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Highlights |
Registrations Open, 2024 ATG Festival Honoring Joan Sommers and International Competition, Kansas City MI - USA
Christian Bakanic Performs in Piazzolla Opera “Maria de Buenos Aires” - Austria
15th International Accordion Competition & Festival "Ascoltate 2024" - Lithuania
6th International & National Competition "Accordéons-nous.org" 2024 – Belgium
Nordic Accordion Symposium – Denmark
IX International Competition & Festival "Accordion Extravaganza”, Kazan - Russia
Online: BCA 4th International Accordion Festival – UK
Reports for Concerts, Masterclasses, Competitions, Festivals, etc. |
Gorka Hermosa Concert to Present New Album “Sustraien Matxinada” - Spain
Waiheke Musical Museum Accordion Collection Curated – New Zealand
DHV Vice President Manfred Kappler Receives State Badge of Honour – Germany
Future events |
Radu Ratoi Performs “Tango in Three” Show - Romania
Wouter Vinckers & Sander Oet Pekel “Unplugged” Concert - Netherlands
Kelso Accordion & Fiddle Club January Meeting - Scotland
Mingyuan Ruan Performs at China-UK International Music Festival - England
Black Pencil and Almere Youth Symphony Orchestra Present New Premiere - Netherlands
"MDB Trio" Jazz Concert at Massy Opera House - France
Ian Lowthian Accordion Tutor at “Winter Folk Weekend” - UK
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Highlights |
2024 CIA Winter Congress, 23-25 February 2024, Kungsbacka - Swedenby Harley Jones |
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 The 2024 Confédération Internationale des Accordéonistes (CIA) Winter Congress and 151st General Assembly of Delegates is being held in Kungsbacka, Sweden, 23-25 February 2024. The Winter Congress is being hosted by our CIA Voting Member Sveriges Dragspelares Riksförbund (SDR) / Swedish Accordion Association, President: Per Romin and CIA Vice President: Jörgen Sundeqvist. Over 24 delegates registered to date. Delegates please register promptly. View Schedule: 2024WinterCongress.pdf Further information: http://www.accordions.com/cia/cia_winter_congress.php |
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Registrations Open, 2024 ATG Festival Honoring Joan Sommers and International Competition, Kansas City MI - USAby Harley Jones |
2024 ATG Poster
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2024 ATG World International Competition Cup
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 Registrations are now open for the Accordionists & Teachers Guild, International (ATG) 2024 Festival in Kansas City, MO, USA.There are packages as well as individual event options. Please be sure to read through all of the options before starting your registration process. If you plan to play in the festival orchestra, please register for the orchestra first before registering for the festival. The line-up of featured artists is truly an extravaganza of talent. These include: Joan Cochran Sommers conducting our Festival Orchestra, other artists coming from all over the world including Grayson Masefield (New Zealand) who will join with some Kansas City players to present his new tango project, Gorka Hermosa (Spain), Bridge and Wolak (Canada), Das Duo Kollektiv, flute and accordion duo (Austria), our own United States star, Stas Venglevski, the UMKC Ensemble and Mirco Patarini, CIA President (Italy). For registration and other information, visit: Accordionists & Teachers Guild, International (ATG) |
Christian Bakanic Performs in Piazzolla Opera “Maria de Buenos Aires” - Austriaby AWW |
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| Accordionist Christian Bakanic will perform in a presentation of Piazzolla’s only opera “Maria de Buenos Aires”, at the MusikTheater in Vienna, Austria from February 12th to 16th, 2024. Christian will perform with the “Folkmilch” Ensemble (picture below), which also includes Klemens Bittmann (violin & mandola), Eddie Luis (double bass & percussion) and Andrés Añazco (piano). “Tango, jazz, folk and a bit of Baroque music: Argentinian composer Astor Piazzolla created the Tango Nuevo out of all this. In his only opera, Piazzolla shapes the rise of tango from the suburbs in the title character: however, for "María de Buenos Aires" this tango ends deadly”. For details email: oper@theater-wien.at |
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15th International Accordion Competition & Festival "Ascoltate 2024" - Lithuaniaby Christine Johnstone |
