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Highlights |
2011 AAA Festival Includes Int. Accordion Orchestra Competition - USA
Martynas Levickis Makes Accordion A Winner, ‘Lithuania’s Got Talent’ – Lithuania
Frank Marocco's 80th Birthday Celebration!, Arizona – USA
Exposition: ‘History of the Accordion’, Forni Avoltri - Italy
Reports for Concerts, Masterclasses, Competitions, Festivals, etc. |
HEMU Admissions, Lausanne - Switzerland
Frédéric Deschamps Masterclasses, Masefield/Adragana Concert, Shanghai - China
New CD ‘Barrowburn’, Scotland – UK
‘14 Years Ago’ – Guy Kluscevsek meets the novelist E. Annie Proulx - USA
Future events |
36th International Accordion Competition, Pula – Croatia
‘MA'S En Tango’ Live in Rome – Italy
II International Festival "Accordion Plus” in Rostov - Russia
8th ‘Star Ways’ Competition, Kragujevac – Serbia
Emilio Solla with Victor Prieto Concerts, New York, Philadelphia – USA
New Classical Accordion Course, Pescara - Italy
NAO North Central Area Accordion Championships and Yorkshire Music Festival - UK
New and Updated Sites |
Coupe Mondiale Website Update
CIA Website Update
CD Reviews |
Help Desk, Information needed, Readers CommentsSubmit Your Question, CommentSUBMIT NOW |
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Highlights |
2011 Coupe Mondiale Rules and Regulations Online - Chinaby Harley Jones |
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 CIA President, Raymond Bodell looks forward to welcoming you to the to the 64th Coupe Mondiale and the 126th CIA International General Assembly of Delegates Congress in Shanghai, China, being hosted by the Accordion Association of Chinese Musicians Association (CAA) and the Shanghai Musicians Association. Chinese contacts on the Coupe Mondiale website are Prof. Li Cong (picture right), CIA 2011 Honorary Vice-President and Crystal Wang (picture right lower), CIA Organizer. The Rules and Regulations for the event being held in Shanghai 2-6 October 2011 are now online on the Coupe Mondiale website. There are 8 categories: - 64th Coupe Mondiale - Junior Coupe Mondiale - International Virtuoso Entertainment - Junior International Virtuoso Entertainment - International Competition for Piano Accordion - International Competition for Ensemble Music - International Competiton for Digital Accordion - Best New Original Work (classical) The event also features very attractively priced accommodation for competitiors and supporters. Full details will be online nearer the time. Entries will be available online from the 1st May and entries close: 20 August, 2011. For further information, view the Coupe Mondiale website. |
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2011 AAA Festival Includes Int. Accordion Orchestra Competition - USAby Mary Tokarski |
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| The American Accordionists' Association (AAA) is pleased to announce the 2011 AAA Festival will also include an International Accordion Orchestra Competition, scheduled for July 13th – 17th, at The Sheraton, Charleston, South Carolina. Considerable cash prizes are planned for this competition. The closing date for entries is February 28th. Click 2011AArules for Festival Contest Rules. The event also includes a trade show, workshops and concerts. On the Friday evening there will be massed bands performance, conducted by Frank Busso, at the Gala Concert. The Saturday evening concert will feature a Festival Orchestra, conducted by Joan Cochran Sommers, who will also receive a AAA Lifetime Achievement Award during the event. For further information view 2011AArules or the AAA website or email Mary Tokarski: mary.tokarski@comcast.net or Linda Reed at AAA1938@aol.com |
Martynas Levickis Makes Accordion A Winner, ‘Lithuania’s Got Talent’ – Lithuaniaby Esti Fernandez |
