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Highlights |
Internationale Musikmesse 2018 Frankfurt - GermanyAlexander Sevastian Memorial Concert Ontario - Canada55th International Accordion Competition Klingenthal 2018, May - GermanyRemembering Gary Dahl (1937 to 2017), Seattle - USAKaren Street and Karen Tweed’s ‘Time to Sing’ Event, Cheshire – UKFoster & Allen April and May Tour Dates – New Zealand
Reports for Concerts, Masterclasses, Competitions, Festivals, etc. |
Would You Like to Participate in World Accordion Day on May 6th?Obituary: John Patrick Bonica, Oregon - USAJim McAlister (1932-2018), Northern Ireland – UK
Future events |
Internationales Akkordeon Festival 2018 – Germany‘Accordion Night’ with Nikolai Ryskov, London – UKJohnny Duncan Duo @ Alnwick Accordion & Fiddle Club, England – UKGennaro Ruffolo @ Muskimesse Frankfurt – GermanyMazaika Concerts, London – UKParis-Moscow Duo Concerts & Master Class, Calvados - FranceBarra Da Saia Concert, São Paulo - BrazilIn April at CNIMA J. Mornet, Saint-Sauves-d'Auvergne - FranceKen and Mary @ ‘Oktoberfest - Year – round!’ event, Ohio – USARosemary Wright @ Seacroft Accordion Festival, Norfolk – UKAnnual Rayne Frog Festival, Rayne City, Louisiana - USAHelp Desk, Information needed, Readers CommentsSubmit Your Question, CommentSUBMIT NOW |
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Highlights |
by Holda Paoletti-Kampl
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| Full Photo Report online at: Frankfurt2018 Musikmesse in Frankfurt is the international trade fair for musical instruments, sheet music, music production and marketing. - Wednesday 11 April to Saturday 14 April 2018, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. - open daily for Trade and Private visitors - More than 30,000 instruments shown in seven exhibition halls - Outdoor area with festival atmosphere: Stages, Foodtrucks and more - Prolight + Sound: Tuesday, 11 April to Friday 14 April, new on the eastern section of Messe Frankfurt The Frankfurt Musikmesse is the world's leading trade fair for the world of music. There, you will find a complete range of products with everything required for making music, not to mention innumerable workshops, concerts, demonstrations and discussion events. This year all "free reed instruments" will be exposed in Hall 8.0 ground floor - so, get ready for this event and do not miss!!! Accordion factories exhibiting include: Beltuna Accordions S.r.l. Hall 8.0 E10 Bugari Armando and Bugari Evo Hall 8.0 F20 Cagnoni Srl Hall 8.0 F11 Dino Baffetti di Baffetti G. & C. snc Hall 8.0 G19 Dallape in visit Excelsior Hall 8.0 G14 Harmonikas s.r.o. Hall 8.0 E15 Italcinte in visit Mengascini in visit mengascini@tiscalinet.it MusicTech di Sabbatini Claudio & C. snc Hall 8.0 E20 Orla Srl Hall 11 C80 Pasco Italia Srl Hall 8.0 G15 Pigini Srl Hall 8 G14 Scandalli Accordions Srl Hall 8.00 E21 Zero Sette Hall 8.0 F20 A full report of the 2018 Frankfurt Musikmesse with photos will be available after the opening at: Frankfurt2018 |
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by Rob Howard
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 An Alexander Sevastian Memorial Concert takes place on Wednesday April 11th, 8pm, at the Richmond Hill Centre for Performing Arts, 10268 Yonge St, Ontario. Performers include: Peter De Sotto and Liza McLellan Quartetto Gelato, Julian Milkis, Sophie Milman, Alexander Luminsky, Gennady Grebenchuk, Victor Khomenko and Alexei Severinets, Inga Filippova-Williams and Yevgeniya Yasmanovich, and the Children’s choir “Ladushki.” Alexander Sevastian (1978-2018), a wonderful musician and an extraordinary person, died unexpectedly on February 16th during his tour in Mexico with Quartetto Gelato. The world lost a wonderful musician. He left behind his wife and two young children. The concert is to honour his memory and to raise money for his family. Toronto-based Alexander Sevastian, originally from Minsk, Belarus, was a highly talented and much admired accordionist whose many accomplishments included winning the CIA Coupe Mondiale in Washington DC in 2007. Obituary at: http://www.accordions.com/news.aspx?d=23-Feb-2018&lang=en#art14036 |
by Holda Paoletti-Kampl
