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Highlights |
Félicien Brut and Pierre Laval Go East!, Siberia – Russia
2008 An Exceptional Year for the Music School of Renzo Ruggieri – Italy
Reykjavik Accordion Festival – Iceland
Reports for Concerts, Masterclasses, Competitions, Festivals, etc. |
NAO Midlands Area Festival - UK
“A Revolution in the Way People Communicate” – USA
New CD ‘Spektrum Lab’, Saskatchewan – Canada
Accordion Premier of Michael Easton's Music - USA
Future events |
Mika Väyrynen in Norwegian ‘Piazzolla: Tango!’ Project
Klaus Paier and Asja Valcic on Tour – Germany, Austria
Gary Blair’s 10th ‘Tour Down South’, England – UK
Massimo Signorini Concert, Milan – Italy
AAMS Festival and Symposium, Pennsylvania – USA
Seeking Bandoneon Teacher, Florida - USA
New and Updated Sites |
H S Production New Music Releases
Yehuda Oppenheimer Updates 1 composition and 2 arrangements for acccordion
Charnwood Publications New Accordion Compositions
Finland Recordings selling a new CD
MusicForAccordion.com new eSheet Pieces
H S Production New Music Releases
Yehuda Oppenheimer Updates 1 composition for Accordion.
CD Reviews |
Help Desk, Information needed, Readers CommentsSubmit Your Question, CommentSUBMIT NOW |
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Highlights |
CIA to Hold Winter Congress in Bratislava - Slovakiaby Kevin Friedrich |
  The CIA will hold its 121st General Assembly of Delegates Winter Congress, in Bratislava, Slovakia from January 30th to February 1st 2009, hosted by CIA member the Methodical Centre of Accordion ‘Marta Szokeová’ (MCA), under the direction of CIA Vice President Tibor Racz.Delegates from CIA Member nations will meet to conduct the business of the CIA such as upcoming activities including the new World Accordion Day on May 6th as well as the 62nd Coupe Mondiale World Accordion Championships, which will feature the first ever category for Digital accordion, as well as the spectacular "World Accordion Orchestra III". For more information about the 2009 Coupe Mondiale visit the Coupe Mondiale website. For more information about the CIA including a report on the 2009 Winter Congress, please visit CIA website. |
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Félicien Brut and Pierre Laval Go East!, Siberia – Russiaby Holda Paoletti-Kampl |
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 From January 8th to 17th young French accordionists Félicien Brut and Pierre Laval visited Siberia with Roman Jbanov, Professor of CNIMA J.Mornet. First was the capital of Siberia, Novosibirsk, where from January 10th to 15th the Festival ‘Malanine’, dedicated to the accordion, especially traditional accordion, took place. The concert by Pierre and Félicien on Sunday evening January 11th, had more than 700 people in the audience. They were delighted to listen to the French solo and duet accordion and the characteristics of French culture. The meeting point for January 12th was the Novosibirsk jazz club ‘Trouba’, and on the 13th they met with young students of a French high school. During the festival a competition in different categories with more than 1,200 candidates from across Russia took place. Pierre Laval and Félicien Brut, in addition to their concerts, also took part in the contest and reached first place in their respective categories. On the January 16th, Roman and his two students left for the city of Kemerovo, 400 km southeast of Novosibirsk, where they were received by the Minister of Culture of Kouzbas, Mayor Kemerovo, the President of the Foundation of Young Prodigies Kouzbas, and the Director of the School of Music No. 1 Kemerovo, which has 750 students, including 250 accordionists. That afternoon, Roman Jbanov held a master class for over 100 teachers across Siberia, plus local and national press. That evening, Peter and Félicien gave their last concert of the tour in the Kemerovo Philharmonic in front of 600 spectators, which was another great success. After this trip, a cultural collaboration is planned between the cities of Kemerovo and Saint Sauves d'Auvergne (France). A dual French-Russian festival may also be introduced in these two cities from 2010 onwards. For further information email: duopm@orange.fr |
2008 An Exceptional Year for the Music School of Renzo Ruggieri – Italyby Holda Paoletti-Kampl |
