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Convention de la National Accordion Association (NAA), Texas – USAby Rob Howard |
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![]() La Convention propose des concerts, des ateliers, des boeufs, de la danse, un espace commercial, des présentations de nouveaux instruments et une boutique de troc. Le thème de la convention de cette année est “Duo collectif”. A part à Plano, Texas, quelle organisation oserait bâtir toute une convention sur un jeu de mot, “Duo collectif” ? Parmi les accordéonistes engagés cette année : Stas Venglevski, John Simkus, Brent Buswell, Debra Peters, Elena et Gregory Fainshtein, Kim et Dan Christian, Sharon Fox et Lu Le Brun. Si vous souhaitez assister à cette convention, envoyez votre formulaire d’inscription par poste (avec le chèque) et complètez la demande en ligne pour choisir vos heures et lieux de concerts en utilisant le document « Performance Event Interest Survey.” Toutes informations, bulletin d’inscription et programme détaillé à : National Accordion Association (NAA), http://accordions.com/naa/convention/index.html ou email: natlaccordion@sbcglobal.net |
Festival National D'Accordéon, Termignon-La-Vanoise - Franceby Grayson Masefield |
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![]() Le 14éme Festival National d’Accordéon de Termignon-la-Vanoise dans la région Rhône-Alpes au sud-est de la France, s’est tenu du 24 au 30 janvier. Le directeur du festival est Pollux (Daniel Pichon). Ce fut une célébration de tous les styles d’accordéon qui proposait des concerts classiques, un gala musette, un bal musette et plus encore. Parmi les artistes (ordre alphabétique) : Le Balbazar Trio, Cerdane Cigliutti-Nossent, l’Orchestre Vanessa Desnault, Guillaume Fric, Daniel Gainetdinoff, Anthony Gilbert, Elsa Gourdy, Fabrice Guillot, Elodie Genoud, Yannick Leybros, Frédéric Laurent, Grayson Masefield, Laurent Michelotto, Yves Moulin, Pierre Péribois et le présentateur TV Pascal Savard. Chaque après-midi et soir, il y avait des musiciens dans tous les bars et restaurants et des accordéonistes de tous les niveaux étaient invités à jouer. Pour conclure l’évènement se tint une parade avec tous les accordéonistes descendant sous la neige la rue principale de la station de ski ! Le festival se conclut par un final tonique et un feu d’artifice. |
Haute École de Musique de Lausanne (HEMU) Université de musique - Suisseby Harley Jones |
![]() La date de clôture des candidatures pour la prochaine année scolaire est le 1er Mars. Auditions sont le 28 Avril. Téléchargement: 2015HEMU_admissions.pdf Avec ses enseignements Classique et Jazz, ce dernier étant proposé en exclusivité en Suisse romande, l’HEMU offre à ses étudiants une formation de niveau universitaire, axée sur la théorie et la pratique, en vue d’assurer un accès immédiat au monde professionnel une fois les études terminées. Le tuteur de l'accordéon est professeur Stéphane Chapuis. HEMU - Classe d'accordeon 2014-2015 - Naomi Sanchez - Suisse - Bachelor1 - Grayson Masefield - Nouvelle-Zélande - Bachelor3 - Tiffanie Mueller - Suisse - Master pédagogie1 - Shuang Ma - Chine - Master Pédagogie1 - Lisa Biard - Suisse - Master Pédagogie2 - Dimitri Bouclier - France - Master Pédagogie2 - Christel Sautaux - Suisse - Master Soliste2 Dans les faits, cela se traduit par des études de bachelor et de master accréditées par la Confédération, et par l’intégration de l’HEMU dans le domaine « Musique et arts de la scène » de la Haute École Spécialisée de Suisse Occidentale (HES -SO), le plus grand réseau de formation professionnelle supérieure de Suisse qui compte quelque 15 000 étudiants. Les plans d’études proposés par l’HEMU permettent aux étudiants d’obtenir les deux principaux titres de l’enseignement supérieur que sont le bachelor et le master. En complément à ces cursus menant à une carrière professionnelle, l’HEMU propose plusieurs formations continues avancées. Le nombre et la diversité des formations offertes contribuent à ouvrir de vastes horizons professionnels aux étudiants diplômés : concert, orchestre, soliste, direction d’orchestre ou d’ensemble d’instruments à vent, composition jazz, enseignement de la musique. L’HEMU