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Highlights |
Friedrich Lips and Radomir Tomic Masterclass - Serbia
Reprinted: Friedrich Lips Book The Art of Accordion Playing - Germany
Agora International Summer Academy - Switzerland
Mollie B to be Inducted to the 2022 Minnesota Music Hall of Fame - USA
Postponed: New Date for Guardia Nueva 20th Jubilee Concert at Kokkola Ice Rink – Finland
Reports for Concerts, Masterclasses, Competitions, Festivals, etc. |
All-Russian Forum of Young Cultural Workers “Youth, Creation, Mastery”, Khanty-Mansiysk - Russia
Video: Matthias Matzke Performs “Pokemon” Games Music - Germany
2022 Elsie M. Bennett Composition Competition Information - USA
Cancelled: Fairbridge Festival - Australia
Leo Aquino Passes Away - Canada
Future events |
Online: Kickstart Accordion Weekend - UK
Online: Valentine’s Concert of “Love Songs” – USA
Vojtech Szabó Performs Jazz Concert - Czech Republic
Benjamin Durafour Entertains at Newswing - France
Bridge and Wolak February & March Tour Dates - USA
Davide Vendramin Accompanies Orchestras – Italy
Orchestre Didier Laurent Concert Tour - France
Danny O'Mahony Performs with Steve Cooney - Ireland
Sofia Ros Performs with Irving Symphony Orchestra, Texas - USA
Childrens Corner |
New and Updated Sites |
Updated Site: Accordion Russia News
Help Desk, Information needed, Readers CommentsSubmit Your Question, CommentSUBMIT NOW |
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Highlights |
Postponed: World Music Festival New 2025 Dates - Germanyby Georg Hettmann |
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 The German Harmonica Association (DHV) had postponed the 14th World Music Festival planned for this year to 2023 due to the pandemic. The ongoing corona pandemic still poses considerable rehearsal and performance challenges for our clubs and orchestras.Therefore the 14th World Music Festival will now take place from May 29th to June 1st, 2025 in Innsbruck. Further new dates: For the first time on Ascension Day, the Accordion Music Prize (AMP) will take place in Ettlingen from May 9th to 12th, 2024. This enables musicians from federal states in which Corpus Christi is not a public holiday to participate in the AMP. Please make a note of these two dates now. For further details email: info@dhv-ev.de |
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Friedrich Lips and Radomir Tomic Masterclass - Serbiaby Dusan Markovic |
 At the end of last year, Professor Friedrich Lips held a masterclass in Kragujevac, Serbia. The master class was jointly organized by the Faculty of Philology and Arts (FILUM) in Kragujevac and the Ad Libitum Music Centre. It was a unique opportunity and privilege for accordionists from Serbia to work with tutors Prof Friedrich Lips (Moscow) and Radomir Tomic (Serbia). Interested professors, teachers and students were happy to take advantage of this educational opportunity. |
Reprinted: Friedrich Lips Book The Art of Accordion Playing - Germanyby Harley Jones |
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 Catalog: kslips00 This high quality reprint "must have" book that every teacher, enthusiast and student will cherish is now released. The Art of Accordion Playing by Prof. Friedrich Lips is one of the most popular educational books for accordion with its focus being: Technique, Interpretation and Performance of Playing the Accordion Artistically. The high-quality content now corresponds to the outward appearance of the book: four color printing on high quality hard cover in exclusive design with lamination and paper binding with long lasting thread-stitching. Printed on chlorine-free, bleached, acid-free, stable and age resistant, high quality, matte, non-reflective paper for fatigue-free reading uses a high quality paper made in Germany. The major technical difference of the new print run comparing to the old one is the cover, paper quality and the binding: high quality hard cover with lamination now instead of plain softcover previously and thread-stitching instead of simple glueing. The book is great value at Euro 29, Catalog kslips00 the same price as the older lower quality print version. |
Agora International Summer Academy - Switzerlandby Heather Masefield |
 The Agora Association, founded by Marie-Andrée Joerger, Vincent Lhermet and Sylvain Tissot will hold an International Summer Academy at the "Gartenhaus" in Adelboden, Switzerland from July 24th to 30th, 2022. The association aims to promote the accordion and participate in its dissemination on an international level, including the organization of masterclasses, concerts, seminars and other pedagogical projects. This course is open to accordionists of all ages, and is suitable for all levels of ability (from beginners to professional level), and many different musical styles. The languages of instruction are English, French and German. The course will include individual tuition twice daily, group tuition, workshops and a “Final Concert” on July 29th at 8pm. Course tutor Raimondas Sviackevicius (Lithuania - picture below) will give a solo recital on July 26th at 8pm in the Adelboden Reformed Church. His program will include Lithuanian works by Ramunas Motiekaitis, Osvaldas Balakauskas, Vytautas Germanavicius, Diana Cemeryte and Zibuokle Martinaityte. Applications close on May 30th, 2022. Download the Agora Festival brochure here: 2022Agora.pdf |
