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Highlights |
Accordion House Concert - Croatia
Impact of Coronavirus on Stas Venglevski 5 Concerts - USA
Nelson Conceição Nominated at International Portuguese Music Awards - Portugal & USA
30th AAMS Festival March 6th & 7th, New Jersey - USA
Marta Cubas Hondal Wins 2nd Prize in the TVE1 “Prodigios” Competition – Spain
Successful Accordion Band Workshop, Stockport – UK
Reports for Concerts, Masterclasses, Competitions, Festivals, etc. |
Romano Viazzani Ensemble CD ‘London Tango’, London – UK
Frank Mucedola Accordion School Receives 2020 Best of Auburn Award - USA
Accordion Noir Virtual Concert – Canada
Emma Wollum, Humorous YouTube video - Watch the Throne - New Zealand
Future events |
Postponed Events, Country Alphabetical Order
Online Bal Folk Party with Accordionist Rachel Bell
Traditional Hungarian Folk Music with Vardos Trio - Australia
Accordionist to Run Marathon Playing the Accordion - England
80th ATG Festival Hoping to Go Ahead in Los Angeles - USA
Hudson Valley Accordion Ensemble Concerts, New York - USA
2020 3rd Annual San Diego Accordion Camp New Date - USA
2021 Accademia del Ridotto Stradella International Music Competition – Italy
New and Updated Sites |
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Highlights |
Editors Note:by Christine Johnstone |
 This week we are happy to bring you good news of upcoming accordion events, competition/festival reviews as well as unfortunate event cancellations and postponements happening throughout the world, due to the Covid-19 coronavirus.At this time it is really important to remain positive and to keep you motivated to practise and enjoy your accordion. While governments around the world are closing their borders and imposing travel restrictions etc., accordionists are busy implementing alternative ways to get their music to the public via the internet i.e. video, social media, live streaming, Skype etc. Our Weekly News will let you know about these activities so please email us at: cjmusic@outlook.co.nz with information on your event. At this challenging time, using the internet from the safety and comfort of your own home, you can continue to enjoy our beloved instrument. We wish you fun with your accordion, from the team at Accordions Worldwide |
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Accordion House Concert - Croatiaby Christine Johnstone |
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 Martina Jembrisak has announced that unfortunately all her concerts for March and April 2020 have been cancelled. Therefore she will hold a House Concert on March 29th at 7pm for all friends and music lovers. The virtual performance will be live streamed from her home in Zagreb, Croatia. The concert will include the pre-premiere of a piece entitled "Les Couleurs de mon Ame" written by young composer Marianna Filippi. Martina would also like to "invite other musicians to join this initiative and make a livestream of their house concert so together we can fill these hard days with music!" For details email: jembrisakmartina@gmail.com |
Impact of Coronavirus on Stas Venglevski 5 Concerts - USAby Dan Grauman |
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 Video 1: Summer Sunshine composed by Stas Venglevski. Sheet music available online, catalog: vstas056Video 2: Scarlatti Sonata in CM and Sonata in Cm Video 3: Felice & Boudleaux Bryant Musicians are among the hardest hit by the effects of the Corona virus. The cancellation of all forms of entertainment at venues ranging in size from large concert halls and opera houses to restaurants and bars results in a major loss of income. Add to that students canceling their in person lessons so all that remains is online lessons. I recently booked five concerts in five days in the Washington, DC/Maryland/Virginia Metropolitan Area for renowned performer Stas Venglevski. The day Stas arrived, the new guidelines were announced by the Government limiting gatherings in any one space to no more than 25 people and the cancellations started coming in one at a time. By the third day, all five concerts were canceled. Flying home earlier was not an option, as the airlines were unwilling to bend the rules, in spite of the fact that many flights were less than half full. I asked Stas about an impromptu house concert. He was fine with the idea, so I quickly put together an invitation and circulated it among a few neighbors, family members, and friends. Many said that they did not want to risk it, so we wound up with a small but very appreciative audience of four! Stas played a beautiful concert with a nice variety of musical styles, including classical, gypsy jazz, Cajun, American country, Moldovan, and more, as well as several original compositions. If you regulations allow and you have the opportunity to host a house concert, keeping in mind all the recommended precautions, you could be of great help to a musician during this difficult time. |
