El 2º Festival y Concurso Internacional de Acordeón de Ucrania, también conocido como “AccoHoliday”, tuvo lugar en Kiev, capital de Ucrania, del 27 de abril al 1 de mayo.
El concurso estaba organizado por Yan Tabachnik, famoso acordeonista ucraniano y político (miembro del Senado Ucraniano) y su equipo, la “Mayor liga de acordeonistas del mundo”- Asociación internacional de Acordeón.
El concurso estuvo dividido en 2 categorías: clásico y varieté. Para mayor nivel del concurso, las inscripciones estaban limitadas a 25 participantes en cada categoría. El alojamiento fue proporcionado por la organización de manera gratuita. Los concursantes eran de China, Ucrania, Rusia, Bielorrusia y Kazajistan.
Categoría clásico:
1º- Vladislav Pligovka (Bielorusia)
2º- Votaliy Kozickij (Ucrania) y Sergey Kotkov (Rusia)
3º- Ildar Salahov (Rusia) , Víctor Semenkin (Rusia) , Andrey Girkij (Ucrania) y Sapar Kumiskaliev (Kazajistan)
Premio especial para el joven Eldar Abduraimov (Rusia)
Como parte del festival se ofrecieron actuaciones de grupos rusos, kazajos y ucranianos de acordeonistas clásicos así como Yuri Shishkin, Damir Sultanov y de varieté como Igor Osipenko, Elena Ustimenko , etc...
Los miembros del jurado fueron Yan Tabachnik (Ucrania), Vladimir Besfamilnov (Ucrania), Radomir Tomich (Serbia), Eduardas Gabnys (Lituania), Yuri Shishkin (Rusia), Tania Lukic-Marx (Australia), Valerij Koytun (Rusia), Victor Vlasov (Ucrania), Damir Sultanov (Kazajistan), Nikolai Seyerukov (Bielorrusia), Miljan Beletich (Serbia), Anataolij Semeshko (Ucrania), Juri Jastrebov (Rusia), etc...
Concierto y seminario de Tony Lovello, New Hampshire- EEUU
Información por Doña Maria Regis, Asociación de acordeón de New Hampshire
“Wow!” exclamó con claridad Tony Lovello, “El libertador del acordeón”, excitado ante el numeroso público en su actuación en Gilmanton, New Hampshire el 15 de Abril. Lovello, de 74 años, demostró una energía propia de un hombre de la mitad de su edad, aclamado con tres grandes ovaciones por el público.
Fuera, era visible una gran ventisca pero “dentro”, comentó un agradecido Lovello “estabamos rockandrolleando”. Este músico aclamado internacionalmente asombró al público con su musicalidad, humor y saber estar. Lovello interpretó un programa que incluía Cumana, Malagueña y otros grandes éxitos. La Asociación de Acordeón de New Hampshire, junto con el Accordion Connection LLC, actuaron como sponsors en el evento.
En un seminario didáctico que siguió al concierto, Tony Lovello enseño generosamente su técnica especial, con sus glissandi de varios dedos, bajos de tres notas y por su puesto su particular movimiento de fuelle por lo que el gran maestro Galla-Rini le llamaba “Rey y maestro del fuelle”. Tras mostrar aspectos técnicos del acordeón por separado, Lovello combinó estos en la interpretación de su versión de “El fantasma de la ópera” para acabar el programa de la tarde ante una público entusiasmado una vez más.
Del 19 al 22 de abril, el fabricante de acordeones Hermann Jamnik, junto con músicos austriacos y alemanes, visitó la fábrica de lengüetas Voci Armoniche para aprender un poco más sobre el alma del acordeón, las lengüetas.
Músicos como los acordeonistas Hans Schropfer y Marie Therese Stickler así como el guitarrista Simon Hummelberger ofrecieron un improvisado concierto.
Campeonatos NAO del Reino Unido 2007 – Reino Unido
Qué fin de semana más agradable: por la atmósfera, compañerismo, maravillosa música... y por nuestros invitados, más de 437 participantes en la 62 Competición Nacional ¡
El éxito internacional de la competición incluyó a Grayson Masefield (Nueva Zelanda), 1º Premio en la Categoría solista Internacional, la 4 veces ganadora Julie Langton (Recital, Junior, varieté, hasta 17 años y solista avanzada)- 3 veces ganador Alexander Bodell (menos de 9 años solista, menor de 9 años varieté solista y hasta 10 años polka). Y Andrew Mortimer (hasta 15 años solista, hasta 14 años polka y música escocesa entre 13 y 15 años) así como el gran éxito de la orquesta de Colchester (directora Elaine Beecham), Paisley (director Graham Laurie) y Los acordeonistas de Jenny (directora Jenny Neal).
Durante el fin de semana pudimos disfrutar del super concierto de nuestras estrellas internacionales como Renzo Ruggieri (Italia), Julian ·Speedy” Gonzales (Francia) , Mario D´Amario (Italia) y Grayson Masefield (Nueva Zelanda).