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Mollie B to be Inducted to the 2022 Minnesota Music Hall of Fame - USAby Rita Davidson Barnea, Editor USA Accordion News |
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| Mollie B (Mollie Busta Lange) is a 2021 inductee to the Minnesota Music Hall of Fame. The induction ceremony will take place in New Ulm, Minnesota, USA on April 22nd, 2022. Mollie has dedicated much of her life to music between practice; traveling and performing in many ensembles; hosting the “Mollie B Polka Party” TV show; co-hosting the “Mollie B Polka Party” radio show with her husband Ted Lange; hosting the PBS documentary, “Polka;” teaching students of many ages; promoting events, musicians, and recordings; arranging music; composing; appearing and performing an original composition and dancing with Clint Eastwood in the Warner Brothers movie, “The Mule”: and recently creating over 75 videos and over 65, 90-minute variety shows on Youtube.com/mollieb with Ted Lange, which are still being produced on a weekly basis. For more information email: bustamollie@yahoo.com |
Postponed: New Date for Guardia Nueva 20th Jubilee Concert at Kokkola Ice Rink – Finlandby Christine Johnstone |
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| The next concert in the Guardia Nueva 20th Jubilee series which was due to be held at the Kokkola Ice Rink in Finland on February 19th, 2022 has been postponed. The new date for this event is: May 21st, 2022. One concert will still go ahead on February 18th. On that day the premiere of a new accordion concerto composed by Minns Leinonen will be broadcast by YLE Finnish Radio 1 live. At their May concert, Guardia Nueva, directed by Raimo Vertainen will perform arrangements for the orchestra with soloists Jarkko Ahola, Arja Koriseva, Jennie Storbacka and Teemu Roivainen. Their program will also include Finnish music, tangos, Argentine music and film music. |
Reports for Concerts, Masterclasses, Competitions, Festivals, etc. |
Online: Daruvar Accordion Award International Competition - Croatiaby Christine Johnstone |
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| The online Daruvar Accordion Award International Competition will be held on May 14th, 2022, organised by the Harmonikaški Centar (Croatian Accordion Centre). This year’s event has expanded from being a state level competition in the past, to an international competition for the accordion entitled "Daruvar Accordion Award". Competition classes will be available for soloists and chamber groups in a variety of age categories. The highest rated first prize soloist within categories D, E and F will be awarded the Main Award of the competition: three concerts in Croatia during summer 2022, with paid travel expenses and accommodation. Jury members include Belma Šarancic, Nemanja Potparic and Mateja Zenzerovic. Download competition rules here: 2022DaruvarRules.pdf |
All-Russian Forum of Young Cultural Workers “Youth, Creation, Mastery”, Khanty-Mansiysk - Russiaby Ivan Dyma, SaxAkkord Duo |
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| The Open All-Russian Forum of Young Cultural Workers “Youth, Creation, Mastery” will be held in Khanty-Mansiysk at the Ugra-Classic Concert and Theater Center and the Arts Center for Gifted Children of the North from April 11th to 16th, 2022. The Forum program provides for group and individual master classes on all types of musical instruments; round tables on art education, concert performance and the development of educational programs for gifted children; creative meetings with artists and teachers; individual and group consultations with Forum participants; as well as concerts and creative meetings. The program of the forum will include the Russian competition of young concert performers in the age categories from 12 to 17 and from 18 to 26 years old in the following categories: wood and brass wind instruments, piano, and folk instruments. The Forum is organised by the Regional public organization "Philharmonic Society of Yugra" (Surgut), with the support of the Department of Culture of the Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous Okrug - Yugra and AU "Concert and Theater Center "Ugra-Classic" (Khanty-Mansiysk). Applications close on February 19th, 2022. Download competition rules here: 2022RussianForumRules.pdf |
Video: Matthias Matzke Performs “Pokemon” Games Music - Germanyby Christine Johnstone |
| Video: Matthias Matzke performs Junichi Masuda's "Gym Leader Battle" out of the first generation of Pokémon Games for GameBoy with his brother Fabian Matzke on drums, guitar & bass. The Stage in the background is the Pokémon Stadium2 from "Super Smash Bros Ultimate" and was captured by screen recording. |
2022 Elsie M. Bennett Composition Competition Information - USAby Mary Tokarski |
