This week, we had an email from Harald Muenz of Germany who wrote: "I'm a classical contemporary composer from Germany and I have been searching the Web for quite a while in order to find an explanatory list of the accordion's register switch symbols."

At Accordions Worldwide, we already have bass and treble switch graphics in our computers for most of the switching combinations. If someone would be prepared to write an explanation about the different types and combinations, we would make the web page. This site could be a valuable resource for accordion composers and students of all bellows instruments. If you can help, please email Harley Jones.

Wayne Knights Webmaster

• Important Invitation - Austria
• Texas Creates Millennium Magic - USA
• Accordionists Tour North Russia
• Mélodia Concert - France
• Accordion Works 2000 - Japan
• Jeff Lisenby Performs with National Symphony Orchestra - USA
• Second Annual "My First Concert" Event - Italy
• "The Malcolm Gee Collection" - UK
• Soave to Perform with Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra - USA
• Children's Opera - France
• National Museum Concert - México
• Trio at "Libre" - Japan
• International Accordion Seminar - Russia
• Scandinavian Squeeze In - Sweden
• American Accordion Musicological Society Festival - USA
• Celebrity Interviews
• Sherrie Darrow Passes Away - USA
• Accordionist Passes Away - Belgium
• Pennsylvania Concert - USA
• New Sites
• Antique Accordion Information
• Accordion Questions

Contributed by the DHV

An invitation is extended to the international accordion world to return to Innsbruck, the centre of accordion attraction in May 2001.

For the 7th and perhaps - who knows - the last time, Innsbruck will be the centre of attraction for the international accordion world from May 24th to 27th, 2001. The enthusiasm is infectious.

In 1998 over 300 accordion orchestras and groups from over 15 countries met in the wonderful landscape of Tirol to perform. Those who qualified in competitions and performed at concerts and social arrangements, all presented themselves with great enthusiasm. Wonderful music was offered to the thousands of enthusiasts who enjoyed this great event.

"Good Bye" was said with a thousand-fold echo during the finale at the Berg Isel Stadium. Many people, full of new impressions, made plans to meet each other again in the year 2001 in Innsbruck.

The 7th International Accordion Festival in Innsbruck should once more be a great meeting of accordion friends from many countries of the world. Innsbruck is prepared! Now it's your turn to also prepare in order to have in place all the preconditions for a wonderful event of musicality and friendship.

The Festival shall be not be an ending, but it will surely be a high-light of the so-called Innsbruck-Ära, which started many years ago in 1983. Who doesn't want to take part when it is called again "Servus Innsbruck, servus Austria"? Hardly anyone will miss this wonderful event. For full information see the DHV site.

Contributed by Jane Christison

World class musicians, capacity audiences, electrical atmosphere and Gary Daverne combined to make the Texas Accordion Association Y2K Convention a show of pure Millennium Magic!

Conductor of the Auckland Symphony Orchestra, Gary Daverne directed the Convention Orchestra with the same conviction and respect he has used while directing some of the finest symphony orchestras in the world and the results were outstanding! From the first rehearsal to the grand finale concert 48 hours later, Gary took some 50 musicians of all levels and backgrounds and transformed them into a world class act that brought the house down several times over. The concert included such pieces as the William Tell Overture, several of Daverne's popular arrangements as well as his own composition "Rhapsody for Accordion and Orchestra". (Pictured is soloist Kevin Friedrich with conductor Gary Daverne)

The annual convention was a festival of concerts, workshops, dealers displays and fun, which featured people from as far away as New Zealand, Norway and all across the United States. Standing ovations were the norm for the array of world class artists who presented music ranging from the World Accordion Championships concert repertoire to Pop, Folk and Novelty, each style playing an important part in the diverse accordion repertoire. (Pictured in concert are Kim and Dan Christian from Colorado Springs.)

Congratulations to the Texas Accordion Association for setting the standard for the Millennium!

