Highlights |
Reports for Concerts, Masterclasses, Competitions, Festivals, etc. |
Future events |
New and Updated Sites |
CD Reviews |
Help Desk, Information needed, Readers CommentsSubmit Your Question, CommentSUBMIT NOW |
Random video 4UWatch the video |
Highlights |
Pietro Adragna Wins 5th Roland International V-Accordion Competition, Rome - Italyby Rob Howard |
Italy’s Pietro Adragna (picture left) won the 5th International V-Accordion Competition, organized by the Roland company on October 21st and 22nd. Daily Reports are online at 2011 Rome Festival. Read in detail about the competitors, the jury, guests and results. There were competitors from 14 countries, including Italy, UK, USA, Germany, Hungary, Brazil, Canada, Spain, Russia, France, Netherlands, Japan and China. Adjudication took into account the best technical skills, musical interpretation, and ability to exploit the potential of digital accordions. The international jury included Raymond Bodell (UK), Sam Falcetti (USA), Graham Laurie (UK), Joseph Macerello (Canada), Kimmo Mattila (Finland), and Andreas Nebl (Germany). The winner was Pietro Adragna with 166.4 points, 2nd Matthias Matzke (Germany) with 165.8, and 3rd Qi Ma (China) with 164. The latter won the Ron Lankford Award, chosen by a panel of journalists. The evening concert opened with the talented brothers Alessandro and Gabriele Guglielmi, 9 and 11 years of age, who performed a program of complex classical music for diatonic accordion. ‘Taranta’, a folk dance group, featuring Danilo Di Paolonicola on Roland V Accordion also performed, and the hostess was actress and singer Mascia Foschi, who was accompanied by Sergio Scappini. Roland have confirmed that the 6th festival will again be held at the same venue in Rome. Daily Reports are online at 2011 Rome Festival. Read in detail about the competitors, the jury, guests and results. Picture below, left to right: Luigi Bruti Marketing Director of the Accordion Division Roland Europe; 3rd place Ma Qi (China); 1st place Pietro Adragna (Italy); Alfredo Maroni, Roland Europe President and 2nd place Matthias Matzke (Germany). |
Las Vegas International Accordion Convention, Nevada – USAby Rob Howard |
This year’s Las Vegas International Accordion Convention, organized by Paul Pasquali, takes place from October 31st to November 3rd at the Gold Coast Casino Hotel, 4000 West Flamingo Rd, Las Vegas. The event begins with a Masquerade Dinner Concert, featuring Peter and Mady Soave, Mario Tacca and Mary Mancini, and Bruce Gassman. There are more than 50 workshops and classes scheduled. Dr. Ian Blair Fries, MD, an orthopedic surgeon, is a new addition and will offer a unique workshop on the anatomy of the hand and the accordion. Other concerts during the week involve Frank Marocco, Alexander Sevastian, the Soundscape Accordion Trio, Mary Tokarski, and Angelo Di Pippo with the Accordion Kings. The grand finale on Thursday evening will feature a 52 piece accordion orchestra with full symphony percussion, the Fourth Annual Las Vegas International Accordion Orchestra, conducted by Joan Cochran Sommers. Registration is open until 5pm on October 26th, and there is still time to become part of this event. Registration options are online at www.accordionstars.com. For further information visit the Las Vegas International Accordion Convention website. |
Beltango Quintet Shows – Serbia, Franceby Harley Jones |
