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Highlights |
10th Annual Třeboň Summer Meetings – Czech Republic
8th Pluriel Accordion Festival - France
Performers Invited: 2022 Bellows Lovers Night – Japan
2022 Arsonore International Music Festival - Austria
New Book: Elements of Jazz Music for Accordion by Renzo Ruggieri - Italy
Reports for Concerts, Masterclasses, Competitions, Festivals, etc. |
Bogdan Laketic’s CD “Made in Vienna” Nominated for the German Record Critics' Prize
Video: Big Bike Orchestra Unique Performance - Poland
New CD: Duo Two Accordions
New Album by Claudio Jacomucci “Arte della Fuga” - Netherlands
Alex Meixner Band at Lake Geneva Concerts in the Park - USA
Future events |
Joseph Natoli Performs with the W.D. Packard Concert Band - USA
Miguel Afonso Entertains at 17th Rio Chamoso Folk Festival - Spain
Daniele Falasca Performs at Abbazie Jazz Festival - Italy
Lionel Suarez & Daniel Mille Duo Concert & Masterclass - France
Classic Kyiv Duo Concert – England
Jazz Festival Saalfelden – Austria
Sydney Folk Festival - Australia
Daddy Squeeze Entertains with Chris Silver – USA
Renzo Ruggieri Performs with Vocalist Antonella Ruggiero – Italy
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Highlights |
ATG 80 Member Festival Orchestra - USAby Kevin Friedrich |
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 The Festival Orchestra at the Accordionists & Teachers Guild, International (ATG) annual gathering is always a highlight of the convention. This year, while celebrating their 80th Festival, the ATG presented a spectacular 80 piece accordion orchestra under the baton of world renowned conductor, Joan Cochran Sommers.Similar to how Symphony Orchestras function, each musician received the music in advance in order to prepare for the concert and three rehearsals were held at the festival to put the orchestra together and add timpani and percussion. Concert Master for the orchestra was Kevin Friedrich, a past ATG President and current Ambassador to the Confédération Internationale des Accordéonistes (CIA) and along with musicians from as far afield as Italy (CIA President - Mirco Patarini), Austria (First Vice President of the Harmonika Verband Österreichs - HVÖ - Dr. Herbert Scheibenreif,) and throughout the United States and Canada, the magnificent concert drew accolades and a standing ovation from the audience, many of whom had never heard an accordion orchestra before. The program for the 2022 performance held at the state of the art Armerding Concert Hall at Wheaton College in Chicago included Themes from Lawrence of Arabia by Maurice Jarre (arr. Palmer & Hughes), Paragon March by ATG Founder and President Emeritus Anthony Galla-Rini, Finlandia, Op. 26. No. 7 by Jean Sibelius (arr. Galla-Rini), Epilogue from The Comedians, Op. 26 by Dmitri Kabalevsky (arr. Galla-Rini), The Lord of the Dance by Roman Padraig Hardiman (arr. H. G. Kölz) and Medley from The Sound of Music by Richard Rodgers & Oscar Hammerstein (arr. Willard A. Palmer). Conductor Joan Cochran Sommers is a three time Past President of the Accordionists & Teachers Guild, International (ATG). After serving many years as Vice President of the Executive Committee and 12 years as Chairman of the Music Committee of the Confédération Internationale des Accordéonistes (CIA), in honor of her many decades of service, Joan was awarded lifetime Honorary Membership of the CIA upon her retirement from office. She earned the right to represent the USA in the Coupe Mondiale in both 1955 and 1956, which undoubtedly developed her interest in worldwide accordion activities. Joan has since been honored numerous times by both National and International accordion organizations, as well as other musical organizations for her ongoing dedication and contributions to the field of music. See picture below. Joan founded the accordion degree program at the Conservatory of Music at the University of Missouri – Kansas City (UMKC Accordion Orchestra) in 1961. Over many decades, she taught and inspired a countless number of students from around the United States and abroad to achieve musical excellence as they studied for their Bachelor, Masters and Doctorate degrees in Accordion Performance. Upon her retirement from UMKC as a full-time Professor and Assistant Dean in the Conservatory of Music, Joan Cochran Sommers was awarded Professor Emerita status. Plans are already underway for the next Festival Orchestra which will be held in the Chicago area in July of 2023. For more information, please visit ATG |
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10th Annual Třeboň Summer Meetings – Czech Republicby Christine Johnstone |
  The 10th Annual Trebon Summer Meetings will take place in Trebon, Czech Republic from August 16th to 20th, 2022 and include accordion concerts and music seminars.Accordion concerts will be given by Ladislav Horák (picture above right) and Markéta Laštovicková (picture above left), and Martin Kot. Ladislav Horák and Markéta Laštovicková will give a seminar at the Trebon Elementary Art School. The event will also include a “Special Show” with Vladislav Kucík giving a "Serious" artist and media; Presentation of a film about Martin Šulc (picture below). For details email: kurzy.trebon@gmail.com |
