Sponsors
Books (Text)
eSheet (pdf file)
eTracks sound files
Sponsors
Free Services
Books (Text)
Statistics
Sponsors
Highlights |
Gwyneth Paltrow Concertina Player, Singer and Actress - USA
2011 International Accordion Championships, Sydney – Australia
Richard Galliano and Yehuda Oppenheimer Meet Again, 45 Years On - Israel
John Nixon (1927-2011), Cheshire – UK
Reports for Concerts, Masterclasses, Competitions, Festivals, etc. |
39th ‘Kleine Tage der Harmonika’, Klingenthal - Germany
Paul Chamberlain’s Latest News, Scotland – UK
‘Focus On Accordion Music’ DVD, Edinburgh – UK
‘14 Years Ago’ – Peter Gerter Visits Austria
Future events |
Omagh St Patrick’s Day Festival, Tyrone – Ireland
Bulgarian Virtuoso Petar Ralchev on Tour – USA, Canada
Martin Lubenov Concerts – Bulgaria, Austria, Switzerland
Accordion Course, Haute Savoie – France
‘AccordDuo’ Record for BBC Radio 2, London – UK
Michigan Irish Music Festival St Pat's Party, Muskegon – USA
Hannah James & Sam Sweeney Concert, Glossop – UK
New and Updated Sites |
Updated Website for Yulia Amerikova
Updated 2011 International Australian Accordion Championships - Australia
CD Reviews |
Help Desk, Information needed, Readers CommentsSubmit Your Question, CommentSUBMIT NOW |
Random video 4UWatch the video |
Highlights |
‘Intocable’ Wins Grammy Award, Los Angeles – USAby Rita Davidson Barnea |
 |
 On February 13th, at the Staples Center, Los Angeles, ‘Intocable’, from Texas, won a 2011 Grammy award for best Norteño album, with the CD ‘Classic’. The Grammy is the recording industry's most prestigious award, honoring achievements in the recording arts and supporting the music community. ‘Intocable’ was formed in the early 1990s by accordionist and lead singer Ricardo Munoz and Rene Martinez, from Zapata, Texas. In a few years, the band rose to the top of the Tejano and Norteño fields, with a diatonic accordion driven sound. In September 2010 the band released their first online exclusive single, ‘Robarte un Beso’, and the video for the single was shot in Monterrey. Their 2011 USA tour includes: March 26th - Pharr, Texas May 6th - Lubbock, Texas May 7th - Odessa, Texas September 16th - El Paso, Texas September 29th - San Manuel, California Their newest CD, ‘Intocable 2011’, their 15th album, will be released on March 22nd, and available online a week before its official release. |
Share
Gwyneth Paltrow Concertina Player, Singer and Actress - USAby Harley Jones |
 Gwyneth Paltrow’s mother, actress Blythe Danner, said Paltrow’s foray into music began in 1995 when she played a concertina for the score of a film she was starring in, ‘Jefferson in Paris’. Developing her music career, Gwyneth Paltrow has just signed a record deal for a debut album with Atlantic Records. The Oscar winning actress gained attention for her musical talent when she sang ‘Coming Home’ at the recent Academy Awards (picture left), which is the title track for her upcoming movie ‘Country Strong’. The new album is reportedly going to be country pop, so hopefully we will hear Gwyneth Paltrow featuring the concertina too. |
2011 International Accordion Championships, Sydney – Australiaby Tania Lukic-Marx |
 |
 As a part of its 2011 International Accordion Championships, June 11th and 12th at the Club Marconi, Sydney, NSW, the Australian Accordion Teachers Association Inc (AATA) now offers a new international competition category for Ensemble Music. Rules online at: www.aata.org.auIn order to keep up with the latest developments and tendencies on the international accordion scene, the AATA now offers this new international class. AATA President is Tania Lukic-Marx (picture right). Major international categories are: • International Open Accordion Championships - 12 years and under solo; • International Open Accordion Championships - 15 years and under solo; • International Junior Virtuoso Accordion Championships - 20 years and under solo; • International Open Accordion Solo Championships. • International Ensemble Music. Daily Reports of past events at: Australian International Championships Competition Entries close on May 1st. Further information and all rules at: www.aata.org.au |
Richard Galliano and Yehuda Oppenheimer Meet Again, 45 Years On - Israelby Holda Paoletti-Kampl |