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| On January 5th 2009 Mario D'Amario won the 3rd International Prize ‘Leo Ceroni’ in the Variété category; this is a particular competition for accordion with orchestra. This latest victory marked an exceptional year for the school of Renzo Ruggieri that saw his students successful in almost all major accordion competitions. To cite only the international competitions: 1st Prize at the Leo Ceroni (Riolo, Italy) for the category Varièté -Veronika Todorova 1st Prize at the Leo Ceroni (Riolo, Italy) category Popular - Antonio Spaccarotella 1st Prize in the competition International Atri, Italy, for Antonio Spaccarotella 1st Prize Primus Ikaalinen, Sata-Häme Soi Accordion Festival, Finland, for Mario d'Amario 1st Prize Trophy CMA category junior Varièté in Sarajevo, Bosnia, for Mario D'Amario 1st Prize in category Variété, Castelfidardo, Italy, for Antonio Spaccarotella In addition, there were many first prizes won in national competitions by other students. Renzo Ruggieri is director and founder of Art ‘Club Voglia D'arte’ - an organization of private schools that use a modern and original methods of teaching. For further information email: info@renzoruggieri.it |
Reykjavik Accordion Festival – Icelandby Rob Howard |
| The Reykjavik Accordion Festival 2009 will be held at the Árbæjarsafn, Reykjavík City Museum, over the weekend, July 18th and 19th. Special guests this year are Ottar Johansen, the well known Norwegian accordionist, once a student of the late Toralf Tollefsen, with Ivar Th. Dagenborg, a guitarist and the publisher of ‘Nygammmalt’, the Norwegian accordion magazine - the biggest magazine of its kind in Scandinavia. They will perform at The Reykjavík Museum, along with some of Iceland’s best accordion players, on the afternoon of Sunday July 16th. Later that evening, at 8pm, they will give a concert at the Nordic House in Reykjavík. For further information email: jonatank@internet.is |
Reports for Concerts, Masterclasses, Competitions, Festivals, etc. |
Further Successes for Royal Academy of Music Accordion Students - UKby Prof. Owen Murray |
  Rafal Luc received a very positive review in 'The Times' newspaper for his Royal Festival Hall, Purcell Room, recital in the Park Lane Group contemporary music series on January 6th. His performance of Gubaidulina's 'De Profundis' Ligeti', ‘Musica Ricercata', Giles Swayne' Squeezy' and Hans Abrahamsen’s 'Air' was described as: "It was Rafal Luc's deep engagement with the expressive potential of his instrument that distinguished his recital. He showed maturity beyond his 21 years”.Ksenija Siderova will be a finalist in the prestigious 'Royal Academy of Music Wigmore Award' on February 5th at the Wigmore Hall, London, at 1pm. Other finalists are basoon and piano, violin and piano; oboe and piano; soprano and piano and solo piano. It is the third time an RAM accordionist has been in the final of this competition in consecutive years, Milos Milivojevic and Borut Zagoranski also reached the final. The success of young accordionists in competitions involving instruments other than the accordion is tremendously positive and integrates the accordion into the classical music world. It is also worth noting that the standard of adjudication is highly qualified and professional. The adjudicator on this occasion was the distinguished pianist and teacher, Gordon Back. He will be joined in the final by the celebrated conductor Jan Pascal Tortelier. For further information email: murray@mail.dk |
NAO Midlands Area Festival - UKby Anna Bodell of Charnwood Publications |
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 The NAO Midlands Area Festival, a qualifier for the NAO UK Championships in Blackpool (24th - 26th April) was held on 25th January in Countesthorpe Leicestershire. The contest saw significant increase in contestants attracting all ages from 3 year old upwards and proved a great outing for many players tackling new repertoire and bodes well for the future.The highest solo mark was awarded by the principle adjudicator Raymond Bodell to Peter Ziemelis who is pictured receiving the Don Arnott Challenge award. Other outstanding performances were given by Alexander Bodell in the Virtuoso Entertainment and Simon Gardner, a pupil of Ingrid Gould from Birmingham. In the Mixed Instrumental Category the audience were entertained by a whole variety of Instruments including a harp, trumpet, violin, mandolin, recorders, bassoon and many others! The next NAO Area Festivals will be held on February 7th, the North Central Area in Saltaire West Yorkshire and the Northern Ireland Area in Larne. Full details of the NAO UK Championships and Results from this festival may be found on the NAO website. |
“A Revolution in the Way People Communicate” – USAby Harley Jones |