Nelson Conceição Nominated at International Portuguese Music Awards - Portugal & USAby Christine Johnstone |
 Algarvian accordionist Nelson Conceição (picture left) received a double nomination for the International Portuguese Music Awards (IPMA) 2020. Winners will be announced on April 25th, at the Zeiterion Theatre in New Bedford, Massachusetts (USA).Nelson Conceição was nominated in two categories: "Best Instrumental Performance" with the theme Mister Machado and "Best Traditional Performance" with Charolesca. The two themes are part of the CD Descobrindo-me, released last year. The 2020 International Portuguese Music Awards include 13 categories with nominees from eight different countries. |
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30th AAMS Festival March 6th & 7th, New Jersey - USAby Rita Davidson Barnea, Editor USA Accordion News |
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  The 30th AAMS Festival was held on March 6th & 7th in Cherry Hill, NJ. It was a whirlwind of accordion music, workshops, meeting new and old friends, accordion orchestras, solos and more. During the festival there were workshops and two festival orchestras which were directed by guest conductors Dee Langley and festival honoree Joan C. Sommers (picture left). Joanna Arnold Darrow directed the Westmont Philharmonia Accordion Orchestra. A report and pictures is online at: 2020AAMS Picture below: AAA President Dr. Joseph A. Ciccone, Prof. Joan C. Sommers, AAMS Festival Director Joanna Arnold Darrow, ATG President Joe Natoli. |
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Marta Cubas Hondal Wins 2nd Prize in the TVE1 “Prodigios” Competition – Spainby Christine Johnstone |
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 16 year old accordionist, Marta Cubas Hondal won 2nd prize in the TVE1 “Prodigios” Competition from 200 candidates. The final 9 were chosen to perform on television where they played 4 rounds accompanied by the Castilla y León Symphony Orchestra. Marta performed Tango pour Claude (Galliano), Libertango (Piazzolla), Vals de Amelie (Tiersen) and Oblivion (Piazzolla), in arrangements by her teacher Gorka Hermosa.The TV show had an audience of nearly 2 million viewers each week. The jury was formed by well known Spanish artists of today: soprano Ainhoa Arteta, conductor Andrés Salado and the National Prize of Classical Dance winner, Nacho Duato. Marta Cubas Hondal began her musical studies at the age of 6 at the “Jesús de Monasterio” Conservatory in Santander, specializing in piano with Laura Perez Fontecha, in 2013 she began to study the accordion with Gorka Hermosa, combining both instruments. Since then she has accumulated numerous national and international awards including Spanish Intercentros Competition (for all the instrumentist of all Spanish Conservatories), 1st prize in Arrasate National Senior competition (where she also won in previous years 1st prize in Junior, Children and Chamber Music categories), 2nd prize in CMA and other 1st prizes at competitions in Mons, Torrelavega, Arrasate (children, junior and chamber music), Cuenca, Lleida, 4th prize in Castelfidardo. |
Successful Accordion Band Workshop, Stockport – UKby Rob Howard |
 On March 14th, the Stockport Accordion Club held an accordion band workshop at Woodley Methodist Church, led by visiting teacher Bert Santilly (picture left). This proved to be a superb and most enjoyable event in which Bert Santilly guided the participants with skill and patience through four contrasting pieces. He shared his great musical knowledge and expertise, and all present learned a lot during the course of the day. After lunch Bert performed a short concert which included some songs from his wife Helen. The refreshments were plentiful and much enjoyed, including some of Marj Howard's super cakes. The day finished with a performance of all four pieces for the audience, which included Stockport AC President Pearl Fawcett-Adriano and North Staffs AC President Steve Hughes. The four workshop pieces were 'A Man and a Woman' (Francis Lai), 'Roses d'Automne' (a French café waltz composed by Jean Peyronnin), 'Tom Hark' (a notable hit record in the late 1950s from South African band Elias and His Zig-Zag Jive Flutes), and 'Tates Freilach' (a klezmer piece composed by Joachim Johow, and played at a frantic pace). Tony Britton, a participant from the North Staffs AC afterwards aptly commented “The workshop was a perfect balance of tuition, pieces, venue, and hospitality. I'm so glad that a couple of us from North Staffs accepted the invite to join in. Many thanks”. Bert Santilly, from Cambridge, is well known for his performances and for leading jazz accordion and busking workshops at the Caister, Seacroft and other accordion festivals. |