applique à sa structure d’études la réforme de l’enseignement supérieur de Bologne, dont la fonction est d’harmoniser l’ensemble des cursus des universités et des hautes écoles des pays européens. La qualité de l’enseignement dans le domaine musical est, elle, assurée par l’appartenance de l’HEMU à l’Association Européenne des Conservatoires (AEC), qui garantit la qualité des études. Les études à l’HEMU sont divisées en deux cycles. Le premier cycle, le bachelor (BA), dure en principe trois ans et comptabilise 180 crédits ECTS. Le bachelor donne accès au titre de Bachelor of Arts in Music, indispensable pour entrer dans le second cycle d’études, le master (MA). Le master comptabilise 120 crédits ECTS, dure en principe deux ans et donne accès au titre de Master of Arts |
19ème semaine internationale d’accordéon "Alcobaça 2015" – Portugalby Harley Jones |
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![]() Cette semaine internationale comprendra le 20ème Trophée National ainsi que le 1er concours international les 29 et 30 mai. Téléchargez règlement et formulaire d’inscription en anglais à : 2015Alcobaca.pdf Clôture des inscriptions : 15 mai 2015. Comme c’est la première édition du concours international, il n’a pas été possible d’offrir des prix conséquents. L’objectif majeur de cette première édition est de donner la possibilité à tous les jeunes accordéonistes d’asseoir leur connaissances/compétences en référence aux autres concours internationaux. Alcobaça est une ville portuguaise située à 12 km de l’océan atlantique, avec des sites majeurs comme Mosteiro de Santa Maria de Alcobaça (classée au patrimoine mondial de l’humanité), Nazaré, São Martinho do Porto, etc. Alcobaça se situe à 70km de Lisbonne. Le règlement du concours est maintenant disponible et le programme complet de la semaine internationale (concerts et masterclasses) sera publié bientôt. Pour plus d’informations, email à Aníbal Freire, Président de l’Association d’accordéon d’ Alcobaça/Portugal: anibalfreire@hotmail.com |
Reports for Concerts, Masterclasses, Competitions, Festivals, etc. |
by Kevin Friedrich
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![]() A concert accordionist, Mary Tokarski performs both nationally and internationally as a soloist, with symphony orchestras, string quartets, and various ensembles. Mary has appeared as a soloist with the Prince George’s Philharmonic (Maryland), the Moravian Symphony (Czech Republic), the Auckland Symphony (New Zealand), The Pioneer Valley Symphony Orchestra (Massachusetts), the Waterbury Symphony (Connecticut), the Bronxville Pops Orchestra (New York), the Hamden Symphony Orchestra (Connecticut) and most recently with the Boston Modern Orchestra Project (Massachusetts). She has toured China several times with the Mantovani Orchestra, performing both in the orchestra and as a soloist. She has accompanied the musical ‘Fiddler On The Roof’, performed with the Wolf Trap Performing Arts Center Orchestra for ‘Lord of the Rings: Return of the King’ complete with the film, and in the Opera ‘Four Saints In Three Acts’ by Virgil Thomson and Gertrude Stein. Mary was also featured in the Westport Country Playhouse production of ‘Sing For Your Shakespeare’. For more than 20 years, Mary served as Director of Music Education at Tokarski Music Center in North Haven, Connecticut, where she taught piano and accordion, conducted the choral and ensemble programs, supervised the pre-school programs, and served as a Music Educator in the North Haven Department of Education's Early Childhood Development Program. Mary currently teaches accordion and piano at her home in Northford, Connecticut. In collaboration with Karen Malan-Uribe and fellow AAA officer Joan Grauman (an illustrator/artist from Maryland), Mary selected and recorded the music and narration for the guided reader children’s book “An Accordion! What Is That?” released in 2010, and now in an iBook format! ? www.accordionbee.com Mary has performed internationally in Australia, Belgium, Canada, China, Croatia, the Czech Republic, England, France, Germany, Italy, New Zealand, Scotland and Switzerland – as well as extensively in the USA. As a two-time United States Champion she