  USA citizens are choosing in their masses to use internet instead of the postal service, causing massive deficits, that could force the post office to cut out one day of mail delivery. Faced with dwindling mail volume and rising costs, the post office was $2.8 billion in the red last year. "If current trends continue, we could experience a net loss of $6 billion or more this fiscal year," Postmaster General John E. Potter said. The post office's problem is twofold, Potter explained. "A revolution in the way people communicate has structurally changed the way America uses the mail," with a shift from first-class letters to the internet for personal communications, photos and sound files, billings, payments, statements and business correspondence. Potter noted that the agency has cut costs by $1 billion per year since 2002, reduced its work force by 120,000, halted construction of new facilities, frozen executive salaries, reducing its headquarters work force by 15 percent, but the flood of people using internet instead of post, means even greater cuts are necessary. |
New CD ‘Spektrum Lab’, Saskatchewan – Canadaby Rob Howard |
 A new CD, ‘Spektrum Lab’, by Canadian accordionist Len Imbery has just been released. The CD’s publicity states: “This is not your Grandfather's accordion album! In fact you might not even notice an accordion in some of the tracks. ‘Spektrum Lab’ creates atmospheric sound scapes with a varied array of influences including Latin, Trance, World, and Electronica such that it's impossible to assign any particular genre to this collection of groove tunes. OK, It might be a bit over-the-top to meld traditional Irish Folk music to Bollywood in ‘A Guinness In Mumbai’, but you’re sure to find this collection of musical ‘curiosities’ refreshing and have you too thinking ‘Outside The Box’. The only musical input used in creating this collection was from samples, loops, and midi-equipped accordions. Produced, mastered, and engineered by Leonard Imbery”. For further information email: limbery@accesscomm.ca |
Accordion Premier of Michael Easton's Music - USAby Harley Jones |
 Members of the Rockford, Illinois Mendelssohn Society were treated on Thursday night to a concert which included the American premier of Australian composer Michael Easton's "An Australian in Paris", a work originally written for orchestra for a Naxos CD of Easton's work, which also included his accordion concerto. The work was commissioned and performed by Australian accordionist Bernadette. The accordion transcription from the piano score, was made by Bernadette, who is now living in the USA.Bernadette's recent concerts have included a great range of music, from classical to light pop and have included her singing. From classical soirees to church concerts, retirement villages, charity concerts etc., Bernadette aims to introduce her mid-Western audience to the accordion as a serious musical instrument, capable of classical and original works as well as ethnic music. |
Future events |
Bal Musette, Lille – Franceby Rob Howard |
| The Culture et Flonflons Flandres has organised a dance on Saturday January 31st, 8pm, at the Maison Wazemmes, Lille. The music will be provided by Wazlax is a septet, featuring accordionist Romuald Lefebvre. For further information email: communication@flonflons.eu |
Mika Väyrynen in Norwegian ‘Piazzolla: Tango!’ Projectby Kevin Friedrich |
 Renowned Finnish concert artist Mika Väyrynen will tour Norway from February 2nd to 9th, presenting a series of performances called ‘Piazzolla: Tango!’Performing works by composers such as Piazzolla and Gardel, Mika will perform on bandoneon with well known Norwegian violinist Atle Sponberg, who is respected for his high level performances of Tango, recorded with Juan Jose Mosalini, and is also the Concert Master of the Norwegian Radio Symphony Orchestra. Other instrumentalists include Sveinung Bjelland (piano) and Mats Eilertsen (bass), as well as a vocalist and two dancers. Tour dates and venues in Norway in February are: 2nd - Modum Bad, Modum 3rd - Elverum Kulturhus, Elverum 4th - Rådhusteateret, Ski 5th - Banken, Lillehammer 6th - Rica Klubben Hotel, Tonsberg 7th - Kongens gate 4, Oslo 7th - Bearum Kulturhus, Sandvika 8th - Cafe Abel, Oslo For further information visit the Mika Väyrynen website. |
Klaus Paier and Asja Valcic on Tour – Germany, Austriaby Rob Howard |
 Klaus Paier (accordion) and Asja Valcic (cello) perform together on a tour in February and March, as follows:February 6th, 9pm – Unterfahrt, Munich, Germany February 19th, 10pm - A-Train, Berlin February 26th, 10pm - Kulturgasthaus Bierstindl, Innsbruck, Austria February 27th, 10pm - Aula HS Lingenau, Lingenau/Vorarlberg February 28th, 10pm - Gotische Halle, Schloss Landeck, Tyrol March 4th, 9pm - Casa del Jazz , Rome, Italy March 5th, 10pm - Weinhaus Attwenger, Bad Ischl, Austria March 6th, 7.30pm - Sparkassensaal Musikschule, Neunkirchen March 7th, 8pm – Wengerwirt, Weng im Gesäuse March 9th, 7.30pm - Saal der Musikschule, Leibnitz March 10th, 8.30pm – Stockwerk, Graz March 11th, 8pm – Ehrbarsaal, Accordion Festival, Vienna March 12th, 8pm - Kultur Glas-Haus, Baumgartenberg/Perg March 13th, 8.30pm - Foyer MS Raab, Raab/OÖ March 14th, 8.30pm – Step, Völkermarkt March 15th, 7pm - Musik Theatercafe, Lesung, Klagenfurt March 27th, 8pm – Kino, Gaspoltshofen March 28th, 8pm – Jegelscheune, Wendelstein, Germany March 31st - Spring Jazz Festival, Zagreb, Croatia |