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Reports for Concerts, Masterclasses, Competitions, Festivals, etc. |
Cory Pesaturo & Leah Zeger Create an Album in 3 Hours - USAby Christine Johnstone |
| Cory Pesaturo and violinist/vocalist Leah Zeger felt they could create an albums worth of music in a 3 hour recording session. The video above includes snippets (many comedic) of how it came together; rehearsals were nothing but a few sentences, talking form and key, and even tune choices, were nothing but simple discussions. Incredibly - they did it!! Cory thanks Stevie Blackie for his incredible studio work! Recorded in LA in 2020. |
Romano Viazzani Ensemble CD ‘London Tango’, London – UKby Rob Howard |
 ‘London Tango’ is a much awaited debut album by the Romano Viazzani Ensemble. This superb recording – described in its publicity as “Argentine tango with a London twist” – features the considerable combined talents of Romano Viazzani (accordion), John Bailey (piano), Barbara Dziewiecka–Data (violin), Nick Pini (double bass), Jonathan Preiss (electric guitar), and vocalists Joanna Strand and Jacqui Tate.The publicity says: “Superb performances by world class musicians and singers from the worlds of Jazz, Classical, Latin-American and the West End Theatre. All the fire and passion of Argentine tango but with an infusion of London added to the mix. Eight new compositions and some classic Argentine, European tangos too, with a good dose of Astor Piazzolla make this an irresistible album for any collector”. This CD has excellent sound quality, enabling the various band members to be heard with exceptional clarity. Tracks: ‘London Tango’ (Ballet, Romano Viazzani), ‘The Tango Underground’ (R. Viazzani), ‘Libertango’ (Astor Piazzolla -Transcr/arr. John Bailey), ‘Chiquilin de Bachin’ (A. Piazzolla -arr. Jonathan Preiss), ‘Swing A Left Off Waltz Street To Tango Gardens Please Cabby’ (Tango-Waltz, R. Viazzani), ‘Jorge’ (Mario Fulgoni), ‘Yo Soy Maria’ (A. Piazzolla), ‘Canaro en Paris’ (Juan Scarpino/Alejandro Caldarella), ‘Barimar A Londra’ (Barimar/R. Viazzani), ‘Nature Boy’ (Ballet, Eden Abhez – arr. R. Viazzani), ‘Tango Italiano’ (Bruno Pallesi / Luciano Beretta / Walter Malgoni), ‘Scherzo’ (Mario Fulgoni), ‘Escualo’ (A. Piazzolla), ‘Getaway Car’ (R. Viazzani), ‘Terminal Tango’ (R. Viazzani). For further information email: romanoviazzani@hotmail.co.uk |
Frank Mucedola Accordion School Receives 2020 Best of Auburn Award - USAby Rob Howard |
 The Frank Mucedola Accordion School in Auburn, NY has been selected for the 2020 Best of Auburn Award in the Music Instructor category by the Auburn Award Program.Each year, the Auburn Award Program identifies companies that they believe have achieved exceptional marketing success in their local community and business category. These are local companies that enhance the positive image of small business through service to their customers and community. These exceptional companies help make the Auburn area a great place to live, work and play. Various sources of information were gathered and analyzed to choose the winners in each category. The 2020 Auburn Award Program focuses on quality, not quantity. Winners are determined based on the information gathered both internally by the Auburn Award Program and data provided by third parties. |
Accordion Noir Virtual Concert – Canadaby Harley Jones |
 The Accordion Noir radio show (Bruce Triggs and Rowan Lipkovit) from Vancouver, Canada are looking at curating an Accordion Noir virtual concert (perhaps the first in a series), collecting live video streams of accordion performances by gigging musicians suffering from event cancellations. If you are interested in participating, or have strong feelings or good insights into the best technologies for getting the performances to the home audience please get in touch. Check out Accordion Noir fans - Facebook. |
Emma Wollum, Humorous YouTube video - Watch the Throne - New Zealandby Harley Jones |
| New Zealand accordionist Emma Wollum has uploaded a humorous video entitled "Watch the Throne". In New Zealand (and overseas) toilet rolls have been in high demand because of Covid-19 and the supermarket shelves in some places are nearly empty of toilet paper! Translation for non-New Zealand viewers: - Throne - toilet seat - loo roll = toilet paper - Farro Fresh = (capital-F) Fancy supermarket - Remuera = one of the most affluent Auckland suburbs. Emma says "I live in Remuera but let's face it I am a comedy accordion player so I will never not be renting!" Enjoy and have a laugh! |
Future events |
Corona Cancellations, Country Alphabetical Orderby Christine Johnstone |
