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Highlights |
World Accordion Day Broadcast on AlphaTV – Finland
Nine Premieres by Ghenadie Rotari at Risuonanze Music Festival! - Italy
Italian Coupe Mondiale National Qualifications, Spoleto - Italy
Reports for Concerts, Masterclasses, Competitions, Festivals, etc. |
Report: 2019 Shanghai Spring International Accordion Festival - China
Orkney Isles Mini Concert Tour - Scotland
Val Tidone International Music Competition Closing Date Extended - Italy
Future events |
“Iva Nova” Russian Rock Band Tours Europe this Month
Texas Folklife Hosts Big Squeeze Youth Accordion Concert – USA
Swaledale Squeeze Weekend - UK
14th Wirral Folk Festival – UK
CNIMA Courses for Young Children - France
New and Updated Sites |
Report: Frankfurt Musikmesse 2019 Online – Germany
Report: 12th Anniversary Afternoon of Music with Kevin Friedrich & Friends Online - New Zealand
Help Desk, Information needed, Readers CommentsSubmit Your Question, CommentSUBMIT NOW |
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Highlights |
World Accordion Day Events, 6th May - Worldwideby Christine Johnstone |
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 No event is too big or too small. ALL accordion events celebrating World Accordion Day are welcome. This is a CIA promotion for the accordion in which every accordion enthusiast can participate and help bring our accordion world together as well as strongly promote the accordion. A number of countries have already held their World Accordion Day events and some of these have been reported in our Weekly News. Listed below are some further events that we have received.View the World Accordion Day site over the weekend to view events. FINLAND: Live broadcast of WAD on Finnish TV consisting of interviews, presentations, discussions and live performances. Please see full news item below. USA: A World of Accordions Museum will host World Accordion Day (WAD) on May 4th/5th with a slate of concert performances that will be featured in international video broadcast under the auspices of Confédération Internationale des Accordéonistes (CIA). These include the (UMKC) Community Accordion Chamber Ensemble conducted by Prof. Joan C. Sommers, Mary Tokarski, Stas Venglevski, Murl Allen Sanders, Betty Jo Simon, Jane Christison, Mike Middleton, Henry Doktorski, Aydar Salahov plus Joan Sommers in duet with Stas Venglevski. CHINA: 2019 Shanghai Spring International Accordion Festival "Dedicate to World Accordion Day" will include video of concerts by high profile international and Chinese accordionists to be published on the World Accordion Day, May 6th. Download printable poster: 2019PosterShanghai.pdf View the major report online of the superbly organised 2019 Shanghai Spring International Accordion Festival: 2019Shanghai USA: Bachtopus Accordion Ensemble performs at 4pm at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, NYC as part of the Music in Chelsea series, whose proceeds go to the St. Peter’s food pantry. The program features the music of Peter Flint, Philip Glass, Arvo Pärt, Guy Klucevsek, J.S. Bach, and more Sunday May 5th, 2019, 4-5:30pm. Suggested donation: $10 USA: World Accordion Day Concert on Monday May 6th from 6pm to 9pm at WIld Heaven Beer, 35 Maple St B, Avondale Estates, GA 30002, Presented by NESS Records and Accordionology. Free admission. Performance by Matthew Kaminski, Gabe Granitz, Nick Edelstein. Open jam; bring your instrument! Mini-museum "The Origin of Squeezes". For details email Jack Brantley: jack@accordionology.com (See poster above right). GERMANY: Annual concert by the Bavarian Youth Accordion Orchestra Conducted by Silke D'Inka at Theodor-Heuss-Str. 29, 85764 Munich-Oberschleißheim (Germany) on May 5th at 4pm. They will play compositions by Gustav Holst, Samuel Barber, Slavko Suklar, Fritz Dobler, Oleg Gamajunow, Alberto Ginastera, Dimitri Schostakowitsch. For details email: dinka@aljo-bw.de SPAIN: A World Accordion Day concert will be held at the University of Cervera in Catalonia on May 4th. For more information email: ferranbayan@gmail.com NEW ZEALAND/CHINA: New Zealand accordionist Grayson Masefield will perform in concert on May 7th at Zhuozhi Education, Xu Lin English School in Chengdu, China. The concert will be opened by Grayson's student Xu Nao who has just won First Place of U10 Pop Class and Open Class at the 13th Singaporean and Chinese International Music Competition (2019). See poster right, and download printable poster: 2019GM.pdf UK: On Monday afternoon (WAD) May 6th accordionist Rob Howard will be one of several musicians performing at a private garden party at a house in Chorlton, Stockport with all proceeds going to the charity India Share. AUSTRIA: Harmonika -WM three day international event beginning end of May. Full information near the date. |
