Highlights |
Reports for Concerts, Masterclasses, Competitions, Festivals, etc. |
Future events |
New and Updated Sites |
Help Desk, Information needed, Readers CommentsSubmit Your Question, CommentSUBMIT NOW |
Random video 4UWatch the video |
Highlights |
Breaking News: Yvette Horner (1922-2018) dies at the age of 95 years - Franceby Accordions Worldwide |
Yvette Horner- French accordionist, pianist and composer, born on the 22nd of September 1922 in Tarbes, died June 11th, 2018 at the age of 95 years in Courbevoie, France. Her death was headlined by one newspaper: France's Queen of Accordion Yvette Horner dies. She won the 1948 Coupe Mondiale in Lausanne, Switzerland, the first women to win and she remained the only woman to have won the Coupe Mondiale until 1959 when Marianne Probst (Germany) won the Coupe Monidiale. Yvette Horner also won the grand prize of the Charles-Cros Academy in 1950. In 1952, Calor, who sponsors the Tour de France, offers her to accompany the race, which launches her career (picture below). She plays on a podium, at the finish of each stage. Wearing a sombrero and perched on the roof of a Citroën Traction Avant in the colors of the brand Suze, this promotion repeated for a total of 11 Tours de France (from 1952 to 1963). She was also Queen of the Six Days in 1954. During her 70-year career, Yvette Horner gave more than 2,000 concerts and produced more than 300 albums, with cumulative sales of 30 million copies. She gave her last concert in 2011. Yvette Horner was highly decorated and received: - la cravate de commandeur de l'ordre national du Mérite on 17 April 2002, presented by the Minister of Culture and Communications Catherine Tasca; - She was promoted commandeur de la Légion d'honneur on 22 April 2011, decorated on 28 September by the President of France Nicolas Sarkozy; - Commandeur de la Légion d'honneur officier (1996); chevalier (Knight - 1986) - Commandeur de l'ordre national du Mérite (2002). |
10th Anniversary Concert of the Shanghai Normal University Accordion Orchestra - Chinaby Harley Jones |
Reports of the 10th Anniversary Concert of the Shanghai Normal University Accordion Orchestra are being put online as time allows between events at: 2018Shanghai Download 16 page color program: 2018SHNUProgram.pdf View the special televised concert with full light show and sound equipment and TV production team. Video: 10th Anniversary Concert of the Shanghai Normal University Accordion Orchestra 2018SHNU-Concert Organised by the Music College of Shanghai Normal University, the superb 10th Anniversary Concert of the Shanghai Normal University Accordion Orchestra took take place at the Shanghai Children's Art Theatre. View the video, link above. Art Director is Prof. Li Cong Artistic Supervisor: Crystal Wang and Jessica Shi Xuan Grateful thanks to the sponsorship by Shanghai Miao Ke Information Technology Co. Ltd. Picture below: The 50 players of the Shanghai Normal University Accordion Orchestra conducted by Prof. Li Cong performing West Side Story arranged by the renowned Prof. Joan Sommers. This was the Finale of the concert, the complete orchestra video now online above. |
2018 Pantonale Festival - Germanyby Harley Jones |
A page of pictures will be uploaded within 24 hours. The PhilHARMONIKA Festival organised by Waldermar Fleischhauer with ‘Pantonale e.V’ was held in Berlin from 24th - 27th May with the highlight being the Gala Concert with the ‘Berliner Kammerorchester’ (Berlin Chamber Orchestra) under the direction of Vladimir Zubitsky at the Berlin Philharmonic Chamber Music Hall. Throughout the week there were other accordion activities and performances. The first concert took place on May 23rd at 4 pm at the library of the ‘Rosenhof Berlin’ retirement residence. Two presentations were made on 24th May at the John F. Kennedy International School Berlin by Grayson Masefield, Matthias Matzke and Michael Rettig. Each presentation was to over a hundred children where they got