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CONCERTS NOW ONLINEby |
Concerts 1 to 4 of the XXIII Kokkola Winter Festival are now online. View full report of text, pictures and video at: 2021Kokkola |
Final Preparations for XXIII Kokkola Winter Accordion Festival - Finlandby Harley Jones |
Video 1: Promo video Video 2: President of the Finland Accordion Association Kimmo Mattila has joined Artistic Director Raimo Vertainen in Kokkola for the final preparations. View this video location rehearsal to introduce each performer as well as promote beautiful Kokkola. Full information of each concert, the date and time is at: 2021Kokkola Monday 08 February Young Virtuosos let loose with the Monday students concert 18:00 to 19:00 Finland time Tuesday 09 February Julia Hansson (accordion, voice) and Katri Antikainen (cello) Ilta Jukkolanmäellä featuring Sonja Vertainen (accordion, bandoneon) Iiris Rannikko (viola) 19:00 to 20:00 Finland time. Wednesday 10 February Vilda Duo, Hildá Länsman (vocals) and Viivi Maria Saarenkylä (accordion) 19:00 to 20:00 Finland time. Thursday 11 February Accordion and Winter are the year’s themes. A range of musical genres are on the program. 19:00 to 19:45 Finland time. Friday 12 February Maria Kalaniemi (accordion and vocals) and Eero Grundström (harmony) 19:00 to 20:00 Finland time Saturday 13 February Finale Concert Kokkola 400 Years: The Grand Entertainment Concert of 2020 by Guardia Nueva (picture below) 19:00 to 20:00 Finland time. Full information of each concert, the date and time is at: 2021Kokkola |
Online: 12th International Music Competition for Folk Instruments "Petro-Pavlovian Assemblies", St. Petersburg - Russiaby Ivan Dyma, SaxAkkord Duo |
The 12th International Music Competition of performers on folk instruments "Petro-Pavlovian Assemblies" will be held online from April 8th to 18th, 2021. The artistic director of the Competition is the Honorary Chairman of the Russian Creative Union of Cultural Workers, the People's Artist of the Russian Federation, Professor Smirnov Yuri Pavlovic. Competitors will send video entries for a variety of categories for soloists, ensembles and orchestras performing on bayan, accordion and other types of harmonica. Entries close on March 28th, 2021. Download competition rules here: 2021PetroRules.pdf Download competition entry forms here: 2021PetroEntryform.pdf For further details email: konkurs@kultura.spb.ru |
Friedrich Lips Concert Schedule with Piazzolla-Studio - Russiaby Dr Herbert Scheibenreif Manager of Friedrich Lips Productions |
Video: Piazzolla-Studio performing "Muerte del Angel" (A. Piazzolla). Friedrich Lips will perform a series of concerts with his quintet Piazzolla-Studio in Russia over the next 2 months. These concerts are being held to celebrate the 100th birthday of the great Argentine composer (Piazzolla) on March 11th. The first was held this week in the Conservatory (Small Hall) in Moscow on February 4th. Future performances as follows: • March 7th - Chamber Hall of the Moscow Philharmonic • April 23rd – concert in Berdsk, Russia • April 24th – concert in Novosibirsk, Russia "Piazzolla Studio" was founded in 1993 by Friedrich Lips and includes Vladislav Igolinsky (violin), Kirill Rodin (cello), Svyatoslav Lips (piano), Nikolay Lgovsky (percussion) and Lips himself. The quintet was the first to introduce the music of composer and bandoneonist Astor Piazzolla to the Russian music world. CD available online at: Friedrich Lips Full collection of Lips CD's also available. For details email: herbert@accordion-cd.co.at |
Online: 3rd “Wiener Klassiker” International Music Competition, Vienna - Austriaby Christine Johnstone |
Registrations are now open for the 3rd online “Wiener Klassiker” International Music Competition for young musicians, held in Vienna, Austria and organised by the Danubia Talents Art Association. Their aim is to encourage young musicians to perform and grow even in these challenging times due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The competition will be held in three age groups and 8 categories including accordion. The jury will include accordionist Zhang Yan (picture right) Associate Professor of accordion at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music in China. The deadline for entries in March 1st, 2021. Results will be announced no later than March 23rd, 2021. See poster above for details. |
Iñaki Alberdi & Ricardo Llanos Generous Gift to the Accordion World - Spainby Harley Jones |
