comenzar la gira de exámenes 2007 en la pequeña isla del Mediterráneo.
Mro Psaila también comenzó la Entrevista a Celebridad de Raymond Bodell con el Profesor Charles Camilleri, compositor reconocido maltés, director y acordeonista.
Charles Camilleri, compositor de la obra obligada de la Coupe Mondiale de la CIA 1964 “Danza Latina” , fue el organizador del evento de la Coupe Mondiale en 1965 en Valleta, Malta y Premio Honorífico de la CIA en 1972, ahora tiene 75 años y todavía sigue en activo viajando por todo el mundo dirigiendo y componiendo. Esta entrevista será publicada en pocas semanas.
Accordionist Wins Competition with other Instruments! - Macedonia
Contributed by Anica Karakutovska
The 2nd International Competition Festival ‘Macedonium M’, organized by the SMBEC ‘Ilija Nikolovski–Luj’, Skopje, was held from April 5th to 9th in Skopje.
The third category (born 1988 and younger) was won by 17 years old Aleksandar Kolovski (picture left), an accordion student of Professor Zorica Karakutovska (picture right), in a competition for all instruments and with 29 competitors. As the competitor with the highest number of points (LAUREATE), Aleksandar received 300 Euros and a certificate. The Macedonian piece in his programme was the composition ‘Miniature’, from Elizabeta Ilievska.
Last year’s competition was held in honour of the 250th anniversary from the birth of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. This year’s competition was held in honour of the 60th anniversary of the foundation of the Composers’ Association of Macedonia – SOCOM, containing a rule that in all categories there must be played one piece by a Macedonian composer.
At the final concert held on April 9th at the Concert Hall ‘ARM’ the winners from I, II, III and IV categories competed for ‘GRAND PRIX”’ - 1000 Euros, award sponsored and given by the Mayor of the City of Skopje, Mr. Trifun Kostovski (picture left).
Accordionist Aleksandar Kolovski was proclaimed the best overall competitor and winner of the GRAND PRIX in the final concert.
45th Annual ATAM New England Music Festival, Boston - USA
The Accordion Teachers' Association of Massachusetts (ATAM) recently held their 45th New England Music Festival in Newton (Boston) Massachusetts.
Competitions and festival performances took place during the weekend, ending with a spectacular performance by the Falcetti Music reunion accordion orchestra. The 50-piece orchestra was formed from present and alumni members to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Falcetti family music business.
With the current conductor Michael Falcetti as concertmaster, the founding conductor Sam Falcetti stepped back on the podium to conduct his former students, while wife Peggy performed in the orchestra and son Anthony coordinated the elaborate sound system. All four members of the family continue to make their full time living from Falcetti Music.
Several awards were given during the weekend, including to honorary ATAM member Faithe Deffner for her Lifetime Achievement in the accordion world.
Picture left, Roger Latulippe (ATAM Contest co-chair), Faithe Deffner, Peggy Falcetti, (ATAM contest co-chair) and Michael Falcetti (ATAM president) presenting the Lifetime Achievement Award to Faithe Deffner. In her acknowledgement speech, Faithe Deffner applauded the effort of the students, parents and teachers for continuing to promote and support music education.
Winner of the New England Accordion Championship was 13-year-old Danielle Renzi (picture above right) and Anthony Falco won the Entertainment Solo championship, both students of Robert Paolo. Anthony also received the special ATAM scholarship award to assist in his upcoming University studies. The Paolo Accordion Orchestra, under the direction of Robert Paolo, won the Senior Orchestra division.
The 46th Annual ATAM Festival will take place from April 4th to 6th 2008.
Successful Charity Accordion Concert, Yorkshire – UK
A well-attended charity accordion concert held on April 17th in the Shire Hall, Howden, Yorkshire, proved to be great success.
The guest list included accordionists Harry Hussey, Murray Grainger, Dick Beeforth and his band, Ray Gallagher and Jock Thomson, Pearl Fawcett-Adriano, Sam Pirt, and the Wetherby Accordion Band (MD Brian Hibbert). Accordionist George Syrett acted as compere, and also performed a short spot.