represented the U.S. in the Coupe Mondiale (World Championship) events in Belgium and France. She has served on the Board of Directors for the AAA in multiple capacities, is one of the founders of the Connecticut Accordion Association and is a member and former Executive Officer of the Accordionists & Teachers Guild, International (ATG). As an educator, Mary presents workshops and master classes on improving musical skills, and coaches on all aspects of performance throughout the U.S. and Canada, and recently at the Peter Soave Music Academy in Sauris, Italy. Mary has also served as an adjudicator at festivals around the U.S. as well as serving on jury panels for world events. Mary began her music career at the age of 7 with Michael Fernino of Ansonia, Connecticut. During the course of her musical career she has studied theory, performance, ensemble and orchestral training with professors from Yale University, Indiana University, Peabody Conservatory, Boston University, the University of Texas and the University of Denver. In addition, she has had extensive Kindermusik training at the University of Massachusetts at Lowell, and Princeton University, and has attended numerous seminars on the psychology of teaching, technics for ‘special needs’ learners, and LOTS of education-related topics! Mary has the distinction of winning over 185 trophies and awards for her performances in competitions, and was elected to the Who's Who Among America's Teachers in 2002, the Oxford's Who's Who in 1992, was a Rotary Paul Harris Fellow in 2004, and received the AAMS Recognition Award in March 2011. We congratulate Mary on her new role as AAA President, and we wish her much success as she and her team lead this prestigious organization during the upcoming term of office. Note: As Mary begins her new role, we offer our sincerest condolences to her on the sad loss of her devoted husband Frank. Mary had just returned from her concert tour in China with the Mantovani Orchestra to learn of husband's cancer diagnosis and tragically lost him a week later. Family and friends gathered for his beautiful funeral service in North Haven, CT, on January 24th. Our thoughts are with Mary during this difficult time. |
by Francesca Pigini, Pigini Accordion Factory
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![]() This video was filmed on the 27th June 2014, when accordion factory Pigini s.r.l. celebrated 100 years since the birth of the father of the accordion factory - Gino Pigini. Picture left: Massimo Pigini speech with background picture of father Gino Pigini. Also on the clip celebrating this event, were the staff of the Pigini accordion factory, suppliers, distributors and of course, some of the many famous accordionists who play Pigini instruments. 4th July 2014 News report: Gino100 4th July 2014 Photo report: www.accordions.com/pigini100 |
by Rita Davidson Barnea
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![]() Also on the same program which took place on January 23rd were two encores, which also happened to be world premieres: ‘Rain in the Gardens’ and ‘Air for the C scale’, both composed by William Schimmel. On February 15th William Schimmel will premiere his new work, ‘Max to Max for Accordion and Strings’, with the North South Consonance Orchestra under the direction of Max Lifchitz. This event will take place at Christ and St. Stephen’s Church in Manhattan. William Schimmel is featured in the new film, ‘The Humbling’, starring Al Pacino. The film was directed by Barry Levinson and the music was composed by Marcelo Zarvos. This is William Schimmel’s third collaboration with Marcelo Zarvos, the first being ‘The Beaver’, starring Mel Gibson directed by Jodie Foster, the second being ‘Ray Donovan’, the TV series starring Lev Schreiber. For further information: billschimmel@billschimmel.com |
by Harley Jones
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Yuri Ivanovich Kazakov, People's Artist of the USSR - the first in the USSR paved the way for other Russian artists who are renowned around the world. In December, Yuri Kazakov was honored for his major contribution to the development of the accordion at the XXV International Moscow Festival “Bayan and Bayanists”. Picture above of Yuri Kazakov making a speech at his presentation, presented by Friedrich Lips. This video about the history/life of Yuri Kazakov by ProtaVideo (Anatoly Morozov, pictured in video box) is one of 274 videos on youtube by ProtaVideo. |
