Sponsors
Books (Text)
eSheet (pdf file)
eTracks sound files
Sponsors
Free Services
Books (Text)
Statistics
Sponsors
Highlights |
13th Annual Las Vegas International Accordion Convention
All Ireland Fleadh Cheoil, Cavan - Republic of Ireland
AAA September Valtaro Celebration to Honor Magnanini Family - USA
Reports for Concerts, Masterclasses, Competitions, Festivals, etc. |
Jukka-Pekka Kuusela at Kuhmo Chamber Music Festival – Finland
‘14 Years Ago’ – Henry Doktorsi Recording Marks Gershwin Centenary - USA
Future events |
Accordions Now! 2012 on August 17-18 in New Hampshire - USA
Quadro Nuevo Concert, Cento (FE) – Italy
Polland’s ‘Akordissimo’ @ Twin City Polish Festival, Minnesota – USA
Erika & Jean-Marie Play for Dancing, Honnelles – Belgium
Lecture Demonstration, Durbanville - South Africa
Victor Prieto Trio Jazz Concert, New York – USA
7th International Avsenik Music Workshop, Begunje - Slovenia
Virginie and Cyril Danrey: DVD filming, Bourgneuf - France
New and Updated Sites |
Gary Dahl New and Updated Music - USA
Charnwood Publications Releases New Pieces
CD Reviews |
Help Desk, Information needed, Readers CommentsSubmit Your Question, CommentSUBMIT NOW |
Random video 4UWatch the video |
Highlights |
Daily Reports Online 6-10 August for 2012 Harbin International - Chinaby Harley Jones |
 |
 Daily Reports including competition results of the Harbin 2012 China Summer International Accordion Art Week, August 6th to 10th, 2012, are online on the Harbin 2012 website.This major international accordion festival including competitions has had enormous support from its sponsors. Presenter: The Ministry of Culture of China, the People's Republic of China Harbin Municipal Government Department of Education of Heilongjiang Province Organizer: Harbin Normal University Chief Planner: Zhang Yongzhou, Fu Junlong Organizing Committee and Organization Art Director Prof. Wang Hongyu (picture left). Read the Daily Reports on the Harbin 2012 website. |
Share
13th Annual Las Vegas International Accordion Conventionby Rita Davidson Barnea |
 |
| The 13th Annual Las Vegas International Accordion Convention will be held on September 24-27, 2012 at the Gold Coast Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada. Many prominent accordionists will be featured during the event including: Dick Contino, Jeff Lisenby, Stas Venglevski, Mary Tokarski, The Accordion Kings, Amy Jo Sawyer, Peter & Mady Soave, Mario Pedone, Gordon Kohl, Gina Brannelli, Liz Finch, Pete Barbutti plus The Fifth Annual Las Vegas International Accordion Orchestra directed by Professor Joan Cochran Sommers. Reasons for attending the Convention: 1. Join the fun and make new friends from all over the World. 2. See the latest in new accordions with factory exhibits. 3. Hotel accommodations are very inexpensive. 4. Be inspired by some of the finest. 5. Learn from the masters. 6. Participate in the Las Vegas International Accordion Orchestra and perform at the Grand Finale of the event. Rooms at the Gold Coast are available from only $29/night (Sun-Thurs) when you mention LVAC. In the USA Phone: 800-472-1695 Outside USA Phone: +01 801-486-1695 Full information, online registration and payment is now available at the website: Las Vegas Accordion Convention |
All Ireland Fleadh Cheoil, Cavan - Republic of Irelandby Rob Howard |
  The 2012 All-Ireland Fleadh Cheoil takes place in the town of Cavan, County Cavan, from August 10th to 20th. Organised by Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann (CCE), the Fleadh Cheoil is the world’s largest festival of Irish music, song and dance, with well over 200,000 people attending from Ireland and many parts of the world. There will be approximately 10,000 competitors and performers, including large numbers of accordionists, melodeon, concertina and harmonica players, as well as ceili bands and accordion bands participating. The 170 competitive sections involve everything Irish from set dancing to marching bands – a festival of Olympics scale. For many, the Fleadh is about the music sessions, which take place in every pub, hotel, cafe, doorway, street, and tent throughout the festival. This year’s festival includes concerts featuring accordionist Sharon Shannon backed by a 40-piece orchestra, and the Irish band Altan. Other events include the launch of a double CD of piano accordion players of the Irish tradition, and there is a lecture and book launch: ‘Companion to Irish Traditional Music’ by Dr Fintan Vallely. It is estimated that the annual All-Ireland Fleadh generates €20-€25 million for the local economy of its host town. For further information email: info@fleadhcheoil.ie |
