Sponsors
Books (Text)
eSheet (pdf file)
eTracks sound files
Sponsors
Free Services
Books (Text)
Statistics
Sponsors
Highlights |
Louis F Coppola (1937 - 2020) Passed Away – USA
Accordionist Ivan Filipchyk Paints to Music
New Accordion Learning Digital Aid - USA
Reports for Concerts, Masterclasses, Competitions, Festivals, etc. |
Alex Meixner Performing from His Living Room in April - USA
Keski-Pohjanmaan Konservatorio Online Concert in Kokkolo - Finland
Virtual Ceilidh with “Tunes in the Hoose” - Scotland
Review: Gary Daverne Video “This is My Life” - New Zealand
Trimester Auditions During Covid-19 Lockdown – Spain
Orchester Hohnerklang Presents New Piece Online - Germany
Accordion Class Presses On Virtually During Covid-19 Lockdown - USA
Cancelled: 2020 Vancouver Folk Music Festival – Canada
Virus and Lockdown Jokes
Future events |
New and Updated Sites |
Updated Site: Accordion House New Logo and New Premises - New Zealand
Help Desk, Information needed, Readers CommentsSubmit Your Question, CommentSUBMIT NOW |
Random video 4UWatch the video |
Highlights |
Sergey Osokin New Retro Jazz Recordings, Moscow - Russiaby Arseniy Strokovskiy |
 Video 1: Kurt Weill, Mack the Knife.Video 2: John Schonberger, Whispering. Sergey Osokin has recorded two music videos with his retro quintet at Piton Sound. The other quintet members are: Konstantin Gevondyan (trumpet), Andrey Agafonov (guitar), Stas Cheremushkin (tuba) and Igor Yampolskiy (drums). Sergey Osokin is an assistant professor at MGIM. A. Schnittke (Schnittke’s State Music Institute in Moscow), accordionist, winner of the Grand Prix of all-Russian and international competitions, participant of music festivals in Russia, Asia, Europe and the USA. He actively tours and leads master classes in Russia and abroad, participates in scientific and music conferences, works as a member of the jury of international competitions, makes films, and participates in television projects. In 2018 he wrote music for the performance of the Tyumen Dramatic Theatre "Ghosts" (E. de Filippo) and was one of the organizers of the Accordion Forum-2018. |
Share
Louis F Coppola (1937 - 2020) Passed Away – USAby Joan Grauman Morse, AAA Historian |
  The American Accordionists' Association (AAA) is very saddened to report that our beloved Louis F. Coppola passed away on the morning of April 20th, 2020, from complications of leukemia. Born May 25th, 1937 in Bridgeport, Connecticut, Lou, with his magnetic and endearing personality, spent his entire life spreading joy with his beautiful accordion music. A great ambassador for the accordion and a tremendous supporter of the AAA, Lou will be greatly missed!! The accordion world has lost one of its finest. Please visit Lou’s attached bio, plus videos, Accordions Worldwide daily reports, and slideshow of Lou’s life. All of the above were prepared for Lou’s AAA Lifetime Achievement Award, presented to him in Alexandria, Virginia, July 2018. To view these, please click on: Lou Coppola |
Accordionist Ivan Filipchyk Paints to Musicby Rita Davidson Barnea, Editor USA Accordion News |
 The video above features New York based accordionist and artist Ivan Filipchyk (Russia). Ivan films himself painting and then speeds up the video to fit the length of the piece he is playing on the accordion.Ivan regularly completes paintings to music. We hope you enjoy watching him at work. |
New Accordion Learning Digital Aid - USAby Heather Masefield Secretary, New Zealand Accordion Association |
 |
| Ernesto Zurita Ruiz (USA) visited New Zealand in early March this year. During his visit he attended the North Shore Accordion Orchestra rehearsals in Auckland. Firstly he visited the Music Makers rehearsal (picture above) conducted by Christine Johnstone. He explained to the children that he is developing a new digital aided accordion learning system for children playing the accordion. Next he attended the Auckland Accordion Symphonietta orchestra rehearsal conducted by Lionel Reekie. Upon his return to the US, he completed his semester at the University of Portland in Mechanical Engineering and wanted to send updates on his project to the New Zealand Accordion Association. He said “The weeks following my visit, I began working on a rough physical prototype of my digital accordion learning idea. This was so I could show off something tangible at the University of Portland's Pilots Venture Challenge. This competition was held yesterday where I gave a presentation in front of judges who ranged in backgrounds from intellectual property attorneys, marketers, and product developers among others. My venture idea (which I named ‘Accord-On!’) placed second in the competition. This provided me with a US$750 prize money to help me advance my prototype and allowed me to participate in the semi-finals of the InventOregon competition at the end of September later this year.” The New Zealand Accordion Association thanks Ernesto for his work and hopes he is successful in this upcoming competition and the development of ‘Accord-On!’ |
