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Highlights |
2024 Malaysia Accordion Festival, Kuala Lumpur - Malaysia
1st PNE.UMA Contemporary Accordion Festival – Italy
Jacques Pellarin: Two Compositions in Soundtrack of Hollywood Blockbuster Film - France
Artistfest 2024 – Bosnia and Herzgovina
2024 Sidmouth Folk Festival Celebrates 70th Anniversary - UK
Results: 14th Italia Award Online Edition Results – Italy
Aotango Duo Performs at Ray Freedman Arts Centre – New Zealand
Reports for Concerts, Masterclasses, Competitions, Festivals, etc. |
Tickets Now On Sale for 2024 Cotati Accordion Festival – USA
Video: Accordion Showdown - GEICO Insurance Commercial
Future events |
Accordionists Entertain in Buenos Aires Festival – Argentina
Håvard Svendsrud “Master Concert” - Norway
“Alpen Musikanten” Perform at Austrian Club – Australia
“Motion Trio” Church Concert - Lithuania
Taras Luka Trio Perform at “Frankie’s After Dark” - Canada
“Cricket & Snail” Perform in Prague - Czech Republic
Archie’s Box Academy Melodeon Workshops – England
Jean-Louis Noton July Courses – France
Links to Previous News Still Current |
New and Updated Sites |
2024 South Pacific and New Zealand Accordion Championships and Festival - New Zealand
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Highlights |
Google Home Page Features Animated Accordion - Internetby Harley Jones |
 Video above of the Google English homepage on 23 May 2024. The Google English home page, May 23, 2024 featured an animated (moving) large accordion image. Hundreds of millions use Google daily so this animated accordion was put in front of an enormous number of people. Thank you Google! |
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2024 Malaysia Accordion Festival, Kuala Lumpur - Malaysiaby Harley Jones |
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 Video above: excerpts of the event. Other videos added to the report at: 2024HohnerReportMore than 500 accordionists and supporters from China and Malaysia took off from 28 different cities to gather in beautiful Kuala Lumpur for the annual Hohner Accordion Cup (held most years in China), a Seniors Accordion Festival and a series of musical activities to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Malaysia. Festival organizers are Ding Peng and Huang Da, picture right. Previous Hohner Festival Reports: 2012HohnerReport 2014HohnerReport 2015HohnerReport This enormously successful festival in Malaysia has a full report of photos, text and videos at: 2024HohnerReport |
1st PNE.UMA Contemporary Accordion Festival – Italyby AWW |
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  The first edition of the PNE.UMA Contemporary Accordion Festival will be held in Castelfidardo, Italy from July 24th to 28th, 2024 in collaboration with Pigini Accordions and with the support of the NÜGO - Records label.The event will feature concerts at the Pigini Accordions factory, and a masterclass by Claudio Jacomucci (picture above right) from July 24th to 27th, which will include individual lessons, group meetings, talks and workshops in preparation for the collective concert on July 28th. The event will also focus on American composer and accordionist Pauline Oliveros (1932 - 2016). • July 26th: concert for accordion and electronics • July 27th: Luca Piovesan (picture above left) - concert for accordion, electronics and field recordings • July 28th: Sonic Meditation #3 - collaborative composition for extended accordionists with Claudio Jacomucci For further details email: carlosampaolesi@gmail.com |
Jacques Pellarin: Two Compositions in Soundtrack of Hollywood Blockbuster Film - Franceby Christine Johnstone |
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 Video: Accordionist, composer and producer, Jacques Pellarin performing "Vintage Valse" with Michael Nikolidakis (guitar).Jacques Pellarin has announced that two of his compositions are officially in the soundtrack of the Hollywood blockbuster film “Den of Thieves 2 Pantera”, which features actor Gerard Butler. This action movie (written and directed by Christian Gudegast) is a direct sequel to the 2018 film “Den of Thieves” which follows the pursuit of a diamond heist in France. The compositions in the movie are “Vintage Valse” and “Coeur de Biguine” and the movie performers include Pellarin on accordion. The worldwide cinema release will be in September 2024. Jacques Pellarin has also released his Opus 2024, album “En Plein Coeur” which is available on Amazon, Apple Music, Spotify, etc. For further information email: jacques.pellarin@wanadoo.fr |
