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Weekly News from Around the World - 04-Nov-2011
Previous News | Past News Index | Next News

Highlights

27th Festival of Music for Accordion, St Petersburg – Russia
Petri Makkonen Concerts, English Midlands Area – UK
New Accordion Concerto Premiere by Peter Soave, California - USA
New Book, ‘Vintage Accordions’, Stockport – UK

Reports for Concerts, Masterclasses, Competitions, Festivals, etc.

Maigret Theme Music CD Released, Watford - UK
8th KlezMORE Festival Vienna 2011 - Austria
Viatcheslav Semionov Master Classes, Lausanne - Switzerland
BCA/LSM Annual Concert, Birkirkara - Malta
Passing of Ken Olendorf, Seattle - USA
Jesús Mozo-Colmenero Performs Aconcagua Concerto by Piazzolla, Madrid - Spain
‏‘14 Years Ago’ – News of an Accordion Concert in Tibet

Future events

III International Competition, Sarajevo - Bosnia and Herzegovina
Mary Tokarski Performs with the Hamden Symphony Orchestra, Connecticut - USA
2011 Pigini and Excelsior Concert Tour Demonstrations – Germany
Tony Kearney Gigs, London – UK
CNIMA Accordion Master Classes, Noirmoutier – France
Duo Nuevo Mundo Concert, Bogota – Colombia
Next Frédéric Deschamps Teaching Courses, Near Paris - France
Marco Lo Russo Plays At Dancing Show, Rome – Italy
Raúl Barbosa Concert and Master Class, Concepción - Uruguay
Scottish Tango Ensemble Concert, Dumfries and Galloway – UK
HHC Nufringen e.V. Accordion Orchestra Concert, Nufringen – Germany
"Mas en Tango" Performances in November – Italy

New and Updated Sites

Jeff Lisenby - accordionist, composer, arranger, releases 7 new composition
Zevy Zions - accordionist,arranger, solo musician, release 1 new music
Franco Cambareri releasing 2 of his new music
November Accordion USA News Online 1st November
November 2011 Diatonic News Online 1st November
November 2011 Accordion Russia News Online 1st November

CD Reviews

“Russian Favourites” CD by Alexander Sevastian

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Highlights

27th Festival of Music for Accordion, St Petersburg – Russia

by Rob Howard

The 2011 27th International Festival of Music for Accordion takes place in St Petersburg from November 4th to 6th. Since the start of the festival, the Artistic Director of the festival has been Russian honored artist Prof. Alexander Dmitriev (picture left).

The festival schedule includes:
November 4th - concert with the Paris-Moscow Duo, Domi Emorine and Roman Jbanov
November 5th – concert duo of Russian honored artist Alexander Dmitriev with son Vitali Dmitriev, and the duo "Una Sinistra" being Alexander Selivanov and Yulia Amerikova fresh from very successful October performances in Castelfidardo and the Shanghai Coupe Mondiale.
November 6th - Gala Concert, featuring the winners of international competitions in 2011:
Artem Davydov, Vladislav Ilyin, Arkady Shkvorov, Anton Stachev, Vladimir Stupnikov, Vitaly Pugachev, Manuela Glock, Aleftina Nikitin, Alexander Kolomiytsev, Catherine Yupalaynen, Stepan Armasar, Alexander Pavlov, and Tom Hardaker.

The St Petersburg Festival is very popular enjoying full halls and giving huge pleasure to the large audiences.

Petri Makkonen Concerts, English Midlands Area – UK

by Harley Jones

Petri Makkonen, accordionist and composer from Finland, is performing in the Midlands in November. Petri (born 1967) studied accordion at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki, under the guidance of Matti Rantanen, he studied composition with Heikki Valpola and Olli Kortekangas and graduated in 1994.

Petri Makkonen has composed an extensive range of repertoire for the accordion. His compositions have been inspired by personal experience and detailed events through his life and he is well for both his performances and compositions.

Some of his most famous compositions are:
Flight Beyond Time, Disco-Tango, and his latest work Tango Toccata which was featured at the recent Shanghai Coupe Mondiale on the CIA World Champions Concert by Grayson Masefield who had premiered the work earlier in the year.

Petri Makkonen has been featured at the International St Petersburg Accordion Festival three times and made concerts in many countries. He will perform in the UK:

November 14th, 8pm – Club Accord, Catshill Social Club, 13a Meadow Road, Catshill, nr. Bromsgrove, Worcestershire B61 0JJ.

November 15th, 7.30pm - Crescent Theatre, 20 Sheepcote St, Birmingham B16 8AE

November 18th, 7.30pm - Barnt Green Friends Meeting House, 6 Sandhills Road, Barnt Green, Worcestershire, B45 8NR.

For further information, please contact sabinagardner@blueyonder.co.uk

Red Bike CD is available at Petri Makkonen

New Accordion Concerto Premiere by Peter Soave, California - USA

by Rob Howard

Accordionist Peter Soave will present the world premiere of a new accordion concerto, by the Slovenian-born composer Max Simoncic, with the Stockton Symphony Orchestra, directed by Peter Jaffe. Performances are on Thursday November 10th, 8pm, and Saturday November 12th, 6pm, at the Atherton Auditorium, San Joaquin Delta College, Stockton, California.

The concerto movements are titled: 1. Villains, Clowns and Heroes; 2. Reminiscence; and 3. Prologue and Dances.

There will be ‘Meet the Maestro’ pre-concert talks begin 45 minutes prior to each performance.

Peter Soave also leads a master class on Friday November 11th, 5pm until 7pm, at the University of the Pacific Recital Hall.

For further information about Peter Soave: info@petersoave.com

New Book, ‘Vintage Accordions’, Stockport – UK

by Harley Jones

A new book, ‘Vintage Accordions’, available from November 1st, is an all-colour pictorial history of the accordion, in its various forms, from the early 19th Century onwards up to the present time.

There are 300 pictures plus information and some articles. This book is a limited edition, A4 sized, 60 pages, and in hardback. It costs £10 plus £2 postage and packing for UK from Rob Howard, 42 Avondale Rd, Edgeley, Stockport, Cheshire SK3 9NY, UK. Overseas postage and packing is £4 to the EU countries and £7 postage and packing to all other parts of the world. British Pounds cheques only due to high UK bank charges. Paypal accepted.

The Author Rob Howard, is renowned for his series of books titled An A to Z of the Accordion and Related Instruments, Volume 1 through Volume 5. These are available online at Rob Howard.

For purchasing the book “Vintage Accordions” or for further information, email: robaccord5@hotmail.com

Maigret Theme Music CD Released, Watford - UK

by Rob Howard

The BBC TV series ‘Maigret’, starring Rupert Davies as the fictional French detective, was hugely popular in the 1960s. One of the most memorable features of the show was its catchy theme plus incidental music, played by accordionist Reg Hogarth with orchestral accompaniment. The Maigret theme, written by Ron Grainer, became a piece that many British accordionists would be frequently requested to play, even many years after the TV show ended. Reg Hogarth is also remembered by many for his years with the Mantovani Orchestra.

An LP of the theme music from ‘Maigret’ plus numerous other TV and film themes written by Australian-born composer and pianist Ron Grainer (1922-81), recorded by Decca, has been released on CD by Dutton Vocalion. Titled ‘Ron Grainer & His Orchestra - The Maigret Theme & Other Film and TV Themes Singles’, the first half of the CD contains the original Maigret recordings, issued for the first time in stereo.

The Maigret tracks include: The Maigret Theme, Bistro, Night Prowl, Petit Louis, Arlette, Golden Fleece, Getaway, Along the Boulevards, Lost Memory, Poker Face, Ginette, Thieves’ Den, Midnight in Montmartre, The Maigret Theme (reprise). The remaining tracks are other film and TV themes written by the prolific Ron Grainer.

For further information email: info@duttonvocalion.co.uk

8th KlezMORE Festival Vienna 2011 - Austria

by Friedl Preisl

The KlezMORE Vienna Festival takes place for the eighth time. For 15 days you can enjoy events in various theaters in Vienna (Porgy & Bess, Sargfabrik, Ost Klub, Tachles, Ehrbar Saal, Theater Akzent, Reigen, Metropol) and in two churches (Church Gaussplatz, Kirche am Tabor) the artistic approach with klezmer music and their possible interpretations and definitions.

The 8th KlezMORE Festival Vienna 2011 will be completed with an additional program that negotiates non-musical aspects of Jewish culture and history, and their connection with friction (Vienna) of the past and present.

Opening is on the 5th November at Porgy & Bess with the amazing New York a capella quartet Mycale and very danceable Vienna World - free music sensation NIFTY'S.

For further information email Friedl Preisl: friedl.preisl@aon.at

Viatcheslav Semionov Master Classes, Lausanne - Switzerland

by Harley Jones

Prof. Viatcheslav Semionov, from Russia, gave master classes at the Conservatory in Lausanne, Switzerland at the invitation of Professor Stéphane Chapuis. The master classes took place on November 2nd and 3rd, involving students of the conservatory in the form of open lessons.

In addition to the workshops, the Conservatory of Lausanne has now ordered the complete works of Viatcheslav Semionov for their library.

7 CD's and Music available online at Viatcheslav Semionov

BCA/LSM Annual Concert, Birkirkara - Malta

by Anna Bodell of Charnwood Publications

Raymond Bodell presentation to Marthese Busuttil Cassar

The BCA/LSM 2011 Annual Maltese Concert was held on October 29th and 30th as part of the British College of Accordionists (BCA) 75th Anniversary celebrations.

The event was organised by BCA Local Representative Rita Psaila at the St. Aloysius College, Birkirkara and present was the BCA Principal Raymond Bodell.

Featured accordionists included the Santa Maria Accordion Band under the musical direction of Marthese Busuttil Cassar (LBCA-pictured left with Raymond Bodell), First Distinction Prize winner Grade 6 Cleve Zammit (picture left lower), and 12 year old guest Alexander Bodell (picture right lower- UK), who received enthusiastic applause for his performances on both evenings.

Passing of Ken Olendorf, Seattle - USA

by Rita Davidson Barnea

Jazz accordionist, Ken Olendorf unexpectedly passed away on Friday October 21st 2011 in Seattle.

Ken, one of the finest jazz accordionists in the USA, was the conductor, pianist and contractor for the Bob Hope Show and the Donald O'Connor Show, among other accomplishments.

Ken was the first President of the Northwest Accordion Society and the founder of the Seattle Socials.

He worked with many famous groups and shows, including the Ink Spots, Myron Floren, Clark Terry, The King Family, Bobby Vinton, Bobby Burgess and Cissy King, Ella Mae Morris, Rusty Draper, Norma Zimmer, Charlie Byrd, Cy Touf, The Harmonicats, Al Bolletto, Ike Cole, Woody Woodhouse, Mary Towne, Tiny Calkins, Norm Bobrow, Red Kelly, Art Doll, Corky Corcoran, Fred Greenwell, Floyd Standifer, Reino Moisio, Denny Mahn, Connie Haines, and more. Born in Chicago, Ken moved to Seattle with wife Barbara to raise their family. Ken was a proud father of four and friend to thousands. He will be deeply missed by all.

Jesús Mozo-Colmenero Performs Aconcagua Concerto by Piazzolla, Madrid - Spain

by Raquel Ruiz

Accordionist Jesús Mozo-Colmenero performed on 22nd October, Astor Piazzolla´s Concerto “Aconcagua”, with the “Carlos III Orchestra” (OC3, Madrid) skillfully conducted by Manuel Coves to an almost full theatre.

At the end of the concert, the warm reception by the audience inspired the Spanish accordionist to play an encore “Omaggio to Astor Piazzolla” by Vladimir Zubitsky for solo accordion, to show them his gratitude.

For the final quarter of 2011, Jesús Mozo- Colmenero will play an assorted music program, with the cellist Angel Luis Quintana in “Teatro del Cabildo”, in Fuerteventura (Spain), “Teatros del Canal” (Madrid, Spain) as well as solo concerts in Valladolid city (Spain).

Further information email: info@jesusmozo.com

‏‘14 Years Ago’ – News of an Accordion Concert in Tibet

by Rob Howard

Tibet is a part of the world that rarely makes the news, but the Accordions Worldwide news for October 7th 1997 carried a short report of a concert featuring an accordionist called Zuo Ma. It would be good to have news of accordion activity in Tibet or of Zuo Ma.

AN ACCORDION CONCERT IN TIBET
Contributed by Wu Jie

Ms Zuo Ma, a young accordion performer in the Lhasa Song & Dance Troupe from Lhasa City, held an accordion concert in the Worker Theatre, Lhasa on November 1st at 7pm. Ms Zuo Ma played accordion and electronic organ with a band to an enthusiastic audience of 500.

The first half she played classical music and in the second half played in a lighter style.

III International Competition, Sarajevo - Bosnia and Herzegovina

by Harley Jones

III International Competition, Sarajev booklet cover

The Academy of Music, University of East Sarajevo, and the Association of New Soundwill organize the third International Festival of Bayan and accordion in East Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, from April 25th to 28th 2012.

The festival includes competition for accordion soloists, concerts and lectures by renowned accordionists, and exhibition of musical accessories.

Dr Zoran Rakic of the Accordion Dept, Academy of Music, University of East Sarajevo, is the Director of the event.

Requirements of the competitions in several languages are at: 2012 Sarajevo

Mary Tokarski Performs with the Hamden Symphony Orchestra, Connecticut - USA

by Rob Howard

Accordionist Mary Tokarski will be the featured soloist with the Hamden Symphony Orchestra (MD Vesna Mehinovic) on Sunday November 6th, 3pm, at the Hamden Middle School Auditorium, 2623 Dixwell Avenue, Hamden, Connecticut. Mary Tokarski will perform ‘Rhapsody for Accordion and Orchestra’, by Gary Daverne.

This work is probably the most popular work ever written for accordion solo and orchestra (symphony orchestra or accordion orchestra). Mary Tokarski has recorded it on CD, Harley Jones on three CD's, and the work has been performed over 170 times since it was composed by Gary Daverne in 1987 with soloists Kevin Friedrich, Harley Jones, Bernadette Conlon, Mary Tokarski and others in Europe and the USA.

The performances have spanned over 30 countries from Europe to Turkey to China to North America, Australian and New Zealand with a number of performances by Mary Tokarski. Mary was a guest artist at the 2009 Coupe Mondiale performing with the Auckland Symphony Orchestra and composer Gary Daverne conducting.

For further information: mary.tokarski@comcast.net

2011 Pigini and Excelsior Concert Tour Demonstrations – Germany

by Rob Howard

There will be a demonstration of Pigini and Excelsior accordions by Giuseppe Gualtieri on November 9th, 3pm until 6pm, at the Akkordeon Center Pfister, Brunhamstr 22, 81249 Munich. This demonstration and concert is part of the 2011 Pigini Concert Tour in Germany to promote new Pigini and Excelsior models and the new Pigini catalog.

Giuseppe Gualtieri studies with Mario Stefano Pietrodarchi and has been successful in various Italian competitions and performed in Italy, Switzerland, Austria and now Germany.

The list of 2011 concerts are:
09 November, Akkordeon Center Pfister, Brunhamstraße 22, München 81249 Tel: 089/8713840
10 November, Musik Center Pietsch, Biffachstraße 4, Bruchsal-Heidelsheim 76646 Tel: 07251/55816
11 November, Akkordeon Service Len Killick, An der Kirche 3, Worms 67550 Tel: 06242/990121
12 November, Musikhaus Hoppe, Sellerweg 20, Warstein / Belecke 59581 Tel: 02902/51171
13 November, Pigini Deutschland, Pre-registration required as numbers limited, Illesheim 91471 Tel: 0171/3880533

For further information email: ac-pfister@ac-pfister.com

Tony Kearney Gigs, London – UK

by Rob Howard

London-based Irish diatonic accordionist Tony Kearney has the following gigs in November:

November 4th – Kindom, Kilburn, London
November 5th – Botwell Club, Hayes
November 6th - Ceili, Irish Centre, Camden Town
November 12th – Mazenod Social Club, Quex Rd, Kilburn
November 13th – Gregorian Arms, Jamaica Rd, Bermondsey
November 19th – McGuires, Chapel Rd, Ilford
November 20th – Ceili, Irish Centre, Camden Town
November 26th – O’Shea’s, Luton
November 28th – Greyhound, Peckham

For further information email: starr63@gmail.com

CNIMA Accordion Master Classes, Noirmoutier – France

by Harley Jones

Famous teachers Jacques Mornet and Nathalie Boucheix (pictured) of the CNIMA J.Mornet music school lead master classes at Noirmoutier, Vendée, on November 21st to 25th and February 13th to 17th.

The island of Noirmoutier is off the Atlantic coast of France in the Vendée department.

For further information view the CNIMA J.Mornet website or email: cnima@wanadoo.fr

Duo Nuevo Mundo Concert, Bogota – Colombia

by Rob Howard

The highly accomplished Duo Nuevo Mundo - Lácides Romero (accordion) and Francisco Javier Rivera (clarinet) – perform in concert on November 5th, 5pm, at the Fundación Alzate Avendaño, Bogota.

The program includes Slavonic Dance No 8 (accordion solo) - A. Dvorak, Hungarian Dance No. 6 – J. Brahms, Brejeiro (Maxixe) - Ernesto Nazareth, Escorregando (Tango Brasilero) – E. Nazareth, La Danza – G. Rossini, Hora Staccatto – G. Dinicu, Intermezzo No. 1 - Luis A. Calvo, Malvaloca – L. A. Calvo, Vicky - Marieta Sáchica, Emma (Habanera) - Carmen Manrique, Como p’a desenguayabar (Bambuco) - Jorge Olaya, Blanca - Juan de la Cruz Sánchez, A Yolombó (Pasillo) - Carlos Vieco, and Atardecer (Pasillo) - Carlos Vieco.

For further information email: lacidesromero@gmail.com

Next Frédéric Deschamps Teaching Courses, Near Paris - France

The next Teaching Courses by Frédéric Deschamps will take place near Paris, France from 17 to 23 December and 26 to 31 December 2012.

The program includes:
- discovering new teaching techniques developed by Frederic Deschamps;
- teaching and the relationship between the compression of the bellows and the keyboards;
- development of velocity by developing correct body movements rather focusing only on the fingers;
- channeling energies and motor skills,
- development of tactile memory by limiting the depression of keys etc.

The courses are only individual. They are public or behind closed doors and broadcast by Live streaming or not, depending upon the desire of the trainee.

The purpose of the Live streaming Deschamps Channel is to enable the video to be immediately archived online and allows students and viewers to better visualize, understand and solve their own technical problems.

You can already view more than a hundred courses and master classes on the Deschamps Channel. You can have a very clear idea of the educational content and methods of tuition of Frédéric Deschamps by watching videos from the Archives of the Web TV Deschamps Channel.

Attendance at training is very eclectic as young and old, amateurs and world champions, musette and classical coexist in harmony in a family environment and rural development, along with Petar the Pig and Clara, the donkey and animals of the farm.

For further information / enrollment, email: frederic.deschamps@wanadoo.fr

Photo below: Alexander Kolovski (Macedonia), Frédéric Deschamps, Augustinas Rakauskas (Lithuania), Radu Laxgang (Moldavia), Petar Maric (Serbia), Grayson Masefield (New Zealand), Dorin Grama (Moldavia).

Marco Lo Russo Plays At Dancing Show, Rome – Italy

by Rob Howard

On November 5th, 8.30pm, accordionist Marco Lo Russo is a guest at the 6th dancing show Danzando nelle Diaspore, at the Teatro Sacricuori, Magliano Sabino 33, Piazza Vescovia, Rome, Italy.

