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Highlights |
UMKC Community Accordion Ensemble Concerts - USA
Summer Night Concert Celebrates 50th Anniversary – Germany
VII Accordion Competition 2022 Albertirsa – Hungary
Reminder: 2022 AAA Festival Virtual Competitions - USA
4th Cyprus International Accordion Festival - Cyprus
CNIMA July Accordion Workshops - France
Reports for Concerts, Masterclasses, Competitions, Festivals, etc. |
Rita Davidison Barnea is the New AAA Secretary - USA
4th International Accordion Competition in Solec Kujawski – Poland
Nikola Djoric Performs Piazzolla's "Aconcagua" - Austria
Results: Online BCA 2022 Anniversary Festival & Competition – UK
Fun Video: Goin’ Up (Great Big Sea) by “Just Because” Duo - Canada
Results: Online Accordion Star International Competition 2022
Future events |
Sophie Herzog & Piotr Motyka “Accordion Meets Classic” Concert – Italy
“U’Elements” Perform “Hello Music” Concert – Lithuania
Andreas Nebl Performs with Salonorchester Baden-Baden – Germany
Michael Bridge “Esprit Live 2022” Concert - Canada
Live & Online: Italian Tunes Weekend, Scotland - UK
International Accordion Seminars in July, Paris – France
Links to Previous News Still Current |
New and Updated Sites |
Help Desk, Information needed, Readers CommentsSubmit Your Question, CommentSUBMIT NOW |
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Highlights |
Fleadh Cheoil Mullingar 2022 “The Homecoming” - Irelandby Christine Johnstone |
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 Traditional musicians of all ages are invited to gather in Mullingar, Co. Westmeath, Ireland from July 31st to August 7th, 2022 for the Fleadh Cheoil Mullingar 2022 “The Homecoming”, which will be hosted by Mullingar Comhaltas Branch.This event is the world’s largest annual celebration of Irish music, language, song and dance and attracts in the region of 500,000 visitors to the host town every year. The event is organised by Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann and will be hosted in Mullingar in conjunction with the local Fleadh Executive Committee and Westmeath County Council. Performers include Sharon Shannon (picture above) and Four Winds with Caroline Keane (concertina - picture below). For details email: info@fleadhcheoil.ie |
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UMKC Community Accordion Ensemble Concerts - USAby Kevin Friedrich |
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| The University of Missouri - Kansas City (UMKC) Community Accordion Ensemble will present two performances in Kansas City on June 11th at the Swan Dive Event Center at Vivilore Restaurant in Independence, Missouri at 3:00 pm and on June 12th, 2022 at the Kansas City United Church of Christ Social Hall at 2:00 PM. All players are alumni of the University of Missouri - Kansas City, and former members of the renowned UMKC Accordion Orchestra. The players make their living in various careers, but each have remained devoted to promoting the accordion and its varied repertoire, which includes transcriptions, commissions and other original works. They have recently performed in Chicago, San Francisco, Kansas City, the 80th Anniversary of the AAA in Alexandria, VA. and in Superior, WI at the World of Accordions Museum. In addition, they have participated in the USA contributions to previous World Accordion Day events, when videos of their performances were broadcast during the live presentations. The UMKC Community Accordion Ensemble performs under the direction of Joan C. Sommers who both conducts and also plays as a member of the ensemble on certain pieces. Joan C. Sommers was awarded the title of Professor Emerita upon her retirement from the University of Missouri – Kansas City Conservatory of Music (USA), where she established and taught the accordion degree program for forty years. She has arranged innumerable works for both Accordion Orchestra and Chamber Ensemble over many years, works that have been performed around the globe. She has held numerous positions in several music organizations, including the Accordionists & Teachers Guild, International (ATG) and the Confédération Internationale des Accordéonistes (CIA – IMC-UNESCO) where she was recently awarded lifetime Honorary Membership. Today she enjoys performing with fellow accordionists in duo, with other instrumentalists, with the (UMKC) Community Accordion Ensemble and as guest Conductor with various orchestras around the world including leading the magnificent "World Accordion Orchestra XI" in Shenzhen, China on August 18, 2019. The Concerts are Free Admission with donations greatly appreciated. For more information please contact: joansommers@kc.rr.com |