Artistfest 2024 – Bosnia and Herzgovinaby Christine Johnstone |
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| Video: Eduard Akhanov and Sergey Osokin performing “Minor Swing”. Artistfest 2024 will be held in Bijeljina, Bosnia and Herzgovina from June 1st to 3rd, 2024, organised by Slaviša Peric. The event will feature concerts, masterclasses and seminars with Eduard Akhanov and Sergey Osokin. Applications close on May 28th, 2024. For details email: artistfest1@gmail.com |
2024 Sidmouth Folk Festival Celebrates 70th Anniversary - UKby Christine Johnstone |
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 The 2024 Sidmouth Folk Festival will celebrate its 70th anniversary in Sidmouth, Devon, England, UK from August 2nd to 9th, 2024.The event will feature concerts, ceilidhs, children’s festival, dance displays, workshops and much more. Performers include Fisherman’s Friends, who will entertain at the now-traditional pre-festival concert on August 1st from 3pm at the Ham marquee. Picture right, Fisherman’s Friends accordionist Jason Nicholas. Other accordion performers include Skipinnish, Spiers & Boden, Blowzabella (Andy Cutting on accordion), Aly Bain & Phil Cunningham (accordion & violin duo), Manran and Mad Dog Mcrea (picture below). |
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Results: 14th Italia Award Online Edition Results – Italyby AWW |
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 The 14th Italia Award 2024 online edition of the Accordion Contests was held online on April 28th, 2024. The Art Director is Renzo Ruggieri and the President is Claudio Azzaro.Classical Senior winner: Vitor Pastor (Portugal - picture left) Virtuoso Senior winner: Vitor Pastor Renzo Ruggieri Award recipient: Jaroslav Pokuta (Czech Republic) Art Accordion Award recipient: Francesco Scarselli (Italy) The live edition will be held from June 21st to 23rd, 2024 in Giulianova, Italy. Live registration deadline is June 15th, 2024. Download competition rules in English and Italian languages: 2024Italia.pdf See previous news item: https://accordions.com/news.aspx?d=02-Feb-2024&lang=en#art20866 Full list of online results at: Risultati2024 |
Aotango Duo Performs at Ray Freedman Arts Centre – New Zealandby Christine Johnstone |
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| Video above: Performing Fou Rire composed by Richard Galliano in Shanghai last month. Just returned from highly successful concerts at the 2024 Shanghai International Accordion Arts Week in China. The Aotango Duo will next perform at the Ray Freedman Arts Centre in Epsom, Auckland, New Zealand on June 1st, 2024 at 2.30pm. This performance is part of a special festival concert of the 2024 South Pacific and New Zealand Accordion Association Championships and Festival, Raye Freedman Arts Centre, Silver Rd, Epsom, Auckland. The duo features World Champion accordionist, Grayson Masefield and exceptional violinist Andrew Bier (Concertmaster of the Auckland Philharmonia), who have recently performed a number of exciting and important concerts in NZ and overseas. The duo will present a diverse program of Classical, World Music, and Tango and also celebrate Grayson Masefield receiving Life Membership of the New Zealand Accordion Association. See poster for details. Ticket Link: https://www.iticket.co.nz/events/2024/jun/aotango-duo |
Reports for Concerts, Masterclasses, Competitions, Festivals, etc. |
Remembering Lou Jacklich: Master Accordionist and Teacher, 1928 – 2024by Pamela Tom |
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 From Pamela Tom (accordionist) and Kenneth E. Schwartz, President of The San Francisco Accordion ClubNorthern California’s cherished accordion maestro, Lou Jacklich, passed away peacefully on World Accordion Day, May 6, 2024, after a brief illness. He would have been 96 years old in August. Lou Jacklich, affectionately known as “Mr. Jacklich, Maestro Jacklich,” or just plain “Lou,” was an extraordinarily talented accordionist whose musical career spanned a remarkable 79 years. He remained a vibrant performer and teacher to the end! A virtuoso and innovator from a young age, he had his union card at 17 years old as a vaudeville performer. He starred with and led numerous bands, recorded as an artist for Capitol Records, founded his own accordion school (Lou Jacklich School of Music), co-owned a music publishing company (“Lou-Rich”), and was one of the first accordionists to master the new electronic accordions in 1960. A distinguished teacher, performer and contributor to the accordion community, Lou was recognized nationwide with multiple meritorious lifetime achievement awards: • Lifetime Achievement Award, San Francisco Accordion Club. 2014 • Honorary Director, Cotati Accordion Festival. 