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8th Pluriel Accordion Festival - Franceby Christine Johnstone |
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| The 8th Pluriel Accordion Festival will be held in Celleneuve, Montpellier, France from September 16th to 18th, 2022 organised by the Montpellier Accordion Association. The festival will include a variety of concerts, exhibitions, films, courses, workshops as well as a musical market. Download the festival program here: 2022Pluriel.pdf |
Performers Invited: 2022 Bellows Lovers Night – Japanby Christine Johnstone |
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| Accordionists are invited to perform at the 2022 Bellows Lovers Night event which will be held in Japan in December 2022. Planned performances as follows: • December 22nd: Bottom Line in Nagoya • December 24th: Club Moon in Kobe • Yokohoma Red Brick Warehouse Hall in Yokohama In addition, organisers are also considering a performance in Fukuoka. Entry Deadline: August 31, 2022 Picture below: Performers on stage at the previous Bellows Lovers Night including well known accordionist Coba. |
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2022 Arsonore International Music Festival - Austriaby Christine Johnstone |
  Accordionist Christian Bakanic (picture right) will perform a concert entitled "Goldberg & Goldberg Re-Loaded" at the Arsonore International Music Festival, held at the Planetary Hall of Schloss Eggenberg in Graz, Austria on September 10th, 2022.Along with Christian Wendt (double bass), Benjamin Schmid (violin) and Petrit Çeku (guitar), the quartet will perform Bach’s Goldberg Variations with improvisation. The festival will run from September 7th to 11th, 2022. For details email: info@arsonore.at |
New Book: Elements of Jazz Music for Accordion by Renzo Ruggieri - Italyby Rob Howard |
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  A New Book entitled “Elements of Jazz”, basic level for accordion by jazz accordionist Renzo Ruggieri (picture left) is now available, translated into English by Romano Viazzani (picture right).The book contains a structured course in jazz music as applied to the accordion and “leaves no stone unturned in this educational journey through playing jazz on the accordion, from the history for jazz and its various styles to the knowledge of modes, chords and rhythms, needed to make the first inroads into playing a solo.” “The book contains scale runs in various modes and has some great little tunes based on the chord structures of some popular jazz standards. It looks at chord voicings and how to accompany with the left hand too whether one plays standard or free bass.” To purchase, email: info@renzoruggieri.it |
Reports for Concerts, Masterclasses, Competitions, Festivals, etc. |
Nello Gabrielloni Passes Away - Italyby AWW |
 Nello Gabrielloni, long time owner of Excelsior CEMEX passed away last week. After he sold Excelsior to Pigini, he started a company called Agenzia Italia Fisarmoniche di Martina Gabrielloni, with his daughter Martina.In the early 1900s Nello Gabrielloni’s grandfather Nazareno Sampaolesi, was building "harmonic reeds" in Castelfidardo which he then sent to the United States to the first Italian accordion manufacturers. Then his father, Erminio Gabrielloni, together with his brother Adalberto, continued this family tradition of building "harmonic reeds", supported by the love of the accordion, with which they enjoyed playing. Subsequently, Nello Gabrielloni decided to continue the tradition, dedicating over 40 years of his life to the accordion and the world that revolves around it. Years in which he accumulated experiences in Castelfidardo at the Excelsior Accordion Company, and all over the world in close contact with the various levels of production, trade, repair of the instruments and with accordionists of all musical genres. This included his brother in law Dr. Valentino Lorenzetti, well-known accordionist and concert artist. Nello is survived by his wife Gabriella, daughters Martina & Chiara and their husbands Marco & Jurgens, and grandchildren. Picture below: Martina & Nello Gabrielloni |
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Bogdan Laketic’s CD “Made in Vienna” Nominated for the German Record Critics' Prizeby Dr Herbert Scheibenreif Manager of Friedrich Lips Productions |
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| The accordion has long had a reputation as an instrument for folk music and of street musicians. Its technical and cultural evolution can be neatly traced from its very invention in 1829 by Cyrill Demian in his apartment on Vienna‘s Mariahilfer Strasse, No. 43, to this day. The accordionist Bogdan Laketic, who lives in Vienna, dedicates his debut album „Made in Vienna“ to his city, choosing works by composers who are also directly connected with Vienna. Thus, the Sonatas for Piano in A flat major, Hob. XVI:46 and in E minor, Hob. XVI:34 by Joseph Haydn, the Six little Piano Pieces Op. 19 by Arnold Schönberg and the Soirées de Vienne, S 427 No. 6 by Franz Liszt are interpreted in his own arrangements. Also based in Vienna is the Belgian composer Dirk D'Ase, who in 2011 composed Figuren/Induktionen, in which the diversity of the accordion's sound once again comes into play. |