Summer Night Concert Celebrates 50th Anniversary – Germanyby Christine Johnstone |
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| Video: Jauchzaaa Trio playing Zum Glück gibt’s die Musik (Luckily there is Music) The Summer Night Concert event will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Akkordeonverein Tannheim e. V. (Tannheim Accordion Club) held in Tannheim. Germany on July 23rd, 2022. The event program as follows: • 2pm: start with social time • 3pm: entertainment by the Accordion Association Youth Orchestra • 4pm: warm up with the Jauchzaa Duo • 7pm: summer night concert with the main orchestra of the accordion club who will perform a variety of pieces from hits to folk music and from classical to disco music • 9pm: party with the Jauchzaaa Trio which includes Jens Neher (accordion – picture below) For details email: info@akkordeonverein-tannheim.de |
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VII Accordion Competition 2022 Albertirsa – Hungaryby Christine Johnstone |
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| The VII Accordion Competition 2022 will be held in Albertirsa, Hungary on June 19th, 2022, organised by the National Society of Accordions in Hungary. The competition is aimed at accordionists aged between 6 and 23 years old in seven age group categories. Program of events as follows: 9am: Registration 9.45am: Opening 10am: Competition 2pm: Concert 3pm: Results Entries close on June 13th, 2022. Download competition rules and entry form here: 2022Hungary.pdf |
Reminder: 2022 AAA Festival Virtual Competitions - USAby Frank Busso Jnr |
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 American Accordionists' Association (AAA) Contest Chairperson Frank Busso Jr. (picture right) invites accordionists from all corners of the world, to enter and enjoy participating in the 2022 AAA Festival Virtual Competitions.Categories include Standard & Open solos, Standard & Open duets, and Open Ensembles & Bands. Contestants in Standard categories must choose a selection from the Standard music list. All other categories are Open, which means you can play anything you wish, except in the Ethnic, Pop, and Jazz categories, where the style of music is designated. Download the virtual competition Rules, Categories and Required Composition List at: 2022AAARules.pdf Entry Forms Due Date is July 1, 2022. Video Submissions Due Date is August 1, 2022. For any enquiries, please contact Frank Busso Jr. Contest Chairperson, at frank@bussomusic.com |
4th Cyprus International Accordion Festival - Cyprusby Christine Johnstone |
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| Video: Cyprus Accordion Festival 2022 - Teaser The 4th Cyprus International Accordion Festival will be held in Agios Theodore, Larnaca, Cyprus from 3rd to 5th June, 2022. On June 4th a concert will be held in the Larnaca outdoor theatre featuring accordionist and composer, Zoe Tiganouria (Greece). The festival will include a variety of concerts, workshops and seminars for all accordion lovers, performers and enthusiasts who are both amateurs and professionals. For details email: cyprusaccordionfest@gmail.com |
CNIMA July Accordion Workshops - Franceby Christine Johnstone |
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 The CNIMA will run accordion workshops for all levels, ages and styles with Jacques Mornet and Nathalie Boucheix (pictured left) from July 11th to 16th, 2022 and from July 18th to 23rd, 2022.The workshops are an “opportunity to develop instrumental technique with the Jacques Mornet method, a winning pedagogy that has earned the CNIMA the superb results in the world at international competitions”. Attendees will learn: Instrumental work, approach of the accordion as a wind instrument, management of the air column and the bellows, search for a balance between body and instrument, work on the touch and articulation, quest for musicality, work on 1 or 2 pieces of their own choice (variety, classical, musette, jazz, balkans) and progress in accelerated speed. For further details email: cnima@orange.fr |
Reports for Concerts, Masterclasses, Competitions, Festivals, etc. |