to see how the accordion worked and volunteers had the opportunity to play on the different types of accordion (classical, digital and alpine). Then in the evening there was a concert at the Music School Treptow-Köpenick. There were solo performances by Grayson Masefield, Matthias Matzke who also played some opera selections with the soprano Leonie Kratz and solo and duets by Anna Krystaleva and Yuri Shiskin. The Gala concert on the 26th evening had solos, duets and works with the orchestra conducted by Vladimir Zubitsky. The performances featured Grayson Masefield (New Zealand), Yuri Shishkin and Anna Krystaleva performing as soloists and duo (Russia), Matthias Matzke (Germany), Michael Rettig (Germany), the “Duo Accosphere“consisting of Alena Budzinakova (Slovenia) and Grzegorz Palus (Poland), as well as the duo “con:trust“ consisting of Daniel Roth and Marius Staible, both from Germany. The program consisted of classical works, tangos by Piazzolla and Galliano, Italian themes, and works by Gorka Hermosa, Viatcheslav Semionov & Bete Ilin who traveled from Macedonia to attend. On Sunday morning Grayson gave a masterclass at the ‘Haus der Musik’ to a variety of students (young children to professional musicians) demonstrating the similarities and differences between styles and technique on multiple repertoires. The final concert was at the Ausstellungszentrum Pyramide (Pyramide Exhibition Centre) in Berlin-Hellersdorf and took place on May 27 at 4 pm. It was a fantastic end to the festival, the audience there was extremely enthusiastic and there was a standing ovation for all the artists. The festival was a great success with audience members travelling from all over Germany to attend and it had fantastic media coverage with Deutschland Radio Kultur and Berliner Abendblatt. |
Italian Selection for CIA Coupe Mondiale 2018, Osimo - Italyby Harley Jones |
The CIA Coupe Mondiale 2018 will take place in Kaunas, Lithuania, from September 24th to 30th. The IAC (Italian Accordion Culture) organizes the Italian National Selection, which will take place in Osimo in the Teatrini Campana on July 17th. From July 18th to 22nd, in the Osimo Center, the IAC have organized some master classes, for which full information and the prices are now available. Those enrolled in one of the master classes who also wish to participate in the selection competition for the CIA 2018 Coupe Mondiale will be exempted from paying the registration fee for the competition. For further information email: mircopatarini@me.com |
Daily Reports: 2018 South Pacific Accordion Championships - New Zealandby Heather Masefield |
Daily Reports of the 2018 South Pacific and New Zealand Accordion Championships & Festival, Saturday 2nd June and Sunday 3rd June, including results, photos and video will be online at: 2018SouthPac |
Maciej Frąckiewicz Tour, Odessa, Lviv – Ukraineby Rob Howard |
Polish accordionist Maciej Frackiewicz is currently on a short tour in the Ukraine, performing three concerts and giving a master class. His timetable includes: June 5th - solo recital, Odessa Classics Festival, Urban Music Hall, Odessa June 6th - solo recital, Kiev June 8th, 3pm – master classe in Music Academy in Lviv June 9th, 9.30pm - solo recital at the Lviv Philharmonic Hall Programme for all recitals is a mixture of Polish and Ukrainian composers: - Alexander Shchetynsky – ‘Sonata’ - Bohdan Sehin – ‘And, Like Sailors, Relishing the Sight of Land’ - Lubawa Sydorenko – ‘Verticalis’ - Dariusz Przybylski – ‘Sonata da chiesa’ - Mikolaj Majkusiak – ‘Dyad’ - Krzysztof Penderecki – ‘Sinfonietta’ The project is co-financed by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage in Poland. For further information email: contact@maciejfrackiewicz.com |
Reports for Concerts, Masterclasses, Competitions, Festivals, etc. |
Video: Auckland Accordion Symphonietta at South Pacific Championships - New Zealandby Heather Masefield |
