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Highlights |
Primus Ikaalinen 2011 Winner is Cory Pesaturo - Finland
Accordionists Play Tchaikovsky With Legendary Conductor - Russia
Klemen Leben Soloist with Kammersymphonie, Berlin - Germany
Reports for Concerts, Masterclasses, Competitions, Festivals, etc. |
Accordion in the Best Concert Halls, Moscow - Russia
Corrado Rojac Rondo Ends the Season at Rondò alla Palazzina, Milan - Italy
VI. Paksi Harmonika Fesztival - Hungary
‘14 Years Ago’ – Accordionists Part of Hong Kong’s 1997 Festivities…
Future events |
Djordje Gajic Classical Concert, Scotland – UK
Marco Lo Russo’s Dates and News - Italy
Second Benefit Concert, Hohner Conservatory, Trossingen - Germany
Angus Accordion and Fiddle Festival, Scotland – UK
Stage d'accordéon, Vichères-Liddes – Switzerland
Beaches Accordion Festival, Newfoundland – Canada
8th International Accordion Festival, Lucca – Italy
Julie Blocher Concerts – France
Larry Lindberg Performs at Di Ciccio’s, California - USA
Wu Wei and the Euphonia Accordion Orchestra Concert, Berlin – Germany
Accordion Workshop Day, Staffordshire – UK
New and Updated Sites |
Alexander Selivanov Updated Site
Franco Cambareri
Zevy Zions Releases New Arrangement
Evelyn Tiffany-Castiglioni Releases 4 Arrangements
May Accordion USA News Online 1st May
May 2011 Diatonic News Online 1st May
May Accordion Russia News Online 1st May
CD Reviews |
Help Desk, Information needed, Readers CommentsSubmit Your Question, CommentSUBMIT NOW |
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Highlights |
Sata-Häme Soi Accordion Festival, Ikaalinen - Finlandby Harley Jones |
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 DAILY REPORTS by Kevin Friedrich online at Sata-Häme Soi.The 39th international Sata-Häme Soi Accordion Festival is taking place in Ikaalinen, from June 28th until July 3rd 2011. Competition Results: - Golden Accordion Winner Timo Hautamäki - Silver Accordion Winner Sonja Lampinen ?- Primus Ikaalinen Finals (separate news item below) The Festival week includes some 50 concerts and events with approximately 1,000 Finnish and about 100 foreign performers. The festival is expecting 35,000 visitors, with 15,000 purchased concert tickets. About half of the concerts and events are free. Some noteable accordion concerts are: - Budapest Klezmer Band - Duo Syrius (France) of Julien Gonzales (2007 Primus Ikaalinen winner, accordion) and Cyril Carbonne (clarinet). - Finnish National Youth Accordion Orchestra, newly established, which consists of young advanced music students. - Peter Maric (Serbia) 2010 Coupe Mondiale winner - Terem Quartet (Russia) with Finnish soloist Jonna Pirttijoki Daily Reports by Kevin Friedrich online at Sata-Häme Soi. |
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Primus Ikaalinen 2011 Winner is Cory Pesaturo - Finlandby Minna Plihtari |
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 The international Primus Ikaalinen Accordion Competition was held at the Sata-Häme Soi Festival. The competition was organized for the seventh time and the final was broadcast live on Finland´s National TV. The winner of Primus Ikaalinen is Cory Pesaturo (USA) and Giorgio Albanese (Italy) placed second. The first round of the competition ended with four players (three on the same mark) going into the finals. The finals ended with equal marks for Cory and Giorgio with a judges decision awarding the first prize to Cory. The tight competition culminated in an exciting musical duel between Cory Pesaturo and Giorgio Albanese as they played ’Libertango’ by Astor Piazzolla. Results: 1. Cory Pesaturo, USA 2. Giorgio Albanese, Italy 3. Matthias Matzke, Germany 4. Marko Kotilainen, Finland 5. Julie Blocher, France & Alexander Veretnnikov, Russia 7. Natanael Teixeira, Portugal 8. Danijel Stankovic, Austria Members of the Jury were: Gary Daverne (New Zealand/Jury President), Kevin Friedrich (USA), Renzo Ruggieri (Italy), Julien Gonzales (France), Alexander Shirunov (Russia), Satu Sopanen (Finland). Further information is in the Daily Reports by Kevin Friedrich online at Sata-Häme Soi. |