El homenajeado durante el festival con el Premio de Honor de la NAO fue para Fack y Flo Brannigan por su servicio al acordeón durante más de 67 años.
También contamos con un jurado internacional : Kevin Friedrich (Presidente de la CIA), Lars Arnevig (Noruega) yHarley Jones, y gracias a todos los miembros del jurado que donaron sus servicios para la próxima Coupe Mondiale de la CIA que se celebrará en Glasgow, Escocia en Octubre de 2008.
Second National Accordion Competition, Kozani – Greece
Contributed by Alexander Tchuev
The Second National Accordion Competition was held in Kozani, on April 28th and 29th, and was deemed to be a great success by all concerned. The Competition Jury consisted of Evgenia Tcherkazova (President), Alexander Tchuev, Giorgos Tzoukas, Spiros Melissanidis, Ilias Pilitzidis and Nikos Agaoglou.
Ensemble and Orchestra: Children’s Accordion Orchestra (Kozani - picture below right)
GRAND PRIX of the competition - Bisiris Dimitrios (Kozani). The next competition will be held in April 2009.
An accordion teachers' seminar led by Viatcheslav Semionov of Russia was held in Opatija, Croatia, from April 12th to 14th. Picture: Professor Marjan Krajna (left) with Viatcheslav Semionov (right).
The seminar was organized by the Education and Teacher Training Agency with Professor Ruzica Ambrus–Kis (higher consultant for the artistic fields), Professor Marjan Krajna (Zagreb, leader of Croatian accordion education council), Damir Buzleta, Professor (Pula, OKUD Istra), and Momèilo Popoviæ (Pigini Accordions agent for Croatia).
Accordions Rule at New Orleans Jazz Festival - USA
The mid-afternoon sun was beating down, wisps of steam rose from the soggy ground and Buckwheat Zydeco (picture right) danced his way to the edge of the stage, accordion wailing, moving his shoulders with the music. Forget the heat - this guy was cool. He'd shed the jacket to his black suit, but still wore the vest. His high-collared white shirt was still crisp, his ivory boots matched his accordion.
The accordions cranking out tunes on the stages of the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival are popular, prolific and downright sexy. They were not only a constant on the Fais Do Do stage where Cajun and Zydeco music plays all day, they were showing up this year on the big stages and even in some of the big bands. Calexico, an alternative country band based in Tucson, Arizona, used an accordion in several numbers it played. And The New Orleans Klezmer Allstars could not crank out their funky Jewish music without one.
"I'm surprised how much the accordion has caught on," said Brian Jack (picture left), who had eight of them with him for his gig with the Zydeco Gamblers. "I've even seen them with country-and-western bands." In Cajun and zydeco, the Cajun accordion is the main ingredient, said Bruce Daigrepont, who has been playing Jazz Fest for 27 years, accordion for 30. "In our music it starts and finishes the song," Daigrepont said. "In rock and pop people are adding it for background and texture."
Buckwheat Zydeco, also known as Stanley Dural, plays a piano accordion that he had made in Dusseldorf, Germany in 1982 for $10,000. Originally an organist, Dural never expected to find himself wowing the fans on accordion. "It was not a cool instrument," he said. "My father played an accordion all the time and I hated it. I was into rhythm and blues." That changed when Dural took a job playing backup for Clifton Chenier, the late king of Zydeco. It wasn't easy, though. "Man, the keyboard was OK, but those 120 buttons on the other side really gave me the blues," he said. Not anymore. His brand of Creole Zydeco had them rocking out on Saturday. "It's a lot of fun," he said. "But that thing weighs 45 pounds. When I'm dealing with that instrument, believe me, I'm not thinking about looking sexy."
A group of students of the music schools in the Cluny area of Dijon performed a concert in the Cluny Theater, featuring the compositions of Jean-Louis Noton on May 6th.
The preparation for this concert took place on Wednesday April 11th in the music school of Montceau les Mines, involving accordionists, violinists, flautists and cellists in workshops rehearsing the compositions. Jean-Louis Noton and Professors Arnaud Bottazzo and Elodie Aygalenq prepared the students.
The annual Sir Jimmy Shand Tribute Day takes place on Sunday May 13th, at St Andrew’s Town Hall, organised by Jimmy Shand Junior. This concert, featuring many accordionists and bands, pays tribute to Sir Jimmy Shand (1908-2000), one of the most celebrated figures in Scottish dance music and the first British accordionist to be Knighted.
Claudio Jacomucci will present the premiere of the new piece for accordion solo ‘Bruchstellen II’ by the Swiss composer Daniel Glaus on May 13th at the Amplitudes New Music Festival in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland. The festival is dedicated to the well-known Italian composer Salvatore Sciarrino, who also wrote a solo piece in 1998 (‘Vagabonde Blu’) that Claudio will perform during the festival.