by Rob Howard
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![]() Nihad Hrustanbegovic has spent the last 7 months arranging and recording ‘The Four Seasons’ for concert accordion, completely based on the urtext music score. The album was recorded in the Zeews Concert hall in Middelburg, The Netherlands for Zefir Records. The release of Nihad's 6th solo album, Vivaldi's ‘Four Seasons’, takes place on Valentine's Day Saturday February 14th and will be available in all classical CD record shops and Libris bookshops in the Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxemburg and on international websites. On Sunday 15th February at 8 pm, will be a CD presentation and concert which will be broadcast on De Balie TV with internet HD streaming. The places and the dates of Nihad’s ‘The Four Seasons’ European concert tour will be announced in March 2015. For further information email: info@nihad-accordeon.com |
by Harley Jones
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From the 5th Qara Qarayev International Contemporary Music Festival. Performance. "Night Cabaret", 18 April 2013, published on Dec 16, 2014. Titled: Mauricio Kagel, Variété (1977). Ensemble Con Tempo (Azerbaijan), Conductor Vladimir Runchak (Ukraine); AVA Dance Company (Germany/Spain); Eva Zöllner (accordeon, Germany) Azerbaijan State Theatre of Young Spectators. Baku, Azerbaijan |
by Rob Howard
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Video promo above, by Lucas Pellarin. Published on Jan 2, 2015 " L' EPHEMERE " HD ( version solo ), composer Jacques Pellarin, Album "Accordion rushes Vol 2" - released 2015. With the digital release of ‘Accordion rushes Volume 2’, this closes a cycle of three albums by French accordionist Jacques Pellarin, devoted to his so-called ‘imaginary cinema’, with a very melodic, nostalgic accordion, and orchestra in a recording studio. The album has a sound that evokes a certain tradition accordion in the French cinema, and is inspired by famous composers such as Nino Rota, Ennio Morricone, Francis Lai, François de Roubaix, Michel Legrand, Georges Delerue, Jean Wiener. Inspiration is also nourished by the atmosphere of films of Federico Fellini, Jean-Pierre Melville, Claude Sautet, La nouvelle vague, Jean-Pierre Jeunet. For further information: jacques.pellarin@wanadoo.fr |
by Harley Jones
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Published on Jan 12, 2015, Performers William Schotte (vocalist, cello), Sonia Rékis (accordion, vocal chorus) and Marc Gosselin (violin, percussion, vocal chorus). |
by Harley Jones
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An article wirtten by Eli Bass about Accordeon Jazz Salon owner Alex Neuman including pictures. JazzSalon |
by Harley Jones
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French musette TV program. Performers: Erika - What's going on James Caubert - La polka du Vimen Erika - Amzazing Greese Michel Pruvot - Je voudrais t'embrasser James Caubert - Venez sur la piste Les félines - La danse du sabre If you enjoy, visit the other Sur un air d'accordéon programs on Daily Motion. Erika - La valse de Saint-Bernard |
by Rob Howard
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![]() ![]() Now a hugely successful and popular worldwide organization with many differently themed circus shows, Cirque du Soleil has always employed accordionists amongst its accompanying ensembles. Long may this continue. Accordionist Performs with Cirque du Soleil - New Zealand Contributed by Heather Masefield Accordionist Suzie Gagnon (Canada) toured New Zealand in January with the Cirque du Soleil ‘Alegria’ as part of a two year Asian Pacific tour. The show has 56 artists, 6 musicians and 2 vocalists. Suzie not only plays the accordion but also has special stage makeup, an extravagant costume, acts, and takes part in difficult choreography for 10 performances a week! She travels with 6 accordions, and plays piano, chromatic and diatonic instruments. After Auckland the group will perform in Melbourne, Perth, Adelaide, Sydney, Brisbane (Australia), before going to Taiwan, Singapore and China. |