AAA September Valtaro Celebration to Honor Magnanini Family - USAby Rita Davidson Barnea |
 |
 Top Photo: Rachel and Rick MagnaniniRight photo: Magnanini Winery founder Galba Magnanini Bottom photo: Valtaro accordionists Gelso Pelligrini, Willy Brunelli, Ugo Nati, Peter Spagnoli. Circa 1989 Reunion The AAA Valtaro Celebration on September 8th, 2012, at the Magnanini Winery in Wallkill, NY, will honor the Magnanini Family for their continuous support of live accordion music at their establishment. I recently interviewed Rick and Rachel Magnanini, about the history of the Magnanini Winery. Great food, wine, company and great accordion music was the vision of Rick's father, Galba Magnanini, and he made it a successful reality. Today the family tradition is continued with devotion and dedication by Rick and Rachel Magnanini along with their two sons, Robert and David. The family background is fascinating and is covered in full detail in the USA Accordion News at: http://www.accordionusa.com/default.aspx?d=01-Jul-2012#art1093 Accordion performers over the years include: Galba and Gelso Pelligrini, Manny Carallo, Angelo Di Pippo, Charles Nunzio and Ray Oreggio. Rick said, "People really like the accordion and really enjoy the focus on the accordion at the Magnanini Winery." Mario Tacca, along with Frank Carozza, Dominic Karcic and Frank Toscano presently play at the winery. Information about the AAA Valtaro Celebration on September 8th including a booking form, is on the website: AAA or email: AAA1938@aol.com |
 |
Reports for Concerts, Masterclasses, Competitions, Festivals, etc. |
Emmanuel Gasser Wins 16 Trophies in Three Competitions - Canada, USAby Rob Howard |
  15 year old Emmanuel Gasser returned home to St.Charles, Ontario, just recently after winning some 15 competitions during the last month. Emmanuel competed and entertained in Kimberley BC at the International Old Time Accordion Championships, where he won 5 first prizes in the following categories: Intermediate, Junior, Light Classical I, Jazz and Junior Duets with Sonja Hungerford. After this intensive competition week, he flew to Victoria BC to compete and entertain at the Victoria Accordion Festival where he won 1st prize in all four categories he entered: Category C (Classical) – 18 years old and younger, Category D (Open) – 18 years old and younger, Category E (Classical) – no age restriction and Category F (Open) – no age restriction. Following that busy week, he proceeded to compete and perform at Accordionists & Teachers Guild, International - ATG in Chicago where he won seven times 1st prize in the following categories: ATG US Solo Junior Championship, ATG Original Solo, ATG Open Solo, ATG Ethnic/Folk Solo, ATG Polka Solo, ATG Jazz Solo, and The 2012 Frank Marocco Competition. He also performed concerts in Edmonton, Alberta, and Eureka, Illinois. Emmanuel Gasser, in addition to playing, also composes music for the accordion music, and has to date written 36 pieces. He has also been taught to tune and repair accordions by the highly reputed accordion repairman and tuner, Leo Niemi of Sudbury, Canada. Emmanuel Gasser says “In Music Festivals, the object is not to gain a prize, nor defeat fellow competitors, but to pace one another on the the road to excellence, but that does not mean that the winner should not be happy about his accomplishments and share his joy with others”. |
Jukka-Pekka Kuusela at Kuhmo Chamber Music Festival – Finlandby Dr Herbert Scheibenreif Manager of Friedrich Lips Productions |