Neza Torka Opens International Festival of Accordion and Chamber Music “Eufoniјa” – Serbiaby Christine Johnstone |
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  The 7th “Eufonija” Festival of Accordion and Chamber Music took place in Novi Sad, Serbia from May 18th to 22nd, 2022, organised by the “Eufonija” Association.This year’s event was dedicated to the promotion of women in art with Neža Torkar (picture right) performing at the grand opening concert on May 18th accompanied by the Vojvodina Symphony Orchestra conducted by Bojan Sudjic. Their program included the world premiere of “The Queen Bee” Concerto, written for the accordion and orchestra by the prominent Iranian composer Arshia Samsaminia, which was commissioned by the “Eufonija” Festival exclusively for this event. Two other world premieres were presented at the event: "Turquoise" by European composer Snežana Nešic and "Missed Calls" by Svetozar Nesic. In addition the festival included masterclasses by Mie Miki (Japan) and Snežana Nešic (Germany). |
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Rita Davidison Barnea is the New AAA Secretary - USAby Harley Jones |
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 At the May 10, 2022 AAA Board meeting, Rita Davidson Barnea, was appointed the Secretary of the AAA.Rita has been a member of the AAA Board since 2001. Additionally, for over 14 years, Rita has served as the National Editor of AccordionUSA, covering accordion events, artists, concerts, etc. which take place on the North American continent. Rita Barnea also presents workshops and concerts on the "Life and Music of Eugene Ettore" ”The Use of the Accordion in the Teaching of Music in School”, and "How to Organize a Children's Birthday Party" centered around the use of the accordion. Rita has also performed in recitals, concerts, workshops, and at accordion festivals throughout the US. Rita retired from a 30 year career as a public school music teacher in West Orange, New Jersey where she used her accordion every day. Rita had the opportunity to perform with the New Jersey Intergenerational Orchestra at the United Nations several years ago in New York City where she premiered “Concert Waltz for Accordion and Strings” composed by Gary Daverne. She has also performed Eugene Ettore’s “Manhattan Concerto” with two symphony orchestras. Rita said, “I feel very honored that I was given the opportunity to perform his concerto with an orchestra.” Her “Music of Eugene Ettore” album is now a free download at: http://www.musicforaccordion.com/eTracks/inform/davidson/index.htm |
4th International Accordion Competition in Solec Kujawski – Polandby Christine Johnstone |
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| The 4th International Accordion Competition will be held in the Concert Hall named after Kazimierz Serocki and in the Concert Hall named after Irena Santor at the Frederic Chopin Primary Music School in Solec Kujawski, Poland from June 2nd to 4th, 2022. The event is organised by the Society for Development "Music Education - the Way of Success" with co-organisers the Marshal Office of Kujawsko- Pomorskie Voivodship, the Solec Kujawski Town and Commune Office, and the Frederic Chopin Primary Music School in Solec Kujawski. The Competition Director is Wieslaw Nowak. The competition is aimed at students from 1st and 2nd degree music schools with a variety of solo age categories and accordion ensembles from duos to orchestras. A variety of concerts will be held at the Culture Centre Concert Hall in Solec Kujawski. For details email: konkursy@psm.soleckujawski.pl |
Nikola Djoric Performs Piazzolla's "Aconcagua" - Austriaby Dr Herbert Scheibenreif Manager of Friedrich Lips Productions |
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| Accordionist Nikola Djoric was invited to perform Piazzolla's concerto for bandoneon, piano and strings at a recent concert given by the Mödlinger Symphonisches Orchester under Daniel Auner in Burg Perchtoldsdorf, Austria. In addition to Piazzolla, the concert featured hits from film music by Alfred Newman, John Williams, Nino Rota, Wojciech Kilar and Hans Zimmer. Piazzolla's Bandoneon Concerto (also called "Aconcagua" by the publisher Aldo Pagani because "this is the culmination of Astor's work and the highest mountain in South America, Aconcagua") was composed in 1979. Piazzolla was at the peak of his musical creativity when he wrote this concerto