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Highlights |
From Bellows to Masks: Galassi Company Adapts to the Market - Italy
AAA Festival 2021 Already Well Advanced - USA
Kevin Friedrich St Patrick’s Day Entertainment in Dargaville – New Zealand
Reports for Concerts, Masterclasses, Competitions, Festivals, etc. |
Mika Väyrynen Sends out Free Online Lesson Challenge Against Corona - Finland
Virus and Lock Down Jokes
Porch Music in Pennsylvania - USA
Mary Mancini & Mario Tacca Videos for Your Pleasure
Accordion Babes 2021-2022 Call for Artists
Future events |
Postponed Events, Country Alphabetical Order
Renzo Ruggieri Jazz Accordion Course - Italy
Hainaut Belles Bretelles Festival - France
Leavenworth International Accordion Celebration Plans to go Ahead - USA
Christ Church Concert in Constantia – South Africa
New and Updated Sites |
Updated: AAA Cancels Events and Updates Site - USA
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Highlights |
Love and Friendship from SMAAC China to Castelfidardo Accordion Factories, Italyby Harley Jones |
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 Read 24 March 2020 Letter.pdf by Shanghai Music Association Accordion Committee (SMAAC) to CIA.Read: 25 March 2020 Letter.pdf by CIA to Mayor of Castelfidardo Roberto Ascani The SMAAC initiated this donation of 10,000 masks to the famous accordion City of Castlefidardo and we are doing this through the China Accordion Association (CAA) and your international CIA organization. A number of important Shanghai accordion teachers are in the video supporting this very practical gift from the musicians of Shanghai to the accordion people of Castelfidardo. These include (order of video): Yu XinNa, Zhao WeiZhong, Shen YanHua, Hu Yun Yun, Zhou Jia, Jessica Shi Xuan, Nova Wan, Young Zhuo, Prof. Li Cong Honorary President SMAAC, and finishes with the message spoken by Crystal Wang, President SMAAC "Hand in hand, I'll ask the breeze to carry our best wishes. The accordion is the same language in all our hearts. Forza Italia, Forza Castelfidardo." What a beautiful message of international love and friendship in these difficult times. |
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From Bellows to Masks: Galassi Company Adapts to the Market - Italyby Holda Paoletti-Kampl |
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 The Galassi Group of Castelfidardo, was founded many years ago thanks to accordions. The Galassi Group produces bellows, made of folded and compressed cardboard and coupled with fabrics and colors to make it aesthetically flashy. Know The People Interview at Galassi Bellows: 2017Galassi Today, with a pandemic that is bringing the Italian economy to its knees (as well as many other countries around the world), this company, with its reputation for technology and innovation, is responding at the height of the epidemic. Owner/Director Renzo Galassi and the Galassi Group have responded to calls for the production of masks. Galassi says they have suitable material that can be treated with a softening process that will allow it to be adaptable for the purposes of masks. Orders arrived immediately from Amandola and Osimo. The product is suitable for non-professional personal use, for people on their outings to do the shopping. The Galassi Group has already started a collaboration with the University of Ancona to test the product. The company has announced this week, that production can be 5,000 per day and could be increased to 10,000 to 15,000 pieces. Andrea Cantori, Secretary of the CNA of the South Zone says: “The experience of Galassi testifies to how our area does not stop giving up even in the face of the hard trials that we face today….. Already after a few days our entrepreneurs have shown how we can, once again, rethink our development and our market. A positive sign after so much bad news." Galassi Snc have also announced that they will provide the Municipality of Osimo with a family mask for the Covid-19 emergency (for non-professional private use). This is of great use to the community given the lack of such devices on the market. Galassi Snc will donate to Osimo for free, an extra 25% of the order of family masks that are being paid for by the Municipality of Osimo and the Astea Spa Group. The masks can also be washed in the washing machine and reusable, a very useful feature, and will be delivered from next week. Picture below: Renzo Galassi with his parents, Rino and Vanda Galassi who began the business in 1948. |
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AAA Festival 2021 Already Well Advanced - USAby Harley Jones |
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 American Accordionists' Association (AAA) has moved on quickly from the 19 March announcement by President Dr. Joseph A. Ciccone "to cancel the AAA Festival 2020 in Alexandria, Virginia."Within the week, the AAA is already advertising the AAA Festival 2021 that will be held July 14-18, 2021 at the Marriott Philadelphia West, PA 19428. 2021 will feature the Festival Orchestra conducted by Mary Tokarski, Competitions, Workshops, Vendors, Youth Involvement, Jazz Ensemble Junior & Senior, Fun Band and "The Divas" being the well known ladies of the AAA - Linda Soley Reed, Mary Tokarski, Beverly Roberts Curnow, Rita Barnea, Joan Grauman, Joanna Darrow, Jeanne Velonis, Marilyn O’Neil and Rachel Quirbach. Further performers will be announced in the coming months. |
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Kevin Friedrich St Patrick’s Day Entertainment in Dargaville – New Zealandby Christine Johnstone |