2016 • Art Van Damme Education Award, Las Vegas International Accordion Convention. 2016 • Certificate of recognition honoring Lou Jacklich’s accordion achievements and leadership, California State Senator Bob Wieckowski (District 10). 2017 • Accordion American Hall of Fame, Federation of American Musicians, Singers and Performing Artists, Inc. (FAMSPA). 2019 • Accordion World Hall of Fame, Federation of American Musicians, Singers and Performing Artists, Inc. (FAMSPA). 2019 • $500 Student Scholarship in honor of Lou Jacklich, sponsored by San Francisco Accordion Club. 2023 • Mobile Accordion Classroom Honoree, Innovative Accordion Music Productions. 2023 Jacklich was a valued mentor, teacher, and member of the San Francisco Accordion Club. He led the Club’s jam sessions, always instructing, of course. His many wonderful performances before the club were testimony to his mastership of the instrument, and his duets with his students were riveting! The Maestro performed at accordion clubs throughout California. One of his last recorded performances was January 2023 at the Silicon Valley Accordion Society where he was a frequent invited guest artist. His performances were based on his own arrangements often with a jazz interpretation. Ernie Felice inspired Jacklich’s jazz style. His YouTube site includes a wider range of his artistic arrangements. Mr. Jacklich’s extended family included over 1400 former students. Teaching was the joy of his life! In fact, his last formal teaching lesson was 3 weeks before he passed. Details of Lou Jacklich’s career and audio samples of his innovative style on the electronic accordion are on the MusicForAccordion web site at Lou Jacklich. Lou touched so many lives during his time with us. He will be deeply missed. May you rest in peace, Lou Jacklich! |
Tickets Now On Sale for 2024 Cotati Accordion Festival – USAby Christine Johnstone |
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| Tickets are now on sale for the 33rd, 2024 Cotati Accordion Festival, to be held at La Plaza Park in Cotati, California, USA from August 16th to 18th, 2024. The 2024 lineup for the 33rd Festival is close to being completed with performers to date as follows: 5 Cent Coffee Alejandro Brittes Trio (Argentina) Andrew Cohen Balkan Laikas (featuring Yuri from Limpopo) Califas California Blue Runners Cila Puccadella Cory Pesaturo Duckmandu Iko Ya Ya Innuendo Jelena Milojevic Junk Parlor Mariposa del Alma Mark St Mary Mike Zampiceni Nathan and Jessie Netta Skog (Finland) Pete Contino Ron Borelli Sergei and Maria Teleshev Sheri Migano Sonomusette Sourdough Slim and Robert Armstrong Stas Venglevski Steve Balich Polka Band The Art Peterson Trio The Future Stars The Grand Finale The Mad Maggies The Wind Weavers Two Tribes United States Air Force Band (accordionist: Frank Busso Jr.) Zla Vila |
Video: Accordion Showdown - GEICO Insurance Commercialby Pamela Tom |
| Video: Accordion Showdown - GEICO Insurance Commercial Check out this humorous advertisement featuring the accordion. |
Future events |
“Acordeon Jazz 4et” Concert - Italyby Christine Johnstone |
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| The “Acordeon Jazz 4et” will perform at the Camera Jazz & Music Club in Bologna, Italy on May 25th, 2024 at 10pm. The quartet features Massimo Tagliata (accordion), Marco Bovi (guitar), Max Turone (double bass) and Fabio Grandi (drums). “Accordionist, pianist and arranger, Massimo Tagliata is one of the most eclectic and innovative artists of the Italian jazz scene. His great musical versatility leads him to dive into the musical genres of jazz, tango, Italian author music, popular music and forrò.” For details email: info@camerajazzclub.com |
Accordionists Entertain in Buenos Aires Festival – Argentinaby Christine Johnstone |
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| Accordionists will entertain at the Fiador de Jose c. Paz music festival in Buenos Aires, Argentina on May 26th, 2024 at 5.30pm. Performers include the Antonio Figueroa Trio, Miguel Figuero and his Junction Campero, Rafael Tulis, Ramon Villalba, and many more. See posters for details. |
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Håvard Svendsrud “Master Concert” - Norwayby Christine Johnstone |