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  The 55th International Accordion Competition Klingenthal will be held from the 29 April to 5th May, 2018.Download competition rules and regulations at: 2018Kling.pdf Some 102 musicians, ages 10 and up, will present programs in six categories to an international jury, and the audience can listen free of charge. The categories are: - Category I Soloists up to the age of 12 years - Category II Soloists up to the age of 15 years - Category III Soloists up to the age of 18 years - Category IV soloists without age limit - Category V accordion duos and instrumental duos set with an accordion and another instrument, and ensembles with up to 5 musicians with at least one but at most 2 accordions. - Category VI Soloists without age limit with virtuoso light music The event also features a series of concerts which include the Trio Herzog, Iñaki Alberdi (Spain), PIF Category D winner Arkadii Shkvorov (Russia) and the "Competition in Concert Format" of virtuoso light music which is also the final of category VI. Download the 40 page color program at: 2018KProgram.pdf Accordion competitors, teachers and supporters are warmly welcomed by Klingenthal Mayor Thomas Hennig and Competition Director Joerg Kuenzel. |
by Toby Hansen
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 In the last 10 years, with the selling of music via the internet, and the production of eBooks, Gary Dahl has become one of the worlds most popular accordion arrangers. Sadly he passed away in December. Below is a few excerpts from the Gary Dahl Obituary by former student, then friend and teacher, Toby Hansen.On December 1, 2017 the accordion world lost one of its luminaries, Gary Dahl. Gary passed quietly at home in his sleep. During his lifetime he created a legacy of musical excellence? Gary Dahl also left all of us with a monumental legacy of musical arrangements, instructional materials, recordings, and well-trained accordionists. For me, though, Gary was more than just a giant of the accordion world; he was a friend, mentor, and someone that I will dearly miss. Read the full obituary and interesting life of this popular arranger: Gary Dahl |
by Rob Howard
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  On Sunday May 13th, 11am to 5pm, a one-day accordion event called ‘Time to Sing’ takes place at the Marthall Village Hall, Sandlebridge Lane, Knutsford, Cheshire WA16 7SB, led by the inspirational and highly accomplished accordionists Karen Street and Karen Tweed. This special one-day accordion event, organised by the North Staffs Accordion Club, is open to all interested accordionists and also those who enjoy singing. Proceeds from the day will go to the Alzheimer’s Society. In the morning, 11am until 1pm, there is a workshop/rehearsal, and after lunch a concert involving locals and others singing to accordion accompaniment. The afternoon, 2pm until 5pm, also includes some special accordion solo performances from Karen Street, Karen Tweed, Pearl Fawcett-Adriano, Julie Best, Barry Graham, Helen Rich, Mike Richards & Paul Hobbs. Karen Street was twice an All-Britain Virtuoso Champion, and is now a respected jazz accordionist. Karen Tweed was an All-Ireland Accordion Champion, and is a renowned player and teacher of several international folk music styles. Music for the workshop is available in advance by email. Tickets cost £12 for players, £3 for audience/chorus; for further information/music/tickets contact Steve Hughes. Download brochure and full information: 2018Time.pdf |
by Rob Howard
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| Video: Foster & Allen Music Video, 40 years tour, 'We Owe It All To You'. The ever popular Irish accordion/vocals duo Foster & Allen are on tour in New Zealand from April 13th to May 6th (World Accordion Day), and their concert dates are on the poster. Foster & Allen are accordionist Mick Foster and singer/guitarist Tony Allen. They began performing together in 1975, playing ‘easy listening’ songs and tunes including some traditional Irish music. They have earned a large worldwide following, their concerts are usually sell outs, and few accordion acts anywhere are as popular with the general public. In 1979 they released the single ‘A Bunch of Thyme’ in Ireland, which became their first top-selling No. 1 single in the Irish charts, also repeating the feat in the UK. Several other hit singles and albums followed, and the duo became internationally popular. They have to date achieved album and DVD sales in excess of 22 million worldwide. Mick Foster was taught to play the accordion by Sister Agnes Murray, a nun of the Mercy Order in Ballymahon, County Longford, and by Frankie Gavigan. Main influences on his early playing were Jimmy Shand and Will Starr. In 1968 and 1970 Mick Foster won the All Ireland Piano Accordion Championship at the Fleadh Cheoil. He has stated that his accordion would be the last thing in life he would be prepared to give up. |
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Reports for Concerts, Masterclasses, Competitions, Festivals, etc. |
by Harley Jones