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World Accordion Day Broadcast on AlphaTV – Finlandby Kimmo Mattila |
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 The Finnish TV Channel AlfaTV will broadcast a live presentation of World Accordion Day on May 6th which will consist of interviews, presentations, discussions and live performances. The history of the accordion is one of the main topics, because the 190th anniversary of the accordion is celebrated on the same day.Several accordionists will play in the studio during the program, which will be hosted by famous TV presenter, Heidi Pakarinen and Kimmo Mattila (picture left). One of the special guests will be EU Parliament Member Merja Kyllönen, discussing international cultural aspects. The program is produced by the Finnish Accordion Association in cooperation with the CIA. The TV program will be online after the live broadcast for at least 12 months to be seen in any country of the world. The program link will be available in this article when the TV program goes live. http://www.permanto.fi/fi/web/alfatv/player/vod?assetId=14641936 For further details email: secretariat_cia@harmonikkaliitto.net |
Nine Premieres by Ghenadie Rotari at Risuonanze Music Festival! - Italyby Christine Johnstone |
 Video: 2017 MA Intermedia Festival, < Exercise de stratigraphie > composed by Marta Gentilucci, performed by Ghenadie Rotari. Accordionist Ghenadie Rotari will perform nine (World and Italian) premieres of works written for accordion solo at the Risuonanze Contemporary Music Festival in Udine on June 1st. His program will include works by: Haris Kittos (Greece), Idin Samimi Mofakham (Iran), Martyna Kosecka (Poland), Paolo Marchettini (Italy), Ivan Buffa (Slovakia), Biaggio Putignano (Italy), Sara Carvalho (Portugal), Hugo Vasco Reis (Portugal) and Arshia Samsaminia (Iran). Born in Moldova, Ghenadie Rotari has performed in prestigious venues such as Carnegie Hall (New York, USA), Kioi Concert Hall (Tokyo, Japan), Musikverein and Radiokulturhaus (Vienna, Austria), Gasteig (Munich, Germany) and Teatro Regio (Turin, Italy). He has been awarded first prizes at various international music competitions, such as the 6th international competition “Ars Nova” in Trieste, the “Competition for young talents in Val Tidone”, the international music competition “Okud Istra” in Pula (Croatia), the “Città di Treviso” international music competition, the “Strumenti&Musica festival” in Spoleto, the international competition “Svirel” in Slovenia and first prize in the “Città di Piove di Sacco” international competition in Italy, among others. For further concert details email: g.rotari@yahoo.com |
Italian Coupe Mondiale National Qualifications, Spoleto - Italyby Mirco Patarini |
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 Every year the Italian member of the Confédération Internationale des Accordéonistes (CIA), Italian Accordion Culture (IAC) organises the National Selection of candidates for the CIA Coupe Mondiale. For 2019, the Italian National Selection takes place in Spoleto, Sala Nobile di Palazzo Leti Sansi on May 18th.As well as two candidates sponsored by the IAC, two others will get support from the China Coupe Mondiale hosts who are offering 42,900 Euro in cash prizes as well as subsidies towards airfares and accommodations. For further information about the Italian National Selections, contact: Mirco Patarini. Other information about the 2019 Coupe Mondiale is online at: Coupe Mondiale |
Reports for Concerts, Masterclasses, Competitions, Festivals, etc. |
Wedding Bells for Marco Lo Russo, Lake Como - Italyby Rob Howard |
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| Accordionist and composer Marco Lo Russo married television journalist Silvia Vecchi on April 27th. The private ceremony was held on Lake Como, at the abbey of Santa Maria di Piona in Colico in Lecco, Italy. Prior Father Massimo Marianella (former Prior of the Abbey of Valvisciolo in Sermoneta, Latina) officiated at the wedding. Best wishes to the newlyweds from Accordions Worldwide! |
Report: 2019 Shanghai Spring International Accordion Festival - Chinaby Harley Jones |