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| The 15th International Accordion Competition and Festival "Ascoltate 2024" for accordion soloists, ensembles and orchestras will be held at the Kaunas J.Gruodis Conservatory Concert Hall in Kaunas, Lithuania on April 19th and 20th, 2024. The event is organised by the Lithuanian National Accordionist’s Union, the Kaunas Accordion Society, the Kaunas J. Gruodis Conservatory and the Kaunas Music School. Competitors can enter the live event or the remote competition by video entry. The jury of the competition will be comprised of members and teachers of the Confédération Internationale des Accordéonistes (CIA). Entry closing date is April 2nd, 2024. Download competition rules: 2024Ascoltate.pdf |
6th International & National Competition "Accordéons-nous.org" 2024 – Belgiumby Christine Johnstone |
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 The 6th International & National Competition "Accordéons-nous.org" 2024 will be held in Mons, Belgium, from April 17th to 21st April, 2024.The international jury includes Michel Stockhem (Belgium, President of the Jury – picture left), Stefan Hussong (Germany), Klaudiusz Baran (Poland), Vojin Vasovic (Serbia), Claudia Buder (Germany), Raimondas Sviackevicius (Lithuania), Jacques Mornet (France), Angelo Pignatelli (Italy), Steve Normandin (Canada), Géraldine Jockin (Belgium), Pietro Roffi (Italy), Igor Krizman (Croatia), Cindy Basso Valentina (Belgium), Antonio Grosso (Italy) and Ludo Mariën (Belgium). Applications close on March 31st, 2024. Download competition rules and application form: 2024Accordeonsnous.pdf |
Nordic Accordion Symposium – Denmarkby Christine Johnstone |
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 The Det Kongelige Danske Musikkonservatorium (DKDM - Royal Danish Conservatory of Music) will host the Nordic Accordion Symposium in Frederiksberg, Copenhagen, Denmark, from March 1st and 2nd, 2024, for students and teachers from the Nordic countries and the Baltics.As part of this event, a concert will be held at The Studio Scene in Frederiksberg on March 1st from 5pm, which will feature new works for young accordionists aged 12 to 18. DKDM trained composer Marianna Filippi has written a brand new work for accordion ensemble, and Ejnar Kanding will premiere some solo works focusing on the accordion's special techniques. Free admission. For details email: dkdm@dkdm.dk |
IX International Competition & Festival "Accordion Extravaganza”, Kazan - Russiaby Arseniy Strokovskiy |
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| The IX International Competition & Festival "Accordion Extravaganza” will be held in Kazan, Republic of Tatarstan, Russia from April 19th to 21st, 2024, organised by the Kazan Music College named after I.V. Aukhadeyev. The competition invites young players on button accordion, accordion and harmonica from all over the world to participate including students of music schools, and students of professional and higher educational institutions. The competition will be held in two categories: “Solo” and “Ensemble”. Age group categories are available from children under nine years old to adults without age restrictions. A professional jury consisting of famous performers and teachers will evaluate the participants, awarding the titles of laureates, diploma winners and participant diplomas. The festival also includes concerts, master classes and internships for teachers. Applications close on April 14th, 2024. Download competition rules here: 2024Extravaganza.pdf |
Online: BCA 4th International Accordion Festival – UKby Christine Johnstone |
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 The British College of Accordionists (BCA) will hold their 4th International Online Accordion Festival in March 2024. BCA Principal is Raymond Bodell, Vice Principal Graham Laurie and Administrator Anna Bodell.The competitions will be adjudicated by a jury of national & international repute. Age group categories for ages 9 years and under to Senior include: Classical Traditional / Variety Adults Ensemble International entries close on February 15th with video link required by 1st March 2024. For the National graded competition open to UK accordionists, entries close on 1st March with video link required by 15th March 2024. Full information and online entry at: British College of Accordionists (BCA) |
Reports for Concerts, Masterclasses, Competitions, Festivals, etc. |