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 What are you doing for World Accordion Day to promote the accordion in your country? World Accordion day is on May 6th, which is the day the accordion was patented in 1829.World Accordion Day was started in 2009 by the CIA and has been very successful, generating a lot of positive publicity for the accordion. A key part of this event is the World Accordion Day website. Every association, group, orchestra, performer and teacher, is asked to actively support this event by encouraging national and local accordion activities to happen in their country on this day or the weekend either side of Accordion Day if that should be more convenient. Everyone can register their World Accordion Day activity on the website and send a report of their event after, for that website. A number of WAD events have already been registered and will be online by next Friday. 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. |
by Rob Howard
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  March 17, 1942 – March 20, 2018John Bonica , PT CMP NZRP (New Zealand and USA), suffered a heart attack and heart failure with no prior discernible symptoms. He had just retired from his practice after 55 years and he and his wife Ellen had nearly finished winding the business down when John unexpectedly and most sadly passed away. Born in New Zealand in 1942 of Italian parents, John Bonica grew up in a family of accordion players, and taught himself to play the instrument by ear. He learned to play Chopin’s ‘Minute Waltz’ by listening to a recording by Charles Magnante, but then also learned to read music so he could enter competitions. He won the New Zealand Championship several years in the duet, trio and quartet sections. He won second place at the New Zealand Open Championship in 1978 in the solo division. In 1963 he graduated with a degree in manual physical therapy, a branch of physical medicine specializing in spinal and extremity trauma, and then practised for 17 years in New Zealand. His practical and theoretical knowledge led to the publication of his book 'Play Your Accordion Without Pain', available catalog: bonica00 John Bonica , L.P.T., N.Z.R.P., emigrated to the USA in 1980 to teach spinal specialists and continue his practice of spinal therapy. He founded the Pacific Spinal and Orthopaedic Manual Therapy Clinic, a subsidiary of Rockwood Orthopaedic and Sports Physical Clinic, P.C., located in Portland, Oregon, USA. He has recorded four CDs of Italian and European folk music utilizing a MIDI orchestra ensemble. Other activities include writing and publishing (he was editor and publisher for the US published ‘Accordion World’ magazine from 1989 until 1994), sailing and photography. |
by Rob Howard
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| Jim McAlister, from Ballymoney, County Antrim, passed away peacefully on April 3rd at his home, just before his 86th birthday. He was for several decades one of the leading figures in the accordion movement in Northern Ireland, and was a fine player, club organiser, instrument retailer and an accordion technician. He paid several visits to Castelfidardo, Italy, where he trained in electronics, accordion software and manufacturing processes. Jim was a leading UK retailer for the sales of electronic accordions with many top players coming to him for their new accordions and repairs, including Dermot O'Brien, Tom Alexander, Fintan Stanley, Mick Foster and Wilcil McDowell, to name but a few. Jim was also a very good player in his own right and back in the 1960s when the legendary Will Starr did summer seasons at the holiday resort of Portrush in County Antrim it was Jim he called on to play second accordion. Jim was also involved in forming a number of Box and Fiddle clubs in County Antrim, including the present day Premier A & F Club, and it was his name and reputation that helped bring some of the big names over from Scotland. Such was the esteem that he was held in that Calum Maclean dedicated a tune 'Jim McAlister's Jig' to him in Volume One of Calum's Collection of Original Compositions. The accordion teacher Clyde Johnston recalls: “The first time I ever met Jim was at his home. He had a new Elka accordion for sale and I said the band I was teaching would buy it. I asked if a small deposit would hold it until they got the money raised and he simply replied ‘That's all right son, I trust you, just you take it with you’. On another occasion he was getting us a new bass accordion from Italy and a price had been agreed. A few months later he phoned to say it had arrived and I went to re-confirm the price with him before collecting it. ‘No’, he said, ‘That's not the price. When I went to pay the Italians the pound was strong against the lire so you can knock £100 off the price we agreed’. He was truly a giant in the accordion field and a gentleman. Jim will be greatly missed”. The entire Accordion Community throughout all of Ireland, the UK, and further afield will be deeply saddened to learn of the passing Jim McAlister, who is survived by his wife Sara and daughters Barbara, Hazel, and the late Maureen and Robert. |