Murray Grainger’s demonstrations of the Roland Virtual Accordion, impromptu playing on Roland V Accordions by Mike O’Regan and Heather Hawthorn, and a trade show, involving The Music Room, Kestrel Publications, Harry’s Old Time Music Stall and Rob Howard’s ‘An A to Z of the Accordion’, gave the concert the look and atmosphere of a festival. All proceeds from this event went to cancer research.
Milwaukee Accordion Club to feature Walter Ostanek, Wisconsin - USA
The Milwaukee Accordion Club (MAC) will feature accordionist Walter Ostanek on April 23rd when they hold their monthly gathering at the Root River Center, 7220 W. Rawson Avenue, phone: (414) 425-7225.
Walter Ostanek is known as ‘Canada's Polka King’, and is based in St. Catharine’s, Ontario. Walter has worked tirelessly for thirty-one years to promote Slovenian Cleveland-Style polkas and waltzes across the entire North American continent and abroad.
In addition to hosting his own television shows (the current one for 14 consecutive years), radio shows (three currently), and polka tours, Walter has appeared on the ‘Johnny Carson Show’, ‘Phil Donahue’, ‘Tommy Hunter Show’, and Cleveland's ‘Polka Varieties’, as well as his own award-winning TV specials and telethons. He has also appeared in concert with Roy Clark, the Oakridge Boys, Ronnie Milsap, Ray Price, Mel Tillis, Brenda Lee, Slim Whitman, Tom T. Hall, T. G. Shepard, Tommy Hunter, Lawrence Welk, Myron Floren, and Frank Yankovic. Among the band's honors are 3 Grammy Awards and a Gold Record from the Arc Recording Company.
Brett Gibson to appear with the Kansas City Civic Symphony Orchestra, Kansas - USA
Kansas City based musician Brett Gibson, who has performed with the world renowned group the Elders, popular US entertainer Eddie Delahunt, and many other well known artists in the Celtic music world, will be taking a detour from traditional, contemporary and original Irish music when he performs the ‘Concerto for Bandoneon and Orchestra’, by Astor Piazzolla, in his debut with the Kansas City Civic Symphony Orchestra (now in its 48th season), under the direction of Andy Anderson.
Brett was born in Auckland, New Zealand but now makes his home in the Kansas City area of the United States. Brett began playing the accordion at age 7, and at the age of 12 won his first New Zealand championship for that age category and continued to perform and compete into his late teens as a soloist and with duet, trio, quartet, ensemble and orchestra.
The concert will take place on Saturday April 28th at 7.30pm at the Atonement Lutheran Church, 9948 Metcalf in Overland Park, Kansas. Tickets are not required, and admittance is by donation at the door.
2nd National Accordion Competition, Kozani – Greece
Contributed by Alexander Tchuev
The second Greek National Accordion Competition will be held on April 28th and 29th at the ‘Theatrodromio’ Hall in the city of Kozani.
The Director of the Competition is Alexander Tchuev (picture left), and the President of the Jury is Evgenia Tcherkazova (Kiev, Ukraine).
There are categories for solo, ensemble and orchestra. Evgenia Tcherkazova (picture right) and Alexander Tchuev will both perform in concert during the championships on April 28th, then will perform concerts in the following Greek cities:
April 30th - Grevena
May 2nd - Trikala
May 3rd - Patras
May 4th - Thessaloniki
The 44th Klingenthal International Accordion Competition, May 4th to 10th, also includes a comprehensive program of concerts. Starting with the opening concert featuring Juan José Mosalini (Argentinien – Bandoneon) and Maria Vlasova (Russia - picture right) 2006 Klingenhal top solo category winner, with the Vogtland Philharmonie Greiz/Reichenbach.
Others featured include: Timofej Satarov, Eva Zöllner and Krisján Orri Sigurleifsson (double bass), Fabian Carbone (bandoneon), Sebastian Reimann (bandoneon), Mario D’ Amario and many others, with concerts every day of the event.
The International Accordion Music Festival 'From Baroque to Jazz', is a series of events that takes place in Wroclaw and Brzeg from April 20th to November 25th. There are evening concerts on April 20th, 21st and 24th.
The festival is held under the patronage of the Lower Silesia Region Speaker and the General Consulate of Austrian Republic in Krakow. The contest Jury Chairman is Professor of Music Academy in Lodz, Bogdan Dowlasz. Picture left is organizer Olexiy Suslov.