Accordionists Play Tchaikovsky With Legendary Conductor - Russiaby Alexander Selivanov |
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| Photo above: Yulia Amerikova, Sergey Osokin, Maria Vlassova, Maestro Rozhdestvensky and L’ubov Rubtsova The concert series “Gennady Rozhdestvensky conducts music by Tchaikovsky” is an anniversary series of the concerts, dedicated to the 80 years anniversary celebration of one of the last legendary Soviet Russian conductors. For the concert on 19th June at the “Tchaikovsky” Philharmonic Concert Hall in Moscow, the concert program included Tchaikovsky’s Suite No. 2, one of the first examples of using accordion in the history of symphony music, and especially unique, that it was composed by the most famous Russian composer Piotr Tchaikovsky. Tchaikovsky used four simple harmonicas to play parts based on 2 chords – E dur and H dur (Mi major and Si major) which have two different sounds on every button while open and close bellows. Probably, the only instrument of present times which is available to play the same way is simple model of concertina. It was a great luck that Gennady Rozhdestvensky invited to help him and play the harmonica parts were four very well known Russian piano accordionists, Yulia Amerikova, Maria Vlassova, L’ubov Rubtsova and Sergey Osokin. All the concert and especially Suite No. 2 was a fantastic success. After the concert, the accordionists had pleasure to speak with Rozhdestvensky, who thanked them for their participation. Maestro Rozhdestvensky confirmed the neccessity of using accordion sound colors in the symphony orchestra for this work, according to original Tchaikovsky idea when he said: “Using the accordions, we’ve got a really different color of orchestral sound and it was absolutely necessary to invite you to play”. |
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Klemen Leben Soloist with Kammersymphonie, Berlin - Germanyby Francesca Pigini, Pigini Accordion Factory |
 In Berlin on May 22nd the Slovenian accordionist Klemen Leben premiered a concerto for accordion and strings ‘The Journey’, written by Nina Senk, who has dedicated the composition to the young Slovenian virtuoso. The concert took place at the Friedrichstadt-Cathedral at the Gendarmenmarkt-Place in Berlin. The interpretation of the demanding composition by Klemen Leben and the Kammersymphonie Berlin, conducted by Jürgen Bruns, enchanted the audience, who rewarded the interpreters with a several minutes long applause. After the concert the conductor Jürgen Bruns, in a TV interview, described the soloist as an “Akkordeonist der Weltklasse” (accordionist of world class). Klemen Leben is actively playing as a soloist and chamber musician in Europe and has received widespread acclaim for his performances at prestigious festivals. He studied at the Franz Liszt Academy in Weimar (Professor Ivan Koval) and at Sibelius Academy in Helsinki (Profesor Matti Rantanen). He is the winner of several competitions (Klingenthal, Pula, Castelfidardo …) and has recorded for many broadcasting companies. Klemen Leben is currently teaching at the Franz Liszt Academy in Weimar, and from September 2011 he will be teaching at the Conservatory of Music and Ballet Ljubljana. |
Reports for Concerts, Masterclasses, Competitions, Festivals, etc. |
Morley Accordion Orchestra’s CD and Travel Plans, London – UKby Rob Howard |