Future events |
by Rob Howard
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| The multi-cultural Internationales Akkordeon Festival 2018 takes place during April and May at venues throughout Germany, featuring concerts by guest accordionists representing various international musical traditions. The guest artists include Dimos Vougioukas (Greece), Joao Pedro Texeira (Brazil), Youssra El Hawary (Egypt), Omar Massa (Argentina), Servais Haanen (Netherlands), Veronica Perego (Italy), and Rafael Fraga (Portugal). The festival organizer is Servais Haanen. |
by Rob Howard
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 London-based Russian accordionist Nikolai Ryskov performs for an ‘Accordion Night’ on Saturday April 7th, 7pm until 10pm, at the Jakobs Restaurant, 20 Gloucester Road, London, SW7 4RB.His programme includes music by Astor Piazzolla - Libertango, Oblivion, Chiquilin De Bachin, Sensuel, French music such as Under Paris Skies, Domino, La Vie En Rose, La Foule, Under The Bridges of Paris, Petite Fleur, No Regrets, If You Love Me, plus international pieces including Luci E Ombre, Volare, Charade, That's Amore, Por Una Cabeza, Sway, Game of Thrones, Besame Mucho, Amor, Historia De Un Amor, Greensleeves, Adios Muchachos, Serenata De Acordeones, Moon River, Hallelujah, My Heart Will Go On from Titanic, and many more. For further information email: tania@jakobs.co.uk |
by Rob Howard
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 On Wednesday April 11th, 7.30pm to 10.30pm, accordionist Johnny Duncan and the drummer Malcolm Ross are the guests at the Alnwick Accordion & Fiddle Club. The venue is The Northumberland Hall, Alnwick, Northumberland, North East England NE66 1TN. Admission is £7, Musicians £3 - (Members free); admission includes Buffet Supper each month.The versatile entertainer Johnny Duncan, from Dundee, was the All Scotland Accordion Champion in 1973. For further information email: leonardbrownaccordion@gmail.com |
by Rob Howard
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 Italian accordionist Gennaro Ruffolo will be demonstrating MusicTech digital accordions each day from April 11th to 14th at the Muskimesse Frankfurt in Germany.Musikmesse is the world's leading trade fair for musical instruments and live music as well as music production and music marketing and one of the most important meeting places of the music industry. At Musikmesse there will be instrument manufacturers, dealers, professional, semi-professional and amateur musicians there to check out the latest product news. There will be numerous workshops, concerts, demonstrations and discussions held. The Musikmesse will take place on 4 days from Wednesday April 11th to Saturday April 14th at Messe Frankfurt, Ludwig-Erhard-Anlage 1, Frankfurt. |
by Rob Howard
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 The duo Mazaika – Igor Outkine (midi accordion, vocals) and Elizabeth Harrison (violin, domra, vocals) – perform Russian folk and Gypsy music, tango and gypsy swing, romantic songs from Italy, France and Latin America, and international party pop hits. Their next two concerts are as follows:April 12th, 7.30pm to 10.30pm - The Exhibitionist Hotel, 8-10 Queensberry Place, London SW7 2EA; tickets £15 on the door (cash only). May 9th, 7pm - Victory Day concert; Mazaika will be performing Russian songs of the war years like Smuglyanka, Dorogi, Solovji, Tyomnaya noch, V zemlyanke, and many more. Pushkin House, 5A Bloomsbury Square, London WC1A 2TA For further information email: igor.outkine@yahoo.com |
by Rob Howard
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 The Paris-Moscow Duo – Domi Emorine and Roman Jbanov perform in concert, as follows:Saturday April 14th, 8pm – Espace Saint Benoit, Saint-Pierre-En-Auge Sunday April 15th, 6pm – Cinema Le Parc, Livarot-Pays D’Auge The concerts are preceded by accordion master classes, 1pm until 5pm. Saint-Pierre-en-Auge and Livarot-Pays D’Auge are communes in the department of Calvados, north-western France. Roman Jbanov and Domi Emorine began performing together in 1998, and have performed in France, Russia, Denmark, Italy, Poland, China, Portugal, Lithuania, Canada, Norway, Spain, Switzerland, and the UK. Domi Emorine’s achievements include winning the CIA Coupe Mondiale, CMA Trophée Mondial, Concours International de Klingenthal, and the Prix de la Sacem. Roman Jbanov’s achievements include Grand Prize Beloborodov in Tula (Russia), Scholarship of the President of the Russian Republic, and the CMA Trophée Mondial. For further information email: duopm@sfr.fr |