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| The Lifestyler newspaper in Dargaville, New Zealand reported this week that although accordionist Kevin Friedrich’s concert entitled “An American Journey” an Afternoon of Music with Kevin Friedrich and Friends in Dargaville was cancelled due to Coronavirus regulations, that didn’t mean that the entertainer had to hang up his accordion altogether. Kevin took his instrument to the Dargaville Primary School for St Patrick’s Day, much to the delight of staff and pupils. Kevin played a medley of songs both from Ireland and elsewhere around the world. The event included a feast of green sweets and treats for all who attended. Following this performance Kevin then went on to play at the Dargaville RSA for their St. Patrick’s Day Celebration. |
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Reports for Concerts, Masterclasses, Competitions, Festivals, etc. |
Just Released! “Vignettes, Short Pieces for Accordion” Delightful original compositions by Guy Klucevsekby Joan Grauman Morse |
 “Vignettes, Short Pieces for Accordion” by Guy Klucevsek is now available online. Read in detail the review by Joan Grauman about this "delightful and mesmerizing book" containing 24 of Guy Klucevsek’s compositions for accordionists of all skill levels.Full information by Joan Grauman including links to sound samples and purchase online at: VignettesArticle |
Mika Väyrynen Sends out Free Online Lesson Challenge Against Corona - Finlandby Christine Johnstone |
 Finnish accordionist Mika Väyrynen is offering a “Free Online Lesson Against Corona” each week to accordionists around the world. Last week’s free online lesson went to Spain. Mika sends out a challenge to music teachers around the world to offer free online lessons as a project against corona! |
Virus and Lock Down Jokesby Harley Jones |
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| Around the world, the internet is full of jokes about the Covid-19 situation and lock down that is happening in many countries to slow down the spread of the virus. Many families in lockdown will find it tough to be confined together for weeks at a time. Pictures above and below - working from home successfully!!! |
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Porch Music in Pennsylvania - USAby Christine Johnstone |
| In this time of international lockdowns because of Covid-19, accordionists at home have more time to play their accordions and even put on a concert for the neighbours. Frank and Kathi DeLucca entertain you with some fun accordion playing from their porch in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania, USA. Enjoy. |
Mary Mancini & Mario Tacca Videos for Your Pleasureby Christine Johnstone |
 As we all are experiencing a most unusual time in our lives with Covid-19, music remains one of the most powerful healers. Mary Mancini & Mario Tacca hope you enjoy their version of the beautiful hymn, On Eagle's Wings. |
Accordion Babes 2021-2022 Call for Artistsby Rob Howard |
 Renee de la Prade has announced that the official recruitment season for the 2021 and 2022 Accordion Babes Pin-Up Calendar is officially launched!All photos, forms and songs are requested by May 5th 2020 in order to be considered for the 2021 edition. Later applications will still be accepted, so don't worry if you miss the deadline, please still send in your art submission! That's why we're reserving spots for the 2022 edition. The 2021 Edition will be themed "An Instrument Beyond Time" and will feature images which have a look associated to an era....any era. Do you love the 60's? The 80's? The Roaring 20's? 19th Century ballgowns? Film noir femme fatales? Or do you want to be a sci-fi space babe? Or a queen of ancient history? The theme is broad-ranging so you can be creative with how you apply it to your photo. Wearing a vintage outfit in a plain-background studio can work just as well as having a more theatrical or natural background. Hopefully this theme will attract some amazing older lady artists (hint hint). It would be an honor to include you Grandes Dames of accordion in 2021! This is an independently-produced project geared towards professional musicians. The Accordion Babes calendar features photos of beautiful, empowered, alluring women with their accordions. Each artist is featured not just in the calendar, but with one song on the accompanying CD. Distribution is mainly in the USA, Canada, and Europe, but we have also shipped copies to Japan, Australia, and Brazil... the love of the accordion has spread all around the world, and people really like what we're doing; using sexy accordion photos to promote indie music and providing a useful calendar as well. For further details email: editor@accordionpinupcalendar.com |
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 Chaika Band March and April concerts in Victoria, NSW and the ACT, including 3 festivals (River Folk Festival, Yackandandah and the National) - all cancelled Croatia: London Accordion Orchestra concert in April - 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 CNIMA - closed until further notice - news update coming soon 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 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 World Accordion Day concert featuring Coupe Mondiale contestants in Auckland has been cancelled. However, they are planning a live streaming project. Further information to come. 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 and April meetings cancelled NAO UK Championships 2020 to be held in Liverpool in April - cancelled 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 Alex Meixner Band - all concerts cancelled for the next 2 months 2020 New England Music Festival in Newton, Massachusetts from 27th to 29th March – cancelled |
