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Highlights |
Faithe Deffner Passes Away - USA
CIA Coupe Mondiale 2014, Salzburg - Austria
Arseniy Strokovskiy Wins 2014 South Pacific Accordion Championships - New Zealand
2014 Australian International Accordion Championships and Festival – Australia
Reports for Concerts, Masterclasses, Competitions, Festivals, etc. |
Video: Edward Giffney Performs the Chaikon Concerto - New Zealand
Michael Coyne DVD/CD, Liverpool – UK
Video: Forro Bodó by Trio Pé de Serra - Brazil
Video: Symetrio - BrokenTango
‘14 Years Ago’: ‘The Accordion and Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue’
Future events |
Marco Lo Russo Orchestral Concert, Piacenza – Italy
Erika’s dance dates for June – Belgium
Mazaika Concerts, London - UK
Tommy Newcomen @ Button-Key Accordion & Fiddle Club, Scotland – UK
New and Updated Sites |
Francesco Palazzo release new CD with eTracks - Italy
New Website of Guardia Nueva release new CD with eTracks - Finland
Help Desk, Information needed, Readers CommentsSubmit Your Question, CommentSUBMIT NOW |
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Highlights |
2014 “Golden Cup” Competitions and Symposium - Chinaby Harley Jones |
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| 2014 “Golden Cup” 1st National Colleges And Universities Performing Competition Of Accordion, 6th to 8th June, Shanghai Normal University. Rules and Information in Chinese at: 2014Golden. Printed Program and Daily Reports at: 2014Goldencup |
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Faithe Deffner Passes Away - USAby Kevin Friedrich |
 The accordion world is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Faithe Deffner.A dynamic personality in the accordion world, Faithe Deffner (17th March 1931 to 3rd June 2014) translated her passion for accordion into action as she devoted her life's work to elevating and advancing the instrument worldwide. Born in Worcester, Massachusetts, Faithe Deffner attended the University of Missouri School of Journalism in Columbia, Missouri. She subsequently worked as a trade publications reporter in New York City and went on to become an advertising copywriter and account executive. She opened her own Chain Advertising Co. on Liberty Street in Manhattan. Among her clients was the musical instrument firm owned by Ernest Deffner, for whom her first assignment was a 380-page catalog of musical merchandise ranging from castanets to vibraphones. The large section dealing with accordions introduced her to the fascinating world of a musical instrument destined to become her lifetime passion. She studied with studio accordionist and recording artist Billy Costa. Throughout her career, Faithe Deffner has participated in almost every aspect of the accordion world. Together with her late husband, Ernest Deffner, the Deffners set the standard for high quality accordion manufacturing, innovative design, publishing and music education. Their clients and collaborators are truly a Who’s Who in the accordion world. The Deffner businesses will celebrate 80 years in September of this year. The firm includes Pancordion, Inc., Titano Accordion Co., Pigini Accordions and Ernest Deffner Publications, which Faithe Deffner has directed since 1971 when her husband passed away, until her recent retirement when the business under the same names came under the directorship of Frank Busso Junior. The real hallmark of Faithe Deffner's work has been her vision to bring together accordion enthusiasts of all ages and from all corners of the world. Working on behalf of the American Accordionists’ Association as the organization’s president, Faithe Deffner introduced new concepts to bring public attention to the accordion. Whether helping to fill the decks of a cruise ship with 700 participating accordion enthusiasts playing Anchors Aweigh as they sailed past the Statue of Liberty, or staging the 2007 Coupe Mondiale in Alexandria, Virginia where it was attended by over 1,000 accordion enthusiasts, or arranging for Myron Floren to conduct six busloads of accordionists performing at the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia, or collaborating with Lawrence Welk Resorts in a two-year “Search for the Hottest” accordionist, Ms. Deffner created numerous significant opportunities to publicly showcase talented accordionists. She has also served on numerous boards and committees in many accordion organizations including American Accordionists’ Association (AAA), Accordion Industry Council, Confederation Internationale des Accordeonistes (CIA), Accordionists and Teachers Guild (ATG), International and the Accordion Federation of North America (AFNA). For over 50 years she has been a staunch supporter of AAA as a member of its board and serving longest as the association's President, becoming President Emerita. In the mid 1960's, the Deffners purchased the Titano Accordion Company from Dorothy and Edward Traficante of Minneapolis, Minnesota. The firm moved to New York City and Faithe Deffner worked with Bill Palmer and Bill Hughes in the development of their extraordinary Titano concert instruments. Over the years, Faithe Deffner worked to interest colleges and universities