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 The Morley Accordion Orchestra (MD Ian Watson) is planning to travel to Innsbruck, Austria, in 2013 for the 11th World Music Festival, Innsbruck, Austria where thousands of accordionists from around the world gather every three years for accordion orchestra competitions and concerts and festival. The World Music Festival is widely considered to be the largest accordion event in the world because of the thousands of accordion playing participants. To keep the cost manageable for the orchestra’s 30 players it is intended to do some fundraising activities, one of which is their newly released CD. All proceeds from the sale of these CDs goes towards the Morley AC’s Innsbruck 2013 Fund. The CD can be purchased via the Morley Accordion Orchestra website. The CD tracks include: ‘Ariel Overture’ – I. Watson, ‘Waltz from Jazz Suite No. 2’ - D. Schostakovich, ‘A Soupcon of Simple Sambas’ - arr. Ivan North, ‘James Bond Concert Suite’ – arr. Kolz / I.Watson, ‘Duo Concertante’ - Mario Conway, ‘Dalmatinische Tanze’ - Adolf Gotz, ‘Jovano, Jovanke’ (Macedonian song), ‘Kolo’ (Bosnian dance), ‘Hirtenweise’ (from the ‘Crna Gora’), ‘Brzo’ (Serbian dance). For further information email: aam@morleyaccordions.org.uk |
Accordion in the Best Concert Halls, Moscow - Russiaby Yulia Amerikova |
 Usually June is one of the summer “quiet” months for Moscow musical life. However, this June button and piano accordion were very popular instruments featured on the best stages of Moscow in different styles of music from classic to folk.2nd of June in Chamber Hall of Moscow International Musical House “MMDM” where one of the finest Russian accordionists, Yuri Medianik (right), gave a premiere performance of his new program – “Latino in White”, dedicated to musical styles of South America, Italy and Spain. During the first days of June at MMDM “Svetlanovsky” Concert Hall, we had a really fantastic opportunity to listen the festival “Pearls of Mediterranian Sea”, with folk, classical and pop groups from Greece, Italy, Croatia and Portugal which featured accordion regularly. On the 5th June, the famous Portugal “fadu” singer Crisitina Branco had the concert with accordion solos in her group. June 8th was when a Moscow audience met with the well-know Italian jazz piano and accordion player Antonello Salis from Italy, who introduced his project “Il Vino Del’Opera”. On the 9th June accordion sounds were heard, used by Italian Napolitano group “Pietrarsa”. On the 19th June accordionists were playing in the symphony orchestra at the Tchaikovsky” Philharmonic Concert Hall. See article above. Accordion was featured frequently to Moscow audiences during June. |
Corrado Rojac Rondo Ends the Season at Rondò alla Palazzina, Milan - Italyby Francesca Pigini, Pigini Accordion Factory |
 The 2011 season of contemporary music concerts at the Rondò alla Palazzina, Milan, which began in the spring, ended on June 8th. The last concert featured accordionist Corrado Rojac, accordion teacher at the Conservatory of Trieste. His program included two classics for an accordion concert: the ‘De Profundis’, by Sofia Gubajdulina, and ‘Feria IV’, by Franco Donatoni. Conrad Rojac, with the oboist Milan Luca Avanzi, former Principal Oboe of the Teatro Alla Scala, performed ‘Doors’, a virtuosic piece by Turkish composer Yigit Ozatalay. |
VI. Paksi Harmonika Fesztival - Hungaryby Harley Jones |
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 Picture above - Alexander Poeluev and orchestraFrom the 24-25 June 2011 the international competition festival for accordion-bayan was held in Paks, Hungary. The competition was attended by more than 40 contestants from seven European countries, Russia, Moldova, Hungary, Bosnia, Serbia, Austria and the results will be published when available. The international jury were: Alexander Poeluev (Russia), Mirco Patarini (Italy), Clemens Tschallener (Austria), Zsanett Szatzker (Hungary). Very successful were the festival concerts. There were concerts in memory of Piazzolla (Clemens Tschallener and Monica Tartsay - Austria), orchestra performances "Accordion Brio" (Moldova), and solo concerts by Alexander Poeluev and Zoltan Orosz (picture right). |
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‘14 Years Ago’ – Accordionists Part of Hong Kong’s 1997 Festivities…by Rob Howard |