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| Days 16, 18 and 19 April of the 2019 Shanghai Spring International Accordion Festival are now online. This is the touring part promoting 'Belt and Road' economic policy and enriching the accordion and public cultural services in the Yangtze River Delta region. The Shanghai Spring International Accordion Festival was also dedicated to World Accordion Day. View the major report online of the superbly organised 2019 Shanghai Spring International Accordion Festival: 2019Shanghai Download 21 page color Festival Program: 2019FestivalProgramShanghai.pdf Download 24 page color Concert Program: 2019ConcertsShanghai.pdf Download printable poster: 2019PosterShanghai.pdf |
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Orkney Isles Mini Concert Tour - Scotlandby Christine Johnstone |
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| Accordionist Karen Tweed has just completed a mini tour of the Orkney Isles with Alistair Anderson (English concertina and Northumbrian pipes). Their tour began on April 26th in Westray, Orkney followed by performances in South Ronaldsay, Kirkwall before a final concert at the Shapinsay Community Centre, Shapinsay on April 30th. Alistair Anderson also gave a talk entitled “My Life in Music & Why Traditional Music is Important Today” after their performance in Kirkwall. |
Val Tidone International Music Competition Closing Date Extended - Italyby Christine Johnstone |
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 The closing date for the Val Tidone International Music Competitions has been extended to May 18th, 2019. The competitions will be held from June 7th to 16th in Val Tidone. The Artistic Director is Livio Bollani (pictured). This year’s event will include six international music competitions for a variety of instruments including the accordion, solo and group with categories such as classical and contemporary, pop, rock, world and Jazz. Special prize categories include "Contessa Tina Orsi Anguissola Scotti" Chamber Music Prize, "Val Tidone" Young Talent Competition, "Egidio Carella" Composition Competition, and "Tidone Folk" - Special Prize for Folk Music (soloists and groups). Download competition rules: 2019ValTidone.pdf |
Future events |
UMKC Chamber Accordion Ensemble World Accordion Day Concert - USAby Kevin Friedrich |
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 The University of Missouri - Kansas City (UMKC) Community Accordion Chamber Ensemble will perform in Concert at the World of Accordions Museum for the World Accordion Day celebration in Superior, Wisconsin on 4th May 2019.All players are alumni of the University of Missouri - Kansas City, and former members of the renowned UMKC Accordion Orchestra. The players make their living in various careers, but each have remained devoted to promoting the accordion and its varied repertoire, which includes transcriptions, commissions and other original works. They have recently performed in Chicago, San Francisco and Kansas City and Alexandria, VA (Washington DC). In addition, they have participated in several USA contributions to World Accordion Day, when videos of their performances were broadcast during the live presentation. The UMKC Chamber Accordion Ensemble performs under the direction of Joan C. Sommers who also plays as a member of the ensemble. Joan C. Sommers was awarded the title of Professor Emerita upon her retirement from the University of Missouri – Kansas City Conservatory of Music (USA), where she established and taught the accordion degree program for forty years. She has arranged innumerable works for both Accordion Orchestra and Chamber Ensemble, works that have been performed around the globe. Joan C. Sommers has held numerous positions in several music organizations, including the Accordionists & Teachers Guild International (ATG) and the Confédération Internationale des Accordéonistes (CIA – IMC-UNESCO) where she holds lifetime Honorary Membership. At the World of Accordions Museum performance, the concert will include: Zar und Zimmermann (Czar and Carpenter) by Albert Lortzing (arr. Curt Herold); Variationen über “Komm, lieber Mai” by Rudolf Würthner; Tambourin Chinois by Fritz Kreisler (arr. Anthony Galla-Rini) featuring Samantha Wagner, soloist; Omphale’s Spinning Wheel by Camille Saint-Saëns (arr. Anthony Galla-Rini); Cité Tango by Astor Piazzolla (arr. Joan C. Sommers) featuring Ron Barrow, soloist; Concerto per Archi by Nino Rota (arr. Eugene Negruta) I. Preludio, II. Scherzo, III. Aria and IV. Finale; Flight (Movement 3) by Ian Watson and Blackbird Polka by Vladimir Ushakov. Members of the UMKC Chamber Accordion Ensemble pictured above include Kevin Friedrich, Samantha Wagner, Ron Dake, director Joan Cochran Sommers, Ron Barrow, Betty Jo Simon, Cathy Sue Weiss and Mary Ann Covone. For more information on the World of Accordions Museum concert please visit www.worldofaccordions.org or contact Joan C. Sommers: joansommers@kc.rr.com |
“Iva Nova” Russian Rock Band Tours Europe this Monthby Christine Johnstone |
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| Video: Iva Nova live in 2016. The “Iva Nova” rock band from St Petersburg, Russia will tour Lithuania, Poland and Germany from May 8th to June 6th. The band includes Natalia Potapenko (accordion - graduated from Saint Petersburg Conservatory), Anastasia Postnikova (vocals, keyboard & percussion), Ekaterina Fedorova (drums & percussion) and Galina Kiseleva (bass & backing vocals). They play a mixture of modern rock and ethnic music along with jazzy and electronic flavouring. The sound is strong and driving, connecting “rural restlessness with urban insanity”. The band has played numerous gigs in Russia, Germany, Austria, Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, France, Slovenia, Slovakia, Romania, Hungary, Poland, Czech Republic, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland and Canada. They have also taken part in festivals such as Wazemmes Accordion Festival (Lille, France), Accordion Noir festival (Vancouver, Canada), International Accordion festival (Vienna, Austria), Le Grand Soufflet (Rennes, France) and Akkordeon Akut! Festival (Halle, Germany). Tour dates are: 8th May - Vilnius, XI20 (Lithuania) 9th May - Wrozlaw, Kalambur (Poland) 11th May - Augsburg, Provino (Germany) 12th May - Weinstadt, JAK (Germany) 13th May - Karlsruhe, Die Anstoß e.V. (Germany) 15th May - Köln, Sonic Ballroom (Germany) 16th May - Darmstadt, Belleville (Germany) 17th May - Rotthausen, Neuhaus (Germany) 18th May - Leverkusen, KAW (Germany) 20th May - Hamburg, Hedi (Germany) 25th May - Kneipe Westen, Dörverden (Germany) 28th May - KIT Cafe, Dusseldorf (Germany) 29th May - Kulturverein Wespennest , Neustadt a.d.W., (Germany) 30th May - Halle/Saale, Objekt 5 (Germany) 31st May - Berlin, Supamolly (Germany) 1st June - Stacja Wolimierz, Pobiedna, Dolnoslaskie (Poland) For concert details email: ivanovabandrus@gmail.com |
Texas Folklife Hosts Big Squeeze Youth Accordion Concert – USAby Rita Davidson Barnea, Editor USA Accordion News |
 Texas Folklife will host the Statewide Big Squeeze Youth Accordion Concert that will take place on May 11th at the Bullock Texas State History Museum in Austin, Texas. The event is a live concert to feature Texas' top young accordion talent with performances by Cedryl Ballou & the Zydeco Trendsetters and Conjunto Cats.The 13th annual Big Squeeze Youth Accordion Contest, will take place during the event and will feature ten youth musicians battling it out in the traditional Texas accordion music genres: polka, Cajun & zydeco, and Conjunto. The Big Squeeze is a culmination of ten competitions held throughout Texas that began in February and stretched from Ennis to Edinburg. Communities across the state came together to celebrate one of Texas’ most cherished musical traditions while young musicians showed off their accordion skills for a chance to play on the Austin stage. Each of the Grand Prize Winners will receive a prize package including a Hohner accordion, cash prize, performance opportunities with Texas Folklife, publicity, professional development and other professional opportunities. Additionally, the Grand Prize Winners will perform onstage with legendary Texas musicians at Texas Folklife’s Accordion Kings & Queens Concert, held at Houston’s Miller Outdoor Theatre on June 1st. The Big Squeeze is free and open to the public. For further details phone Sarah Rucker: 512-773-11 61 Photo below - Melenie Gonzalez, 2018 Conjunto Champion, 17 and Under Category; Photo by Robert Garriott |
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Swaledale Squeeze Weekend - UKby Christine Johnstone |
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 The annual Swaledale Squeeze Weekend will be held from May 17th to 19th at Grinton Lodge, based just outside Reeth, in the picturesque setting of Swaledale in the Yorkshire Dales. This concertina weekend aims to be a fantastic mixture of learning and fun.Guest tutors will be Jody Kruskal (picture left - USA – Anglo), Simon Thoumire (Edinburgh – English) and Tim Laycock (Dorset – Duet) who will join with a dedicated band of regular tutors: Alex Wade (English), Harry Scurfield (Anglo), Paul Walker (English/Anglo), Carolyn Wade (Band) and Dave Ball (Band/English). Together they provide workshops covering a whole range of concertina playing for different abilities, systems and styles. The weekend will begin with two informal sessions including the Dotty session, with written music provided for the tunes. Saturday includes teaching workshops in the morning and afternoon, an informal tea-time concert and a ceilidh in the evening in Reeth, with the band for the ceilidh and the 'spots' provided by participants. There are more workshops on Sunday morning before the farewell concert on Sunday afternoon, again in Reeth, featuring spots from the tutors and their workshop groups. In addition there will be a walk around Swaledale for those who wish to join it. They also have Chris Algar's (Barleycorn Concertinas) emporium. Families and friends are welcome too - they may enjoy the area's many craft shops, tearooms and outstanding walks and are welcome to bring other musical instruments for joining in sessions or the ceilidh band. For further details email: steven@swaledalesqueeze.org.uk |
14th Wirral Folk Festival – UKby Christine Johnstone |
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| The 14th Wirral Folk Festival will take place from May 30th May to June 2nd at The Whitby Club and Grounds, Chester Road & Dunkirk Lane, Ellesmere Port in Cheshire. The event will feature a variety of live performances on the main stage, including “The Tom McConville Band” (picture below) who combine a rollercoaster of musical delights from fast, rhythmic dance tunes through to beautiful slow airs. The group includes accordionist Shona Kipling, a BBC Folk Award nominee. Other performers include “Boys of the Thatch” who play and sing Irish trad music on fiddles, banjos, accordions, guitars, mandolins and bodhran. “The Time Bandits” are a folk music and ceilidh band which includes Ian Jones (melodeon & flute) as well as bagpipes, recorders, whistles, saxophone, violin, bouzouki, cittern, bouzar, vocals, bass and drums. For further details phone: 0151-678-9902 |
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CNIMA Courses for Young Children - Franceby Holda Paoletti-Kampl |
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 The CNIMA directed by Nathalie Boucheix will run an “Introduction to the Accordion and Leisure” course for children aged from 7 years. The course will run from July 15th to 19th, 2019 with full board (children under 8 years old must be accompanied by an adult).Stéphanie Méthot (pictured) will take the course and she has an ultra-playful approach to music planned, with accordion based games, exploring sound and the creation of a small orchestra. For further details email: cnima@wanadoo.fr |
New and Updated Sites |
Russian News Updatedby Arseniy Strokovskiy |
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| The Russian News has been updated with new articles. View online at: Russia News |
Report: Frankfurt Musikmesse 2019 Online – Germanyby Holda Paoletti-Kampl |
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| The extensive report of the Frankfurt Musikmesse 2019 of pictures and video is now online at: Frankfurt2019 Gallery link Video above: Matthias Matzke (Germany) demonstrating the Bugari-Evo performing "All is hell that ends well" (Two Steps from Hell). Accordion factories exhibiting included: Beltuna Accordions S.r.l. Bugari Armando and Bugari Evo Cagnoni Srl Dino Baffetti di Baffetti G. & C. snc Dallape in visit Excelsior Fismen Harmonikas s.r.o. Italcinte in visit Mengascini in visit mengascini@tiscalinet.it MusicTech di Sabbatini Claudio & C. snc Orla Srl Pasco Italia Srl E Soprani Moreschi Pigini Srl Scandalli Accordions Srl Zero Sette |
Report: 12th Anniversary Afternoon of Music with Kevin Friedrich & Friends Online - New Zealandby Harley Jones |
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| The 12th Anniversary Afternoon of Music with Kevin Friedrich & Friends report and photos are now online. The report includes information on the March 31st, 2019 variety Show featuring accordionists and entertainers from New Zealand and Australia. The show was called 'Music from the Stage and Screen'. View the report at: 2019Dargaville |
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