February 29th - March 2nd, 2024, Copenhagen, Denmark Sponsored by A. P. Møller og Hustru Chastine Mc-Kinney Møllers Fond til almene Formaal
Report by Grayson Masefield - Photos provided by Jing Jia
Participants of the First Nordic Accordion Teachers Symposium
Professor Geir Draugsvoll (left) directed the inaugural Nordic Accordion Teachers Symposium, a pioneering pedagogic event aimed at fostering inspiration among educators and students while providing a platform for networking and exchange for young accordionists.
The symposium, held over three days, showcased a diverse lineup of speakers, with seven keynote addresses delivered by experts from Denmark, Holland, Finland, and New Zealand, focusing on various aspects of accordion pedagogy. Additionally, ten presentations delved into the current state of accordion education in Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Iceland, Lithuania, Estonia, China, and Holland.
The symposium drew in a diverse group of educators from various corners of the globe, representing nations including Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Lithuania, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, China, and the United Kingdom. Among this international assembly were students hailing from esteemed institutions such as the Royal Danish Academy of Music (RDAM), Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre (LTMA), Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre (EAMT), Norwegian Academy of Music (NMH), Royal College of Music in Stockholm (KMH), and Sibelius Academy (SIBA).
Thursday 29th February 2024
Professor Draugsvoll introduces Royal Danish Academy of Music Lecturer Bjarke Mogensens to make the first presentation
RDAM Lecturer Bjarke Mogensens presenting his Academic Research FOKU-project on Ole Schmidt's Concertos.
To conclude Bjarke presented the upcoming European premieres of Sune Kølster's Concert for Quartertone Accordion and Orchestra No.1 (Opus 4)
Sune Kølster is a trained film composer from the Danish Academy of Music, and writes and produces music for feature films, series and short films.
He has, among other things, provided music for Christian Tafdrup's "Speak No Evil", which earned him both a "Særbodil" and a "CARL award" for best score, as well as a sea of short films, including the winner of the Cannes Semaine De La Crituque “Ikki Illa Meint” by Andrias Høggeni.
Alongside the film musical, Kølster continues to explore the musical borderlands around him, and his work within chamber music, where he combines classical composition with Arabic maqam tonality.
The Concerto for Quarter-Tone Accordion dedicated to Bjarke will have European premieres on the 17th, 19th & 21st of March.
Friday 1st March 2024
Introductions
Welcome from President of the Royal Danish Academy of Music: Niels Rosing-Schow
Professor Geir Draugsvoll welcoming everyone and introducing the symposium events
International Introductions
The symposium started with participants giving introductions, sharing the current status of the accordion scene in their countries. These presentations aimed to provide a broad overview of accordion students, music, trends, and challenges faced in different regions.
Marie Hansen - Denmark (left) - Jon Thorstein Reynisson - Iceland (right)
Geir Draugsvoll - Norway
Mikk Langeproon - Estonia
Raimondas Sviackevicius - Lithuania
Anita Agnas - Sweden
Lars Holm - Sweden
Sini Ström - Finland
Mingyuan Ruan - China
Presentations
The symposium cotinued with pedagogic sessions with presentations delving into diverse approaches to accordion education in their respective countries. These presentations aimed to showcase varied and new teaching methods, and solutions to unique challenges in accordion pedagogy, fostering an exchange of different educational perspectives among the symposium participants.
Rik Cornelissen presenting - Versatility and Opportunity: Jazz in Accordion Education
Anka Zlateva and Agnete W. Villadsen presenting - Creative Space for Sound and Colours
Julie Schade presenting - The Art of Making Performing Arts and Music for Children
Casper Burkhardt (Pigini Nederlands) and Gilles Schuringa presenting their new 3D printed accordion models
Concerts
Nordic Talent Concert
The first concert on the Friday evening had a pedagogic focus with performances by ensembles and soloists, beginning with four world premieres, an orchestral work by Marianna Filippi and three etudes by Ejnar Kanding.
Ensemble premiering Cathedrals of Nebulae and Ocean Worlds by Marianna Filippi
Luca Bello, Igor Muset, Deny Vogrin, Arcangelo Pignatelli, Karla Sorcic,
Vilma Wiren, Renats Vanags, Ivan Jermakov, Leo Florin, Mari Øen, Gumru
Ahundzada, Tanja Xu, Joanna Ungh
Ensemble with Composer Marianna Filippi
Vilma Wiren premiered Etude No. 1 by Ejnar Kanding (left) - Luca Bello premiered Etudes No. 2 & 3 by Ejnar Kanding (right)
Ivan Jermakov performing Passing III by Martin Lohse
Renats Vanags performing Le Rappel des Oiseaux
Leo Florin performed Metamorphoses by Torbjörn Lundquist and Glinka's The Lark
Concert of Royal Danish Academy of Music Students
The second concert on the Friday evening featured students enrolled in the Royal Danish Academy of Music in the class of Professor Geir Draugsvoll
Luca Bello performed Jesus Torres' Candecias and the final movement of Sonata No.3 by Zolotarjov
Arcangelo Pignatelli performed Tears by Bent Lorentzen
The Gemini Duo (Wanchen Zhao & Wanxu Zhao) performed Borodin's Polovtsian Dances and Gespräch mit einem schatten by Zbigniew Bargielski
Saturday 2nd March 2024
Presentations
Saturday started with the final three pedagogic presentations.
Marie Hansen presenting - Molly and Bella: A new aesthetic learning processes and instrumental pedagogy
Grayson Masefield presenting - Fostering Creativity: Exploring Diverse Paths for the Accordion to be heard in Video Games, TV & Film
At the conclusion of each presentation Geir would encourage the students and teachers to ask questions and enter discussion with the the presenters.
Sini Ström presenting - Anatomic Safari: A pedagogical view on accordion ergonomics
Concert of Talents from RDAM Accordion Day
The final concert of the event consisted of participants who took part in Jose Valente's masterclass
Tanja Xiaotong Xu (left) - Mari Øen (right)
Renats Vanags (left) - Ivan Jermakov (right)
As the First Nordic Accordion Teachers Symposium drew to a close, Professor Geir Draugsvoll opened the floor for an engaging discussion on the outcomes of the symposium and the prospective elements that should shape future events.
He encouraged all participants to share their insights and reflections on the symposium's content and structure. This interactive session provided a valuable platform for attendees to express their thoughts on what future iterations of the event should encompass, ensuring a collective vision for the continued success and evolution of this educational initiative.
This inclusive approach underscores Professor Draugsvoll's commitment to fostering an environment of collaboration that not only celebrated the art of accordion teaching but also fostered international collaboration and cultural exchange among educators and students alike.
As the symposium concluded, there was an anticipation for future symposiums to advance accordion pedagogy, promising continued growth, and collaboration in the field of accordion education.
First Nordic Accordion Teachers Symposium
Organised by Professor Geir Draugsvoll, February 29th - March 2nd, 2024
Hosted at the Royal Danish Academy of Music Copenhagen, Denmark
Sponsored by A. P. Møller og Hustru Chastine Mc-Kinney Møllers Fond til almene Formaal
Professor Geir Draugsvoll (left) directed the inaugural Nordic Accordion Teachers Symposium, a pioneering pedagogic event aimed at fostering inspiration among educators and students while providing a platform for networking and exchange for young accordionists.