Ricardo Llanos and Iñaki Alberdi have made a light review of the booklet “Accordion for Composers” in English and “Acordeón Para Compositores” in Spanish and made it available to the accordion world as a free download. This practical manual, published in Spanish and English, is aimed at both composers and those interested in knowing the technical and acoustic possibilities of the concert accordion. It was prepared in 2000 by professors Ricardo Llanos Vázquez, from the Luis Aramburu Municipal School of Music (Vitoria), and Iñaki Alberdi Alzaga, from the "Musikene" Basque Country Higher Music Center (San Sebastián). An excellent document to include in the library of any accordionist as a source of information with references to scores for the accordion -soloist, chamber music and orchestra- as well as mentions of edited CDs. We thank Iñaki Alberdi & Ricardo Llanos for this very generous gift to all accordionists and we hope that accordionists around the world will make good use of the two books to assist and encourage composers to write for the accordion. English download “Accordion for Composers” at: Iñaki Alberdi Spanish download “Acordeón Para Compositores” at: Ricardo Llanos Another gratis publication: Ricardo Llanos Doctoral Thesis, Acoustics of the Accordion - Spain http://www.accordions.com/news.aspx?d=31-Mar-2017&lang=en&s=12889 |
Reports for Concerts, Masterclasses, Competitions, Festivals, etc. |
Sébastien Farge Composes & Performs Music for New Show - Franceby Rob Howard |
Sébastien Farge, accordionist, composer, arranger and trainer (picture left) will participate in the creation of a new project entitled “Maugein, a family history”. The project includes a play that covers the history of Maugein Manufacturing since 1919, as well as its accordionists. The music for the show will be composed and performed by Sébastien, the lyrics, staging and the stage will be provided by Josiane Choquet, with the participation of Maugein Accordéons and Richard Brandao. The project is supported by the Ville de Tulle-officiel Tulle agglo, the Département de la Correze and the Europe Fund leader. For project details email: sebastien@sebastienfarge.com |
Online: Successful Accordion Youth Summit (AYS) – USAby Joseph Natoli |
Accordion Youth Summit (AYS) held a successful, well attended first meeting online on January 9th, 2021 organised by Joe Natoli. This first meeting certainly laid the foundation for the direction and accomplishments that will be on the immediate radar of this organization. Attendees all possess the same dedicated focus – to see our wonderful instrument in the hands of exponentially more youth across the US and the globe well into the future. The 2nd meeting of AYS will be held on February 14th, 2021, where the following will be presented: 1. Four young people have been invited to discuss why they decided to study the accordion and what keeps them motivated to do so. 2. Five age diverse 15-minute presentations from our members which will include their perspectives on this effort as well as their own successes 3. A high-level view of AYS’s most critical strategic goals, that will become the foundation for the more detailed projects to be developed. For more information email: josephnatoli66@gmail.com |
Coba New CD “The Accordion Plus +” Released Soon – Japanby Christine Johnstone |
Coba has just finished recording his new mini CD entitled “The Accordion Plus +” which will be released soon. The CD contains 5 solo pieces (2 original tunes especially for this album and 3 arrangements of well-known Coba songs) as follows: 1. Sleigh Panique 2. Flower Market 3. Percent Rende-vous au Coin de la rue 4. Innocent on the Hill 5. Paradiso dell’Alba The CD will be available on all usual platforms. |
Gorka Hermosa New Composition “Miñan” – Spainby Christine Johnstone |
Gorka Hermosa has just completed his new composition “Miñan” for voice, accordion and strings. The work was recorded this week with the Blanchard String Quintet at Vumeter Studios in Cabezón, Cantabria, Spain. Gorka says, “Miñan is a story about one African boy who come to our country illegally. It`s the most sold book now in our country and its author (Amets Arzallus) will make some recitatives during the piece. It`s going to be so important to have one of our most well-known poets (our singer Jon Maia) and the most sold writer (Amets Arzallus) in the same song”. Miñan will be included in the next CD of Hezurbeltzak (poet-singer, guitar and accordion), which will include three further pieces with the Blanchard Strings. The CD will be released in May 2021. For details email: gorka@gorkahermosa.com |
Karen Fremar Tribute and Dedication to Jeff Lisenbyby Harley Jones |