in the accordion as a major course of study. The first such program originated in 1946 at the University of Houston in Texas, where Bill Palmer introduced it to scores of young accordionists who majored on the instrument. Through Palmer's wide experience in the arena of higher education and his memorable concert work with the late Bill Hughes, the perfect beachhead was established as an example for other institutions to follow. Always a strong exponent of accordion student bands and studio activity, Faithe worked closely with music schools in the US and abroad, developing unique programs for student enrolment and creative teaching procedures. In 1978, she embarked on yet another career, collaborating with Lindy Baumgarten, a distinguished accordion teacher and past president of the Canadian Accordion Teachers Association. Together, they founded Keyboard Study Centers in New York. Ms. Deffner became educational director and Mrs. Lindy (as she is fondly called) utilized her teaching skills to develop outstanding accordion students, accordion bands and orchestras. The school grew rapidly and took many top honors at national music events. A computer enthusiast of many years she has long been an exponent of the internet, prodding her friend and associate, Harley Jones of New Zealand, into launching Accordions Worldwide, the cyberspace home of all things accordion, which has become a wonderful resource. In 2005, internationally acclaimed composer and bayanist, Viatcheslav Semionov dedicated his new work, Divertimento, to Faithe Deffner, in honor of her many years as AAA's president. Culminating a glorious career in the accordion world, Faithe Deffner was elected vice president of the Confederation Internationale Des Accordeonistes for 2007 when she coordinated a memorable Coupe Mondiale in Alexandria, Virginia as a joint venture sponsored by the AAA and ATG. The event was a singular success attended by more than 1,000 accordion aficionados and occupying three hotels. Two ballrooms were constantly working and a gala concert was presented every evening. Orchestras and competitors came from many countries. The Kennedy Center in Washington, DC invited accordionists to do a half-hour program every evening throughout the week. The first World Accordion Orchestra took place under Joan Sommers' baton, and has become an annual event since. Participants were all delighted with the high musical caliber and great camaraderie, which permeated this Coupe Mondiale. Faithe's legacy will be remembered with profound respect and will be sadly missed by the entire accordion community. Faithe Deffner is survived by daughter Verne Leven. The funeral took place on Friday, June 6, at Beth Israel Memorial Chapel in Boynton Beach, Florida. Internment was at Beth David Cemetery in Hollywood, Florida. |
CIA Coupe Mondiale 2014, Salzburg - Austriaby Raymond Bodell, President, Confédération Internationale des Accordéonistes (CIA) |
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 The Confédération Internationale des Accordéonistes (CIA), a member of the International Music Council (IMC), an NGO official partner of UNESCO, will hold the 67th CIA Coupe Mondiale and 132nd General Assembly of Delegates in Salzburg, Austria from October 27th – November 2nd 2014. The event will be hosted by the CIA member in Austria, the Austrian Accordion Association Harmonikaverband Österreich (HVÖ). With now less than 150 days to the event, as CIA President, I had the opportunity to visit the Salzburg Congress Centre – superb venue for all competitions and concerts. The town with much historic tradition, birth place of Mozart, will include an official reception with the Mayor at the world famous Mirabelle Palace. Numerous journalists attended the officially organised (and well received) Press Conference about the 2014 Coupe Mondiale which will feature eight categories of competition – Coupe Mondiale - Junior Coupe Mondiale - Masters Coupe Mondiale - Virtuoso Entertainment - Junior Virtuoso Entertainment - Digital and Ensemble as well as a special category for 2014 - the Mozart Category Additionally, there will be numerous superb concerts. For full details including, category requirements, hotel information, draft schedule (showing the exciting array of guest artists who will be featured in concert) and other information about the event please visit: Coupe Mondiale Pictures below from the Press Conference. |
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Arseniy Strokovskiy Wins 2014 South Pacific Accordion Championships - New Zealandby Heather Masefield |
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 Daily Reports including results and photographs are online at: 2014SouthPacThe South Pacific Accordion Championships, which includes the New Zealand Accordion Championships, was held at Epsom, Auckland, on 31st May and 1st June. Winner of the top solo category was Arseniy Strokovskiy (Russia, picture left top). Second place was Patrick Lui (picture lower left). Head of the Jury was Mirco Patarini from Italy. Daily Reports including results and photographs are online at: 2014SouthPac |
2014 Australian International Accordion Championships and Festival – Australiaby Kevin Friedrich |
