This week we have updated information in the Yellow Pages "Manufacturers, Distributors & Retailers", "Organizations, Associations & Clubs", "Schools, Conservatories & Universities" and "Groups, Bands & Duets" sections. Improvements include the opportunity to have a choice from three listing options: Bronze (free listing of contact details), Silver (listing of contact details + information + email linked) and Gold (listing of contact details + information + email linked + web-site listed). Please have a look and send us your comments.

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• AAA Millennium Festival in Washington, DC - USA
• Dmitriev Tours Western Europe
• Achicourt Accordion Festival - France
• 11th Accordion Meeting - Netherlands
• Myron Floren on the Road Again - USA
• Korbakov Tours England and Ireland
• Kyalami Classics Concerts - South Africa
• Touring Exhibition at Harmonica Museum - Germany
• Colombian Carnival - USA
• Oulu Concert - Finland
• Firsova Festival - England
• "Città di Latina" National Competition - Italy
• Accordion Video Release - England
• La Fiesta del Cotillon - Argentina
• Busch Gardens in Williamsburg Seeking Accordionist - USA
• New Edition of Deutsch News now on line
• "Vive la Difference" - England
• Polish Accordionists' Association General Assembly - Poland
• Kunming Accordion Association Formed - China
• Nikolai Chaikin Passes Away - Russia
• Peter Soave, Pauline Oliveras and the Zydeco Party Band - USA
• Hartmut Lange Passes Away - Germany
• Chinese Accordionist Performs in Denmark
• French Tutors at Melodeon Workshop - England
• Accordionist Performs with Dance Troupe - USA
• New CD Recording Release - Russia
• Kuppenheim Orchestra CD Release - Germany
• Antique Accordion Information

Contributed by Faithe Deffner, President of the American Accordionists' Association

From July 12th to 16th Washington, DC will become "Accordion City USA" as accordionists from everywhere converge on the nation's capital to participate in the American Accordionists' Association's Millennium Festival headquartered at the Wyndham City Center Hotel. A featured event is the Gala Band Invitational Millennium Concert with accordion orchestras being sent to all parts of the city for public performances.

The "Millennium Banquet" on July 15th will include entertainment by the United States Army Band featuring accordionist Manuel Bobenrieth. The festival will also include accordion competitions for students, hobbyists and club members, mini-concerts and workshops, "A World of Accordions" Traveling Museum, daily exhibits of accordions, accessories and music, the Club Pub, Accordion Summit Meeting, the Endless Performance Ballroom and a massed band performance at the Washington Capitol.

For further details email: ameracc@aol.com

Contributed by Sergej Tchirkov

Professor Alexander Dmitriev will tour Western Europe from February 26th to March 10th giving concerts, lectures and master-classes in Hamburg (Germany), Gent, Mol (Belgium) and in Chambery (France). He will also participate in the "Days of Russian Culture" event in Belgium.

For details email: sergejt@stpeterburgclassics.com

Contributed by Jean Strzelecki

The Achicourt Accordion Festival will be held on February 27th in Achicourt (near Arras, in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region). This year accordion orchestras from Cambrin (conducted by A. Leclerc) and Saint-Pol-sur-Mer (conducted by R. Verme) will perform at the festival as well as the "Sonority" orchestra from Achicourt (conducted by B. Kazmierczak) who will perform at the festival finale.

Last year the festival attracted over 600 people. Further information: Jean.Strzelecki@wanadoo.fr

Contributed by Henny and Wim Tuinman

On May 27th the 11th Accordion Meeting will be held in Zuidlaren for accordion, concertina, and steirische harmonica with musicians and groups from Germany, Austria and Russia already announcing their interest. The event will include 30-minute performances by musicians, followed by a massed performance and presentation of souvenirs to all participants.