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| Håvard Svendsrud will hold a “Master Concert” at the Bjorkhov Café and Restaurant in Selbu, Norway on May 27th, 2024 at 6pm. See poster for details. |
“Alpen Musikanten” Perform at Austrian Club – Australiaby Christine Johnstone |
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| “Alpen Musikanten” will perform at the Austrian Club in Heidelberg West, Melbourne, Australia on June 2nd, 2024 at 1pm to 5pm. The trio, which includes Phill Nadvesnik (accordion), Peter Grivic (bass) and Paul Gillett (guitar), specialise in the ‘Oberkrainer’ style of folk music from Slovenia and Austria. |
“Motion Trio” Church Concert - Lithuaniaby Christine Johnstone |
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| “Motion Trio” (Poland) will perform at the St Catherine’s Church in Vilnius, Lithuania on June 7th, 2024 at 6pm. The trio includes accordionists Janusz Wojtarowicz, Pawel Baranek and Marcin Galazayn. The event is a cultural exchange between the twinned cities project "Vilnius-Krakow 2024 meetings". Program: 1. Janusz Wojtarowicz - Akkordeon Fanfare 2. Pawel Baranek - The first day of spring 3. Janusz Wojtarowicz / Jacek Holubowski - The sounds of war 4. Pawel Baranek - Helicopter 5. Janusz Wojtarowicz - Silence 6. Henryk Mikolaj Górecki – Concerto for harpsichord and string orchestra op.40, Vivace (arr. J. Wojtarowicz) 7. Frédéric Chopin – Prelude in E minor, op.28 no 4 (arr. J. Wojtarowicz) 8. Jan A. P. Kaczmarek - Ave Maria (or. P. Baranek) 9. Motion Trio - DJ Chicken 10. Janusz Wojtarowicz - Heart 11. Janusz Wojtarowicz - A small story 12. Wojciech Kilar - Orawa (ar. J. Wojtarowicz) For details email: annawojtarowicz@akordeonus.com |
Taras Luka Trio Perform at “Frankie’s After Dark” - Canadaby Christine Johnstone |
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| The Taras Luka Trio will entertain at Frankie's Jazz & Blues Club in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada on June 8th, 2024 at 11pm. The trio features Taras Luka (accordion), Dean Thiessen (piano) and John Nicholson (saxophone). The performance is part of the “Frankie's After Dark” shows. Taras Luka is a Ukrainian jazz and classic accordionist, composer and arranger. He graduated from the Odesa National Music Academy (Ukraine) and received a master’s degree in music. During his musical career, he has written a lot of original music for the accordion, including a jazz album for accordion and jazz quintet called “Part of the Journey”, which was released in 2023. For concert details email: info@frankiesjazzclub.ca |
“Cricket & Snail” Perform in Prague - Czech Republicby Christine Johnstone |
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| “Cricket & Snail” will perform at the "U Boudu" Restaurant in Kolovraty, Prague, Czech Republic on June 13th, 2024 at 7pm. The duo features accordionist James Carlson and Lucie Carlson (violin and vocals). For details email: lucie.carlson@gmail.com |
Archie’s Box Academy Melodeon Workshops – Englandby Christine Johnstone |
 Archie Churchill-Moss will run Archie’s Box Academy Melodeon Workshops at Halsway Manor National Centre for Folk Arts in Quantock Hills, Somerset, England on June 24th, 2024 as follows:• 10.30am to 1pm: Getting Started workshop for players of the DG melodeon level 0 and 1. • 2pm to 4.30pm: Getting Better workshop which aims to support and develop the skills of improver and intermediate levels For details email: office@halswaymanor.org.uk |
Jean-Louis Noton July Courses – Franceby Christine Johnstone |
 Jean-Louis Noton will hold accordion courses at the Les Sapins Hotel in Manigod, France in July 2024 as follows:• July 9th to 13th • July 13th to 16th • July 9th to 16th Course tutors will be: Jean-Louis Noton - M.A.O. (Computer Assisted Music), AI (Artificial Intelligence) and digital accordions Roman Jbanov – French/Russian concert artist, Professor at the Emile Goué de Gueret Conservatory Michel Madeira (U.N.A.F. Professor) For details email: jean-louis@noton-artiste.com |
Links to Previous News Still Current |
Past News List of Linksby AWW |
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Online entry now open: 2024CM-Rules | 2024 Coupe Mondiale Information | 2023 Coupe Mondiale Daily Reports, Video
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Information 2024 World Accordion Day, 2024 World Accordion Day Report, 6th May each year | |
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Articles Index page |
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PIF Castelfidardo 2023 2023 PIF Castelfidardo Daily Reports, Video |