 |
 In 1966, the CMA Trophée Mondial was held in Valencia, Spain with 16 year old Richard Galliano winning the Junior category. The test piece for this international competition was Ciaccona Variations composed by Yehuda Oppenheimer. 21 January 1966 newspaper scan left.In 1966, Yehuda Oppenheimer was a jury member and remembers well “listening to 18 competitors playing Ciaccona with quite different interpretations”. “When we look at the extraordinary career of internationally recognized artist Richard Galliano since 1966 and the art of Galliano today, the Jury at that time must have surely chosen the right person” says Yehuda Oppenheimer. After 45 years, Richard and Yehuda met again at Galliano's concert in Israel last week, which was part of a six concert tour with the Kibbutz Chamber Orchestra. Pictures were taken (Yehuda is now 86 years old) and they also swapped stories, CD's and music. Two more newspaper scans: cma1966_01.jpg and cma1966_02.jpg Yehuda compositions, arrangements and CD's are online at Yehuda Oppenheimer. Also read 2008 news: “Festival Honors Yehuda Oppenheimer – Israel" http://www.accordions.com/news.aspx?d=04-Jul-2008&lang=en#art2497 |
John Nixon (1927-2011), Cheshire – UKby Rob Howard |
 |
  John Nixon, one of the world’s finest concertina players, died on Saturday, March 5th, aged 84, after a long battle with anemia and heart disease.Born in Bolton, Lancashire, in 1927, John Nixon played in his father’s 24 strong Bolton Concertina Band in the 1930s, and in 1940 made his first solo radio broadcast from BBC Manchester. John became a professional musician in dance bands, using English concertina, clarinet and alto saxophone, and also performed regularly in jazz clubs. John Nixon was widely acknowledged as one of the world's best concertina players, with a great feeling for playing jazz. He spent many years as a session musician, and recorded with the likes of Henry Mancini, Barbara Streisand, Paul McCartney, George Martin, Michel Legrande, and accordionists Frank Marocco, Jack Emblow, Harry Hussey, and Marcel Azzola. His playing can be heard on the soundtracks of such BBC television programmes as ‘Kidnapped’, ‘All Creatures Great and Small’, and ’Allo Allo’, whilst his film credits include ‘Santa Claus the Movie’, ‘Tess’, and ‘The Hound of the Baskervilles’ – to name but a few. In 1984, John played on Paul McCartney’s ‘We All Stand Together’, a Number One chart hit at Christmas. He recalls that the recording session involved him using treble, baritone and bass concertinas, together with The King’s Singers, the junior choir of St Paul’s Cathedral, an orchestra conducted by George Martin, and the legendary ‘Macca’ himself. John remembers Paul McCartney exhorting The King’s Singers to make sounds like frogs, demonstrating animatedly what he wanted! On another occasion, John was in the studio, again with George Martin at the helm, playing alongside French accordionist, Marcel Azzola, recording a film score. During lunch break, with the studio otherwise empty, John and Marcel, plus a keyboard player had an impromptu jam session, playing jazz together. John afterwards wished that someone had recorded them – a lost opportunity, alas. In 2002 John Nixon was elected a Vice President of Stockport Accordion Club, and he was also well known at accordion festivals, performing and leading jazz and swing band workshops. One of his greatest pleasures was to play a couple of impromptu duets with whoever happened to be the guest artiste at Stockport AC concerts, and audiences were thus regularly treated to his magical skills on the concertina. For further information email: robaccord5@hotmail.com |
Reports for Concerts, Masterclasses, Competitions, Festivals, etc. |
Virtuoso Mario Stefano Pietrodarchi Performs in Yerevan - Armeniaby Harley Jones |
 |
| On March 10th, virtuoso accordion player Mario Stefano Pietrodarchi will perform in Yerevan, the capital of Armenia. Pietrodarchi is performing in the concert dedicated to the 90th anniversary of the legendary Astor Piazzolla with Armenia’s State Youth Orchestra, conducted by Sergey Smbatyan and Italian conductor Roberto Molinelli. Pietrodarchi and Armenia’s State Youth Orchestra first performed a concert in Yerevan in March 2010. Mario Stefano Pietrodarchi is a tutor at the Conservatory Vibo Valentia, Italy. |