Reports for Concerts, Masterclasses, Competitions, Festivals, etc. |
Renzo Ruggieri Updates Acquarelli Italiani (Ensemble) Music - Italyby Harley Jones |
  Renzo Ruggieri has updated his Acquarelli Italiani (ensemble) composition to now include:accordion solo and orchestra (full score and individual parts) & accordion solo and string orchestra (full score and individual parts) & accordion solo and accordion orchestra (full score and individual parts) This massive musical digital pdf booklet of 163 pages Catalog rrenzo520 in pdf format is available online, for only 50 Euro. Acquarelli Italiani was born in 2003 for accordion and symphonic orchestra, later it was adapted for solo accordion (in same musical editions). It is a tribute to the composition "Acquarelli Cubani" by the brilliant Luciano Fancelli but basing its development on the rhythm of the "tarantella". The arrangement also contains a “written improvisation” that the soloist can customize. rrenzo509 - Acquarelli Italiani (Solo only) |
Alex Meixner Performing from His Living Room in April - USAby Rita Davidson Barnea, Editor USA Accordion News |
 Now that we are all confined to our homes and cannot go out to hear live concerts, accordionist Alex Meixner is bringing his music to all of us via the internet. Get ready for a lively, upbeat and positive performance from Alex. Forget your troubles and enjoy Alex’s toe tapping polka music!Meixner’s formative musical studies were on piano and piano accordion, but he quickly branched out on drums, diatonic button accordion, bass and trumpet, his college major. This instrumental versatility is combined with a musical background that has included intense studies and performance of jazz, classical, pop, polkas and many ethnic folk music genres with some of the leading artists in the world. His talents in music and comedy were featured on the Tonight Show on NBC. His “Polka Freak Out” CD with Bubba Hernandez garnered a Grammy nomination in December 2007. Alex has performed as a solo artist and with numerous touring ensembles. In 2016 Alex collaborated with the notable advertising agency, BBDO, to produce the infamous Hormel Pepperoni commercials contributing to a successful sales campaign and contract renewals. At the end of 2016, he recorded with comedy phenomenon, Jack Black, for the major motion picture, ”The Polka King, ” that premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2017. Alex’s reputation for professionalism and quality performance attracted additional commercial opportunities including performing on radio commercials for Ford Trucks and the soundtracks for numerous episodes of Moonshiners on the Discovery Network. Alex has performed on over 50 albums, including 17 as a leader or soloist. His performance with his Father on Canadian Polka King, Walter Ostanek’s, “Music and Friends” won a Grammy Award. His album Polka Freak Out, a collaboration with Bubba Hernandez, was nominated for a Grammy Award in 2007. He has also recorded with a vast number of diverse artists as a soloist or sideman including avant-garde accordionist/composer Guy Klucevsek, Grammy winner Brave Combo, TexMex Rock icon The Krayolas and Irish entertainer Seamus Kennedy. His latest recording as a leader is “You Asked for It!”, a live concert DVD and CD of The Alex Meixner Band released in 2016. For details email: info@alexmeixner.com |
Keski-Pohjanmaan Konservatorio Online Concert in Kokkolo - Finlandby Raimo Vertainen |
 |
| On April 23rd, the Keski-Pohjanmaan Konservatorio in Kokkolo, Finland held a video concert for students Level 6 and Level 10! The video above features accordionist Vilma Wirén. The conservatory plans to run weekly video broadcasts. |
 |
Virtual Ceilidh with “Tunes in the Hoose” - Scotlandby Alison Worthington |
 “Tunes in the Hoose” is an online community created to keep Scottish musicians playing together at a time when opportunities are uncertain and players are in isolation because of Covid-19.Created by Peter Wood and Martin MacLeod, they hope to inspire more musicians to participate until the time comes when they are able to perform in concert again. They aim to spread positivity through music across the globe. The video above features accordionists Peter Wood, Phil Jones and Susan MacFadyen. For all enquires email: tunes@martinmacleodfilms.com |
Review: Gary Daverne Video “This is My Life” - New Zealandby Rita Davidson Barnea, Editor USA Accordion News |