For further information email: dina.tomezzoli@alice.it

Raúl Barbosa Concert and Master Class, Concepción - Uruguay

by Holda Paoletti-Kampl

Argentinean accordionist Raúl Barboza will give a master class and concert on November 5th, 5pm, at the Casa de la Cultura, Concepción, Uruguay. He will be accompanied by Nardo González (guitar) and Roy Valenzuela (double bass).

Raúl Barboza, from Buenos Aires, performs music that is a mix of Indian, European, and African influences, incorporating everything from chamamé to tangos, mazurkas, and waltzes, to the natural sounds of the environment and wildlife.

The recipient of a Konex Prize as one of the five Best Figures in the History of Argentinean Popular Music, in 1985, Barboza has continued to explore new musical paths.

Scottish Tango Ensemble Concert, Dumfries and Galloway – UK

by Paul Chamberlain

On Sunday November 13th the Scottish Tango Ensemble will be performing at Newton Stewart Music Club in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland. The group consists of: Paul Chamberlain (accordion), Tom Berry (double bass), Fiona Macleod (piano) and Gemma O'Keeffe (violin).

The concert which is at The Cinema in the town, begins at 7.30pm and will feature a collaboration of four dynamic young musicians dedicated to bringing the wonderful music of the Argentine Tango to audiences throughout Scotland.

They cover all styles of tango music from the classic Salon and Milonguera repertoire through to the Nuevo Tango associated with Astor Piazzolla.

For further information email: info@myceilidh.co.uk

HHC Nufringen e.V. Accordion Orchestra Concert, Nufringen – Germany

by Gisela Resch

The Handharmonika-Club Nufringen e.V. accordion orchestra (conducted by Günther Stoll) perform in concert on November 13th, 7pm, at the Wiesengrundhalle, Nufringen, Baden-Württemberg, in Southern Germany.

The Handharmonika-Club Nufringen program will include music by Rudolf Würthner, Adolf Götz, Hugo Hermann, Alexander Jekic, Hermann Illenberger and Hans-Günther Kölz.

For further information email: info@hhc-nufringen.de

"Mas en Tango" Performances in November – Italy

by Harley Jones

"Mas en Tango" consisting of Salvatore Cauteruccio (accordion) Sasa Calabrese (bass), Fabrizio La Fauci (drums) are starting their winter tour. They have recently completed a large number of concerts, including participating in major festivals (Peperoncino Jazz Fest, Paola in Jazz, Festival di Castelfidardo, Suoni) and many others.

The Trio;s performances are listed on the poster above.
For further information email: info@salvatorecauteruccio.it

Jeff Lisenby - accordionist, composer, arranger, releases 7 new composition

by Jeff Lisenby

Jeff Lisenby - accordionist, composer, arranger, releases 7 new composition for accordion available for purchase online. 'Caruban Knights', catalog:jlisenby001, 'Ease On Down The Road', catalog:jlisenby002, 'Yesterdays', catalog:jlisenby003, 'Soliña', catalog:jlisenby004, 'Ring Of Fire', catalog:jlisenby005, 'Out Of Nowhere', catalog:jlisenby006 and 'A Spy In Tortuga', catalog:jlisenby007. The music is in eSheet format, able to be emailed to your computer. Purchase with credit card.

Zevy Zions - accordionist,arranger, solo musician, release 1 new music

by Zevy Zions

Zevy Zions - accordionist,arranger, solo musician, release 1 new music for accordion available for purchase online. 'Haydn's Serenade', catalog:zzions016. The music is in eSheet format, able to be emailed to your computer. Purchase with credit card.

Franco Cambareri releasing 2 of his new music

by Franco Cambareri

Franco Cambareri - accordionist, composer, producer, releases 2 new composition for accordion available for purchase nline. 'Swing With Me', catalog:cfranco144 and 'Smooth Rockin', catalog:cfranco145. The music is in eSheet format, able to be emailed to your computer. Purchase with credit card.