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 Martynas Levickis (20), Lithuanian born classical accordionist and currently studying at the Royal Academy of Music in London under Owen Murray, won the ‘Lithuania’s Got Talent 2010’ TV show contest earlier this January. To prepare for this contest Martynas had to travel from London to Vilnius every time he passed a round. As a student, this is no small task having to pay for extra air fare for his accompanying Pigini and often conflicting with his weekend job as a music teacher as well as his studies at the Royal Academy. Through the several rounds he presented a combination of lighter entertainment and classical music, including Vivaldi, Beethoven, Yan Tiersen, Piazzolla, John Lennon, etc, and cleverly mixed it with other Lithuanian pop music, which conquered the hearts of the TV voters proclaiming him the winner. His winning is remarkable because he competed against 50 other contestants with a variety of different skills. There were acrobats, pianists, lyrical singers, rappers, boy and girl pop bands, gymnasts, rock singers, and many more. Some of them were very talented, especially all those who made it to the final, but Martynas, a virtuoso, modern and charismatic performer, took the lead amongst them all. This is an extraordinary achievement for the accordion community. Here are links to his ‘Lithuania’s Got Talent’ performances: http://www.accordion-space4u.com/user.aspx?user=2&item=6&id=185 http://www.accordion-space4u.com/user.aspx?user=2&item=6&id=186 http://www.accordion-space4u.com/user.aspx?user=2&item=6&id=187 |
Frank Marocco's 80th Birthday Celebration!, Arizona – USAby Rob Howard |
 Leading US jazz accordionist Frank Marocco's 80th birthday was celebrated in style on Saturday January 15th at the annual Frank Marocco Accordion Event in Mesa, Arizona. Special guest artist Eddie Monteiro put on a dazzling display, and Eddie and Frank playing together were amazing! Stas Venglevski, Vladimir Mollov, Gabe Hall-Rodriguez, Amy Jo Sawyer, and John Simkus also contributed thrilling performances. No less than 60 accordionists, under the direction of Frank Marocco, performed a special programme on Sunday evening, January 16th. Present were Elke Ehrenholz, of Victoria Accordions, and her family, from Castelfidaro, Italy, amongst many other accordion friends. This memorable event was organised by Joan and Dan Grauman. Frank Marocco (born January 2nd 1931), also a composer and arranger, is one of the most recorded accordionists in the world, having contributed to over 500 movie soundtracks in addition to numerous audio recordings made under his own name. |
Exposition: ‘History of the Accordion’, Forni Avoltri - Italyby Holda Paoletti-Kampl |
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  In the Town Hall of Forni Avoltri an Exposition: ‘History of the Accordion’ will open on Saturday January 29th at 6 pm in the presence of the local authorities.Over 30 instruments from the 18th Century until today, including diatonic, chromatic and piano accordions, and concertinas, from different parts of the world will be exhibited. The exhibition also has a display of explanatory tables about the origins and evolution of the instruments. The exhibition is organized by Denis Biasini, with the support of Proloco Forni Avoltri, the band Vitale di Forni, and the city administration. Admission is free every day from 09.30/12.30-15.00-18.00 and Sunday 9.30 to 12.30, and will be open to the public until March 13th. For this period the local restaurants and Forni Avoltri offer typical menus of the traditional Carnica area with fresh herbs, accompanied by the sound of the accordion. Accordionist Verzin Gabriele will entertain guests during the opening ceremony. For information Tourist Info Pro Forni Avoltri 0433-72202 or email: infoforniavoltri@libero.it |
Reports for Concerts, Masterclasses, Competitions, Festivals, etc. |
Stockport Accordion Club’s ‘President’s Night’ Concert, Cheshire – UKby Rob Howard |
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| The ‘President’s Night’ concert at Stockport Accordion Club on January 26th proved to be a fantastic evening, filled with a variety of players and styles. The music included Scottish, Irish, French, Latin, jazz, and classical pieces – including compositions by Pietro Frosini, Richard Galliano, Matyas Seiber, Smetana, Henry Mancini, Fats Waller, Leybach, and Curt Mahr. The Stockport AC Band (MD Tony Ainscough) and Orchestra (MD Brian Jenkins) opened the concert, followed by Rob Howard, Damian Kujawski, Brennan Wilson, duet: Leo Hickey/John Curvis, duet: Norbert/Dorothy, Tony Wynroe, Helen Berta, Martina Hall, Walter Perrie, Phil Watson, quartet: John Trigg/Derek Pritchard/Adrienne Sharpe/Chris Green, quartet: John Trigg/Tony and Diana Ainscough/Betty Molloy, Pearl Fawcett-Adriano, and Johnny Coleclough. Stockport AC President Johnny Coleclough finished off a most enjoyable evening by leading all the players together in a mass rendition of ‘Spanish Eyes’, followed by ‘Scotland the Brave’, and other lively Gay Gordons tunes. For further information email: robaccord5@hotmail.com |