| 1997 was the year the British administered colony of Hong Kong became part of China again, honoring an agreement made many years previously. The Accordions Worldwide news for June 27th 1997 included details of accordion events that were a part of the celebrations. ACCORDIONISTS FEATURED IN HONG KONG CELEBRATIONS - CHINA Contributed by Wu Jie CHENGDU CITY: On July 1st at 10am there will be a grand celebration on Renminnanlu Square in Chengdu City to celebrate Hong Kong's reverting back to China. The celebrations will include many singers, dancers and traditional Chinese acts. As part of the celebrations, approximately 400 accordionists (all of them being children, aged from 6 to 16 years old) will perform last on the programme. They will play in a massed orchestra performing two pieces of traditional Chinese music: "My Homeland" and "1997, Hong Kong". It is estimated that there will be more than 200,000 people in the audience, with many more hundreds of thousands watching on television. LASHA CITY: Ms Jiang Hong, an accordion performer and teacher in Lasha City of the Tibet province, is holding a party to celebrate Hong Kong's reverting back to China. This will be held in an auditorium of the Worker Culture Centre in Lasha City on July 1st at 9.30am and about 30 accordion students of hers (aged 12 to 15 years old) will be playing the accordion as well as singing and dancing. The students' parents as well as many others will also participate, with more than 500 people expected to be there. "This event is very important to my students. It is the first time we have held a party of this size, so we are hoping that they will perform successfully", said Ms Jiang Hong. |
Future events |
4th ‘Accordions Now! 2011’, New Hampshire – USAby Rob Howard |
 The 4th annual festival, Accordions Now! 2011, takes place on August 12th and 13th at the Nashua Courtyard Marriott, Nashua, New Hampshire. Accordions Now! 2011 is co-sponsored by the New Hampshire Accordion Association and Accordion Connection LLC.The festival line-up this year includes Tony Lovello, Gary Morin, Rita Davidson, Evan Harlan, Stephen Dominko, Lynda Fish, Donna Maria Regis, Fabio & Fabio, Sam Falcetti, Jerry Tramontozzi, Carmen Vitanza, Arthur Welch, and the Accordions Now! Festival Orchestra. Accordions Now! 2011 includes concerts, workshops, lecture-demonstrations, open mike night, jam sessions, trade show, door prize drawings, festive lunch buffet, cocktail reception with entertainment, gala plated banquet, and more. The workshops will include a special feature by Rita Davidson on the life and music of the great Eugene Ettore (1921-85). This year’s Accordions Now! 2011 Festival Orchestra will be conducted by Donna Maria Regis in ‘A Musical Tribute of Thanks to Tony Lovello’. Those wishing to take part in the Festival Orchestra are asked to apply by July 22nd to Suzanne Welch: accman@accordionconnection.com For further information email Donna Maria Regis: regisdonna@yahoo.com |
Djordje Gajic Classical Concert, Scotland – UKby Rob Howard |
 Serbian accordionist Djordje Gajic performs in concert on Sunday July 10th, 7pm, at Balquhidder Church, Lochearnhead FK19 8PN, central Scotland. The concert is the first in Balquhidder Summer Music, a series of six classical music concerts held in the beautiful surroundings of the Braes o' Balquhidder. The series is now in its 24th year. Djordje Gajic, winner of the 1988 CMA Trophée Mondial, is now a Glasgow-based accordion teacher and concert artiste. Djordje says, "My idea for the second part of the concert is to play classical music from around the world, based on traditional melodies and rhythms. I would like to introduce every piece and say a few words relating to the style and the origin of the music." The programme includes: Franck – ‘Choral No2’, D.Scarlatti – ‘3 Sonatas’, A.Repnikov – ‘Capriccio’, V.Zolotaryov – ‘Sonata No2’, V. Semyonov – ‘Bulgarian Suite’, R. Galliano – ‘La Valse a Margaux’, I.Albeniz – ‘Asturias’, Y.Dranga – ‘Fantasy’, V.Matveyev – ‘Variations on a Russian traditional theme’, E.Villa-Lobos – ‘The Dance of the White Indian’, and G.Rossini – ‘Cavatina Figaro’. For further information email: summermusic@tullochlodge.co.uk |