At the Synthese Festival of Electro Acoustic Music in Bourges, France, Claudio will present, on June 1st, the premiere of his own new composition, written together with the choreographer Kathleen Delaney. ‘Au-dela de la fin’ - for accordion, dancer, video, text animation, lights and electro acoustic support, is a tribute to the French philosopher Jean Baudrillard who recently disappeared.
‘Try it once with buttons! First steps on the button accordion (C-system)’ – is the title of a workshop for learning the button accordion, from July 9th to 20th in Imst-Gurgltal in the Austrian Tyrol Austria.
Milos Milivojevic – final year undergraduate, and Yuriy Chubarenko – post graduate diploma, present their matriculation level final recitals on Friday May 18th, at 6.30pm. These take place in the David Josefowitz Recital Hall at the Royal Academy of Music, Marylebone Road, London. Accordion Tutor at the Royal Academy of Music is Prof. Owen Murray.
Their program includes works by Greig, Bach, Berio and Lindberg. Admission is free, and no tickets are required. For further information email: accordion@ram.ac.uk
Arizona Accordion Festival, Phoenix - USA
Contributed by Leigh Dechaine
The Arizona Accordion Festival takes place in Phoenix, Arizona, on October 20th. This year two top jazz accordionists entertain non-stop from noon to 6pm, and 6pm to 10 pm. This event is free, offering family entertainment, food, beverages and a lighted, wooden dance floor. All variety of accordions and styles will be profiled in 15-minute segments.
For further information contact Leigh Dechaine: laneind@aol.com
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El concurso estuvo dividido en 2 categorías: clásico y varieté. Para mayor nivel del concurso, las inscripciones estaban limitadas a 25 participantes en cada categoría. El alojamiento fue proporcionado por la organización de manera gratuita. Los concursantes eran de China, Ucrania, Rusia, Bielorrusia y Kazajistan.
Categoría clásico:
Los miembros del jurado fueron Yan Tabachnik (Ucrania), 
“Wow!” exclamó con claridad Tony Lovello, “El libertador del acordeón”, excitado ante el numeroso público en su actuación en Gilmanton, New Hampshire el 15 de Abril. Lovello, de 74 años, demostró una energía propia de un hombre de la mitad de su edad, aclamado con tres grandes ovaciones por el público.
Del 19 al 22 de abril, el fabricante de acordeones Hermann Jamnik, junto con músicos austriacos y alemanes, visitó la fábrica de lengüetas 
El éxito internacional de la competición incluyó a 
The Second National Accordion Competition was held in Kozani, on April 28th and 29th, and was deemed to be a great success by all concerned. The Competition Jury consisted of Evgenia Tcherkazova (President), Alexander Tchuev, Giorgos Tzoukas, Spiros Melissanidis, Ilias Pilitzidis and Nikos Agaoglou.
Junior (15-18 years): Bisiris Dimitrios (Kozani picture left) 
An accordion teachers' seminar led by 
The mid-afternoon sun was beating down, wisps of steam rose from the soggy ground and Buckwheat Zydeco (picture right) danced his way to the edge of the stage, accordion wailing, moving his shoulders with the music. Forget the heat - this guy was cool. He'd shed the jacket to his black suit, but still wore the vest. His high-collared white shirt was still crisp, his ivory boots matched his accordion.
"I'm surprised how much the accordion has caught on," said Brian Jack (picture left), who had eight of them with him for his gig with the Zydeco Gamblers. "I've even seen them with country-and-western bands." In Cajun and zydeco, the Cajun accordion is the main ingredient, said Bruce Daigrepont, who has been playing Jazz Fest for 27 years, accordion for 30. "In our music it starts and finishes the song," Daigrepont said. "In rock and pop people are adding it for background and texture."
A group of students of the music schools in the Cluny area of Dijon performed a concert in the Cluny Theater, featuring the compositions of 
The annual Sir Jimmy Shand Tribute Day takes place on Sunday May 13th, at St Andrew’s Town Hall, organised by Jimmy Shand Junior. This concert, featuring many accordionists and bands, pays tribute to 
Claudio Jacomucci
Kulturlaub Imst Workshop, Tyrol - Austria
Milos Milivojevic – final year undergraduate, and Yuriy Chubarenko – post graduate diploma, present their matriculation level final recitals on Friday May 18th, at 6.30pm. These take place in the David Josefowitz Recital Hall at the Royal Academy of Music, Marylebone Road, London. Accordion Tutor at the Royal Academy of Music is 
The Arizona Accordion Festival takes place in Phoenix, Arizona, on October 20th. This year two top jazz accordionists entertain non-stop from noon to 6pm, and 6pm to 10 pm. This event is free, offering family entertainment, food, beverages and a lighted, wooden dance floor. All variety of accordions and styles will be profiled in 15-minute segments.
The accordion ensemble Klaviatoniker is to be seen and heard at the following events:
