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Highlights |
London Accordion Orchestra Jubilee Celebrations - UK
2024 86th American Accordionists' Association (AAA) Anniversary Festival – USA
What Are You Doing For May 6th World Accordion Day? - International
“London Tango Quintet” Debut CD Featured on “Fine Music Radio” – South Africa
Ksenija Sidorova Concert Schedule – Switzerland, Turkey, Germany, Belgium, Austria & Serbia
2024 International Accordion Competition Havířov – Czech Republic
IV All-Russian Festival of Contemporary Music “Lilac Blackbird”, Moscow - Russia
Reports for Concerts, Masterclasses, Competitions, Festivals, etc. |
2024 Accordion Youth Camp – Switzerland
Harmonika Müller GmbH Accordion Display at 75th International Crafts Trade Show – Germany
Accordionist Coba FM Radio Interviews – Japan
New CD: Finnish Accordion Concertos - Finland
Future events |
“Cafe Accordion Orchestra” Early Valentine’s Day Concert – USA
Valentine’s Day Concerts – Canada
“Langue de Chat” February Concerts - Australia
Aotango Duo Concert on Waiheke Island – New Zealand
Orchestra Mondo "Tango Meets Gypsy" Concert – Germany
Aine McLoughlin Piano Accordion Workshops - England
2024 All Ireland Accordion Festival – Ireland
Riedlbauer's Resort Accordion Weekend – USA
Links to Previous News Still Current |
New and Updated Sites |
Two New eBooks (pdf and epub) Release by Friedrich Lips - Austria
CNIMA Workshops in New Orleans - USA
Help Desk, Information needed, Readers CommentsSubmit Your Question, CommentSUBMIT NOW |
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Highlights |
Joan Cochran Sommers Celebrates 90 Years - USAby Kevin Friedrich, CIA Ambassador |
ATG poster featuring Joan Sommers
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90th birthday celebration, Jane Christison accordionist
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90th birthday celebration.
Picture below Joan Sommers, daughter Cathy and Kevin Friedrich |
 The University of Missouri – Kansas City (UMKC) Community Accordion Ensemble joined together to celebrate the 90th birthday of their long time director and teacher Joan Cochran Sommers.Joan founded the UMKC Accordion Program in 1960 and went on to lead one of the most prestigious accordion programs for more than 40 years, attracting students from all over the USA and abroad, studying the accordion in Bachelor, Masters and Doctoral degree programs. In recognition of her stellar career, she was awarded the title of Professor Emerita upon her retirement. After being the first USA representative in the Coupe Mondiale in 1955, her students went on to compete with great success in both National and International festivals, winning numerous titles over many decades in solo, ensemble, chamber and orchestra competitions. Joan C. Sommers has held numerous positions in several music organizations, including the Accordionists and Teachers Guild International (ATG) and the Confédération Internationale des Accordéonistes (CIA – IMC-UNESCO) where she was awarded Lifetime Honorary Membership. She has arranged innumerable works for both Accordion Orchestra and Chamber Ensemble over many years, works that have been performed around the globe. Today she enjoys performing with fellow accordionists in duo, with other instrumentalists, with the UMKC Community Accordion Ensemble and as guest Conductor with various orchestras around the world including founding and leading the magnificent CIA World Accordion Orchestra in many countries around the world including the USA, Scotland, New Zealand, Croatia, Canada, Austria and Lithuania and twice in both China and Italy. Joan enjoyed a weekend of activities with her students and family celebrating 90 magnificent years of accordion excellence. There are no signs of slowing down any time soon and based on her busy schedule, her musical inspiration will continue for many years to come. The Accordionists and Teachers Guild, International (ATG) will host their annual competition and festival in Kansas City from July 23-27, 2024 to celebrate Joan’s 90 years. Poster above. The main activities will be held at UMKC with the grand finale being Joan conducting a festival orchestra of 90 players! For more information, please visit www.atgaccordions.com Picture below: Conducting 2009 World Accordion Orchestra III in New Zealand |