Marco Lo Russo’s Dates and News - Italyby Rob Howard |
 Italian accordionist Marco Lo Russo recently performed in Arnhem in the Netherlands, at the ‘Night of the Fashion’, and his website includes a video.Concert appearances for the very active Marco in July include: July 1st, 9pm – with Roberto Stivali (oboe), Norma, Old town, Latina, Italy July 3rd, 5.30pm - Ceremony and final concert of the academic year – by invitation only!, Marco Lo Russo Music Center, Sermoneta July 8th, 9pm - Marco Lo Russo accordion solo in ‘Linguistic Variation’, Chiostro di San Domenico, Fondi, Latina July 9th/10th, 9pm - Marco guest in singing contest ‘La Torre d'Oro’, Lanuvio, Rome July 17th, 9pm - Marco Lo Russo accordion solo in ‘Linguistic Variation’, Treia, Macerata July 23rd 9pm - Video, concert, story of Italy’s 150 years since unification with Marco Lo Russo accordion and Marco Grossi - vox, San Magno, Fondi July 27th, 9pm - Marco Lo Russo quartet, Cava di Roselle, Grosseto July 29th, 9pm - Marco Lo Russo accordion and ‘elettronic contamination’ with Massimo De Martino DJ set, Nolive', Latina seafront July 30th, 9pm - Duo Ichnos in Noche de Tango!, after concert, Milonga Night open the public with Cristian Petricca, PIazzale Europa, Sperlonga There is an interesting article, written in English, on Marco in the US publication america, Amici Journal... For further information email: stampa@marcolorusso.com |
Second Benefit Concert, Hohner Conservatory, Trossingen - Germanyby Holda Paoletti-Kampl |
 A concert involving students of the Hohner Conservatory performing in various formations takes place on Sunday July 3rd, 7pm, in the music school Trossingen, Löhrstr. 32, 78647.For further information email: info@hohner-konservatorium.de |
Angus Accordion and Fiddle Festival, Scotland – UKby Rob Howard |
 The annual Angus Accordion and Fiddle Festival takes place from June 30th to July 3rd, with concerts and dances taking place at the Reid Hall in Forfar, the Meadowbank Inn or the British Legion in Arbroath. Accordionists appearing include Steven Carcary’s Young Accordionists, Wayne Robertson, Leonard Brown, Susan MacFadyen, Niall Kirkpatrick, fiddle player Ron Kerr, and Scottish dance band Da Fustra.The main festival organizers are Ron Ramsay and Steven Carcary. Highlights of this festival will become available on DVD and CD, and previous festival recordings are still available via the festival website. For further information email: ron@aaff.co.uk |
Stage d'accordéon, Vichères-Liddes – Switzerlandby Rob Howard |
 On Sunday July 9th at 12pm and 4pm Yves Moulin and Pierre Laval (picture left) teach accordion techniques and musicality for playing jazz, musette, variety, and Argentinean tango, in Vichères-Liddes, Valais, Switzerland. These courses are part of Stage Anime Par Magali Boissier, an event that runs from July 3rd to 9th. For further information email: yvesmoulin@ymail.com |
Beaches Accordion Festival, Newfoundland – Canadaby Rob Howard |
 The annual Beaches Accordion Festival takes place from July 8th to 17th in Eastport, Newfoundland, featuring many local accordionists and dance bands. For further information email: ephs@nf.aibn.com |
8th International Accordion Festival, Lucca – Italyby Rob Howard |
 The 8th International Accordion Festival takes place at the Stadio Comunale ‘Roberto Nobile’, Piazza al Serchio, Lucca, from July 15th to 17th. Guest artists include accordionists Bassissi Athos (picture left), Stefano Domenech, Rita Di Tizio, Andrea Coruzzi, Walter Giannarelli, Corrado Medioli, saxophonist Stefano Mori, the Stefano Domenech Dance Orchestra, vocalists Alessandro Boschi and Sonia Borghesi, and the Choir Alps (MD Maestro Luca Bacci). |
Julie Blocher Concerts – Franceby Rob Howard |