Video: Big Bike Orchestra Unique Performance - Polandby Christine Johnstone |
| Video: Six piece band The Big Bike Orchestra (Orkiestra Na Duzym Rowerze) entertains in a very unique way – on a two-wheeled bicycle! Enjoy their performance. |
New CD: Duo Two Accordionsby Christine Johnstone |
 Video: Promotional information on the new CD by Two Accordions.Duo Two Accordions - Maria and Sergei Teleshev, have released their new CD “In Any Style” in which all arrangements are by Maria & Sergei. All proceeds from this release will go to support the annual Accordion Star International Competition. For details email: accostarfest@gmail.com |
New Album by Claudio Jacomucci “Arte della Fuga” - Netherlandsby AWW |
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 The new 22 track album by Claudio Jacomucci entitled “Arte della Fuga” is now available on Bandcamp.The album features “Canons, fugues, ricercare, palindrome and mirroring forms, labyrinths, pendulums and other contrapuntal inventions from Johann Sebastian Bach’s Art of Fugue, Musical Offering, Goldberg Variations, and by XX Century and contemporary composers." Tracks include works for accordion solo by J.S.Bach, A.Webern, C.Nancarrow, G.Ligeti and C.Jacomucci. |
Alex Meixner Band at Lake Geneva Concerts in the Park - USAby Christine Johnstone |
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 The Alex Meixner Band entertained at the Lake Geneva Concerts in the Park on August 4th, 2022. These regular weekly summer concerts are held at the Brunk Family Pavilion in Flat Iron Park, Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, USA.Attendees are encouraged to “gather your lawn chairs, picnic blankets and dancing shoes and join us along the breathtaking shore of Geneva Lake”. Concerts in the Park is free and fun for all ages, featuring music genres for all tastes from blues, folk and indie rock, to classical, polka and more! For details phone: 800.345.10 20 |
Future events |
Dejan Kuser Classical Accordion Concert - Sloveniaby Christine Johnstone |
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| Dejan Kuser will perform a classical accordion concert at the Church of Anton Martin Slomšek in Zgornja Recica, Laško, Slovenia on August 6th, 2022 at 8pm. His program will include works by Debussy, Ravel, Bach and Piazzolla. All are welcome to attend. |
Joseph Natoli Performs with the W.D. Packard Concert Band - USAby Christine Johnstone |
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| Joseph Natoli will perform at an outdoor concert with the W.D. Packard Concert Band conducted by Frank Tracz on August 7th, 2022 at 7pm. This concert is part of a summer series held at the Packard Music Hall South Lawn Band Shell in Warren, Ohio, USA. Entry is free of charge and open to the public. For details phone: +1 (330) 841-2931 |
Miguel Afonso Entertains at 17th Rio Chamoso Folk Festival - Spainby Christine Johnstone |
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 Accordionist Miguel Afonso will perform at the 17th Rio Chamoso Folk Festival, which will take place in the Plaza de Las Palmas, Praia Fluvial do Corgo (Corgo River Beach), Arrecife, Las Palmas, Spain on August 7th, 2022 at 6.30pm.Miguel will perform with local band Los Campesinos, which includes Juan Manuel Alemán Fernández (clarinet), Gonzalo Macías (guitar), Ivanoff Rodríguez (bass), Oriel Ray Montero Parra (percussion) and vocalist Luz Yamelin. |
Daniele Falasca Performs at Abbazie Jazz Festival - Italyby Christine Johnstone |
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| Daniele Falasca will present his 10th album “Triade” at the Church of the Ss. Annunziata in Montepagano, Abruzzi, Italy on August 8th, 2022 at 9.30pm in conjunction with the Abbazie Jazz Festival. Daniele will perform with his quartet which includes Massimo Moriconi (bass), Glauco Di Sabatino (drums) and Massimiliano Caporale (piano). “Triade is the musical tribute in a jazz key that the composer Daniele Falasca gives to his family……In this album, in fact, Falasca proposes a jazz language, with a more refined harmony, the sense of swing is undoubtedly more evident and the improvisations are affected by the groove that the rhythm section supports seamlessly. The interplay is overwhelming and enhances all the improvisational characteristics of the band members”. |
Lionel Suarez & Daniel Mille Duo Concert & Masterclass - Franceby Christine Johnstone |