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London Accordion Orchestra Jubilee Celebrations - UKby Christine Johnstone |
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 The London Accordion Orchestra (LAO - picture left) will begin their 25th Jubilee Celebrations with a joint 'Bellows Across Borders' concert with the Haarlem Accordion Orchestra (Haarlems Accordeonorkest - Netherlands - picture below) conducted by Leo van Lierop, at the Tabernacle in Notting Hill, London, England on April 7th, 2024 at 2pm.The concert will feature a wide range of music, from Bach to blockbuster film scores, such as The Lion King and Raiders of the Lost Ark, plus original music for accordion orchestra. It is also the 10th anniversary of the LAO 'Bellows Across Borders' concerts, the first one being a concert with the Nürnberger Akkordeonorchester at St. John's Smith Square in 2014. |
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2024 86th American Accordionists' Association (AAA) Anniversary Festival – USAby Harley Jones |
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| The American Accordionists' Association (AAA) is excited to announce its 86th anniversary festival will be held in West Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, in the Philadelphia area of USA from July 12-14, 2024. The festival will include performances and workshops from guest artists, competitions for students of all ages and proficiency levels, performance opportunities, three festival orchestras, vendors, exhibits, and several food functions. Some exciting enhancements at this year’s festival will include extended exhibit room hours, festival orchestra repertoire suitable for a wider array of performance levels, consolidated schedule to reduce the total number of hotel nights needed, performance slots for solo and ensemble enthusiasts, and more food functions to promote camaraderie among festival attendees. Keep your eyes on the AAA website for hotel discount code, guest artist releases, and other festival announcements. |
What Are You Doing For May 6th World Accordion Day? - Internationalby Harley Jones |
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 What are you doing for World Accordion Day (WAD) to promote the accordion in your country? World Accordion Day (WAD) is on May 6th, which is the day the accordion was patented in 1829.WAD was started in 2009 by the Confédération Internationale des Accordéonistes (CIA) and has been very successful, generating a lot of positive publicity for the accordion. A key part of this event is the WAD website. Every association, group, orchestra, performer and teacher, is asked to actively support WAD by encouraging national and local accordion activities to happen in their country on this day or the weekend either side of WAD if that should be more convenient. Everyone can register their WAD activity on the WAD website and send a report of their event after, for that website. No event is too big or too small. ALL accordion events celebrating WAD 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. |
“London Tango Quintet” Debut CD Featured on “Fine Music Radio” – South Africaby Christine Johnstone |
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 “Fine Music Radio” in South Africa will soon feature the new debut CD by the “London Tango Quintet” (accordionist Milos Milivojevic).The radio station broadcasts from the Artscape Theatre Complex on the Foreshore in Cape Town and is South Africa’s only classical and jazz FM radio station. “Featured as album of the week, the radio station will be filling the airwaves in Cape Town with tango all next week!” The CD features tracks by Argentinian tango composer Astor Piazzolla, music by Horacio Salgan and other tango classics, and two tracks composed by David Gordon. |
Ksenija Sidorova Concert Schedule – Switzerland, Turkey, Germany, Belgium, Austria & Serbiaby Rob Howard |
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| Ksenija Sidorova has released her upcoming concert schedule from February 22nd to May 23rd, 2024. She will perform concerts in Switzerland, Turkey, Germany, Belgium, Austria & Serbia. See poster for details. |
2024 International Accordion Competition Havířov – Czech Republicby Christine Johnstone |