 Email cancelled events to: cjmusic@outlook.co.nz for immediate listingAustralia: Vardos Trio Performance at Yackandandah Folk Festival in Victoria – event cancelled Europe: Geoff Berner Concert Tour to Germany, Switzerland, Belgium, Netherlands - cancelled France: Roman Jbanov has announced that all his Masterclasses for March and April have been cancelled Germany: Musikmesse, Musikmesse Plaza 2020 and all Musikmesse Festival events - cancelled 57th Klingenthal International Accordion Competition - cancelled Italy: Accademia del Ridotto Stradella International Music Competition - April - cancelled - see news item below for 2021 competition information Malta: 3rd Accordion Festival of Malta - April - cancelled Netherlands: Black Pencil Concert in AT Mook, Limburg - cancelled All April concerts by Black Pencil are also cancelled New Zealand: ‘An American Journey’ an Afternoon of Music with Kevin Friedrich and Friends, Dargaville - cancelled - ticket holders can ask for a full refund, leave it as a donation to the Museum, or use it to exchange for a ticket to the next scheduled concert in November 2020 Music Education Centre Performance Afternoon in Takapuna, Auckland in April - cancelled Milonga de Cuatro concert in Mt Eden Village, Auckland on April 8th - cancelled UK: Swaledale Squeeze Concertina Weekend – May 2020 – cancelled Leyland Accordion Club, Lancashire, England - all meetings are suspended until further notice Sinfonia Cymru, Wales - all events cancelled up until April 1st, when further announcements will be made Guildford Accordion Club March meeting cancelled, April meeting TBA USA: 2020 National Accordion Convention in Texas - cancelled - they advise that hotel reservations can be cancelled using your confirmation number Milwaukee Accordion Club - all March events cancelled - Future events will be dealt with as the conditions change. AWAM World Accordion Day celebration (May 2nd) and Eighth Annual Dr. Willard A. Palmer Festival (May 3rd) - both cancelled 2020 AAA (American Accordionists Association) July 8th to 12th Festival in Alexandria - cancelled |
Postponed Events, Country Alphabetical Orderby Christine Johnstone |
| Australia: Fairbridge Festival 2020 in WA, Australia - April - postponed for 6 months Italy: 2020 Val Tidone Music Competitions - postponed indefinitely USA: 2020 Annual ATAM New England Music Festival in Massachusetts - postponed Hudson Valley Accordion Ensemble Concert in New York on March 26th - postponed - see news item below for April concert still going ahead at this stage San Diego Accordion Camp - postponed until July - see news item below for details |
Online Bal Folk Party with Accordionist Rachel Bellby Christine Johnstone |
 Accordionist and music teacher Rachel Bell from Pennsylvania has organised an Online Bal Folk Party for Sunday March 22nd at 7pm. She will perform with Becky Tracy (violin). They will play tunes for a variety of dance types, and will give brief reminders of the steps.Bal folk is European folk dancing (largely from Central France and Brittany) that's very popular across a wide demographic. This online event is to replace their cancelled concert at the Greenfield Porch House Bal Folk. Tune in to Rachel Bell's Facebook page for this event. For details email: rachel@rachelbellmusic.com |
Traditional Hungarian Folk Music with Vardos Trio - Australiaby Christine Johnstone |
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| Vardos Trio which includes accordionist Sophia Chapman, will entertain at the Korona Csárda Restaurant, 760 Boronia Rd, Wantirna, Victoria, Australia on March 29th from 12 midday until 3.30pm. The event will include traditional Hungarian folk music with Vardos Trio and a local folk dance group as well as a buffet lunch. For bookings phone: 9801 8887 |
Accordionist to Run Marathon Playing the Accordion - Englandby Christine Johnstone |
 North Norfolk News have reported that 49 year old Carmine De Grandis (picture right) is planning to get in the Guinness book of records by doing the Mammoth Marathon playing an accordion all the way and raising money for Dementia UK."I grew up in the Abruzzo region in Italy," said the dad-of-three. "I started playing the accordion when I was a child - it was quite traditional in that area. I'm a seasoned runner, and a couple of years ago I had the idea of doing these things together". The event will be held on May 17th from Sea Palling to Sheringham in Norfolk and will be the first full road race since the Norfolk Marathon ended in 1990. North Norfolk District Council in partnership with the North Norfolk Beach Runners expect over 400 people will take part in the course which will take in some of the district's most iconic sights including Happisburgh Lighthouse, Walcott beach front and Cromer town centre. |