The Auckland Accordion Symphonietta (AAS) conducted by Lionel Reekie performing at the South Pacific Accordion Championships. The AAS was formed in 2013 and is one of New Zealand’s largest accordion orchestras. Daily Reports of the 2018 South Pacific and New Zealand Accordion Championships & Festival online at: 2018SouthPac |
Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites extends deadline for 2018 AAA Festival - USAby Linda Soley Reed, AAA Second Vice President |
Welcome to our 80th Anniversary Festival, July 11-15, 2018 of the American Accordionists’ Association (AAA). Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites has extended the deadline for hotel reservations at the discounted rate of $129 to June 18! The number of available rooms is limited, so please make your reservations as soon as possible! All information at: AAA |
Future events |
Grand Gala Exceptionnel D’Accordeon, Loiret - Franceby Rob Howard |
The Grand Gala Exceptionnel D’Accordeon is an accordion and dancing event at Saint Jean Le Blanc, near Orleans, on Sunday June 10th, 3pm until 8pm. Saint-Jean-le-Blanc is a commune in the Loiret department in north-central France. Performing are several acts, headed by Andre Loppe, from Belgium. Andre Loppe, a graduate of the Brussels Conservatory, is a prolific recording artist, with many CDs and DVDs to his credit. He is much in demand for performing at dances and festivals in Belgium and northern France. |
Nathalie Bernat plays for dancing, Reilhac – Franceby Rob Howard |
On Sunday June 10th, 3pm 70 7pm, musette accordionist Nathalie Bernat and her orchestra play for dancing at Salle Polyvallente 1 Place de la Mairie, 15250 Reilhac. Reilhac is a commune in the Cantal department in south-central France. Nathalie Bernat, from the Auvergne in southern France, is a busy and charismatic stage performer with over 20 CDs and DVDs to her credit. Her latest recording is ‘Etoile Occitane’, released on DVD and CD, and available from her website. On June 14th she performs on the French TV programme "1,2,3 Musette", presented by Jérôme Richard and Pierre-Yves Lombard. |
Richard Galliano Concerts – Italy, Kazakhstanby Rob Howard |
French virtuoso Richard Galliano performs this month, as follows: June 11th – concert with La Camerata Ducale, Milan, Italy June 17th – solo recital, Astana, Kazakhstan June 21st – concert with the Almaty Philharmonic Orchestra, Almaty, Kazakhstan June 30th – concert with Massimo Mercelli and the Cameresti della Scala, Sirmione, Italy French accordion virtuoso Richard Galliano performs internationally in many musical fields, from classical to jazz. He records for the prestigious classical music label ‘Deutsche Grammophon’, and has recorded more than 50 albums, many under his own name and some with many other artists. For further information email: solathierry@gmail.com |
Ksenija Sidorova Solo Recital, Salzburg – Austriaby Rob Howard |
Ksenija Sidorova performs a solo recital at the International Mozarteum Foundation in Salzburg, Austria, on Tuesday June 12th, 6.30pm. Her program includes music Pjotr Londonow, Anatoli Kusiakov, Sergei Rachmaninoff, Viatcheslav, Semionov, Sergei Voitenko, and Alfred Schnittke. Latvian virtuoso accordionist Ksenija Sidorova, now based in Spain, started to play the accordion aged eight under the guidance of Marija Gasele in her hometown of Riga. She later studied in London at the Royal Academy of Music under Professor Owen Murray. She subsequently received her Masters Degree with Distinction, and has since pursued a highly successful worldwide concert career. |
Alex Ross and Alex Hodgson Concert, Le Thor – Franceby Rob Howard |
Accordionist Alex Ross and singer/guitarist Alex Hodgson, visiting from Scotland, perform in concert on Friday June 15th, 8pm, at Le Sonograf, Z.A La Cigaliere, Le Thor, 84250, France. Alex Ross is the founder and leader of the Canongate Cadjers Ceilidh Band, and a composer and also a well-known accordion retailer from Edinburgh. For further information email: accordionstudioedin@gmail.com |