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 2022 Competition Information, Awards, Regulations and Entry Form at: 2022Bennett.pdfElsie Bennett initiated the AAA Composers’ Commissioning Committee in 1954 with Elsie serving as its Chair. Elsie held this post for 51 years, achieving the amazing feat of having commissioned 33 composers who composed 55 works collectively. Elise only retired as Chair a short time before her passing in 2005. Memorial for Elsie M. Bennett. Entries are welcome from all countries. Entry closing date is June 01, 2022 to Mary Tokarski, Competition Chairperson. Winners will be notified by email on or about July 01, 2022. |
Cancelled: Fairbridge Festival - Australiaby Christine Johnstone |
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 FolkWorld Inc. has made the difficult decision to cancel the Fairbridge Festival 2022 which was due to be held in April. “The team has been trying to find solutions to the multitude of challenges that we (and our colleagues in the music and events industry) are currently facing due to COVID-19, but there are just too many uncertainties for us to confidently and safely proceed with an event of this magnitude, at this time.”Organisers say their “hearts are heavy, but our passion remains the same – to unite and bring people together, create unique experiences and memories, as well as support a thriving music and arts scene. With every challenge comes growth; and we are working tirelessly behind the scenes to find creative new ways for us to all come together soon.” All tickets purchased will be automatically refunded.For further information email: hello@fairbridgefestival.com.au |
Leo Aquino Passes Away - Canadaby Rita Davidson Barnea |
 Video: Leo Aquino performing "Gitanerias" by Cuban composer Ernesto Lecouna. Transcription by Galla Rini.Accordions Worldwide is sad to report that Leo Aquino passed away at the age of 91 in February 2022. Excerpts from BC Entertainment Hall of Fame: “Leo has been hailed by music critics and accordion enthusiasts as one of the finest concert accordion artists in the world. His talent was so enduring that recordings made on his Scandinavian tour in 1959 are still aired in radio broadcasts in Norway, Denmark, and Sweden! In 1978, Leo received rave reviews for his performances in a solo concert tour in the Soviet Union. He has appeared on radio and TV in the U.S., Canada, England, and Scandinavia. With his feather-light touch & perfect but powerful technique, he offered his audience an uplifting and inspiring musical experience whenever & wherever he performed.” “His concert tours included transcriptions of piano, violin, and orchestra works of Bach, Handel, Wagner, Debussy, Mendelssohn, Liszt, Rachmaninoff, and others. His concerts were always greeted with standing ovations from the audiences. In 1991, Leo toured the United States, giving performances for accordion clubs and festivals in several major cities.” “In 1995, Leo sat in the Opera Orchestra for Pavarotti’s Concert at GM Place, in Vancouver, and played the Introduction to the last piece in the program…18,000 people attended the concert. Leo lived in Vancouver, BC, playing occasional gigs and continuing to impress listeners with his outstanding musical skills. Leo performed at the Las Vegas International Accordion Convention in 2007.” “Leo Aquino was one of a select few accordionists chosen to study with the great musical educator, Alf Carlson as a student in 1940. The instruction was very intense...5 days a week for 6 months & included rigorous written exams. The others in this exceptional group were Joe Morelli, Horace Lazzari, Len Holland, Ernie Rilling, & Irvin Lang.” Leo Aquino will be sadly missed. |
Future events |
Ville Hiltula Performs with Pianist Asako Yada - Japanby Christine Johnstone |
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| Ville Hiltula (bandoneon) will perform a concert with Asako Yada (piano) at the Amadeus Classic Salon in Motomachi, Kobe, Japan on February 13th, 2022 at 2pm. Their program will include a variety of tango styles such as Piazzolla works, classic tango, modern tango, and two original songs. Tickets are limited. For details email: villehiltula@gmail.com |
Online: Kickstart Accordion Weekend - UKby Christine Johnstone |
 Ian Lowthian will hold his first 2022 online event entitled “Kickstart Accordion Weekend” from February 12th to 13th.The event is designed for "those of you who have resolved to do a bit more playing this year. Some slightly easier tunes and a few bits of technique advice". This Zoom weekend will run from 10am to 5pm on Saturday and 10am to 12.30pm on Sunday. Attendees will have time to practise on their own during the event. For details email: ianlowthian@yahoo.co.uk |
Online: Valentine’s Concert of “Love Songs” – USAby Christine Johnstone |
 Accordionist Daddy Squeeze (Dan Newton) will entertain with an online Valentine’s Day concert entitled “Love Songs” on February 14th from 12 noon.Dan entertains regularly in Minnesota as a soloist and with his group Cafe Accordion Orchestra. For details email: daddysqueezenewton@gmail.com |
Vojtech Szabó Performs Jazz Concert - Czech Republicby Christine Johnstone |