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| The Lionel Suarez & Daniel Mille Duo will hold a Jazz and Accordion Masterclass in Rodez, Occitanie, France from August 9th to 13th, 2022. This will be followed by a concert by the duo on August 13th, 2022 at 8.30pm, at Bertholène Castle in Bertholène, Occitanie. This concert will include students from the Bertholène School Orchestra. Both events are part of the annual Bretelle(s) Festival. For details email: contact@bretellesfestival.com |
Classic Kyiv Duo Concert – Englandby Rob Howard |
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| The Classic Kyiv Duo will give a concert at the Stockport Accordion Club, Woodley Methodist Church in Woodley, Stockport, England on August 10th, 2022. The duo, which includes Igor Sayenko and Oleksii Kolomoeits will perform a mainly classical programme of music by Tchaikovsky, Vivaldi, Piazzolla and Elgar among others. This very popular duo has made a number of tours to the UK, fundraising for Ukraine. For details email: robaccord5@hotmail.com |
Jazz Festival Saalfelden – Austriaby Christine Johnstone |
 The Jazz Festival Saalfelden will be held at the Stadtpark Saalfelden in Saalfelden, Austria from August 18th to 21st, 2022.Accordion performances will be given by the following: • August 18th at 7.30pm: Ostbeatbend which includes accordionist Slavoljub Jeremic Pera. • August 19th at 5pm: Gewürztraminer & Der gemischte Satz (picture below) which includes accordionist Momir Moka Marijokovic. • August 20th at 4.30pm: Christoph Cech Jazz Orchestra Project which includes accordionist Katharina Baschinger. For details email: info@saalfelden-leogang.at |
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Sydney Folk Festival - Australiaby Christine Johnstone |
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  The Sydney Folk festival will be held in the Sydney CBD (close to Central Station) in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia from August 19th to 21st, 2022.This year’s event will include a variety of workshops, dancing and concerts. Performers include the Raduga Trio (picture below), the Traditional Graffiti Band which includes Ian “The Pump” Macintosh on melodeon (picture above left) and Dave Johnson (concertina - picture right) who will also run an Australian Tunes Session workshop on August 20th in the Workshop Room. For details email: sydneyfolkfestival@gmail.com |
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Daddy Squeeze Entertains with Chris Silver – USAby Christine Johnstone |
 Accordionist Daddy Squeeze (Dan Newton – picture right) will entertain with Chris Silver (guitar & vocals) at Junior's Restaurant & Tap House in River Falls, Wisconsin, USA on August 21st, 2022, from 3pm to 6pm.For details email: daddysqueeze@yahoo.com |
Renzo Ruggieri Performs with Vocalist Antonella Ruggiero – Italyby Christine Johnstone |
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| Renzo Ruggieri will perform with Antonella Ruggiero (vocals), Maurizio Di Fulvio (guitar), Ivano Di Sabatini (double bass) and David Marcone (percussion) in Roncaglia, SO, Italy on August 22nd, 2022 at 9pm. This will be followed by a second concert entitled “One Voice, One Accordion” (Antonella Ruggiero & Renzo Ruggieri) at Polignano a Mare, BA, Italy on August 27th, 2022 at 9pm. For details email: info@renzoruggieri.it |
Links to Previous News Still Current |
List of Linksby AWW |
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2022 Coupe Mondiale, October 04 - 09, Switzerland News Link |
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PIF Castelfidardo 2022 Information |
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Accordion Reed Production Article Link |
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2021 Coupe Mondiale Report and Video of all contestants Report Link |
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Chronology of Production of Italian Accordions Article Link |
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2022 Dr William Schimmel’s Accordion Seminars, July 29-31, NY News Link |
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Serenellini Know the People Interview News Link |
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2022 AAA Recent publications, USA News Link and Article |
New and Updated Sites |
Updated Site: CNIMA August Accordion Courses – Franceby Christine Johnstone |
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 Video: Promotional video on the Jacques Mornet accordion method at CNIMA.The CNIMA directed by Nathalie Boucheix will run two accordion workshops during August as follows: • August 8th to 13th, 2022 • August 15th to 20th, 2022 Tutors will be Jacques Mornet, Nathalie Boucheix (pictured left) and their team of talented young accordionists Dantong Wang, Anais Bessières and Maxime d'Errico. The workshops will cover instrumental work following the Jacques Mornet method including management of air flow through the bellows, the balance between the body and the instrument, work on touch and articulation and musicality. Attendees can work on 1 or 2 pieces of their choice. For further details email: cnima@orange.fr |
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