All players and groups are invited to participate in this event. For details email: tuinman@xs4all.nl

Contributed by Faithe Deffner, Ernest Deffner Publications

The indomitable Myron Floren will perform in Hildago, Texas on March 4th and 5th with the Dean Conti Band. A week later, he will play with Warren Bill's Band in Deland and Orlando, Florida, followed by a stint at Cypress Gardens on March 11th and 12th, and in Daytona on March 14th. He is booked in California and Indiana during April and May and will appear at the Welk Resort in Branson, Missouri from May 30th to June 3rd.

Contributed by Mike O'Regan

Alexander Korbakov will present a "Spring Concert Tour" of England and Ireland from April 23rd to May 16th. The tour will begin in Tipperary (Ireland) with concerts at The Performing Arts Center in Limerick, Newport, Kells and Dublin. On May 6th Korbakov will travel to England performing in Birkenhead's big new venue "Pacific Road", at the Tameside Accordion Club, Middlesborough Accordion Club, The People's Cabaret in Birmingham and Noth Staffs Accordion Club.

Further details email: jean.shearman@virgin.net

On February 26th Duo 2000 (Sergio Zampolli on accordion and Amarillie Ackermann on harp) will perform at the Kyalami Classics Society concert, the first in a series held on the last weekend of every month in Kyalami, Johannesburg. Their program will include "La Chanson pour Anna", "Dizzy Fingers" (Confrey) and "Wedding March" (Mendelssohn).

The Harmonica Museum in Trossingen (in conjunction with the Hohner Company) are currently planning a major project for the future - a touring exhibition on harmonica history, scheduled to start in September 2000 with a first showing in Rot am See in Hohenlohe. Performances will be given by the Rot am See accordion orchestra and other local groups.

The exhibition will also be shown in Iserlohn (Stadtumuseum) and Zurich (Glatt Mall). Exact dates have yet to be confirmed. Suggestions from readers regarding places and occasions where this touring exhibition could be presented are very welcome. An exhibition space of at least 100 square meters is required. Please email: HarmonikaM@aol.com

On February 26th the Colombian Folkloric Dance School of New York will present a carnival of music and dance from Colombia in St. Michael's Church Auditorium, Flushing, Queens. Performers include vallenato group "Kadenas" (with accordionist Bengary Harvey). For further details see Future Events.

Finnish accordionist Mika Vayrynen will perform in Oulu on March 5th. His program will include Vento op.58 (J. Kaipainen) and The Flight Beyond the Time (P. Makkonen) which are both dedicated to Mika as well as "Variations of a French song" (Mozart), "Air from Holberg Suite (Grieg), "Oblivion" (Piazzolla) and all 6 movements of "Chamber Suite" (Zolotarjov) which is seldom played completely. This concert is part of a series which includes performances by soloists of international level.

Prior to this concert, Mika will play "Chaconne in D" (Bach-Busoni) at a children's charity concert on February 25th at the Temppeliaukio Church. Mika will also perform a new work by Professor Ilkka Kuusisto entitled "Hymns for accordion and cello" with cellist Taneli Turunen.

The Firsova festival will be held on March 5th at the Royal Academy of Music, Marylebone Road, London, which includes a Gala concert to celebrate the 50th Birthday of the distinguished Russian composer Elena Firsova. The program will include "Crucifixion for Cello and Accordion" performed by Owen Murray and Karine Georgian. Tickets are free but it is advisable to book as a capacity crowd is expected. For details see Future Events

Contributed by Renzo Ruggieri

The "Musica & Musica" Modern Academy (in collaboration with local authorities) will hold the 5th annual "Città di Latina" National Competition in Latina from May 5th to 7th. The accordion section has a prominent place in the competition and is divided into two categories, variety and classical, as well as providing separate prizes for soloists and ensembles. The competition boasts an overall prize money of 20 million lira (US$10,000) and a professional accordion is donated to the teacher with the highest number of students involved. For details email artistic director Roberto Rogato: musicaemusica@mbox.panservice.it

Contributed by David Batty

On February 1st, accordionist Steve Roxton released a one hour live video (of his concert recorded in November 1999) entitled "The Entertainer" in VHS PAL format, filmed by the Lumic Video Production Company. The video is a mixture of international accordion solos, and popular songs such as "The Entertainer", "Under Paris Skies", "Fields Of Athenry", "Johnny Cash Medley" and "Irish Washerwoman" and features plenty of "close-up's" of accordion fingering.