The Beltango Quintet (Serbia) are one of the most dynamic tango groups, renowned for their shows of fine music, song and dance, which have been so very popular, wherever in the world they have toured. In the first week of November, Beltango perform in concert at the Belgrade Tango Festival 2011, followed by appearances at the Festival Du Tango Au Lazaret in France. Concert details are: November 3rd, 8pm - Kolarac Concert Hall, Belgrade November 5th, 8pm - Central Military Club, Belgrade Hotel Royal, Music School "Dr Vojislav Vuckovic", November 11th and 12th, 10pm - Festival Du Tango Au Lazaret, Strasbourg, France “I am proud that the band such as Beltango exists in the world, and plays the music of my father the way it should be played. Obviously, my father’s music is completely universal, and Beltango proves it by their marvelous interpretations.” Daniel Piazzolla, Buenos Aires, Argentina. Pictured are Aleksandar Nikolic (bandoneon/accordion), Ivana Nikolic (piano/vocal), Jovan Bogosavljevic (violin), Bogdan Pejic (electric guitar) and Ljubinko Lazic (double bass). For further information email: info@beltango.com Trilogia Triple CD Pack available online at Beltango |
All Scotland Accordion & Fiddle Festival, Perth – UKby Rob Howard |
The 62nd All Scotland Accordion & Fiddle Festival takes place at The Salutation Hotel, Perth, Scotland, on Saturday October 29th. The festival begins with a welcome ceilidh during the evening of October 28th, to the music of the Iain Anderson Scottish Dance Band. The following day is a full day of competitions for accordion and fiddle, involving mainly solo sections, plus trio and band categories. The accordion adjudicators are Ian Muir, Scott Gordon, Tom Orr and James Coutts. There will be a Grand Finale concert, 4.30 to 6pm, featuring accordion duo Gary Blair Senior and Junior, Bryan Gear (fiddle) accompanied by pianist Violet Tulloch, and Iain Cathcart and his Broadcasting Band. The Saturday evening final dance (run by Perth and District Accordion & Fiddle Club) will be to the music of the Neil Hardie SCDB. |
Reports for Concerts, Masterclasses, Competitions, Festivals, etc. |
Paddy O'Brien CD ‘Mixing The Punch’, Offaly – Republic of Irelandby Rob Howard |
Paddy O'Brien, from County Offaly, All Ireland diatonic button accordion champion in 1975, has just released ‘Mixing The Punch’, his second solo recording. Playing his 1947 Paolo Soprani accordion, Paddy is accompanied by Teresa Baker, a pianist from Portland, Oregon, USA. Fellow Offalyman, Felim Egan, from Cloghan, plays a selection of jigs on solo accordion as a guest artist. The 17 tracks include - Reels: The Tinker's Occupation/The Rambling Reel; Jigs: The Hearty Boys of Ballymote/Young Tom Ennis; Reels: Tossing the Feathers in County Clare/The Shores of Donegal; Reels: Seán Ryan's/Bitin' Bread and Aitin' It; Jigs: The Trip to Galway/Mixing the Punch; Slow Air: The Flight of the Wild Geese; Reels: Arthur Darley's/The Glen of Aherlow; Jigs (Felim Egan solo): Michael Doherty's/The Western Road; Polkas: The Wooden City Polkas; Reels: Connemara Stockings/The Union Reel; Jigs: Apples in Winter/Sliabh Russell; Reels: The Fashion that the Ladies Wore/Cormac Lunny's; Hornpipes: Poll Ha'penny/Gerry Egan's; Jigs: The Humours of Rahey/The Rambling Pitchfork; Reels: Imelda Roland's/The Flags of Dublin/Paddy from Donegal; Jigs: The Boys of the Town/The Hag with the Money; Reels: The Crosses of Annagh/Tom Doherty's For further information email: support@allcelticmusic.com |
‘14 Years Ago’ – Busking in Singapore made legal in 1997by Rob Howard |
The Accordions Worldwide news for October 24th 1997 included a true story concerning Leo Lim Peng Hor, a disabled accordionist whose problems with the city authorities in Singapore about busking in public happily resulted in licenses being issued. BLIND BUSKER AMONG FIRST TO SEEK LICENCE – SINGAPORE Southeast Asian newspaper "Straits Times" featured an article in early October on a blind busker Leo Lim Peng Hor, 38, who has performed illegally for 11 years and was among the first to apply for his busking licence. "I have three accordions and many harmonicas in the police station," he said of the times he was caught busking unlawfully in the Orchard Road underpass near the MRT station "Each time they only chased me away, but my instruments were confiscated.” He added: "I have been giving my feedback to the authorities since 1986 that busking should be legalised. I am glad they have finally acted. This is especially good news for me, as I am disabled." He thinks it a good idea that licences will be given to buskers linked with arts organisations and that what they collect has to go to the arts. He said he had, in any case, been donating about S$15,000 a year to various charities such as the NAC, the Singapore Association of the Visually Handicapped, and the Bishan Home for Intellectually Disabled. He also runs an entertainment company, Extra Touch Live Entertainment and Productions, which employs disabled performers. |