by Rob Howard
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| The all-female quartet Barra Da Saia, featuring accordionist Adriana Sanchez, perform in concert at the Bar Brahma, Av. São João 677 Centro, São Paulo, Brazil, on April 17th, 9pm. Barra Da Saia, formed in 1999, have a modern approach to country music, including rock, Latin, polkas, guaraníes and chamamés in their style. The quartet members are Dede Soares - guitar, viola, guitar, vocals, Eliza Marin - vocals and guitar, Adriana Sanchez - accordion, keyboard and vocals, and Carol Duarte - violin and mandolin. For further information email: barradasaia@barradasaia.com.br |
by Nathalie Boucheix, Director CNIMA J.Mornet
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 Happening in April at CNIMA J.Mornet The Accordion courses, all styles, all ages, all levels. Come and perfect one or two pieces of your choice thanks to Jacques Mornet's world-renowned pedagogy. - From 16 to 21 and from 23 to 28 April 2018. The body, as your musical instrument by Pascal Meurgé (picture left) From April 23 to 27, 2018 With 15 years of pedagogical experience and 3 years of training at the Alan Fraser Institute, Pascal Meurgé invites you to come and experiment with a new pedagogical approach to the repertoire of your choice. Every day you will explore a little more how to become aware and improve the quality of each movement to make your body-instrument ever more available to the Music. You will discover many keys that will allow you to integrate a new dimension to your interpretations. While avoiding fatigue (or even injury) and eliminating unnecessary tension, you will be able to reveal a little more true musicality in you ... open to all instruments. Internships full board, accompanying persons welcome. Info and registration online here: CNIMA J.Mornet or 04 73 22 27 45 |
by Rob Howard
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 ‘Turbo Accordions Express’ duo Ken and Mary perform on Friday April 20th, 7pm until 9pm, at `Wurst und Bier`, 110 Hutchinson Ave, Columbus, Ohio, for an ‘Oktoberfest - Year – round!’ event.Ken has over 40 years of music experience, playing the diatonic button accordion and also the tenor banjo, guitar, mandolin, and mandola. He was once bestowed the title ‘Baron of the Banjo’ by Frankie Yankovic. Ken had his own ragtime/jazz band for many years, playing in and around Ohio as well as performing in the German Pavillon at Disney’s Epcot Center and at the Altstadt Fest in Goslar/Harz, Germany. Mary’s music career has spanned over 30 years, playing the organ and the piano accordion at festivals, banquets, and for parties. For further information email: kenandmarymusik@yahoo.com |
by Rob Howard
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 Accordion soloist Rosemary Wright has been added to the roster of performers and workshop leaders at this month’s Seacroft Spring Accordion Festival, Hemsby Beach Resort, Norfolk NR29 4HR, April 23rd to 27th. The festival guests also include the Scandinavian duo Oivind Farmen (Norway) & Lars Karlsson (Sweden), the duo Amayliss (Tracey Middleton & David Garwood), Jovan Rnjak, and Bert & Helen Santilly.Rosemary Wright is a former All Britain Champion, and also a former Principal of the British College of Accordionists. Her many accomplishments include adjudicating at NAO competitions, examining for the BCA, composing, teaching various instruments, performing at many accordion festivals and clubs, and recording two solo CDs ‘Accordion Divertimento’ and ‘Accordion Safari’. For further information email: heather@accordions.karoo.co.uk |
by Holda Paoletti-Kampl
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 The annual Rayne Frog Festival, sponsored by the City of Rayne, will be held May 10-12 with a full schedule of music, delicious foods and drinks, signature events such as frog racing and jumping, Arts & Crafts show, Dance contest, Accordion contest, and the Grand Parade. Picture above: 2017 accordion winners. Accordion performances include the 2017 contest winners with the 2018 accordion competition scheduled for 10:45 am Saturday on the Main Stage. The winners will perform on the Saturday afternoon. For further information phone: 337-334-2332 |
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