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| The 2024 International Accordion Competition Havírov will be held at the Havírov Elementary School of Art in Havírov, Karviná District, Czech Republic on May 3rd and 4th, 2024 organised by the Akordeonové sdružení Cech, Moravy a Slezska (Accordion Association of Bohemia, Moravia and Silesia). The competition will be held in one-round, with age group categories as follows: • 1st category: contestants born in 2017 and 2015 repertoire in the range of 2 – 3 min. • 2nd category: contestants born in 2014 and 2013 repertoire in the range of 2 - 4 min. • 3rd category: contestants born in 2012 and 2011 repertoire in the range of 3 - 5 min. • 4th category: contestants born in 2010 and 2009 repertoire in the range of 4 - 7 min. • 5th category: contestants born in 2008 and 2007 repertoire in the range of 6 - 9 min. • 6th category: contestants born in 2006 and 2005 repertoire in the range of 9 - 10 min. • 7th category: contestants born in 2004 and 2003 repertoire in the range of 10 - 12 min. • 8th category: contestants born in 2002 and 2000 repertoire in the range of 12-14 min. Repertoire: • free choice of pieces (individual parts from a cyclic song are accepted) • play from memory is mandatory • the evaluation will also take into account the overall competition performance and its diversity. The five-member jury will consist of accordion experts and pedagogues. The order of contestants will be alphabetical and the competition schedule will be published no later than one week before the competition. Applications close March 15th, 2024. Email for entry information: accordioncompetition@email.cz |
IV All-Russian Festival of Contemporary Music “Lilac Blackbird”, Moscow - Russiaby Ivan Dyma, SaxAkkord Duo |
  Accordionists are invited to take part in the IV All-Russian Festival of Contemporary Music “Lilac Blackbird”. The event is dedicated to the composer Grigori Fried (1915-2012 – picture right), Honored Artist of the RSFSR, Moscow composer, artist, writer, public figure, veteran of WW!!. “The Lilac Blackbird” is the title of a novel by Grigori Fried, his last book. The bird is a symbol of the bird of happiness. The festival will run from February to April 2024 both live and online in Moscow, Russia. For details phone: 8 (495) 705-61-71 |
Reports for Concerts, Masterclasses, Competitions, Festivals, etc. |
Accordion Concert Evening with Students of Grzegorz Stopa – Austriaby Dr Herbert Scheibenreif Manager of Friedrich Lips Productions |
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| Video: Concert was broadcast as a live stream. Download the January 25th, 2024 concert program here: 2024GStopaProgram.pdf After the music universities in Graz and Linz, the "Music and Art Private University of the City of Vienna" was the third educational institution in Austria with a major in "accordion". Since 2005, Grzegorz Stopa has sought cooperation with other international centers and many accordion students have chosen to study with him in Vienna. Many of his graduates, such as Nikola Djoric or Bogdan Laketic, have meanwhile made international careers with their projects. The program of the January 25th, 2024 concert evening of the Grzegorz Stopa class included works by Johann Sebastian Bach, Rebecca Saunders, Ottorino Respighi, Domenico Scarlatti, Peter I. Tchaikovsky, Andrzej Krzanowski, Joseph Haydn, Marius Binder and Francis Poulenc |
2024 Accordion Youth Camp – Switzerlandby Christine Johnstone |
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 The 2024 Accordion Youth Camp will be held at the Ferienhaus “Bruder Klaus” in Lungern, Switzerland from April 8th to 13th, 2024 organised by accordeon.ch.The camp is for accordionists born in 2014 or later (10 years and under) and will feature a “week full of music, games and fun! In smaller level groups as well as in the large camp orchestra, you will discover exciting pieces of music, learn a lot of new things and enjoy being together with other children and young people. Games, sports and leisure also have an important place.” A concert will be held on the last day of camp which will feature music rehearsed by the young students. Download camp details at: 2024YouthCamp |
Harmonika Müller GmbH Accordion Display at 75th International Crafts Trade Show – Germanyby Christine Johnstone |