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 Daily Reports including photographs and results will be online at: Australian International ChampionshipsThe 2013 Australian International Accordion Championships and Festival run by the AATA is being held on Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th June at the Club Marconi, 121-133 Prairie Vale Rd, Bossley Park, Sydney. Special Guest Artists Mirco Patarini (Italy) and Lionel Reekie (New Zealand) and featuring the AATA Festival Orchestra conducted by Lionel Reekie. The timetable and full information of the guest artists and concerts is available online at: www.aata.org.au Contestants from China, Croatia, New Zealand, Russia and Australia. Daily Reports including photographs, video and results will be online at: Australian International Championships |
Reports for Concerts, Masterclasses, Competitions, Festivals, etc. |
Vivant! presents Musical Extravaganza 'Hooray for Hollywood!', Kansas City - USAby Kevin Friedrich |
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 Kansas City based musical group Vivant! presented a musical extravaganza 'Hooray for Hollywood!' on June 1st, highlighting music of film both in arrangements of popular cinema classics as well as cinema themed original compositions by Kansas City based composers Karen Fremar, the founder of Vivant!, and guitarist Jason Scheufler. Vivant's performance of Scheufler's new work, 'Cinematic Caricatures', marked the World Premiere of his new work composed for accordion, flute, cello, electric guitar and piano. Featured guest soloist Julie Silfverberg (Gettler), a member of Vivant!, presented premieres of several new Cinema themed works by Karen Fremar including 'That's the Rainguy (Ode to Dustin Hoffman)’, ‘Monroe (Too Hot to Cha Cha Cha)’, ‘Time's Gone By for Bogey and The Duke’, as well as a magnificent arrangement of the 1984 Academy Award winning hit 'I Just Called to Say I Love You', by Stevie Wonder, from ‘The Women in Red’. Julie was born in Ft. Scott, Kansas where she studied accordion and piano with Margie Fremar. She later moved to Kansas City where she received her Bachelor of Music in Accordion Performance, studying with Joan C. Sommers. She met and married fellow UMKC student Juha Silfverberg from Finland, and after spending some years living and working in Finland, the family relocated back to the Kansas City area where Julie works as a full time music teacher and performer. She has performed in the group The International Trio with husband Juha Silfverberg and friend Kevin Friedrich, as well as serving on the Board of Directors for the Fremar Foundation of Accordion Arts and is currently the President of the Federated Teachers of Fine Arts and the Mid-America Music Association (MAMA). The second half featured all the Vivant! musicians performing such greats as masterworks by Piazzolla (‘Street Tango’, ‘Los Suenos’, ‘Michelangelo '70’) and popular movie music such as ‘I Love A Rainy Night’, ‘Don't Get Around Much Anymore’, ‘Before Beatlemania’, and ‘Let It Go’. The concert 'Music and Merlot' is an annual concert in Kansas City presented by the Fremar Foundation for Accordion Arts, a non-profit organization dedicated to the promotion and support of outstanding accordion artists, providing education about the accordion, its music, musicians and history, as well as presenting top accordion artists in concert. All of the music was either composed or arranged by Dr. Karen Fremar (accordion/vocals) who was joined by musicians Julie Silfverberg (accordion), Melody Stroth (piano), Judy Johnson (flute), Beth McCollum (cello), Dee Sligar (Keytar bass), Janne Silfverberg (trombone/Latin percussion) and Brian Steever (drums). For more information about Vivant and their CD recordings, please visit Vivant and Karen Fremar. |
Video: Edward Giffney Performs the Chaikon Concerto - New Zealandby Harley Jones |
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| 2013 South Pacific Accordion Champion Edward Giffney performs the Chaikon Concerto accompanied by Sarah Watkins. |
Michael Coyne DVD/CD, Liverpool – UKby Rob Howard |
 Liverpool-born accordionist/vocalist Michael Coyne has released ‘You're the world’, available both on CD and DVD. This is a collection of Irish Country & Western songs plus two instrumental tracks of jigs and reels. The DVD was filmed in Ireland and in Liverpool.Michael Coyne was introduced to Irish music at a very early age and as a boy, attended both Comhaltas music and singing lessons and Irish dance classes in the Irish Centre in Liverpool. He was a member of the junior ceili band in Liverpool, which won three All-Ireland titles in the 1970s. Although he still remains a member of the Liverpool ceili band, and plays a few jigs and reels as part of his act, his main genre of music today is Irish country music. One of his claims to fame is that he appeared on TV on BBC ‘Songs of Praise’ and Channel 4 ‘Hollyoaks’ playing the accordion. Tracks: Long gone are the days, Your wedding day, Kind deeds never make the news, Dublin town in 1962, You're the world, A tree in the meadow, Reels selection, The barmaid I met in Kinsale, It still takes a woman, So here are the roses, Home to Donegal, Here's a toast to old Galway, County Mayo, You’re the heaven I call home, Jigs selection For further information email: michaelcoyne@blueyonder.co.uk |