Conservatorio di Musica Statale “P. I. Tchaikovsky” Masterclass - Italyby Harley Jones |
Event poster
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Crystal Wang
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Crystal Wang with student
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Crystal Wang with student
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Masterclass
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Mirco Patarini and Crystal Wang
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Crystal Wang with student
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Mirco Patarini and Crystal Wang with students
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 The Conservatorio di Musica Statale “P. I. Tchaikovsky” began the new academic year 2023/2024 with an Accordion Masterclass featuring prominent Chinese tutor Crystal Wang (China) in Catanzaro, Italy from December 2nd to 8th, 2023. Crystal Wang wrote that she enjoyed teaching the "lovely and intelligent students".Also part of the week was: - workshop by Mirco Patarini (Italy) - performance by Zhiyuan Zhang (China) 1st place 2023 PIF Daily Report: 2023Castelfidardo - conference by Gianluca Bibiani (Italy) President of Italian Accordion Culture, Italy CIA member. The conservatory will continue a combination of training activities through the entire annual course of study, making the conservatory a very versatile international classical and traditional accordion training center. |
Gorka Hermosa Concert to Present New Album “Sustraien Matxinada” - Spainby Christine Johnstone |
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| Video: Dwarves’ Tales (by Gorka Hermosa) from the new CD "Sustraien Matxinada" (Roots Rebellion). Garikoitz Mendizabal (txistu), Gorka Hermosa (accordion), Carles Benavent (bass) and Tino di Geraldo (drums). Gorka Hermosa (accordion) performed with Garikoitz Mendizabal (txistu – Basque fipple flute) at a concert to present their new album “Sustraien Matxinada” at the Sala Galileo in Madrid, Spain this week. The album is “a revolutionary view of 21st century Basque music that combines tradition and modernity”. Leading up to the concert Gorka was interviewed on Spanish National Radio Exterior, Radio2, Radio5 and on "El Ojo Crítico" on RNE1 and also received a positive review from the "Diario Crítico" newspaper. |
Waiheke Musical Museum Accordion Collection Curated – New Zealandby Christine Johnstone |
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 Prof. Uwe Grodd from the Waiheke Musical Museum on Waiheke Island, Auckland, asked accordion specialists in New Zealand Grayson Masefield and Kevin Friedrich to help with assessing their accordion collection at the Museum in January 2024. The accordions are found among an impressive collection of pianos, keyboard and string instruments. New Zealand based Grayson Masefield, multiple world champion, teacher and concert artist will be performing at the museum in duo with Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra concert master, violinist Andrew Beer on 18 February 2024 at 5:00 PM while Kevin Friedrich is the curator of Accordion Gems, A Master Collection of Accordions through Time at the Dargaville Museum (New Zealand) and the Vice President of World of Accordions Museum in Superior, Wisconsin. The Waiheke Museum was very pleased to hear that the majority of their instruments are in good condition and only a few repairs will be needed. Grayson and Kevin confirmed that the collection of accordions warranted continued maintenance and an investment in better ways of displaying them. Many New Zealanders will remember Lloyd Whittaker (1932–2021 - picture above left) performing on his red Titano Cosmopolitan accordion. The red concert instruments in the Cosmopolitan range were found mostly in New Zealand and his accordion is one of only a handful of such instruments known to exist today. The Museum was founded in 1996 by Lloyd and Joan Whittaker who had collected musical instruments found in New Zealand. Lloyd was a talented musician who played a variety of instruments from an early age. He was also a consummate restorer of these instruments. When the couple moved from New Plymouth to Waiheke Island in 1996, they brought their collection with them and, with help from the community, started the Museum at Artworks in Oneroa. It moved into the current space in 2000. Lloyd and Joan presented their Live Show together every Saturday afternoon