Video 1: When We All Get to Heaven - Fremar & Adami Accordion/Piano Duo Dedicated to Jeff Lisenby, my great accordion duo partner from years ago who sadly passed away on January 6th, 2021, from Covid. "Sing and Shout the Victory" ~ you will live on through your music, my friend. With love, Karen Video 2: Karen Fremar and Jeff Lisenby - US Champion Accordion Duo in Concert A rare digitized recording of a live concert for the International Music Association by featured concert artists and US Accordion Champions Karen Fremar and Jeff Lisenby in Cedar Point, Ohio on July 24th,1976. The duo performed the featured concert before a packed house of nearly 1,000 persons after judging competitions and writing comments for 5 days of competitions. The duo often performed in concert with Gary Smith on drums (who is pictured in many of the photos of various performances, but did not travel to Ohio for this concert). Jeff and Karen won the US Champion Duo AAA Accordion Title in Chicago in 1974 and also represented the United States in the Coupe Mondiale World Accordion Championships in Stockholm, Sweden in 1974. They performed and arranged together as the duo team, "Karen and Jeff" from the early 1970s until 1977, appearing in numerous engagements in Kansas City and throughout the U.S. in cities such as Chicago, St. Louis, Topeka, Omaha, Fort Scott, Cedar Point, Wichita, Des Moines, Washington D.C. and L.A., as well as in Sweden and Denmark. There are no known videos of their performances together. Until the sad passing of Jeff, they both performed, composed, and arranged professionally -- Jeff in Nashville and Karen in Kansas City. Program (All duo arrangements for two accordions by Fremar and Lisenby): Don't Rain on My Parade Stevie Wonder Medley Games People Play Begin the Beguine (arr. after a concert performance by Bill Palmer and Bill Hughes) Shop Around Malaguena Love Will Keep Us Together The Sound of Music Selections (arr. for duo from an orchestra arr. by Palmer and Hughes) Sing a Song - Make Your Own Kind of Music Selections from My Fair Lady (from a duo arrangement by Palmer & Hughes) Encore - Kansas City Further pictures, videos and information: http://www.accordionusa.com/2021graphics/JeffLisenby/ |
Accordion Teacher Required at Diocese of Leeds Music - UKby Holda Paoletti-Kampl |
The Diocese of Leeds Music is advertising for a full time classical accordion teacher to join their team in Yorkshire. The Diocese says "As our Schools Singing and Keyboard Studies Programmes expand there are now eight full-time positions for Choral Directors, Instrumental Tutors (Classical Accordion, Organ and Piano) and Assistant Programme Directors available. Our Music Programme, recently recognised by a prestigious Royal Philharmonic Society award, works with over 4,500 children weekly in schools across West and North Yorkshire. Our 18 after-school choirs provide outstanding choral opportunities for young people, including BBC broadcasts, tours and recordings, with high-quality organ, piano and classical accordion tuition available for all choristers and school pupils across the Diocese. We would like to establish the largest and highest quality teaching school in the UK for the classical accordion. This modern instrument is relatively unknown in the UK. Its musical versatility and portability, however, make it ideal for more widestream music education, as has been achieved in Scandinavia and Asia. In addition, it is increasingly used in contemporary and experimental music. Owen Murray, Professor of Accordion at the Royal Academy of Music, has provided great support for this new initiative, and it is our hope that this new programme will enable children from the UK to study at the top international conservatoires. The Music Programme has a stock of 20 beginner piano accordions, six c-system free-bass accordions, a further 10 c-system converter accordions on order from Pigini in Italy, with a budget for additional instruments as required. There are currently 18 students studying accordion. The new tutor would be expected to lead the programme strand, increase the number of students, develop opportunities for ensemble playing (including choral accompaniment), produce a tutor book for the classical instrument, and establish a similar international profile for the accordion to that achieved by the Leeds International Organ Festival". All roles require enhanced DBS clearance. The closing date for applications is 22nd February, 2021. For an application pack, please contact Administrator, Jessica Shears: office@dioceseofleedsmusic.org.uk |
Video: Face2Face Perform Winter by Vivaldi - Polandby Christine Johnstone |
Video: Face2Face, which includes Pawel Janas & Bartosz Kolsut (Poland) performing “Winter” by Vivaldi. The duo say they cross the boundaries of different genres and styles, creating crossover music, hence they call themselves a crossover accordion duo. They have performed at numerous festivals overseas and have taken part in many grant programmes, like Dongsan Research Foundation & Pro Polonia Society, Societe Generale and Mloda Polska, a grant awarded by the Ministry of Culture and Cultural Heritage. |
Future events |
Online: Eastbourne Accordion Festival "Guest Concert" - UKby Rob Howard |