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| Video: Short clips of music by Vojtech Szabó. Accordionist Vojtech Szabó will perform a Jazz Concert at the House of Professionals in Prague, Czech Republic on February 15th, 2022 at 7pm. Vojtech will perform his own compositions, movie tunes, jazz and works by Piazzolla. Guest musicians include some of his pupils and Pavla Sporcla (violin). For details email: office@pavelsporcl.com |
Benjamin Durafour Entertains at Newswing - Franceby Christine Johnstone |
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| Accordionist Benjamin Durafour will entertains at Newswing La Dansant Restaurant in Verze, France on February 17th from 2.30pm. The venue features a disco style dance floor. For details email: le.new.swing@wanadoo.fr |
Bridge and Wolak February & March Tour Dates - USAby Rita Davidson Barnea, Editor USA Accordion News |
 Video: Bach/Rachmaninoff: “Partita in E Major, BWV 1006” CBC MusicClarinettist Kornel Wolak and accordionist Michael Bridge (Double-Double Duo) play a transcription of Sergei Rachmaninoff's arrangement of Bach's “Violin Partita No. 3 in E Major, BWV 1006”: Prelude, Gavotte, Gigue. Recorded at the Church of the Holy Trinity in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Comedy duo Michael Bridge (accordion) and Kornel Wolak (clarinet) will tour the USA beginning on February 17th, 2022. They will perform their own uniquely re-imagined repertoire of classical, world and jazz fusion. Performance dates: • February 17th at 7.30pm: Borrego Springs Performing Arts Center organised by the Borrego Springs Community Concert Association. • February 23rd at 7.30pm: College of Southern Idaho, Twin Falls, Idaho • February 24th at 7.30pm: Carthage College, Kenosha, Wisconsin • February 25th at 7.30pm: LuCille Tack Center for the Arts, Spencer, Wisconsin • February 27th at 7pm: Stroede Center for the Arts, Defiance, Ohio • March 4th at 7.30pm: Rose Center For The Arts as part of the Longview-Kelso Community Concerts • March 6th at 7pm: Wenatchee High School, Washington For details email: michael@michaelbridgemusic.com |
Davide Vendramin Accompanies Orchestras – Italyby Christine Johnstone |
 Davide Vendramin (bandoneon) will perform concerts in Italy this month accompanied by orchestras as follows:• February 19th and 20th: Concert at the Teatro del Giglio di Lucca with the Orchestra LaCorelli conducted by Jacopo Rivani. Their program will feature “Maria de Buenos Aires” by Piazzolla. • February 24th: Concert at the Auditorium Rai di Torino with the Orchestra Sinfonica Nazionale della Rai conducted by Roberto Polastri. Their program will feature works by Berio & Weill. For details email: davide@davidevendramin.it |
Orchestre Didier Laurent Concert Tour - Franceby Christine Johnstone |
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| Video: Medley Féte de Pampelonne 2019 The Orchestre Didier Laurent will embark on a concert tour of France entitled “Back to the Future”. The tour will begin on February 19th and run through to April 30th, 2022. See poster for details. |
Danny O'Mahony Performs with Steve Cooney - Irelandby Christine Johnstone |
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| Accordionist Danny O’Mahony will join Steve Cooney on the Siamsa Tíre stage in Tralee, Co Kerry, Ireland on February 25th, 2022 at 8pm. “This concert promises to be one of the highlights of the traditional music calendar 2022 and a wonderful night of story and music is promised. For further details phone: 066-7123055 |
Sofia Ros Performs with Irving Symphony Orchestra, Texas - USAby Christine Johnstone |
 Sofia Ros (Spain) will perform in concert with the Irving Symphony Orchestra conducted by Hector Guzmán at the Irving Arts Centre in Irving, Dallas, Texas, USA on February 26th, 2022.The concert, entitled “Musical Treasures from the World” will include a world premiere by Irving Symphony Orchestra’s SMU composer in residence as well as music from Argentina, Armenia, Mexico, Ireland, Italy, Germany, and Hungary. For details phone: 972-252-2787 |
Childrens Corner |
Young Accordionists in Children's Palace - North Koreaby Christine Johnstone |
| This group of young players are performing a selection of tunes at the Pyongyang School Children's Palace in Pyongyang, North Korea. |
New and Updated Sites |
Updated Composers Guide to the Piano Accordion on the AAA Siteby Dr. Robert Young McMahan |
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 Cover, Composers Guide to the Piano AccordionThe updated and expanded “Composers Guide to the Piano Accordion,” by Prof. Robert Young McMahan is a free download on the AAA site at: http://www.ameraccord.com/commissions/ComposersGuide.pdfThe guide is to help accordionists encourage composers who may not play the accordion, to compose for our favourite instrument. A shorter version of the guide was published in 2016 in the 4th edition of the widely used textbook The Study of Orchestration, by Samuel Adler. |
Updated Site: Accordion Russia Newsby Christine Johnstone |
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| The Accordion Russia News has been updated with new additional articles. |
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