Future events |
‘Piaf - the songs’ Further Tour Dates – UKby Rob Howard |
The highly acclaimed theatre show ‘Piaf - the songs’, presented by vocalist Eve Loiseau, Fiona Barrow (violin) and Edward Jay (accordion) is on tour again. The new dates are: October 28th – Shirley Hall, Canterbury Festival November 9th - South Holland Centre, Spalding, Lincs November11th - The Courthouse, Otley, Yorkshire November 15th and 16th - Pavilion Theatre, Dome, Brighton November17th - Theatr Brycheiniog, Brecon, Wales November24th - The Forum Studio Theatre, Chester November 25th - Rosehill Theatre, Whitehaven November 26th - The Rose Theatre, Ormskirk December 8th - The Apex, Bury St Edmunds December 17th - Civic Hall, Barnsley January 21st, 2pm and 7.45pm - Festival Theatre, Chichester January 28th - Theatre Royal, Wakefield February 23rd – Playhouse, Alnwick, Northumberland February 24th – Tolbooth, Stirling, Scotland March 2nd – Lighthouse, Poole, Dorset There is now a CD of the show available; the songs include ‘Mon Dieu’, ‘Bal dans ma rue’, ‘Les Feuilles Mortes/Autumn Leaves’, ‘Mon Manege à Moi’, ‘L'Accordeoniste’, ‘Padam Padam’, ‘La Goualante du Pauvre Jean’, ‘L'Hymne à l'Amour’, ‘Sous le Ciel de Paris’, ‘Non, Je ne Regrette Rien’, ‘Milord’, ‘La Vie en Rose’, ‘La Foule’, ‘Les Mots d'Amour’, and ‘Les Flons Flons du bal’. For further information email: edward.jay@me.com |
João Gentil Concerts, Cantanhede, Buenos Aires – Portugal & Argentinaby Holda Paoletti-Kampl |
Accordionist João Gentil performs in concert with a string quartet at the Auditório do Museu da Pedra, Cantanhede, Coimbra, Portugal, on Sunday October 29th, 9.30pm. The repertoire includes music by Astor Piazzolla, Ennio Morricone, Richard Galliano, JS Bach, and Johann Brahms. João Gentil will visit Argentina, November 11th to 13th, where he will play accordion, bandoneon and accordina with a tango quartet at concerts in Buenos Aires and Rosario. For further information email: joaogentil1@gmail.com |
Tony Kearney Gigs, Weybridge, Swindon,London – UKby Rob Howard |
Irish diatonic button accordionist Tony Kearney’s gigs for late October include: October 28th – Set Dancing Ceili, Social Services Club, Weybridge, Surrey October 29th – Bakers Arms, Swindon, Wiltshire October 30th - Ceili, Irish Centre, Camden Town, London For further information email: starr63@gmail.com |
Accordion Pops Concert, Enschede – Netherlandsby Rob Howard |
On Saturday October 29th, 8pm, the accordion orchestra Accordeonvereniging Animato (MD Rene Bogt) perform in concert at the Theater Prismare in Enschede, Netherlands. The program will include music by ABBA, Simon & Garfunkle, and Michael Jackson, numbers associated with The Motion Trio, and ‘West Side Story’, by Leonard Bernstein. For further information email: info@animatohengelo.nl |
BCA/LSM Annual Concert, Birkirkara – Maltaby Joseph P. Grima |
The Santa Maria Accordion Band (MD Mrs. Marthese Busuttil Cassar L.B.C.A.) perform for the annual British College of Accordionists/Leicester School of Music concerts on October 29th and 30th, 5.30pm. These take place at St. Aloysius College, Birkirkara. The concerts will feature the music from Klaus Bodelt to Johann Strauss and Alexander Bodell (UK) has been invited as a guest performer. The Santa Maria Accordion Band, formed in 1992, play at celebrations, community events, festivals, church services, and national events. For further information email: josephpgrima@gmail.com |