HEMU Admissions, Lausanne - Switzerlandby Harley Jones |
 HEMU School of Music in Lausanne, Switzerland, is organising its admissions on April 13th. The schedule of studies offered includes the accordion, taught by Stéphane Chapuis. The studies offered by HEMU allow students to acquire the two main degrees of higher education, the Bachelor and the Master. As a supplement, leading to a professional career in various fields of music, HEMU offers several advanced adult continuing education programmes. The quality of education at HEMU is assured by membership of HEMU to the Association European of Conservatories (AEC), who guarantee the quality of studies. Studies in HEMU are divided into two cycles. The first cycle, the Bachelor (BA), lasts in principle three years and counts 180 credits. The BA (Bachelor Arts in Music), is necessary to enter the second cycle of studies, for a Masters degree. The Masters is a two year course. For further information email: stephane.chapuis@bluewin.ch |
Frédéric Deschamps Masterclasses, Masefield/Adragana Concert, Shanghai - Chinaby Harley Jones |
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| Frédéric Deschamps was invited by Prof. Li Cong (front row right) and Crystal Wang (front row left) of the Music College of Shanghai Normal University (SHNU) for master classes in preparation for the 2011 Coupe Mondiale which is being hosted in Shanghai, 2-6 October. Frederic Deschamps is currently "Guest Teacher" at the SHNU for a period of 2 years and travels there several times a year for master classes with lessons by Skype in between. Grayson Masefield (NZ – winner of Trophée Mondial 2010, Coupe Mondiale Entertainment and Classical and Primuus Ikaalinen, Finland during 2009, etc.) and Pietro Adragna (Italy – winnner Trophée Mondial Variety 2009 and Primus Ikaalininen 2010) accompanied their teacher Frédéric Deschamps to Shanghai. Grayson Masefield and Pietro Adragna were performing the Opening Concert for the master classes and also assisting with the tutoring. It was the first time that these two young artists had co-hosted a master class and in the opinion of all (students and professors), they did a great job. Previous to the week in Shanghai, the two artists had participated in a masterclass by Frederic Deschamps near Paris where they were apprentice teachers, teaching under the watchful eye of their teacher who trained and guided their actions. Picture below: Pietro Adragna, Frédéric Deschamps, Grayson Masefield |
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New CD ‘Barrowburn’, Scotland – UKby Rob Howard |
 Accordionist Gary Forrest and fiddle player Roddy Matthews, both from the Borders region, combine to play Scottish traditional dance tunes plus some new compositions on the new CD ‘Barrowburn’. A review states: “Rousing stuff on 'box & fiddle', and not without thought, some 'jazzy' touches & oomph. Two highly rated and experienced players from the Borders deliver a beefy and dynamic selection of sounds”.For further Information email: support@allcelticmusic.com |
‘14 Years Ago’ – Guy Kluscevsek meets the novelist E. Annie Proulx - USAby Rob Howard |
 The Accordions Worldwide news for the week ending January 24th 1997 reported that the American accordionist Guy Kluscevsek had recorded the musical soundtrack for the audio version of E. Annie Proulx’s best selling novel ‘Accordion Crimes’. This unique story is still available, both as a book and in CD format.GUY KLUSCEVSEK SOLVES ACCORDION CRIMES Contributed by Faithe Deffner, President of the American Accordionists' Association ‘Accordion Crimes’, a book by Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist E. Annie Proulx, connects the lives of a series of immigrants who each coax music from the same little green accordion, carrying it from Iowa to Texas, from Maine to Louisiana, as they search for the better life promised by their new land. "The music of the accordion is their last link with the past - a voice for their fantasies, sorrows and exuberance." How fitting that the recorded audio version of ‘Accordion Crimes’ should weave the strains of an accordion, played by Guy Kluscevsek, into the book reading. Kluscevsek is masterful in making his music, echoing the many moods of the story. At the author's readings which took place in conjunction with book signings throughout the US, Proulx invariably insisted on including music by a local accordionist to bring excitement and realism to the event. |