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2023 AAA Festival Daily Reports 2023 AAA Festival Daily Reports | |
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Interviews Index page |
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2023 ATG Competition and Festival Photo Report 2023 ATG Competition and Festival Photo Report | |
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2023 XXXV International Festival, Moscow News and Daily Reports and videos | |
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2023 Accordion Cruise, Finland Information, News article | |
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Accordion Reed Production Article Link | |
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Chronology of Production of Italian Accordions Article Link News article about Beniamino Bugiolacchi Article Link |
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Serenellini Know the People Interview News Link | |
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Accordion Study Produces Community Benefits Article Link | |
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Playing the Accordion Benefits Your Brain News Link |
New and Updated Sites |
Published: Latest Expanded Article About AAA Commissioned Works - USAby Dr. Robert Young McMahan Chair of AAA Composers Commissioning Committee |
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 Now published is the expanded article from the Past Annual Series of Articles for the AAA Festival Journal:2015: Four of the Five Commissioned Works for the Intermediate Level Student Solos by David Diamond, William Grant Still, Carlos Surinach, & José Serebrier. View the expanded article at: http://www.ameraccord.com/aaacommissions21.php This article continues the progress in expanding the annual articles I wrote between 1997 and 2019 on the AAA commissioned “classical” repertoire of the late twentieth century. The AAA Composers Commissioning Committee founder and first Chair, Elsie Bennett, decided during the mid-to-late 1960s to re-commission four previously AAA engaged composers, namely Paul Creston, David Diamond, William Grant Still, and Carlos Surinach, as well as a first-time contributor, José Serebrier, to supply solo works at the intermediate rather than the normally assumed advanced/professional level. The results were Creston’s Embryo Suite, (released in web format in January 2024), Diamond’s Sonatina, Still’s Lilt, Surinach’s Prelude to the Sea, and Serebrier’s Danza Ritual. Elsie’s stated purpose for this project was to expose promising young students who through hard and earnest work had achieved a solid intermediate level of performance, usually via their other more traditional tonal repertoire (which was often accordion transcriptions of other instruments’ works), to the “New Music” of their own time. This gateway into original “classical” and idiomatically conceived music for the accordion was and continues to be vitally important since the accordion’s late invention during the previous three-century “Common Practice” era and slow technological evolution in the nineteenth century delayed the creation of its own classical repertoire well into the twentieth century. To be sure that this endeavor would succeed, these little masterpieces were often required as test pieces in the AAA competitions of the 1960s and later and were admissible in the separate “Original Solo” contest divisions as well. As is the mission of this expanded series of past articles, this current one on these four very diverse compositions (that excludes Creston’s contribution which was covered in the 2017 article) are discussed both historically and theoretically in much greater detail and well beyond the scope, of its original publication in the 2015 AAA Festival Journal. View the expanded article at: http://www.ameraccord.com/aaacommissions21.php |
2024 South Pacific and New Zealand Accordion Championships and Festival - New Zealandby Renee Jeffries, NZAA Competition Secretary |
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| The 2024 NZAA South Pacific Accordion Championships & Festival will be held at the superb Raye Freedman Arts Centre (picture below), Silver Rd, Epsom, Auckland on 1-2 June. The Finale concert will be held at 2:30 pm Sunday 2nd June with the performers listed on the poster above. For further details email NZAA Competitions Secretary Renee Jeffries at: nzaacompsec@gmail.com |
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