39th ‘Kleine Tage der Harmonika’, Klingenthal - Germanyby Holda Paoletti-Kampl |
 |
 On February 26th and 27th the 39th ‘Kleine Tage der Harmonika’ took place in Klingenthal with 68 young accordionist competitors from Saxony, Thuringia, Bavaria, and the Czech Republic.The competitions were held in the meeting hall of City Hall and in the Gliersaal. On Saturday the accordion orchestra ‘Hofer Symphoniker’, led by Tom Petzold, performed a concert in the main hall of the bank on the city centre square. The concert offered a wide range of classical works and contemporary music, rewarded by the audience benefit with a long applause. Marie-Luise Kuhn, from the neighboring community Zwota, was awarded first place in Category 3 and also received the Special Prize of the German Accordion Teachers Association as the participant with the highest points. |
 |
Paul Chamberlain’s Latest News, Scotland – UKby Rob Howard |
 Paul Chamberlain, recently reached the keyboard section final of the Royal Overseas League Competition, held in London. This prestigious annual competition brings together the best musicians from the UK, and the Commonwealth.Making a strong impression with the judges, Paul demonstrated the capabilities and potential of the accordion with a program that included pieces by Bach, Nagayev, Angelis and Moszkowski. On February 17th, Paul performed in the world premiere of a composition by Gareth Williams, for mixed chamber ensemble. Entitled ‘Home from Home’, it was commissioned by the Paragon Ensemble for their 30th anniversary concert held in the Centre for Contemporary Arts in Glasgow. The Paragon Ensemble are renowned for their contribution to the generation and promotion of new music, so it was very positive, to see the accordion being included in their latest commission. See the compositions online of Paul Chamberlain. For further information email: paul@theaccordionist.com |
‘Focus On Accordion Music’ DVD, Edinburgh – UKby Rob Howard |
 ‘Focus On Accordion Music’ is a DVD featuring leading Scottish accordionists Jimmy Cassidy, Billy McGuire, Peter Bruce, Donny and Diane's Highland Ceilidh Band, Davie Stewart & His Band, Wayne Robertson, and the Tandem Ceilidh Band. The material is a compilation from previous DVD and video releases, and is in PAL (Region 2) format.The 16 tracks include: Morino Polka / O Donal Abu / Follow My Highland Soldier / The Dashing White Sergeant / Hull's Victory / The Tullamore Piper / Bonnie Banchory / Memories of Grant / Marche des Patineur / Rakes Of Kildare / Nell Flaherty's Drake / A Dram Before You Go / My Native Highland Home / My Own Lass / Hey Ho My Bonnie Lass / Renfrewshire Militia / P/M George Ross' Farewell to the Black Watch / Glenbirnie Rant / The Blackberry Bush / The Rookery / Colonel MacLeod's Reel / Rattle the Cash / Mr Charles Don's Favourite / Johnny Depp In Never-Neverland / Rob and Mary McCombie's Jig / MacGregor of Rora / Jim and Flora Best of Cardross / The Gentle Milkmaid / Merle Siffleur / Loch Lomond / The Rowan Tree / Bonny Gallowa' / The Devils in the Kitchen / Miss Drummond Of Perth / A A Cameron / Clarinet Polka / Farewell To The Tay / Innes King's Jig / Drummond Castle. |
‘14 Years Ago’ – Peter Gerter Visits Austriaby Rob Howard |
 The Accordions Worldwide news on March 14th 1997 featured a report of some concerts given by the still active Peter Gerter, written by Dr Herbert Scheibenreif, one of AWW’s most frequent and reliable contributors. ACCORDION CONCERTS OF PETER GERTER Contributed by Dr Herbert Scheibenreif In the beginning of March Peter Gerter performed four concerts in Bad Schallerbach, Graz, Klagenfurt and Neunkirchen, Austria. While in Klagenfurt he also enjoyed teaching at the conservatory there. His programme consisted of transcriptions for organ, cembalo and piano (works by Vivaldi, Bach, Scarlatti, Schostakovitch, Rubinstein, Daquin) as well as original works for the accordion (Brehme, Olczak, Takahashi, Londonov, Derbenko). Peter Gerter charmed his audience not only with his brilliant technical skills, but also with his great musicianship. Peter Gerter, born