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| The 75th International Crafts Trade Fair (Internationale Handwerksmesse - IHM) will be held at the Munich Exhibition Center in Germany from February 28th to March 3rd, 2024 organised by GHM Gesellschaft für Handwerksmessen mbH. This year’s event will be held under the motto "Craftsmanship that makes your life more beautiful". Exhibitors include Harmonika Müller GmbH who will display their range of accordions along with over 60 trades and industries offering visitors a comprehensive overview of the performance, quality and innovative strength of the skilled crafts sector. The fair includes several performance and special shows where craftsmen from different countries present current topics, new products and outstanding works. For details email: kontakt@ghm.de |
Accordionist Coba FM Radio Interviews – Japanby Christine Johnstone |
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| Accordionist Coba has been invited to appear on FM Radio program) "Yoshi Ube's Sessions" which will be broadcast from February 10th to 16th, 2024 on JFN (Japan) stations nationwide. The program welcomes guests from various genres such as artists, musicians, movies, fashion and art, to discuss music. Broadcast date and time for each station: FM Aomori 2/11 (Sun) 24:00~25:00 FM Akita 2/11 (Sun) 24:00~25:00 FM Yamagata 2/11 (Sun) 28:00~29:00 Date fm 2/10 (Sat) 5:00~6:00 FM GUNMA 2/11 (Sun) 13:00~13:55 FMRebroadcast 2/11 (Sun.) 28:00~29:00 (Mon. 4am) Radio Berry 2/11 (Sun) 27:00 ~ 28:00 TOKYO FM 2/16 (Fri) 5:00~6:00 FM Toyama 2/11 (Sun) 18:00-19:00 FM Ishikawa 2/11 (Sun) 24:00~25:00 FM Fukuoka 2/11 (Sun) 28:00~29:00 FM Gifu 2/11 24:00~25:00 FM Mie 2/11 (Sun) 24:00~25:00 FM Shibuya 2/11 (Sun) 24:00~25:00 Kiss FM 2/11 (Sun) 25:00 ~ 25:55 FM Hiroshima 2/11 (Sun) 25:00~26:00 FM Yamazaki 2/10 (Sat) 18:00-19:00 FM Yamaguchi 2/10 (Sat) 5:00~6:00 FM Kagawa 2/11 28:00~29:00 FM Kagoshima 2/11 (Sun) 19:00~19:55 FM Kochi 2/11 (Sun) 7:00pm~20:00 FM Shibuya 2/10 (Sat) 5:00~6:00 FM Kumamoto 2/10 (Sat) 5:00~6:00 FM Shibuya 2/11 (Sun) 24:00~24:55 |
New CD: Finnish Accordion Concertos - Finlandby Raimo Vertainen |
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| Video: Information on the new CD entitled “Finnish Accordion Concertos” by the players and composers. A New CD of Finnish accordion concertos will be released on February 12th, 2024 in Finland. This is the first CD of Finnish accordion concertos and contains three concertos commissioned by the Kokkola Accordion Festival and Chamber Orchestra. Download the CD booklet at: 2024AccordionConcertoCD.pdf |
Future events |
“In the Passion of Tango” Concert – Bulgariaby Christine Johnstone |
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 The ClassicArt String Quartet & Ensemble will present a concert entitled “In the Passion of Tango”, held at the Chamber Hall "Bulgaria" in Sofia, Bulgaria on February 10th, 2024 at 7pm.The event will feature accordionists Veronika Todorova and Renzo RuggierI, who will perform “unique and inspiring works”. |
“Cafe Accordion Orchestra” Early Valentine’s Day Concert – USAby Christine Johnstone |
  The “Cafe Accordion Orchestra” will perform an early Valentine’s Day concert at Crooners Supper Club in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA, on February 11th, 2024 at 5.30pm.The group which includes accordionist Dan Newton, will present "The Glory of Love" with a program of songs “about love in all its forms…loves won, loves lost, old fashioned love and new-fangled love as well”. For details phone: (763) 760-0062 |
Valentine’s Day Concerts – Canadaby Christine Johnstone |
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| Valentine’s Day is almost upon us and we have two concerts in Canada to help celebrate the event: • On February 14th, The Royal Cajun Band will perform three sets at the Princeton Pub in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada from 8pm to 11pm. See poster above. • On February 16th, The Gram Partisans will perform at the Britannia Community Centre in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada from 1.30pm to 3.30pm. This group features accordionist Alan Zisman. See poster below. |
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“Langue de Chat” February Concerts - Australiaby Christine Johnstone |