Steve will have copies of the video available when he performs at the Blackpool Accordion Festival in March. For further details contact Steve at: steve@roxton.demon.co.uk

Accordionist Florencia Herrera performed with her band "Florencia Herrera y su Conjunto" at the La Fiesta del Cotillon in San Benito on February 19th. This summer carnival was a three-day "party" and included entertainment from a variety of musicians.

Contributed by Kevin Friedrich

Busch Gardens in Williamsburg, Virginia is looking for an accordionist for its PolkaMania show. The job will begin in March and run through to September 4th. They would like an energetic player that can read music and move well. If you know of anyone who may be interested please email: Jim.Harney@Anheuser-busch.com

A new edition of the Deutsch News is now on line and can be seen at: http://www.akkordeon.com/deutsch

Contributed by Jane Edwards

The next Yorkshire Concertina Club meeting held on March 19th will have the theme "Vive la Difference". Club members will be invited to talk about different concertina systems and what they can do, the advantages and disadvantages etc. The club holds regular meetings on the 3rd Sunday of each month in West Yorkshire.

The General Assembly of the Polish Accordionists' Association will take place in Sanok (southern Poland) on April 8th. The event will include elections of a new committee (held every five years). Current President Lech Puchnowski, who has held this position for 41 years will be retiring. The new committee will continue their involvement with international accordion competitions and festivals. For details email: accpuch@chopin.edu.pl

Contributed by Li Cong

The new Kunming Accordion Association was formed in Kunming, Yun Nan Province on January 30th with an establishment meeting and concert "Greeting the Chinese New Year" held at the Yun Nan Modern Drama Theater. Entertainers included players of the Kun Ming Teenagers Accordion Musicale performing "The Prelude of Chinese New Year", "Radetsky March" and "Er Quan Ying Yue".

Principle of Chen Zhong Art Center and Director and conductor of the Kunming Teenagers Accordion Musicale, Chen Zhong is the President of Kunming Accordion Association. Vice Presidents are Li Jia Wei, Chen Wen Fu & Liao Yi Xuan and the Secretary is Yu Ming.

Contributed by Dr Herbert Scheibenreif Manager of Friedrich Lips Productions

Russian composer Nikolai Chaikin died in Moscow on February 17th only two days after his 85th birthday. He was Vice-president and member of the music committee of the CIA in the 70's. Chaikin's most famous compositions for the accordion include Ukrainian Suite (1972), Concert Suite (1964) and Children's Album (1969). Among his students were famous bayanists such as A. Surkov, A. Beljajev, V. Fedosejev, A. Poletajev, Y. Kasakov, E. Mitchenko, V. Bonakov, V. Avraljov and others. A "Celebrity Interview" was made with Nikolai Chaikin by Vladimir Zubitsky shortly before his death and it is now ready for publication in English and Russian. For details see "Celebrity Interviews".

Contributed by Kevin Friedrich

Concerts scheduled for February in the USA include Peter Soave, performing with the Brooklyn Philharmonic, Pauline Oliveras performing with the 'New Circle Quintet' in New York City, and Doug Legacy and the Zydeco Party Band in Santa Monica, California.

These are just a few of the concerts listed in the February Concert Calendar of the news United States National News Publication, called Accordion USA at: www.accordionusa.com. We have had many emails from people asking about dates and details for events which are listed in the calendar, such as the New Braunfels Polka Festival, and the Kimberly Old Time Accordion Championships. Just click on the month desired, to get the information. You can also list your important concert using the submit form found on the site.