 Gary Daverne ONZM has recently released a pictorial slideshow, “This is My Life” looking at the illustrious life of the New Zealand composer, orchestral conductor and record producer. Gary was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 1996. He held the position of Music Director/Conductor of the Auckland Symphony Orchestra from its formation in 1975 until 2010 when, on retiring, he was appointed Music Director Emeritus.Daverne has also conducted many major orchestras around the world and is also New Zealand's most prolific composer and arranger of music for the accordion. The video includes pictures of accordionists that have performed with the Auckland Symphony Orchestra including New Zealanders Tracey Collins, Kevin Friedrich, Harley Jones and Stephanie Poole as well as Mary Tokarski and Betty Jo Simon (from USA). Full review: MyLifeGaryDaverne |
Trimester Auditions During Covid-19 Lockdown – Spainby Christine Johnstone |
  Gorka Hermosa (picture left) held online Trimester accordion auditions at the Conservatorio Jesús de Monasterio (picture above) in Cantabria, Spain. Each student was requested to send a video by March 25th. The videos were discussed in a positive way on a private social media platform. |
Orchester Hohnerklang Presents New Piece Online - Germanyby Alison Worthington |
| The Orchester Hohnerklang from Trossingen, Germany includes traditional instruments such as harmonicas and accordions. The orchestra has just released an online video of the newly composed piece by orchestra Director Hans-Günther Kölz entitled “Wirhaltenzusammen”. The orchestra has continued to play actively during the time of the Corona crisis and thus did not lose contact with each other. To complete this piece, each player has filmed and recorded themselves with a timecode at home. They hope you enjoy this new piece. |
 |
Accordion Class Presses On Virtually During Covid-19 Lockdown - USAby Christine Johnstone |
| CBS Chicago television reported this week on a virtual accordion class. “The stay-at-home order did not stop Mary Ann Covone from getting her Old Town School of Folk Music accordion class to connect -- this time in a virtual setting” CBS 2's Brad Edwards reported. The video above includes an interview with Mary Ann and what she is achieving in the face of Covid-19. |
Cancelled: 2020 Vancouver Folk Music Festival – Canadaby Christine Johnstone |
 It is with heavy hearts that organisers announce they are cancelling this year's Vancouver Folk Music Festival, scheduled to take place in July, in response to COVID-19."The safety of our community, staff, contractors, artists, volunteers, vendors, sponsors, suppliers, patrons and festival supporters is of utmost importance. We know this is the responsible decision for everyone’s health." However, next year’s event has already been scheduled to take place from July 16th to 18th, 2021. They will contact all ticket holders regarding options to donate the ticket cost, to rollover to their 2021 event or receive a refund and are asking everyone to be patient as this could take some time. |
Future events |
Brooklyn Accordion Club Meeting Features Rob Curto - USAby Christine Johnstone |
  The Brooklyn Accordion Club will hold their next meeting on April 26th from 2pm to 3pm (NYC time) on Zoom! This meeting will feature accordionist and composer Rob Curto (picture above), who will share his expertise on Brazilian music on the accordion. Rob is a founding member of the "Brazilian Bluegrass" band Matuto, which gained a following across the US and Canada, was selected to showcase at WOMEX, and toured extensively across Africa, Asia and Europe.If you wish to attend this meeting please email: brooklynaccordionclub@gmail.com The club is also planning a Quarantine edition 2020 of its magazine “SqueeZine!” and is currently collecting accordion related quarantine stories; how you have been spending your quarantined days, what kinds of music activities you are enjoying, or just simply your accordion stories. If you would like to contribute an item email: brooklynaccordionclub@gmail.com |
New and Updated Sites |
News in Russian Updatedby Harley Jones |
 |
| The Accordion Russia News has been updated with new items and is now available online. |
Updated Site: Accordion House New Logo and New Premises - New Zealandby Alanah Jones |
 |
 Accordion House Importer/Retailer managed by Maurice Jones has updated its website with a new logo designed by daughter Alanah Jones to promote the new premises they have moved to recently. The address is: 5 Penning Road, Milford 0620. The phone number remains the same +64 9 4898316. Titano and Pigini accordions distributor. |
Help Desk, Information needed, Readers CommentsSubmit Your Question, CommentSUBMIT NOW |
Generated in 4.6651076 / 0.0010011 / 0