 |
| Recently Jukka-Pekka Kuusela had two important appearances at the Kuhmo Chamber Music Festival. On July 25th he was conducting Astor Piazzolla’s famous opera ‘Maria de Buenos Aires’ with an outstanding Finnish bandoneonist, Henrik Sandas, and solo singers Angelika Klas and Martin Alvarado, with Daniel Bonilla-Torres as the narrator. Picture above from left: Daniel Bonilla Torres (narrator), Angelika Klas (mezzosoprano), Jukka-Pekka Kuusela (conductor), Martin Alvarado (tenor). On July 28th he performed Edison Denisov’s ‘Des ténèbres à la lumière’ as a solo accordionist. Both performances were very well acclaimed by the public with standing ovations. When he performed Denisov, the world famous string quartets Enesco Quartet and Danel Quartet were playing in the same concert. |
‘14 Years Ago’ – Henry Doktorsi Recording Marks Gershwin Centenary - USAby Rob Howard |
 The centenary of the birth of the composer and pianist George Gershwin (1898-1937) came in 1998, and the Accordions Worldwide news for August 14th featured an article by the American accordionist Henry Doktorski announcing a new CD of Gershwin’s music. ACCORDIONIST CELEBRATES GERSHWIN'S CENTENNIAL Contributed by Henry Doktorski U.S. concert accordionist Henry Doktorski and eleven Duquesne University music students recently recorded a compact disc in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of Gershwin's birth. Titled ‘A Ragtime Rendition of Gershwin's Rhapsody In Blue’, it includes a ragtime rendition of ‘Rhapsody in Blue’, selections from ‘Porgy and Bess’, as well as selections from his greatest Broadway shows and Hollywood films. The accordion has a long historical connection with Gershwin's music, from in the early 20th Century. In this CD Doktorski continues this tradition by making what is believed to be the first ever recording of the unabridged Rhapsody featuring accordion with chamber orchestra. |
Future events |
João Gentil Concerts - Portugalby Rob Howard |
 Accordionist João Gentil performs this weekend, as follows:August 10th, 11pm – Praia da Tocha, Piolho August 11th, 9pm - Grande Hotel Caldas da Felgueira August 12th, 4pm – Festas Seixo, Mira August 12th, 6.30pm – Sitio do Cartaxo, Lagoa, Mira For further information email: joaogentil1@gmail.com |
Accordions Now! 2012 on August 17-18 in New Hampshire - USAby Rita Davidson Barnea |
 |
| ACCORDIONS NOW! Music Festival is proud and delighted to announce that Paul Ramunni and the New England Accordion Museum, which opened October 2011 in Canaan, have been added to the roster and will be a special part of the festival’s fifth annual celebration August 17-18 at the beautiful Courtyard Nashua, New Hampshire. ACCORDIONS NOW! 2012's roster is outstanding: Tony Lovello, Christopher Gorton, Brent Buswell, Jeremiah McLane & pianist Annemieke Spoelstra, the 40th anniversary Lowell Accordion Orchestra conducted by Donna Michael, the first ACCORDIONS NOW! Just-for-Fun Play-Along (No Rehearsal) Ensemble, Nancy Leonard, Sam Falcetti, Donna Maria Regis and the Accordions Now Festival Orchestra. To encourage broader public interest in the accordion, ACCORDIONS NOW! is offering a special 2-for-1 Friday Night Only admission $20. DEADLINE: Register no later than 11:59 PM EDT Monday, August 13. For further information phone: (603) 216-9582 or Email: AccordionsNow@yahoo.com |
Quadro Nuevo Concert, Cento (FE) – Italyby Rob Howard |
 Quadro Nuevo perform in concert on August 14th, 9.30pm, at the Piazzale della Rocca, Cento, Ferrara, Italy.Founded in 1996, Quadro Nuevo is a German quartet, composed of Andreas Hinterseher (accordion, vibrandoneon, piano), Robert Wolf (guitar), Mulo Francel (sax, clarinet, mandoline, vibraphone), and D.D. Lowka (acoustic bass, percussion). For further information email: ogiolda@quadronuevo.de |
Polland’s ‘Akordissimo’ @ Twin City Polish Festival, Minnesota – USAby Rob Howard |
 |