 16 year old French accordionist Julie Blocher, fresh from appearing at the Primus Ikaalinen competition in Finland, performs as follows:July 14th – Bal Musette, with the Orchestre Daniel Blocher, Abusigny (74), France July 24th - Le p'tit bal perdu, with the Orchestre Daniel Blocher, Annecy (74) July 31st – Dance Festival, with the Orchestre Jérôme Richard, Gençay (86) August 6th – Le p'tit bal perdu, Annecy (74) August 21st - La Guinguette de Montbazon, with the Orchestre Daniel Blocher, Montbazon (37) Julie Blocher, taught by Frederic Deschamps, has competed in international competitions and to date has released two CDs. |
Larry Lindberg Performs at Di Ciccio’s, California - USAby Rob Howard |
| Accordion entertainer Larry Lindberg performs on Saturday July 16th, 6.30pm until 9.30pm, at Di Ciccio’s restaurant, 7038 N. West Ave, Fresno, CA, 93711. |
Wu Wei and the Euphonia Accordion Orchestra Concert, Berlin – Germanyby Rob Howard |
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| A Gala concert starring Chinese Sheng virtuoso Wu Wei and the Euphonia Accordion Orchestra takes place on July 16th, 8pm, at the Heilig-Kreuz-Kirche, Kreuzberg, Berlin. The event is a celebration of the 10th German-Chinese Youth Day, in which Chinese and German children and adolescents meet in Berlin's cultural and musical exchange. The Sheng is an ancient Chinese reed blown instrument, from which the accordion and its free reed relatives were derived in the 19th Century, and Wu Wei is generally regarded as the greatest interpreter of the Sheng in Europe. |
Accordion Workshop Day, Staffordshire – UKby Rob Howard |
 Accordion teacher Pauline Hardwick leads an Accordion Workshop Day on Saturday July 9th, 9.30 - 4pm, at Barlaston Methodist Church, Park Drive, Barlaston, Staffordshire ST12 9DP. The day includes groups and individual tuition with Pauline Hardwick L.T.C.L. (TD) A.L.C.M., and is intended for those looking to improve their accordion playing. The fee is £15 per person (limited places); tea/coffee provided (bring packed lunch). Participants should bring their own music stand and any specific music they would like to study. For further information email: granet@btinternet.com |
New and Updated Sites |
Evelyn Tiffany-Castiglioni Releases 4 Arrangementsby Evelyn Tiffany-Castiglioni |
 Evelyn Tiffany-Castiglioni releases 4 new pieces. 'Tim The Thatcher', catalog:ec215, 'Connaught Man’s Rambles', catalog:ec216, 'Coleraine', catalog:ec217 and 'Indian Point', catalog:ec218. Samples of the music are available online. The music are in eSheet format, able to be emailed to your computer. Purchase with credit card. |
Alexander Selivanov Updated Siteby Alexander Selivanov |
 Alexander Selivanov, classical accordionist, 2004 World Accordion Champion andProfessor of “Gnessins” Russian Academy of Music site is updated in both English and Russian. |
Franco Cambareriby Franco Cambareri |
 Franco Cambareri - accordionist, composer, producer, release 1 new composition for accordion available for purchase online. 'Buzzing Bee', catalog:cfranco142. The music is in eSheet format, able to be emailed to your computer. Purchase with credit card. |
Zevy Zions Releases New Arrangementby Zevy Zions |
 Zevy Zions releases 1 new arrangement, 'The Swan', catalog:zzions014. Samples of the music are available online. The music are in eSheet format, able to be emailed to your computer. Purchase with credit card. |
Evelyn Tiffany-Castiglioni Releases 4 Arrangementsby Evelyn Tiffany-Castiglioni |
 Evelyn Tiffany-Castiglioni releases 4 arrangements. 'The Duke of Kent Waltz', catalog:ec211, 'Corellian Gigue', catalog:ec212, 'After the Battle of Aughrim', catalog:ec213 and 'Waltz from Norway', catalog:ec214. Samples of the music are available online. The music are in eSheet format, able to be emailed to your computer. Purchase with credit card. |
CD Reviews |
Winter Sketches CD by Bjarke Mogensenby Alessandro Mugnoz |
 CD Reviews Index for the Review of “Winter Sketches" CD, reviewed by Alessandro Mugnoz. performer Bjarke Mogensen. |
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