80th ATG Festival Hoping to Go Ahead in Los Angeles - USAby Rob Howard |
 Accordionists & Teachers Guild International (ATG) President Joe Natoli has announced the following:"Our ATG Board continues to plan for the August 80th anniversary festival in LA.... We at the ATG suggest that you do not make any travel or flight plans currently, especially since many airlines are not offering flight insurance, which could cause you to forfeit your ticket investments if things do not progress favorably. Let's all take a breath and wait for 2-3 weeks to determine how this will all unfold and at that time we will come back to you. This is all new to each of us, and is unfolding at unprecedented speeds". |
Hudson Valley Accordion Ensemble Concerts, New York - USAby Christine Johnstone |
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| The Hudson Valley Accordion Ensemble still plan to present a concert in New York in April. During their program Mary Mancini (vocals) & Mario Tacca (accordion and Music Director of the ensemble) will entertain as a duo. The Mission Statement of the Hudson Valley Accordion Ensemble is to have fun and gather with friends, to make great music together, to bring the melodic and unique sounds of the accordion to people of all age and to bring joy to others! Concert details as follows: Postponed: - March 26th from 7pm to 9.30pm: American Legion, Post 136, 1 Legion Way, Mt. Kisco, New York. Still going ahead: - April 23rd from 6.30pm to 9.30pm: Taormina’s Restaurant, 59 Hudson Avenue, Peekskill, New York. Reservations Required. For details email: manciniandtacca@gmail.com |
2020 3rd Annual San Diego Accordion Camp New Date - USAby Christine Johnstone |
 The 3rd annual San Diego Accordion Camp, under the musical direction of Gordon Kohl (picture left), has been postponed until June 4th to 6th, 2020 at the Mangia Italiano Restaurant in Chula Vista, California.The camp emphasizes building accordion musicianship skills, enjoyment and self confidence in playing an accordion solo. Both acoustic and digital accordionists are welcome to attend. This camp is designed for accordionists playing at Palmer Hughes book level 3 to 7. Workshop topics will include solos/duets/trios, exercises, chord harmony, bellow expression, group play and improvisation on two lead chart tunes. The modern tango, “Oblivion,” will be included along with some of Gordon’s original compositions in today’s pop style. For more information email: GordonKohl@GordonKohlaccordions. com |
2021 Accademia del Ridotto Stradella International Music Competition – Italyby Christine Johnstone |
 The Accademia del Ridotto Stradella have announced the cancellation of their April 2020 event. However, plans are already underway for next year’s competition.The next Stradella International Music Competition will now be held from April 14th to 18th, 2021. The Competition is open to musicians from any country. Winners will be awarded with prize money, concerts and scholarships to study at the Accademia del Ridotto. The closing date for entries is March 14th, 2021. |
New and Updated Sites |
Updated: AAA Cancels Events and Updates Site - USAby Harley Jones |
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| American Accordionists' Association (AAA) Cancels its annual Festival and updates to the site have been made about future events. AAA Festival 2020 Canceled March 19, 2020 It is with great disappointment that due to the circumstances surrounding the Corona Virus (COVID-19) emergency, we have made the necessary decision to cancel the AAA Festival July 8-12, 2020 at the Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites in Alexandria, Virginia. Our guest artists have been working hard over many months to prepare this wonderful event and we are so sorry that we will not be able to share these magnificent performances with you. Hopefully our artists will be available to perform at our 2021 AAA Festival in West Philadelphia. We are committed to public safety, including that of our many loyal attendees, guests and performing artists, and to help support the nation’s strong efforts to stem the spread of COVID-19, we join a long list of events that have already been cancelled. For those who purchased event packages and tickets, we offer them the following options: a full refund, leaving it as a donation or applying it to the 2021 AAA Festival at the Marriott Philadelphia West Hotel in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania July 14-18, 2021, The rate for the hotel remains the same - $130 plus free parking. We sincerely apologize for this cancellation but feel it is absolutely necessary for the good of everyone at this time. Dr. Joseph A. Ciccone, President |
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