until their retirement in 2019 aged 87 and 90. In 2007, the Waiheke Musical Museum Charitable Trust was formed to ensure the preservation and ongoing management of the collection. While some instruments were gifted to the Trust by the Whittakers, many of the larger or more valuable instruments were purchased from them by individuals and Community organisations and donated back to the Trust. The centerpiece is world famous Polish musician Paderewski’s 1897 Bechstein Concert Grand piano, brought to New Zealand in 1904 for his Australasian Tour and still used for many of the Museum’s concerts. Kevin and Grayson’s combined knowledge in both construction and historical information will assist in providing information, allowing the Museum to offer an exciting and informative display of these accordion treasures. |
DHV Vice President Manfred Kappler Receives State Badge of Honour – Germanyby Christine Johnstone |
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| On January 11th, 2024, Manfred Kappler, the Vice President of the Deutscher Harmonika-Verband e. V. (DHV - German Harmonica Association), was awarded the Badge of Honour of the State of Baden-Württemberg. The January 2024 DHV newsletter read: “We congratulate him very warmly and are happy that he gives everything for the DHV in the country as an ambassador of accordion and harmonica music! In his commendation speech, DHV President Jochen Haußmann MdL paid tribute to Kappler's admirable personal commitment and his enormous time commitment to the DHV and his home region. The State Badge of Honour is awarded by the Prime Minister and was presented to Manfred by the Mayor of the municipality of Muggensturm, Johannes Kopp.” |
Future events |
Loris Douyez Performs at 1st “Mons en Lumières” Festival - Belgiumby Christine Johnstone |
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 Accordionist Loris Douyez will perform at the 1st “Mons en Lumières” Festival, held in Mons, Belgium from January 25th to 28th and February 1st to 4th, 2024.Performance dates are: January 26th January 28th February 2nd February 3rd The centre of Mons will be enhanced with art and light thanks to a three km route dotted with 26 installations. This first edition of the festival will celebrate the 100th anniversary of surrealism, the festival route has surrealism and poetry as its common thread. |
Radu Ratoi Performs “Tango in Three” Show - Romaniaby Christine Johnstone |
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| Radu Ratoi will perform with the MoldoDuo - Costina Cheyrouze and Stefan Diaconu (flute) at the premiere of the “Tango in Three” Show, held at the Teatrul de Arta Bucuresti (Bucharest Art Theater) in Bucharest, Romania on January 28th, 2024 at 3pm. The show, in which theatre, music and dance intertwine, portrays the story of a love triangle told to the audience by a picturesque character – Aglae, truck driver – and musically supported by famous tangos from the classic Jalousie "Tango Tzigane" (Jealousy "Gypsy Tango") to the songs of Astor Piazzolla. For details email: rezervari@teatruldearta.ro |
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Wouter Vinckers & Sander Oet Pekel “Unplugged” Concert - Netherlandsby Christine Johnstone |
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| Wouter Vinckers & Sander Oet Pekel will perform their “Unplugged” concert at the Café de Ijzeren Klap in Lageland, Netherlands on January 28th, 2024, from 4pm. Admission is free. |
Kelso Accordion & Fiddle Club January Meeting - Scotlandby Christine Johnstone |
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| The Kelso Accordion & Fiddle Club will hold their January Meeting at the Kelso Rugby Club in Kelso, Scotland on January 31st, 2024. “Club Secretary Bob Liddle will be making a debut solo Guest Artiste appearance. Bob plays both solo and with the Blackthorne Ceilidh Band and for the past two years has also been stand-in accordionist in the "Spirit of Scotland Show" in Edinburgh.” See poster for details. |
Mingyuan Ruan Performs at China-UK International Music Festival - Englandby Christine Johnstone |