Future events |
Mika Väyrynen to perform with Copenhagen Philharmonic, Copenhagen - Denmarkby Kevin Friedrich |
 Finnish accordionist Mika Väyrynen will perform as guest soloist on two concerts with the Copenhagen Philharmonic (Sjællands Symfoniorkester) on February 3rd and 4th. Mika Väyrynen will perform the Concerto for Accordion and Symphony Orchestra ‘Prophecy’, by world-renowned Estonian composer Erkki-Sven Tüür, under the direction of Okko Kamu. The Copenhagen Philharmonic history dates back to 1843 when a small orchestra performed at the opening of the Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen, and has performed every year since. In 1965 the orchestra became full time and has since featured a long list or famous conductors and soloists. In addition to the work featuring Mika Väyrynen as soloist by Tüür, the program will include ‘Symphony No. 3’, by Sibelius, and ‘Till Eulenspiegel’, by R. Strauss. |
36th International Accordion Competition, Pula – Croatiaby Harley Jones |
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| ?The 36th International Accordion Competition takes place in Pula, Croatia, from April 19th to 22nd. The various different age sections include categories for solo (stradella and free bass instruments), chamber ensembles and orchestras – full details are now available. Competition awards include the ‘City of Pula’ cups for the soloist, chamber ensemble and orchestra scoring the highest marks; money prizes, bowls, diplomas and certificates are also awarded. Registration form to be sent by March 18th, and the registration fee to be paid by bank transfer by April 8th. For further information email: okud.istra@pu.t-com.hr |
‘MA'S En Tango’ Live in Rome – Italyby Holda Paoletti-Kampl |
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| The trio ‘MA'S En Tango’, composed of Salvatore Cauteruccio (accordion), Sasa Calabrese (bass) and Fabrizio La Fauci (drums) will perform three concerts in 3 major jazz clubs in the capital of Italy in February. The group has a repertoire of original songs and jazz tango classic tango by well known composers. Dates include: February 8th – Bros, via G.Mameli , Trastevere, Rome February 9th - 28Divino Jazz Club, via Mirandola, Rome February 10th – Good Caffe, via S.Dorotea, Trastevere, Rome For further Information email: info@salvatorecauteruccio.it |
II International Festival "Accordion Plus” in Rostov - Russiaby Alexander Poeluev |
 Photo left: Renzo Ruggieri, Alexander Poeluev, Doncy group, Foggy Dew group.The opening concert of the II International Festival "Accordion Plus” takes place on the 29th March 18.00 at the Great Hall, Rostov State Musical Theatre. First half performers include the winner of international competitions Alexander Poeluev and the 'New-Centropezn' Jazz Quartet. This concert also celebrates the 65th birthday of famous artist and composer Viatcheslav Semionov. Second half features the world premiere of 'Jazz - a project of the Opera?' by master accordionist and composer Renzo Ruggeri. Performing with Renzo Ruggieri will be the 'New-Centropezn' jazz quartet, a string band from the Symphony Orchestra of the Rostov Musical Theatre and actor Nikolay Hanzharov. On 30th March, 18.00 in the same Great Hall, first half, is the Rostov State Regional Philharmonic performing an Anniversary Concert with Honoured Artist of Ukraine, professor of Odessa Music Academy Nezhdanova, Vladimir Murza. The second half of the concert features laureate of international competitions and festivals, the ensemble "Liritsa" from Gomel, Belarus. 31 March, Closing concert, 18.00 Great Hall, Rostov Academic Drama Theatre. The first half will feature performances by the winners of the competition categories plus well known groups 'Doncy' and Irish music 'Foggy Dew'. The second half Parade of Artists will include the Verano quintet, 'Liritsa', Vladimir Murza, Renzo Ruggeri,'New-Centropezn' jazz quartet. |