in Karaganda (Kasachstan) in 1953, studied with Friedrich Lips and graduated from the Gnessin's Musical Pedagogical Institute in Moscow. After his studies he taught in Wladiwostok where he became a Professor in 1992. Peter Gerter has also won many national and international competitions, including Moscow (1975), Pula (1975) and Klingenthal (1981). Since 1994 he has been living in Neu-Ulm (Germany), where he is currently teaching at the music school. He has also taught at international seminars and taken part in many accordion festivals. He has enjoyed performing in many countries including Russia, Finland, Sweden, Hungary, Austria and Germany where his first CD was released. |
Future events |
Carmen Carrozza's 90th Birthday Celebrations, New York – USAby Rob Howard |
 |
 Carmen Carrozza's 90th birthday will be celebrated when the American Accordionists' Association (AAA) presents the 9th annual ‘Afternoon of Music, Food, and Fun’ at the Magnanini Farm Winery in Wallkill, NY. This takes place on Sunday March 27th, 12 noon until 5pm, to benefit the Carmen Carrozza Scholarship Fund for the advancement of promising young accordionists. Tickets are still available.Carmen Carrozza, born in Calabria, Italy, on July 20th 1921, emigrated to the USA with his family when he was nine years old, settling in Chappaqua, Westchester, NY, where Carmen began studying music, becoming proficient on the violin, piano and accordion. In 1937, Carmen Carrozza graduated from the Pietro Deiro Accordion Conservatory in Greenwich Village, NYC, where he was awarded the highest honors and a gold medal for his performance. He furthered his studies at the New York Academy of Music. Carrozza’s professional debut took place in 1947 at the Philadelphia Academy of Music, and he went on to appear at major concert halls throughout the USA, Canada and Europe. Carrozza was the first accordionist to perform as featured soloist with major symphony orchestras, including The Boston Pops Symphony Orchestra, under Arthur Fiedler, premiering Paul Creston’s ‘Concerto for Accordion and Orchestra’, National Symphony, New York Philharmonic, Cincinnati Orchestra, Buffalo Symphony Orchestra, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, Philadelphia Pops Orchestra, and the US Navy Band. Carrozza considers solo concerts in Town Hall, New York City, as one of the high points in his career, premiering original accordion works - a milestone in the history of the accordion. Throughout the years Carrozza has received numerous awards and honorees from many different organizations, associations and clubs. Carrozza is a Past President and an active governing board member of the AAA. He continues to promote the accordion through educational workshops at schools, universities and private music studios. Carrozza currently resides in the town of Thornwood in Westchester, NY, with his wife Jean and has two grown children and two grandchildren. Much has been written about the unique artistry of concert accordionist, composer, arranger and educator Carmen Carrozza, but one critic summed up he proclaimed, “the violin has its Pagannini, the piano its Chopin – the accordion its Carrozza” - So be it! For further information about Carmen or the AAA Carmen Carrozza Scholarship Fund, email: drjciccone@aol.com |
Omagh St Patrick’s Day Festival, Tyrone – Irelandby Rob Howard |
 The annual St Patrick’s Day Festival, ‘Connecting Cultures’, takes place on Thursday March 17th in Omagh, Co Tyrone, Northern Ireland. The outdoor music concert begins at 1pm in High Street with the Clogherney Scottish dancers, accompanied by Malcolm Cathers on accordion, followed by musicians from Dun Uladh and sean nos dancers, Gillian McElroy and Arlene McCarroll.Malcolm Cathers is a well known teacher of both button and piano accordion, teaching classes at the Dooneen Community Education Centre, Fermanagh BT94 3GW. |
Bulgarian Virtuoso Petar Ralchev on Tour – USA, Canadaby Rob Howard |
