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http://www.accordions.com/news.aspx?d=26-Jan-2024&lang=en&s=20869
http://www.accordions.com/news.aspx?d=26-Jan-2024&lang=en&s=20869
26-Jan-2024
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. |