Postponed Events, Country Alphabetical Orderby Christine Johnstone |
 Australia:Fairbridge Festival 2020 in WA, Australia - April - postponed until 9th - 11th April 2021. All 2020 tickets will be valid for the 2021 event Italy: 2020 Val Tidone Music Competitions - postponed indefinitely Russia: All-Russian Day of Bayan, Accordion and Harmonica at RAM Concert Hall Gnesin, Moscow – postponed until May 15th South Africa: World Café Trio Christ Church Concert in Constantia – postponed - see news item below Switzerland: Sharon Shannon & Band concert on April 4th - postponed USA: 2020 Annual ATAM New England Music Festival in Massachusetts - postponed Hudson Valley Accordion Ensemble Concert in New York on March 26th - postponed San Diego Accordion Camp - postponed until July |
Renzo Ruggieri Jazz Accordion Course - Italyby Christine Johnstone |
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 Accordionist Renzo Ruggieri is tutoring a Jazz Accordion Course at the Voglia D’Arte Music Academy, Santa Cecilia Conservatory in Rome, Italy.The course is aimed at students of all abilities and will be held in 3 levels in both English and Italian languages as follows: Basic: jazz harmony and improvisation, voicings, patterns, standards, etc. Intermediate: advanced harmony, re-harmonization, styles, roles of playing, etc. Advanced: stylistic development, style analysis and realization of the final project They plan to begin the course in May (depending on the Coronavirus outcome). For detailed information or assessments of your level of preparation email: info@renzoruggieri.it |
Hainaut Belles Bretelles Festival - Franceby Christine Johnstone |
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| Léo Lagrange Club d'Hergnies, organisers of the Hainaut Belles Bretelles Festival in Hergnies, France advise they plan for the event to go ahead if the health situation allows. From May 30th to June 1st, 2020, the event will feature three days of music, celebration and conviviality to the sound of all styles of accordion, in the shade of the tall trees of the grassed square of the village of Hergnies and is free and accessible to all. The Belles Bretelles need the registration of all available volunteers to plan the organization. Everyone will remain informed as the situation evolves and, of course, no health risks will be taken. All guidelines related to the Coronavirus crisis will be strictly followed and enforced. Every year during the weekend of Pentecost, the Hainaut Belles Bretelles Festival has close to thirty bands for three days of concerts, celebrations and entertainment for all ages. For information email: contact@bellesbretelles.com |
Leavenworth International Accordion Celebration Plans to go Ahead - USAby Christine Johnstone |
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| The Leavenworth International Accordion Celebration in Leavenworth, Washington plans to go ahead from June 18th to 21st, 2020, sponsored by the Northwest Accordion Society. The event will include a competition, workshops, concerts, spontaneous jam sessions, a parade and much more. Competition judges are Kevin Soleki (USA) and Emmanuel gasser (Canada). There are three main venues for the festival: The Festhalle - for the competition, concerts, and vendor displays in the foyer. Grange Hall - the education center. It has two floors. The upper floor will have a performance space for all levels of performers; we will offer workshops, CD sales, sheet music sales, other vendor displays. The lower level will be used for workshops and free accordion lessons Gazebo - a great place to perform outdoors for tourists and accordion friends. We have a sign-up sheet with 15 min. slots where accordionists may perform. In late afternoon on Friday and Saturday, the Gazebo Ensemble will perform. On March 23rd, organisers announced that “the situation in the country and our local area has changed so much since the advent of COVID-19. There has been a lot of discussion on whether we will be able to have LIAC 2020. We are hoping for improvement in the situation but it is difficult to be optimistic. We are holding-off on Advanced ticket sales, competition registration, and gazebo sign-up for 2-3 weeks. If we have to cancel LIAC 2020, we will reschedule it for June 17th to 20th, 2021 with as much of the same program as possible”. For details email Chairperson Bonnie Birch: bonniebirch@msn.com |
Christ Church Concert in Constantia – South Africaby Christine Johnstone |
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| The World Cafe Trio concert of Vivaldi's Four Seasons at Christ Church Constantia, Corner Parish & Constantia Roads in Constantia, South Africa has been postponed until August 2nd, 2020. The second half of their programme comprises popular tunes from the movies, ending with Zorba the Greek. The trio includes Stanislav Angelov (accordion), Petrus de Beer (violin) and Schalk Joubert (bass guitar). In October 2016, the World Café Trio were invited to the Cape Town SABC studios to record this show for Radio Sonder Grense and this was broadcast for the first time a month later. This led to the release of the arrangement on CD. For tickets phone Anne: 082 218 0100 |
New and Updated Sites |
Updated Site: Video Added to Stas Venglevski Music Page - USAby Dan Grauman |
| Video added. Summer Sunshine composed by Stas Venglevski. A video of Stas performing Summer Sunshine has been added to the page about the sheet music, available online, catalog: vstas056 |
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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