Dutch Jazz Accordion Summer Course, Arnhem – Netherlandsby Rob Howard |
The Dutch Jazz Accordion Summer Course takes place from July 19th to 21st at ArtEZ University of the Arts, Arnhem. The teacher is Rik Cornilissen, plus guest teachers. Rik Cornelissen is a contemperary jazz and classical accordionist, whose broad education and knowledge of styles enable him to present the accordion as a modern and versatile instrument. Rik debuted with his solo album ‘Traveller’ in 2014, which received excellent reviews. He worked in many different projects for YoOpera, Opera Minora and Opera Zuid (as musical leader) and as a session musician for the movies ‘Zwartboek’ (Paul Verhoeven), ‘Van Gogh: een huis voor Vincent’ (Pim Hoeve) and ‘Theatershow NU!’ (Mini & Maxi). Rik studied Bachelor Classical Music and Argentinian Tango (Codarts, Rotterdam 2006) and Master Jazz & Pop (ArtEZ University of Arts, Arnhem 2009). After his studies he travelled through South and Central America for over 9 months and continued his education in Italy with the classical and contemporary accordionist Claudio Jacomucci. Download application/information: 2018JazzCourse.pdf For further information email: info@rikcoenilissen.com |
Festival del Saltarello 8° Int.Folk Contest "Etnie Musicali" - Italiaby Diatonic News |
Festival del Saltarello 8° Int.Folk Contest "Etnie Musicali", 15-17 June 2018 |
AAA Original Works Concert, 11 July 2018 - USAby Linda Soley Reed, AAA Second Vice President |
As part of the 2018 American Accordionists’ Association (AAA) Festival on 11th July will be a concert featuring recent original works. 1. Premier performance of Sonata in F composed and performed by Joseph Natoli 2. Ka Mate composed by Gorka Hermosa, performed by Grayson Masefield 3. Carousel of Dreams composed by Guy Klucevsek, performed by Cody McSherry Full information about the 2018 AAA Festival is online on the site of the AAA. |
New and Updated Sites |
Music pdf Now Available, "Valentango" by Renzo Ruggieri - Italyby Harley Jones |
Video: Valentango performed by the composer Renzo Ruggieri. Renzo Ruggieri writes: "Valentango" is a composition taken from the show 'Valentino è Tango!' dedicated to the myth of Rudolph Valentino and the history of tango. This is the exact transcription (I thank my student Lorenzo Bosica for help) of the performance in the album (Catalog: rruggieri11 Valentino e Tango CD or mp3 album), with improvisations also at the level of the arrangement. The music is difficult to perform but, thanks to a very effective melody, lends itself to both concert situations and international competitions." Music pdf of Valentango is available online - Catalog rrenzo518 and is great value at only 10 Euro |
New Site: Grayson Masefield Releases New Website - New Zealand/Switzerlandby Harley Jones |
On World Accordion Day, Grayson Masefield released his 3rd CD titled Baroque Transcriptions and also released of his newly designed website at: www.graysonmasefield.com The new site designed to be phone/screen size responsive and promote the 3 albums that Grayson Masefield now has available. Grayson01 'Concert Accordion Music' CD or download mp3 album Grayson02 'Symbols of Semionov' CD or download mp3 album Grayson03 'Baroque Transcriptions' CD or download mp3 album Baroque Transcriptions Track List Click on the links to play a sound sample 1. Chaconne in F minor, (P.43), Pachelbel, Johann 2. Sonata in D minor (K.9), Domenico Scarlatti 3. Choral Prelude "Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland," (BWV 659), Johann Sebastian Bach 4. Sonata in D Major (K.29), Domenico Scarlatti 5. Sonata in B minor (K.87), Domenico Scarlatti 6. Sonata in B Major (K.262), Domenico Scarlatti 7. Sonata in B minor (K.27), Domenico Scarlatti 8. Passacaglia in C minor (BWV 582), Johann Sebastian Bach 9. Fugue in C minor (BWV 582), Johann Sebastian Bach |
Help Desk, Information needed, Readers CommentsSubmit Your Question, CommentSUBMIT NOW |