Demo Roland V-Accordeon at CNIMA - Franceby Nathalie Boucheix, Director CNIMA J.Mornet |
Demo Roland V-Accordeon at CNIMA - France |
Zydeco @ Rock N’ Bowl, New Orleans – USAby Rob Howard |
The entertainment venue Rock N’ Bowl, 3000 South Carrollton Ave, New Orleans, Louisiana LA 70118, has several Zydeco artists booked, including: October 27th, 8.30pm - Nathan & the Zydeco Cha-Chas November 3rd, 8.30pm – Rosie Ledet 19th, 9.30pm – Rockin Dopsie Jr & the Zydeco Twisters 24th, 8.30pm – Geno Delafose & French Rockin Boogie |
Milos Milivojevic Concert, High Wycombe – UKby Rob Howard |
Accordionist Milos Milivojevic performs music by Vlasov, Piazzolla, Albeniz and others at All Saints' Church, High Street, High Wycombe, Bucks HP13 6RF on Tuesday November 1st, 1.10pm until 1.50pm. Admission is free. All Saints' Church is a beautiful 11th Century church in the centre of High Wycombe – ideal for an accordion recital. For further information email: jane.hunt06@gmail.com |
Semir Hasic Concert, Zagreb – Serbiaby Rob Howard |
Accordionist Semir Hasic performs in a concert titled ‘From Bach to Sevdaha’ on November 2nd 8pm at MD V.Lisinski Zagreb For further information email: semir.sammy.hasic@gmail.com |
Akkordeonorchester Unterpfaffenhofen e.V. Concert, Munich – Germanyby Rob Howard |
The Akkordeonorchester Unterpfaffenhofen e.V. perform in concert at the Stadthalle Germering, Orlandosaa, Munich, on November 6th, 5pm. For further information email: info@aou-ev.de |
‘Accordion Samurai’ Concerts – Belgium, Netherlands, Englandby Rob Howard |
Accordion Samurai’ are five diatonic accordionists: Didier Laloy (Belgium), Bruno Le Tron (France), David Munnelly (Ireland), Riccardo Tesi (Italy), and Markku Lepistö (Finland), who get together and tour and record occasionally. Forthcoming dates include: November 17th and 23rd, 8pm - ‘Accordion Samurai’ perform their international music at Toernee Mondial, Flanders, Belgium, Flanders. These concerts are part of a Womex festival. November 27th - Oosterpoort, Trompsingel 27 9724 DA Groningen, Netherlands December 11th – The Face Bar, Chatham St, Reading RG1 7JF, UK For further information email: support@songkick.com |
New and Updated Sites |
Franco Cambareri releasing 2 of his new musicby Franco Cambareri |
Franco Cambareri - accordionist, composer, producer, releases 2 new composition for accordion available for purchase nline. 'Swing With Me', catalog:cfranco144 and 'Smooth Rockin', catalog:cfranco145. The music is in eSheet format, able to be emailed to your computer. Purchase with credit card. |
November Accordion USA News Online 1st Novemberby Rita Davidson Barnea |
November Accordion USA News Online 1st November |
November 2011 Diatonic News Online 1st Novemberby Werner Weibert |
November 2011 Diatonic News Online 1st November |
November 2011 Accordion Russia News Online 1st Novemberby Alexander Selivanov |
November 2011 Accordion Russia News Online 1st November |
Charnwood Publishing New Websiteby Anna Bodell of Charnwood Publications |
Charnwood Publishing New Website is now online with updated shopping basket system and multi currency online credit card capture through secure server international Worldpay system. |
Karthause Schmulling New Websiteby Prof. Ulrich Schmülling of Karthause Schmülling |
Karthause Schmülling New Website has now online with updated shopping basket system and multi currency online credit card capture through secure server international Worldpay system. The owner of this Website is Ulrich Schmülling. |
CD Reviews |
“Russian Favourites” CD by Alexander Sevastianby Joan C. Sommers |
CD Reviews Index for the Review of ““Russian Favourites" CD, reviewed by Joan Cochran Sommers. Artist is Alexander Sevastian. |
Help Desk, Information needed, Readers CommentsSubmit Your Question, CommentSUBMIT NOW |