Gary Blair’s 10th ‘Tour Down South’, England – UKby Rob Howard |
 Scottish accordionist Gary Blair makes his 10th annual tour of the South of England, February 8th to 15th. His dates include:February 8th, 4.30pm – Family Ceilidh, Manor Field School, Junction Road, Burgess Hill, West Sussex RH15 0PZ February 9th, doors open 7.30pm - Uxbridge Accordion Club, The Anglers Retreat, Cricketfield Road, West Drayton, Middlesex UB7 7HG February 10th – private function, Dorset February 11th - Grand Charity Ceilidh Supper, Worthing, W. Sussex February 12th, doors open 7.30pm – Harlow Accordion Club, The Link Social Club, Parsloe Road, Harlow, Essex CM19 4RT February 13th - Annual Village Ceilidh, Matching Tye, Essex February 14th – Annual Ceilidh, Ovingdean Village Hall, Brighton, East Sussex For further information email: ronwbennett@aol.com |
Massimo Signorini Concert, Milan – Italyby Holda Paoletti-Kampl |
 Accordionist Massimo Signorini? performs in concert at the Teatro Edi, Milan, on February 22nd, 4pm. His program includes music by Piazzolla, Gardel, Fancelli, Galliano, and others.For further information email: massimosignorini@alice.it |
AAMS Festival and Symposium, Pennsylvania – USAby Rob Howard |
 The 2009 American Accordion Musicological Society (AAMS) Accordion Festival and Symposium takes place on March 6th, 7th and 8th at the Park Ridge Hotel and Conference Center, King of Prussia (Valley Forge), Pennsylvania.The festival begins with a Polka, Cajun and Zydeco concert on the first evening, and continues over the next two days with competitions, workshops and concerts. The guest of honor this year will be Dr Robert McMahan, who will perform at the festival with Dee Langley. |
Seeking Bandoneon Teacher, Florida - USAby Rob Howard |
| I am a hiring coordinator for the Amadeus Home Music School and I am trying to find a Spanish speaking bandoneon teacher to travel to the home of a student in Miami. Please contact Wendy Hawthorne: wendy@musichousecalls.com |
New and Updated Sites |
Accordion USA News, February Edition onlineby Rita Davidson Barnea |
| The February edition of Accordion USA News is online with 18 articles about accordion in North America. |
H S Production New Music Releasesby H S Productions |
| H S Production releases 6 new pieces, 'Kuyavyak 02', 'As In Our Entrance Hall', 'Blackbird', 'Kuyavyak 03', 'Sheepfold' and 'Sad Melody'. Samples of the music are available online. he music is in eSheet format, able to be emailed to your computer. Purchase with credit card. |
Yehuda Oppenheimer Updates 1 composition and 2 arrangements for acccordionby Yehuda Oppenheimer |
| Yehuda Oppenheimer updating 1 composition and 2 arrangements for acccordion - 'Symphony No. 40', 'E i l a t' and 'Bingo Accordion Duet'. Samples of the music are available online. The music are in eSheet format, able to be emailed to your computer. Purchase with credit card. |
Charnwood Publications New Accordion Compositionsby Charnwood Publishing |
| Charnwood Publications releases 6 new pieces by ccomposer Ken Farran titled, 'Venetian Masquerade', 'Leonora', 'Leonora (score - 2 of each part), 'Hungarian Dance No.6', 'Caister Capers' and 'Norwegian Spring'. Purchase with credit card. |
Finland Recordings selling a new CDby Finland recordings |
| Finland Recordings selling a new CD titled "Under The North Star" with sound samples. Music performed by Matti Rantanen with his friends. Purchase online. |
MusicForAccordion.com new eSheet Piecesby MusicForAccordion.com |
| MusicForAccordion.com site releases 2 new pieces - 'Echoes From The Hungarian Plains' and 'Bavarian Snow Waltz - Schneewaltzer'. Samples of the music are available online. The music are in eSheet format, able to be emailed to your computer. Purchase with credit card. |
H S Production New Music Releasesby H S Productions |
| H S Production releases 6 new pieces, 'Masur', 'Hallo, From Mountain, Mountain', 'Behind The Mountains, Behind The Woods', 'Mountain Dance', 'Streamlet' and 'Kuyavyak 01'. Samples of the music are available online. The music is in eSheet format, able to be emailed to your computer. Purchase with credit card. |
Yehuda Oppenheimer Updates 1 composition for Accordion.by Yehuda Oppenheimer |
| Yehuda Oppenheimer updating 1 composition for acccordion - 'Bingo Arrangement'. Samples of the music is available online. The music is in eSheet format, able to be emailed to your computer. Purchase with credit card. |
CD Reviews |
"Sai-Ko" CD by Trio Miyazakiby Renato Belardinelli |
 CD Reviews Index for the Review of "Sai-Ko" CD by Trio Miyazaki |
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