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| Mingyuan Ruan will give a recital with Charlotte Kaslin (cello) at St John the Baptist Church in London, England on February 1st, 2024 at 7pm, as part of the China-UK International Music Festival. Their program will include Cassado cello suite, Bloch “Prayer”, Piazzolla “Grand Tango” and a very exciting piece “Rhythms of Doubt” by Mikolaj Majkusial. After Mingyuan Ruan graduated from the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing (China) under the tutelage of Prof. Cao Xiao-Qing, she completed an Advanced diploma in performance at the Royal Academy of Music as a student of Prof. Owen Murray. Mingyuan Ruan comes from an accordion family, father Hailin Ruan is an accordion teacher in Jinzhong city, Shanxi province with his wife Lei Xiufang at the "Doh Ray Mi" music school. From an early age Mingyuan Ruan had competition successes and at the 2009 Coupe Mondiale won 3rd. Other notable successes are first prize at the 64th Coupe Mondiale (CIA) chamber music category, the Gold medal of the 3rd Berliner International Music Competition and the Golden Award for solo performance in the National Accordion Performance Competition part of the Beijing Arts Festival. |
Black Pencil and Almere Youth Symphony Orchestra Present New Premiere - Netherlandsby Christine Johnstone |
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 Black Pencil (picture left) and the Almere Youth Symphony Orchestra (AJSO - picture below) will present the premiere of the brand new composition "Cityscape Serenade" by Rembrandt Frerichs at a matinee concert held at the Kunstlinie Grote Zaal in Almere, Netherlands on February 4th, 2024 at 2.30pm.Under the direction of conductor Daan Welle, the AJSO guarantees a pleasant afternoon full of musical entertainment, both classical and contemporary music. The AJSO consists of about 80 musicians aged from 13 years. |
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"MDB Trio" Jazz Concert at Massy Opera House - Franceby Christine Johnstone |
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| The “MDB Trio” which includes Marko Djordjevic Sajac (accordion), Nicolas Meluk (guitar) and Pierre-Marie Bonafos (saxophone) will perform a jazz concert at the Opéra de Massy (Massy Opera House) in Paris, France on February 6th, 2024 at 7pm. The three jazz enthusiasts will perform “an eclectic repertoire based on standards, with of course some forays into Latin jazz.” “The different roots and influences of each of the members are at the origin of their musette jazz and Eastern European music.” |
Ian Lowthian Accordion Tutor at “Winter Folk Weekend” - UKby Christine Johnstone |
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| Ian Lowthian will teach accordion and run a band workshop at the “Winter Folk Weekend”, held at the Riverdale Hall Hotel in Bellingham, Northumberland, England, UK from February 23rd to 25th, 2024. For details email: singingkathryn@gmail.com |
Links to Previous News Still Current |
Past News List of Linksby AWW |
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2023 Coupe Mondiale Daily Reports 2023 Coupe Mondiale Daily Reports, Video |
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Information 2023 World Accordion Day, 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 |
Childrens Corner |
Video: Werner Katolnig Music Schoolby Harley Jones |
| Young talent from the Werner Katolnig Music School, near Klagenfurt, Austria. |
New and Updated Sites |
2024 National Accordion Convention: Celebrates the Return of Live Music! – USAby Norman Seaton, President National Accordion Association (NAA) |
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Picture above
2024 Convention Planning Committee: left to right: Norman Seaton, Sharon Seaton, Rick Custer, Gordon Kohl, Elijha Clements, Jim Rommel, and Tom Jordan. Picture right 2024 Presenters: second row, left to right: Mary Ann Covone, Alex Meixner, Lori Brooke, Gordon Kohl, Dick Albreski, Elijah Clements, Randy McPeck, Norman and Sharon Seaton |
2024 Presenters
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| The 2024 National Accordion Convention (NAA), held at the Hilton Garden Inn in Lewisville, Texas, USA will celebrate the “Return of Live Music” from March 20th to 24th, 2024. New Concepts for 2024 include the new "Pathways to Success" program - open to all accordionists! The year 2024 is providing a new movement of “live music” opportunities. As a result, the planning committee has developed several “pathways to becoming a successful musician.” Now is the time to renew communications among all accordionists, accordion teachers, vendors, and the accordion associations. Registrations are now open. For complete information, visit NAA. |
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