 Petar Ralchev is one of Bulgaria's best known and most highly regarded accordionists. He is an artist who is respected for his versatility as a performer, improviser and composer, and has remained at the forefront of the Bulgarian folk music scene for more than three decades.The Petar Ralchev Quartet will be touring the US from April-June 2011, and details are as follows: April 21st - Serendipity Martiny Bar, Bloomington, Indiana April 22nd - ‘Mehanata’ Restaurant, Chicago, Illinois April 27th/28th - Old Town School of Folk Music, Chicago April 29th - Hungarian House, New York City April 30th, 2 until 3.30pm - master class, NYC May 1st - Center Madara, Boston, MA May 3rd - Drom/East Village Music Club, New York May 7th – Igranka, Toronto, Canada May 8th – Zornica, Montreal May 11th - Crossroads Music, Philadelphia, PA, USA May 12th - Mockingbird Restaurant, Staunton, Virginia May 13th - Serbian Club, Pittsburgh, PA May 14th - Bulgarian Association, Washington DC May 15th - Folk Dance Center, San Diego, California May 21st - Cafe Aman, Los Angeles, CA May 25th - Ashkenaz Music & Dance Community Center, Berkeley, CA May 27th - Subterranean Art House, Berkeley, CA May 28th - Ss Cyril & Methodius Festival, Croatian American Cultural Center, San Francisco, CA May 31st - Eugene, Oregon June 1st – Portland, OR June 3rd - Balkan Dancers, Russian Cultural Center, Seattle, WA June 4th - Vancouver, BC, Canada For further information email: svetolaur@yahoo.com. |
Martin Lubenov Concerts – Bulgaria, Austria, Switzerlandby Holda Paoletti-Kampl |
 Martin Lubenov is touring to:31 March, Andelsbuch (A), Kulturverein Bahnhof, Martin Lubenov's Jazzta Prasta 01 April, Klosters (CH), Kulturschuppen Klosters, Martin Lubenov's Jazzta Prasta 02 April, Uster (CH), Jazzclub Uster, Martin Lubenov's Jazzta Prasta Further information on the Martin Lubenov website. |
Accordion Course, Haute Savoie – Franceby Rob Howard |
 An accordion course led by Jean-Louis Noton, Matthieu Chaussalet, Jean-Pierre Andréani and Sylvie Bossi takes place from July 10th to 17th at the Hotel de la Poste, Haute Savoie, France.For further information email: jl.noton@wanadoo.fr |
‘AccordDuo’ Record for BBC Radio 2, London – UKby Rob Howard |
 |
 ‘AccordDuo’ – accordionists Zivorad Nikolic and Milos Miliojevic - will be recording for BBC 2 Radio next Tuesday March 15th as part of the long running weekly program ‘Friday Night is Music Night’, to be broadcast in May 2011. Music to be played includes compositions by Viatcheslav Semionov, Franck Angelis, Precz and Piazzolla. The producer is Neil Varley, accordionist and former student of Professor Owen Murray. More information about the program is on the BBC website. |
Michigan Irish Music Festival St Pat's Party, Muskegon – USAby Rob Howard |
 The Michigan Irish Music Festival? are organizing a St. Pat's Party on March 11th and 12th at the Fricano Event Center in Muskegon. There will be music and dancing, and The Kreellers, featuring Paul Bruno on accordion, and singer/comedian Scott Sheldon perform on both nights. |
Hannah James & Sam Sweeney Concert, Glossop – UKby Rob Howard |
 The accordion/fiddle duo Hannah James and Sam Sweeney are the guests at the ‘Goblins in the Ginnel’ folk club at The Globe, Glossop, Derbyshire SK3 8HJ, on Saturday March 19th, 8.15pm. The organizer is Sara Kirkham, and all profits go to the Willow Wood Hospice.For further information email: bowsnarrows22@hotmail.com |
New and Updated Sites |
NZAA Website Updates for 2011 Championships & Festival and 40th Anniversaryby Heather Masefield |
 New Zealand Accordion Association (NZAA) Website Updates for 2011 Championships & Festival and NZAA 40th Anniversary Celebration Plans. Earlybird specials online for those booking early. |
Updated Website for Yulia Amerikovaby Yulia Amerikova |
 Updated Yulia Amerikova website with new photos and text. |
Updated 2011 International Australian Accordion Championships - Australiaby Tania Lukic-Marx |
 Updated site. A new international competition category for Ensemble Music for the 2011 International Accordion Championships, June 11th and 12th. Rules online at: www.aata.org.au |
CD Reviews |
Tango CD by “Lo Que Vendrà” Ensembleby Alessandro Mugnoz |
 CD Reviews Index for the Review of “Tango” CD, reviewed by Alessandro Mugnoz. Performers are “Lo Que Vendrà” with Simone Marini on bandoneon. |
Help Desk, Information needed, Readers CommentsSubmit Your Question, CommentSUBMIT NOW |
Generated in 5.7031326 / 0.0010303 / 0