 The “Langue de Chat” quartet, which includes Anthony Schulz (accordion), Kiara Hachefa (vocals), Jack Pantazis (guitar) and Anton Schulz (double bass), will perform two concerts this month in Australia as follows:• February 17th, 2024 at 7.30pm: The Coolroom, Northern Arts Hotel in Castlemaine, Victoria • February 23rd, 2024 at 6.30pm: Open Studio, Northcote, Victoria “There’s something about the melodic, breathy tones of the accordion that transports the listener to another place or time. Maybe a bal-musette in Paris, a youthful romance in Rome, a distant memory of a Melbourne dancehall or a railway station in Berlin. This is where Langue de Chat with chanteuse voice, cajoling guitar, earthy double bass and of course, piano accordion lie in wait in the misty shadows of a distant, tender memory.” |
Aotango Duo Concert on Waiheke Island – New Zealandby Waiheke Musical Museum |
  Tickets are selling fast for the Aotango Duo concert at the Waiheke Musical Museum on Waiheke Island, Auckland, New Zealand on February 18th, 2024.Duo members, violinist Andrew Beer (Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra concert master - picture above) and accordionist Grayson Masefield (multiple world champion, teacher and concert artist - picture right) are both members of the Aotango Quintet, which has enjoyed much success throughout New Zealand. The audience will also get the opportunity to join in a conversation with these engaging performers at the end of the concert. |
Orchestra Mondo "Tango Meets Gypsy" Concert – Germanyby AWW |
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| Orchestra Mondo will perform their next "Tango Meets Gypsy" concert at the Stadeltheater in Lauingen, Bavaria, Germany on February 18th, 2024 at 6pm. Group members Anja Baldauf (accordion), Dennis Wendel (double bass), Raffael Muller (guitar) and Stefan Baldauf (drums) will “inspire with jazz from the 30s and 50s and guarantee an enjoyable concert”. They will feature pieces from their CD "Tango Meets Gypsy". See poster for details. |
Aine McLoughlin Piano Accordion Workshops - Englandby Christine Johnstone |
 Aine McLoughlin (picture left) will hold a series of piano accordion workshops at the London Irish Centre in London, England during February and March 2024.The folk music workshops for Level 2+ players will specialise in alternative left hand accompaniments for Irish, English and Scottish folk tunes. Dates: • February 24th at 3.15pm • March 16th at 3.15pm • March 23rd at 3.15pm • March 30th at 3.15pm For details email: info@londonirishcentre.org |
2024 All Ireland Accordion Festival – Irelandby Christine Johnstone |
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| The 2024 All Ireland Accordion Festival will take place at St Kilian’s School in Mullagh, County Clare, Ireland on April 28th, 2024. The event, organised by the Irish Accordion Association, will feature an “Orchestral and Conducting” masterclass and “The Art of Ensemble Playing” by facilitator Robert Houlihan. For the first time in over 50 years, the 2024 event will be non competitive. To enter contact Yvonne, email on poster. |
Riedlbauer's Resort Accordion Weekend – USAby Rob Howard |
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| The Accordion Weekend ‘24 will be held at Riedlbauer's Resort in Round Top, New York, USA from May 17th to 19th, 2024. Bring and play your accordion and stay at the resort for half price. See poster for details. |
Links to Previous News Still Current |
Past News List of Linksby AWW |
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2023 Coupe Mondiale Daily Reports 2023 Coupe Mondiale Daily Reports, Video |
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Information 2023 World Accordion Day, 6th May each year |
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Articles Index page |
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PIF Castelfidardo 2023 2023 PIF Castelfidardo Daily Reports, Video |
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2023 AAA Festival Daily Reports 2023 AAA Festival Daily Reports |
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Interviews Index page |
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2023 ATG Competition and Festival Photo Report 2023 ATG Competition and Festival Photo Report |
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2023 XXXV International Festival, Moscow News and Daily Reports and videos |
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2023 Accordion Cruise, Finland Information, News article |