Video: Forro Bodó by Trio Pé de Serra - Brazilby Harley Jones |
| Forro Bodó by Trio Pé de Serra Published on May 24, 2014 |
Video: Symetrio - BrokenTangoby Harley Jones |
| Symetrio - BrokenTango, Published on April 28, 2014. Performers are: Marcin Jablonski (accordion), Adam Potera (accordion) and Krystian Sacilowski (accordion). For further information email: symetrio@yahoo.com |
‘14 Years Ago’: ‘The Accordion and Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue’by Rob Howard |
 The Accordions Worldwide news for the week ending June 2nd 2000 included an item about an article written by US accordionist and musicologist Henry Doktorski about the connections between ‘Rhapsody in Blue’, written by George Gershwin (1899-1937), and performances by accordionists. Since its world premiere in 1924 by the Paul Whiteman Orchestra, the evergreen and famous ‘Rhapsody in Blue’ has been performed and recorded by many prominent accordionists, including Cornell Smelser, the Destefano Brothers, Anthony Galla-Rini, Charles Magnante, John Molinari, and Henry Doktorski, to name but a few. Accordion Article Published - USA An article by accordionist Henry Doktorski titled ‘The Accordion and Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue: A Historical Perspective’ has been published in the journal ‘Music Theory – Explorations and Applications, Volume 7. The article, which was researched in part at the Library of Congress in Washington D.C., examines important accordionists and their performances and recordings of Rhapsody in Blue, beginning with the historic 4.5 minute 1928 Victor Record by the Basil Fomeen and Nick Hope duo, and ending with the 18.5 minute Alanna Records compact disc by the author (Doktorski) and the Duquesne Chamber Players |
Future events |
David Vernon and Dick Lee @ Leith Jazz Festival, Scotland – UKby Rob Howard |
 The accordion/clarinet duo David Vernon and Dick Lee are part of the Leith Jazz Festival this weekend, performing at ‘The Vintage’ on Saturday June 7th, 12.30-2.30pm, and at ‘Sofi's’ on Sunday June 8th 2-4pm. All free. Come along and enjoy the music.Later this year David Vernon and Dick Lee are guests at the Mundesley Accordions International festival in Norfolk, October 20th/24th. |
Marco Lo Russo Orchestral Concert, Piacenza – Italyby Rob Howard |
 On Saturday June 7th, 8.30pm, accordionist and composer Marco Lo Russo performs in concert with the orchestra from the Conservatory G. Nicolini (MD Luciano Caggiati), at the Teatro Municipale, Piacenza, Italy. As a backdrop to the concert, the dancers from the Centro Accademico di Danza, directed by Professor Elena Repetti, will perform on stage. The program includes music by Dmitri Shostakovich, Giuseppe Verdi and Maurice Ravel, jazz, including Bolero through the timeless arias from Aida. For further information email: stampa@marcolorusso.com |
Erika’s dance dates for June – Belgiumby Rob Howard |
 Musette accordionist Erika, known as ‘The Princess of the Accordion’, and her keyboard accompanist Jean-Marie, play for dancing this month, as follows:June 7th and 8th – private functions June 14th, 2pm - Salle Communale, rue Goemans, Hamme-Mille June 15th, 3pm - la salle Esperance, Pondrome June 28th, 4pm - Place à Onhaye June 28th, 7pm - Place des Tilleuls, Andenne For further information email: erika@erika.be |
Mazaika Concerts, London - UKby Rob Howard |
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| The Anglo-Russian duo Mazaika – Igor Outkine (accordion, vocals) and Elizabeth Harrison (violin) – perform as follows: Saturday June 7th, 7.30pm - ‘The many sides of Russian music’, St Ethelburga's Centre for Reconciliation and Peace, 78 Bishopsgate, London EC2N 4AG; tickets - £12 Wednesday July 2nd - Brunel Museum, Railway Ave, Rotherhithe, London SE16 4LF Friday July 4th, 8.30pm – The Green Note, 106 Parkway, London, NW1 7AN For further information email: igor.outkine@yahoo.com |
Tommy Newcomen @ Button-Key Accordion & Fiddle Club, Scotland – UKby Rob Howard |
 The versatile Scottish accordion entertainer Tommy Newcomen is the guest at the Button-Key Accordion & Fiddle Club, The Windygates Institute, Windygates, Fife, on Thursday June 12th, at 7pm. All Welcome, admission £4. |
New and Updated Sites |
Guardia Nueva release second CD with eTracks - Finlandby Guardia Nueva |
 Guardia Nueva release second CD with eTracks titled'Live in Concert Tango Finlandia', catalog: gnueva02 with sound samples. Music performed by Guardia Nueva. |
Francesco Palazzo release new CD with eTracks - Italyby Francesco Palazzo |
 Francesco Palazzo release new CD with sound sample sound files and download eTracks (MP3) files for the album 'da Tripoli al Messak- Morley Mediterranean Quartet', catalog: fp202Purchase online. |
New Website of Guardia Nueva release new CD with eTracks - Finlandby Guardia Nueva |
 New Website of Guardia Nueva release a new CD with eTracks titled'Guardia Tango Finlandia', catalog: gnueva01 with sound samples. Music performed by Guardia Nueva. |
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