Following the cancellation of the 2021 Eastbourne Accordion Festival (which was due to be held next week), organisers have decided to run an online “Guest Concert” on February 6th, 2021 at 7pm. The guests are all the online participants performing a favourite piece, their own composition, singing a song or even saying a cheery “hello” from their own homes. Attendees can also join in as audience only if they prefer. For details email: sales@cgfmusic.co.uk |
“Good Habits” Concerts in South Island of New Zealandby Christine Johnstone |
“Good Habits” will give concerts in the South Island of New Zealand during this month. The group is a UK alt-folk duo, comprising of singer-cellist Bonnie Schwarz and accordionist Pete Shaw. “They create folk-infused songs that test the limits of their traditional instruments. Fusing folk and jazz within their original song-writing, the eclectic duo present an upbeat yet intimate sound-world of musical storytelling”. Concert schedule: February 12th: Moutere Inn, Upper Moutere, Nelson at 7pm February 17th: The Mussel Inn, Tasman at 7.30pm February 19th: The Golden Bear, Mapua at 7pm For details email: goodhabitsband.manchester@gmail.com |
Online: Hanzhi Wang Valentine’s Day Concert - Denmarkby Holda Paoletti-Kampl |
Hanzhi Wang will give an online concert on February 14th, 2021 (Valentine’s Day), hosted by Four Seasons Arts. Her program will include Chaconne (J S Bach), Ave Maria (transcription by Hanzhi Wang), Dance of the Water Plants Dance of the Corals (transcription by Hanzhi Wang), Impromptu for Hanzhi (Katherine Balch), F-Major Andante (Mozart), E-flat Major Sonata (Benda) and My Story (Hanzhi Wang). Details on poster. |
Online: "Love Songs" with Daddy Squeeze - USAby Christine Johnstone |
Daddy Squeeze (Dan Newton) will present his online show "Love Songs" to celebrate Valentine's Day on February 15th at Noon CT. Your requests are welcome. For details email: daddysqueeze@yahoo.com |
CNIMA February Workshops - Franceby Holda Paoletti-Kampl |
CNIMA directed by Nathalie Boucheix will run two workshops this month from February 15th to 20th and from February 22nd to 27th. The workshops are for all ages and levels, incorporate Jacques Mornet's pedagogy, and cover holding the instrument, the balance of the bellows and music touches to develop your instrumental technique. Distance learning is available. For further details email: cnima@orange.fr |
"Love is All Around" Concert, Christchurch - New Zealandby Jeanette Perry |
The Christchurch Accordion Orchestra (conducted by David Thorne - picture below) and St Alban’s Community Choir accompanied and directed by accordionist Heather Gladstone will give a concert entitled "Love is All Around" at St Paul's Parish Church in Christchurch on February 21st at 5pm. Entry is by donation and will include a light supper. All are welcome. For details phone: 021 103 8334 |
Childrens Corner |
Video: Young Girl Serenades Cows on Concertina - Irelandby Christine Johnstone |
Video: Young concertina player, Grace Lehane from Kilmichael in Cork, Ireland is having great fun serenading the cows on this farm. It is amazing how the cows come running when they hear the music. "This is the power of music and this is why we love music". |
New and Updated Sites |
2021 Coupe Mondiale Rules and Regulations Released, Munich - Germanyby Kevin Friedrich, CIA Ambassador |
The 74th Coupe Mondiale will be held from 13-17 October 2021 in Munich, Germany, hosted by the CIA member, the Deutscher Harmonika-Verband e.V. (DHV), Project Leader is First Vice-President: Georg Hettmann. Our Coupe Mondiale in Germany also celebrates the milestone 90th Anniversary of the DHV, a founding member of the CIA. The festival will feature competitions as follows: • 73rd Coupe Mondiale • Masters Coupe Mondiale • Junior Coupe Mondiale • International Competition for Virtuoso Entertainment Music • Junior International Competition for Virtuoso Entertainment Music • Chamber Music - Classical • Chamber Music - World Music 2021 rules and regulations at: Coupe Mondiale View hotel information and pictures of the concert venues at: Coupe Mondiale Download printable event poster at: 2021CM-poster.pdf The on-line entry system will open in Spring and the entry closing date is 25 August 2021. You will find a complete Report of the 2019 Coupe Mondiale at: http://www.coupemondiale.org/2019/cn_coupemain.html In Chinese http://www.accordion-news.cn/coupemondiale/2019/video.htm |
Updated Site: Closing date Extended: 2021 AAA Elsie M. Bennett Composition Competition for Aspiring Composersby Christine Johnstone |
The closing date for the American Accordionists' Association (AAA) 2021 Elsie M. Bennett Composition Competition for Aspiring Composers has been extended to February 15th, 2021. Winners will be notified by email on or about March 1st, 2021. Download Information, Awards, Regulations and Entry Form at: 2021Bennett.pdf |
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