Contributed by Dr. Irmgard Lehnemann

Hartmut Lange died suddenly of a heart attack on February 17th in Germany. Born in Lünen (Northrhine-Westphalia/Germany) on April 18th, 1954 he held the position of editor-in-chief of the accordion "Intermusik" newspaper, published in Kamen. He wrote reviews of recitals and recordings and reports on competitions and festivals.

Hartmut made friends with many accordionists who came to festivals and competitions from Germany, the Netherlands, Russia and the Baltic States, England, Italy, France, New Zealand, USA, China and Japan. For further information see Memorials

Contributed by Holda Paoletti-Kampl

On January 29th, Chinese accordionist Cao Xiao-Qing performed with great success in Jyllinge near Copenhagen, during the annual general meeting of the Danish Accordion Association. Cao Xiao-Qing was also invited to give a lecture on Chinese music.

Contributed by Brian Tilley

Emmanuel Pariselle and Myriam Added from France will tutor at a weekend "Melodeon workshop" at the Old Road Tavern from April 7th to 9th. Events include a beginners workshop and advanced workshop covering techniques to improve your playing, the addition of harmony lines to tunes and songs, playing chords as an alternative to repeating the tune, changing the rhythm to add interest to an accompaniment and methods of improving technique. An evening concert and French sessions will also be held.

Prior to the workshops Emmanuel & Myriam will play at the "Square and Compass", Worth Matravers on April 6th. Following the workshop, Emmanuel will travel to Ireland to perform with Martin Connor. For workshop details email: briantilley@neston1.freeserve.co.uk

Accordionist Michael Maddux will play for a series of dance performances in Texas by the Tony Bravo dance troupe. Javier Chaparro (group leader) has written most of the music, which includes a number of original tangos. The series begins on February 25th, with a final performance on March 4th. For details email: mike_maddux@rocketmail.com

Contributed by Olga Kopilova

Sergey Voitenko, laureat of seven International accordion competitions, including the 1999 "Arrasate Hiria" in Spain, recently released his new CD "A game of the Shadows". Tracks include works by Bach, Scarlatti, Brahms, Rachmaninov, Slonimsky, Semionov, Ganzer and Yashkevich. This program was performed by Sergey at the 1998 Klingenthal Competition where he gained 1st placing. For more information email: servoit@hippo.ru

Contributed by Hans-Joachim Hörig

The Kuppenheim Accordion Orchestra (conducted by Heinz R. Huber) recently re-released their CD entitled "Akkordeon Orchester Kuppenheim". Tracks include "Adios Nonino", "Porgy and Bess" and "Rendezvous with Gershwin". The 35 member orchestra has been on a number of overseas tours and participated in a variety of music festivals and competitions in Europe and abroad. For CD details email: H-J.HOERIG@t-online.de

John Steves would like some information on a Coletta Soprani Ampliphonic keyboard accordion which he is interested in selling. Please email: Jazz4us@aol.com

John would like information on a Pietro accordion originally patented on October 6th, 1931. Please email: VaterGraphics@aol.com

Jim Miller would like information on a red "Lira" accordion with mother of pearl keys. Please email: miller@artandimage.com

Flavio Alba would like some information on a Marca piano accordion with the markings "DallapÈ Cav. Mariano" and " Stradella - Italy ". Please email: flavioalba@LatinMail.com

DTR would like some information on a "Cyclop" accordion over 40 years old. Please email: DTREORPA@aol.com

Denis Labrie is looking for information on a Piatanesi piano accordion, model Emme (di Piatanesi-e-ottavianelle), made in Castelfidardo, Italy. Please email: accord@globetrotter.net

Gary Brodhagen would like some details on a Hohner accordion, made in Germany with the markings "Gold metal, St. Louis 1904 M. Hohner". Please email: GBrodha333@aol.com

If you have a request to include in this section of the news please email: news@accordions.com with details.