8th ‘Star Ways’ Competition, Kragujevac – Serbiaby Rob Howard |
| The 8th ‘Star Ways’ international competition for young accordionists takes place in Kragujevac, Serbia, from March 29th – April 3rd. The competition is organized jointly by the the concert agency AD LIBITUM and the Kragujevac Music School, and the Competition Director is Professor Radomir Tomic. Full details are now available. Entry forms must be sent by * email (ad_libitum_kg@hotmail.com) or by * fax 00381 34 305135 or by * post to address: AD LIBITUM II srpski ustanak 29, 34000 Kragujevac, Serbia, not latter than March 1st 2011. All participants and teachers will receive Diplomas for taking part in the competition. For further information email: ad_libitum_kg@hotmail.com |
Emilio Solla with Victor Prieto Concerts, New York, Philadelphia – USAby Rob Howard |
 The band Emilio Solla y La Inestable de Brooklyn perform every Monday evening until April 2011 at the Miles Cafe, New York. The personnel is: Emilio Solla - piano, composer and MD, Victor Prieto – accordion, John Ellis - tenor, flute and bass clarinet, Tim Armacost, tenor, soprano and clarinet, Alex Norris, trumpet and flugelhorn, Eric Doob – trombone, Sara Caswell – violin, Jorge Roeder - double bass, and Eric Doob - drums.Emilio Solla and the NY Jazz tango Conspiracy perform on January 28th and 29th at Smalls, NY, and on February 5th at the Painted Bride Art Center, Philadelphia. The personnel includes Emilio Solla - piano, composer and MD, Victor Prieto – accordion, Chris Cheek – sax, Jorge Roeder – bass, and Richie Barshay – drums. For further information email: victorprieto2001@yahoo.com |
New Classical Accordion Course, Pescara - Italyby Rob Howard |
  The internationally well-known accordionist Claudio Jacomucci is the teacher of a new academic course at the ‘Luisa D'Annunzio’ Conservatory of Music in Pescara. Subscriptions are now open, until February 2nd 2011. Admission test: February 3rd at 11am.For further information email: info@claudiojacomucci.com |
NAO North Central Area Accordion Championships and Yorkshire Music Festival - UKby Anna Bodell of Charnwood Publications |
  On 12th February 2011 the Victoria Hall Saltaire is venue for the NAO North Central Area Championships including the Yorkshire Music Festival. It will once again been well supported by local and travelling entrants with people coming from East Lancashire, Scottish Boarders and the North Craven areas.This is the 15th consecutive year of the festival which has grown over the years providing a platform for musicians to experience the art of live performance at there respective levels, hosting both children and adults playing for the first time through to advanced musicians. Members of the Craven Accordion Orchestra work throughout the year to prepare for this event which includes prominent accordion adjudicators Raymond Bodell (NAO and CIA President), Ken and Wendy Farran (NAO Executive) and Craven Accordion Orchestra 1st Accordion Graham Waterhouse. Do not miss this opportunity to come along and listen to soloists, groups and orchestra free of charge. |
New and Updated Sites |
Accordion Russia News Site Opens - Russiaby Yulia Amerikova |
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| The Accordion Russia News website opened on January 15th 2011 and will be published monthly from February 1st 2011. |
Coupe Mondiale Website Updateby Kevin Friedrich, CIA Ambassador |
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| The Coupe Mondiale website has been updated with the categories, rules and regulations for the 2011 Coupe Mondiale being held in Shanghai China from 2-6 October, 2011. |
CIA Website Updateby Kevin Friedrich, CIA Ambassador |
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| Website update with information about the Confédération Internationale des Accordéonistes (CIA) holding their Winter Congress and 125th General Assembly of Delegates in Ikaalinen, Finland from March 4 - 6, 2011. |
CD Reviews |
Viva Voce CD Reviewby Joan C. Sommers |
 CD Reviews Index for the Review of Viva Voce CD by Joan Sommers. Performer is Friedrich Lips. Review in English and German languages. |
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