| The Twin City Polish Festival takes place this weekend, August 11th and 12th, in Minnesota, Minneapolis. Special guests appearing this year will be ‘Akordissimo’, a classical accordion quintet from Poland, part of the larger, renowned Accordion Orchestra ‘CHORD’, of Koszalin. The award winning ‘Akordissimo’ has toured in Poland, Europe and China. This festival is a celebration of Polish culture and heritage. Entertainment involving accordion players include The Jolly Zuks Polka Band, Kid Polka, Live Wire, Mosaica Folk Ensemble, Polonia Polish Folk Dance Ensemble (Canada), Doctor Kielbasa, Craig Ebel & DyVersaCo, and the Dolina Polish Folk Dancers. For further information email: information@tcpolishfestival.org |
Erika & Jean-Marie Play for Dancing, Honnelles – Belgiumby Rob Howard |
 On Sunday August 12th, 7pm, ‘la princesse de l'accordéon’ Erika & Jean-Marie play for dancing at Honnelles, Belgium. For further information: 0032(0) 475.20.58.04 |
Lecture Demonstration, Durbanville - South Africaby Rob Howard |
 The Durbanville Music Society presents ‘The Accordion - the past, the present and the future’, presented by accordionist Stasnislav Angelov. This takes place at the Rust-en-viede, Restaurant, Durbanville, on August 13th, 7pm until 8.30pm.Bulgarian-born Stasnislav Angelov has been active in promoting the accordion in South Africa in recent years. For further information email: music@goodmusic.co.za |
Victor Prieto Trio Jazz Concert, New York – USAby Rob Howard |
 The Victor Prieto Trio continue their long running jazz residency at Terraza 7 Live Music, 40-19 Gleane Street, Elmhurst New York, on Thursday August 16th, 9.45pm. With accordionist Victor Prieto for this gig are Scott Robinson - sax, Jorge Roeder – bass, and Clarence Penn – drums. Victor says, “Stop by Terraza 7 and enjoy the music of this powerful and unique project. The night will be full of intensity. I am featuring a different artist at Terraza 7 every month, and it is a pleasure and honor to share my music with them”. For further information email: victorprieto2001@yahoo.com |
7th International Avsenik Music Workshop, Begunje - Sloveniaby Rob Howard |
 |
| The 7th International Avsenik Music Workshop takes place from August 22nd – 24th at 4275 Begunje na Gorenjskem, Begunje, Slovenia. The workshop includes tuition for piano and button accordion, including diatonic instruments, and other instruments. The event is run by the ethnic folk music organisation Zavod Glasbena Šola Avsenik. For further information email: gsa@avsenik.com |
Virginie and Cyril Danrey: DVD filming, Bourgneuf - Franceby Rob Howard |
 The accordion duo Virginie and Cyril Danrey will be filming for a new DVD on Sunday August 26th, from 3pm until 6pm, at the Taverne de l'Arc à Aiton, ZI Arc Isère Rond Point d'Aiton, 73390 Bourgneuf, western France. Free admission. |
New and Updated Sites |
Don Grzanna updated his siteby Donald E Grzanna |
 Don Grzanna updated his site. Video was added to 26 of his music selections available online so you can see and hear the video of the music. |
Gary Dahl New and Updated Music - USAby Gary Dahl |
 Gary Dahl - performer, composer, arranger, recording artist and music educator announces the following new music titles for purchase on-line. 'Clair De Lune', catalog:DH0233. Samples for these music are now available at the MusicForAccordion web site. The music is in eSheet format e-mailed directly to your computer. Easy purchase with credit card. |
Charnwood Publications Releases New Piecesby Charnwood Publishing |
 Charnwood Publications releases 5 new pieces by composer Sue Coppard titled,'Carnival in Napoli', catalog:M680, 'If Only', catalog:M681, 'Lime Daquiri', catalog:M682, 'Lullaby for a Cool Babe in a Hammock', catalog:M683, 'Off to the Ball', catalog:M684. Samples of the music are available online. Purchase with credit card. |
CD Reviews |
Richness of the Tones CD by Esra Pehlivanli (Viola) and Marko Kassl (Accordion)by Joan C. Sommers |
 CD Reviews Index for the Review of Richness of the Tones CD by Esra Pehlivanli (Viola) and Marko Kassl (Accordion), in English language, reviewed by Joan Cochran Sommers. |
Help Desk, Information needed, Readers CommentsSubmit Your Question, CommentSUBMIT NOW |
Generated in 4.148092 / 0.0020057 / 0