Future events |
by Rob Howard
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![]() Friday February 6th - Toughers Ballroom, Newbridge, County Kildare Saturday February 7th - Bellsfort Inn, Newmarket on Fergus, County Clare Sunday February 8th - Gandon Inn, Ballybrittas, County Laois Monday February 9th – Ballykealy Manor, Balton, County Carlow Sun:-Gandon Inn Ballybrittas Co.Laois Mon:-Ballykealey Manor Ballon Co.Carlow. Declan Aungier began learning the piano accordion at the age of 9, took up Irish/Scottish traditional music at age 13, and became All-Ireland Under 18 Piano Accordion Champion in 1987. He switched to the 5-row Continental button accordion, and works as a solo entertainer, with many CDs to his credit, covering music varying from Country and Western, Irish traditional, jazz, and pop music. For further information email: declan@declanaungier.com |
by Rob Howard
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by Rob Howard
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![]() The line-up for this concert is Stanislav Angelov – accordion, Petrus de Beer – violin, Willie van Zyl – saxophones & clarinet, Dave Ledbetter – guitar, Charles Lazar – double bass, and Frank Paco – drums. For further information email: music@goodmusic.co.za |
by Rob Howard
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In the next fortnight versatile accordion entertainer David Vernon and singer/guitarist Alex Hodgson, both from Scotland, perform a 20 dates tour of the South Island, New Zealand. February Saturday 7th, 7.30pm - Timaru RSA February Sunday 8th, 2pm - Fairlie Pub 2pm February Monday 9th, 7.30pm - Geraldine Club February Wednesday 11th - Nelson Club 10am - 40min School show Noon - 40min Senior Citizen show 5pm - 1 hour Bar show February Thursday 12th - Blenheim Club 10am - 40min School show Noon - 40min Senior Citizen show 5pm - 1 hour Bar show February Friday13th, 8pm - Hornby Club February Saturday 14th, 8pm Kaiapoi Club 8pm February Monday 16th - Coronation Hall, Dunedin 11am - 1 hour Senior Citizens show 2pm - 40min School show February Tuesday 17th – Cricket, Scotland v NZ February Wednesday 18th - Coronation Hall Mosgiel 11am - 1 hour Senior Citizens show 2pm - 40min School show February Thursday 19th, 8pm - Wanaka Club February Friday 20th - Galleon Complex Oamaru 2pm 40min School show 8pm full show February Saturday 21st, 8pm - Ranfurly Town Hall February Sunday 22nd, 7pm - Ashburton RSA For further information email: dvernon100@aol.com |
by Rob Howard
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![]() Friday February 20th, 7.30pm - St Nicholas Church, Church Street, Brighton BN1 3LJ Sunday February 22nd, 7.30pm - The Barn Church, Atwood Avenue, Kew, London TW9 4HF Lovers of Playford music will be interested in the Playford music course with Karen Wimhurst, Richard Heacock and Paul Hutchinson at Halsway Manor from March 23rd – 27th. For further information email: paulaccordion@gmail.com |
by Rita Davidson Barnea
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![]() The admission fee is $5 per person to CAA members. Non-members: $10 per person. |
New and Updated Sites |
by Gary Dahl
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by Franco Cambareri
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![]() ![]() Catalog No: cfranco190 Cafe Seville (Solo) as an eSheet, able to be purchased online with credit card and sent to you by email. Cafe Seville is a sentimental Flamenco Piece. |
by Franco Cambareri
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![]() Catalog No: cfranco192 Danza Guapa (solo) as an eSheet, able to be purchased online with credit card and sent to you by email. Danza Guapa is a Happy Paso Doble Dance. |
by Gary Dahl
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by Heather Masefield
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CD Reviews |
by Joan C. Sommers
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Help Desk, Information needed, Readers CommentsSubmit Your Question, CommentSUBMIT NOW |