for Simón Blech, a Polish conductor who was successful in Argentina. The character of a Chopin nocturne in the slow second movement of the concerto is a – unconscious or conscious – reverence for the Polish client. The concerto consists of three movements in the classical scheme fast-slow-fast. The soloist sets in immediately with a sharply focused tango, punctuated by harp and percussion under powerful string chords. The first movement, Allegro Moderato, contains a singing middle section and two cadenzas. The lyrical Moderato second movement begins with the bandoneon alone, finally joined by the harp in an elegantly reflective duet. After an exciting climax, the movement ends with a gentle restatement of the opening theme. The third movement Presto has much in common with 'La muerte del ángel' - the initial walking bass line, the rhythmically offset upward leaps of the solo entry. This finale is based on a very danceable street tango that Piazzolla first used in his soundtrack for the film Con alma y vida. "I didn't know how to end it," said Piazzolla. "And then I said to myself: I'll give them a tango, so that the scholars know that if I want to, I can write as they do, and if I want to, I can do my thing." At the end there is a slow, tender voice melodically pulsating tango, which then dissolves into a final rage that is almost pure rhythm: "Melancolico Final". |
Results: Online BCA 2022 Anniversary Festival & Competition – UKby Christine Johnstone |
  Video: Marec Pricopneac (Moldova)The British College of Accordionists (BCA), Principal Raymond Bodell (photo right) held their 2022 Anniversary Festival online this year in May. The event included a National Graded solo competition for each of the 12 examination grades, and an International Competition for soloists of all ages as well as junior and senior ensembles. Presidents of the 2022 International Jury were Andriy Dushniy and Igor Sayenko. Winner of the Senior Classical Category A: Marec Pricopneac (Moldova). Winner of the Junior Classical Category B: Dimitrije Knezevic (Montenegro). See BCA for full results list. |
Fun Video: Goin’ Up (Great Big Sea) by “Just Because” Duo - Canadaby Christine Johnstone |
| We hope you enjoy this fun video Goin' Up (Great Big Sea) by the “Just Because” duo which includes Terry Brooks (guitar) & Susanne Kozo (accordion) from Canada. |
Results: Online Accordion Star International Competition 2022by Christine Johnstone |
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| Video: Results for Accordion Star International Competition Categories 5 (16 & under), 6 (19 and Under) and 7 (19-36). The online Accordion Star International Competition 2022 was held last weekend from May 17th to 22nd. Competitors of all ages and levels from the USA, Canada, Italy, Germany, China, Ukraine, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Moldova, Norway, Sweden, Serbia, Kazakhstan, Russia, Latvia, Lithuania, Belarus, Croatia, Poland, Austria, Israel, Spain, India, Bulgaria, South Africa took part in 13 different categories. Further results are available on social media platforms. |
Future events |
“Tango at Truth” Concert – South Africaby Christine Johnstone |
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| The Cape Town Tango Ensemble, which features accordionist Stanislav Angelov, will perform a concert at Truth Coffee Roasting in Cape Town, South Africa on 29th May, 2022 from 4pm to 7pm. The event will include an afternoon of live tango music and dancing. For details email: music@goodmusic.co.za |
Sophie Herzog & Piotr Motyka “Accordion Meets Classic” Concert – Italyby Christine Johnstone |
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| Accordionists Sophie Herzog & Piotr Motyka will perform two concerts entitled “Accordion Meets Classic” in Brunnenburg Tirol and at the Castel Fontana in Merano, Tirol, Italy on June 3rd, 2022. See poster for details. |
“U’Elements” Perform “Hello Music” Concert – Lithuaniaby Christine Johnstone |
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| “U’Elements” will perform a concert at the third classical music and jazz distribution project “Hello Music”, held at the Ciobiškis Manor in Širvintos, Lithuania on June 4th, 2022. U’Elements is an instrumental band uniting Lithuanian, Latvian and Armenian musicians which includes Povilas Velikis (accordion & synthesizer), Dmitrijs Mihailovs (accordion, synthesizer & piano), Arman Isojan (double bass) and Mihails Novikovs (drums). Their program will include pieces by Frank Sinatra, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Leonard Cohen among others. For details email: uelements@uelements.band |
