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2011 Championships & Festival and NZAA 40th Anniversary Celebrationby Heather Masefield |
The 40th Anniversary was a weekend full of excellent music and competitions. South Pacific Daily Reports including results and photographs are online. A Highlight was an amazing concert of concert music and entertainment music by 5 times World Accordion Champion Grayson Masefield (picture left) on Saturday afternoon with extended standing ovations. The competitions before that and on Sunday morning were exciting with the South Pacific Solo Championships living up to its promise of being a close competition. Three fine competitors performed with the results being Campbell Thwaites (picture left, middle) 1st one mark ahead of 2010 Champion Edward Giffney (picture left lower) with Bor-Kuan Song 3rd. A large contingent from AATA Sydney participated in the event and had a most successful competitions, sure to be good preparation for the AATA Competitions the next weekend. The Finale Concert featuring competition winners and a number of other fine performances including the 40th Anniversary Accordion Orchestra conducted by Gary Daverne (picture below), Maurice Jones, Lionel Reekie, Kevin Friedrich and the competition winners. The presentation of previous NZ and South Pacific Accordion Solo Champions, Champion Accordion Orchestra conductors and Life Members was a very nice feature to thank them for all they had done for the accordion in NZ. The event finished off with a Farewell Dinner in Honor of John Statham and the 28 years he was NZAA President. Photos below are the 40th Anniversary Accordion Orchestra conducted by Gary Daverne performing YMCA with junior orchestra members dancing the actions. South Pacific Daily Reports including results and photographs are online. |