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Accordion Reed Production Article Link |
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Chronology of Production of Italian Accordions Article Link News article about Beniamino Bugiolacchi Article Link |
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Serenellini Know the People Interview News Link |
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Accordion Study Produces Community Benefits Article Link |
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Playing the Accordion Benefits Your Brain News Link |
New and Updated Sites |
2024 CIA Winter Congress, 23-25 February 2024, Kungsbacka - Swedenby Harley Jones |
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 The 2024 Confédération Internationale des Accordéonistes (CIA) Winter Congress and 151st General Assembly of Delegates is being held in Kungsbacka, Sweden, 23-25 February 2024. The Winter Congress is being hosted by our CIA Voting Member Sveriges Dragspelares Riksförbund (SDR) / Swedish Accordion Association, President: Per Romin and CIA Vice President: Jörgen Sundeqvist. Over 24 delegates registered to date. Delegates please register promptly. View Schedule: 2024WinterCongress.pdf Further information: http://www.accordions.com/cia/cia_winter_congress.php |
Two New eBooks (pdf and epub) Release by Friedrich Lips - Austriaby Harley Jones |
Book cover
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Buchcover
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  Dr Herbert Scheibenreif, Manager of Friedrich Lips Productions has now released two pdf eBooks (or epub format), author Friedrich Lips, able to be emailed to the client.It Seems Like Yesterday Cat: 9951-3-7 for €22 emailed to the client. Als wäre es gestern gewesen (German edition) Cat: 9951-2-0 for €22 emailed to the client. The two printed books, author Friedrich Lips, were released 24 November 2023. It Seems Like Yesterday Cat: 9951-1-3 €35 or USD plus postage Als wäre es gestern gewesen Cat (German edition): 9951-0-6 €35 or USD plus postage Herbert Scheibenreif is the publisher and translator of the two new Friedrich Lips books 'It Seems Like Yesterday' English edition and 'Als wäre es gestern gewesen' German edition. These two books are the latest Friedrich Lips publications that include an incredible 50 CDs, 6 previous books in 3 languages and numerous educational papers. Author of 'It Seems Like Yesterday' Friedrich Lips tells about wonderful musicians - teachers, composers, conductors, performers, with whom fate brought him together. Possessing a bright literary gift, the author in detailed analytical articles, memoirs, small sketches creates living creative portraits of his contemporaries, who are now living, as well as those who have passed away in the last decade, talks about the events that made the artist's life so rich. The book will be of great help to everyone who studies and performs contemporary music for accordion. Of undoubted interest for class work will be the annotations to the numerous CDs of the author. Other Friedrich Lips productions available online are: 31 Lips CDs: Friedrich Lips, CD3Packs, CD6Packs, CDPack Books: The Art of Accordion Playing Cat: kslips00 The Art of Arranging Classical Music for Accordion Cat: kslips03 Die Kunst des Bajanspiels Cat: kslips01 Die Kunst der Bearbeitung klassischer Musik für Akkordeon Cat: kslips02 Picture below: 31 Lips CD covers |
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CNIMA Workshops in New Orleans - USAby Christine Johnstone |
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 The CNIMA (France) will run two workshops for piano accordion and chromatic button accordion at the Salon de la Bonne Fete, Maison St. Charles, in New Orleans, USA this year.Dates: May 20th to 25th, 2024 May 27th to June 1st, 2024 The workshops are for all levels, ages and styles from beginner to intermediate to advanced to professional. Discover the secrets of the accordion and how the proper use of air flow, combined with the appropriate touch of the keys or buttons, frees musicality and transforms one’s playing. Further information on the poster. With over 60 years of experience Jacques Mornet and Nathalie Boucheix have trained hundreds of professionals, world champions and passionate amateurs of all ages. For details email: cnimausa@gmail.com |
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