Andreas Nebl Performs with Salonorchester Baden-Baden – Germanyby Christine Johnstone |
  Andreas Nebl (picture above) will perform a concert with the Salonorchester Baden-Baden (picture above right), which includes members of the SWR Symphonic Orchestra on June 5th, 2022 at 2.30pm.The group will entertain with light music in the concert shell in front of the Kurhaus (Casino) in Baden-Baden, Baden-Württemberg, Germany. |
Michael Bridge “Esprit Live 2022” Concert - Canadaby Christine Johnstone |
  Accordionist Michael Bridge will perform at the “Esprit Live 2022” concert held at the Koerner Hall in Toronto, Canada on June 9th, 2022 at 8pm, with a pre-concert talk at 7pm.The event will feature the Canadian premiere of Sofia Gubaidulina’s accordion concerto “Fachwerk”, with the Esprit Orchestra conducted by Alex Pauk. “The concerto is scored for accordion soloist, string orchestra, and percussion and has been performed hundreds of times around the world, but not yet in Canada. Fachwerk literally means “Wooden Scaffolding” and refers to a style of German architecture where the structural wooden beams are exposed and the joints are visible, forming crosses. The modern concert accordion has several button layouts on one instrument; Gubaidulina’s idea was for the accordionist to play the same button sequence with both hands, but on different button systems so that the mirrored actions produce different tones. Gubaidulina then found an ingenious way to turn this concept into a beautiful cadenza, by locating starting points for each hand that, when layered, sound haunting, austere, and sublime. Hence, she recounts, “The accordion itself wrote the cadenza,” from which the entire concerto blossomed”. The concert program will also include “Sanctuary” by Alison Yun-Fei Jiang and “Polaris” by Thomas Adès. For details email: michael@michaelbridgemusic.com |
Live & Online: Italian Tunes Weekend, Scotland - UKby Christine Johnstone |
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| Ian Lowthian will run an Italian Tunes Weekend which will be live in-person and on Zoom on 11th and 12th June, 2022. The weekend will take place in Ettrickbridge, Scotland and include some well known classics, polkas and tarantellas. For details email: ianlowthian@yahoo.co.uk |
International Accordion Seminars in July, Paris – Franceby Christine Johnstone |
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| International Accordion Seminars will be held by Frederic Deschamps in La Selle-Sur-Le-Bied, Paris, Central France from 4th to 9th July and from 25th to 30th July, 2022. The event is for all levels, ages and musical styles. See poster for details. Email: ratinachampeix@gmail.com |
Links to Previous News Still Current |
List of Linksby AWW |
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2022 Coupe Mondiale, October 04 - 09, Switzerland News Link |
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Buy last stock at old price, "The Art of Accordion Playing" by Friedrich Lips News Link |
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80th Anniversary ATG: July 20-24, Chicago News Link |
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Steirische Harmonika WM 2022 News Link |
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Accordion Reed Production Article Link |
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2021 Coupe Mondiale Report and Video of all contestants Report Link |
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Chronology of Production of Italian Accordions Article Link |
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2022 Dr William Schimmel’s Accordion Seminars, July 29-31, NY News Link |
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Serenellini Know the People Interview News Link |
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2022 AAA Recent publications, USA News Link |
New and Updated Sites |
More 2022 World Accordion Day (WAD) Reports Online - Internationalby Harley Jones |
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 There are more reports and video online which you can view at: World Accordion Day (WAD)Enjoy the worldwide WAD celebrations. |
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