Recent competitions prizewinners Vitaly Dmitriev, Sergej Tchirkov and Artem Kuznetsov will tour North Russia from March 28th to April 3rd, performing concerts in Severodvinsk and Arkhangelsk. Their program will include works by Zolotarjov, Nordheim, Scarlatti, Semionov, Tchirkov, Liszt and Kusjakov. For further information email: tchirkov@accordions.com

Contributed by Christine Fischer

The Mélodia accordion orchestra will perform at the "Palais des Congrès" in Strasbourg on March 26th. Eighty members will celebrate the orchestra's 20th anniversary at this event. For further details email: fischer.christine@caramail.com

Contributed by Toru Katou

On March 24th, Mie Miki will hold a concert entitled "Accordion Works 2000" at Casals Hall, Ochanomizu, Tokyo. For further information on this annual event phone: + 81 3-3291-2525

Contributed by Faithe Deffner of Titano Accordion Co., International

The National Symphony Orchestra accompanying Luciano Pavarotti will include one of Nashville's premiere studio musicians, accordionist Jeff Lisenby. Many in the accordion world know Jeff as the young accordionist who won US Championships in the 70s and went on to capture accolades for himself and his country with outstanding performances at the Coupes Mondiale (world championships) in Stockholm and Eindhoven.

Since the beginning of the year Jeff has been starring at the Opryland Hotel where he is the featured accordionist at the weekly Sunday Brunch. On the recording front, he performs with Jim Hendricks on a soon-to-be-released album. He has two other recent CDs. "Celtic America" is a collection of favorite Irish, Scottish and Old English Melodies which he both produced and arranged for a varied instrumental group (accordion, guitar, mandolin, fiddle, flute, recorder, Celtic harp, dulcimer and string bass). "Home on the Range," is a cowboy Christmas album with Jim Hendricks which is also an instrumental collection featuring accordion, dobro, mandolin, harmonica, hammered dulcimer, string bass and fiddle. He records on the Maple Street Music label and his CDs are available through Ernest Deffner Publications.

For the second consecutive year, accordion teacher Renzo Ruggieri organised an event called "My First Concert" which gives young musicians the opportunity to give their first live concert performance as well as the freedom to choose their preferred musical genre. While some of the youngsters have played and won prizes in national and international competitions such as those held in Morro D'Oro, Acquasparta, Latina, Recanati, Lanciano, Loreto, Ascoli Piceno and Pesaro, they had not enjoyed the opportunity to "entertain" the public at a concert before.

Renzo recognizes the importance of providing performance opportunities to young people. Their program included pieces by Frosini, Principe, Galliano, Wlassow, Ruggieri, Rodriguez, Migliavacca, Mattone and Banks.

Early in 1999 Helen & David Kemp were bequeathed the remaining stock of "The Accordion Record Catalogue", run by the founder and former president of Club Accord, Malcolm Gee, so they have become the custodians of a unique collection of accordion recordings. Helen and David have been asked by the executors of Malcolm's will to administer this collection, known as "The Malcolm Gee Collection" with the following aims:-

1. To create a reference library of accordion recordings available to members of UK accordion clubs, (not available until Late 2000).

2. To sell off the surplus stock, the proceeds of which are to be used to fund the setting up of the library, and to promote further the accordion and its music.

Exact details are yet to be decided, but initial thoughts are to use the funds raised to provide a series of master classes for different levels of ability, from promising youngsters through to virtuosi contestants.

In the short term Helen and David are hoping to visit festivals & clubs commencing with Caister 1999, where stock will be available. A catalogue of remaining stock will soon be released. If you would like Helen or David to visit your club or festival, or would like of copy of the catalogue please email: da_kemp@compuserve.com

USA accordionist Peter Soave has been asked to replace the famous Argentine bandoneonist Daniel Binelli, in a performance with the Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra (conducted by Stanley DeRusha) at the Clowes Memorial Hall in Indianapolis, Indiana on March 27th. Mr Binelli (a former member of Piazzolla's sextette) cancelled his appearance due to personal reasons. Their program will include Aconcagua (Concerto) for Bandoneon & Orchestra by Astor Piazzolla. For further information phone:
+ 1 317 940-9607

French accordionist Pascal Contet will play in a children's opera entitled "Raphael, Reviens!" in Chelles. The 60-minute opera, which will include five singers, accordion, violin and cello is about life in the suburbs and contains many humorous sections. Composer Bernard Cavanna received the "Best Contemporary Piece for 1999" award last month for his violin concerto "Victoires de la musique". For further details email: pascal.contet@fnac.net

Contributed by Brenda Anaya

On March 12th, Mexican accordionist Antonio Barberena gave a concert in the National Museum of Tepotzotlan, Mexico State, Mexico. Antonio performed "Concert for Organ and Orchestra" op. 4 no. 6 (Handel), as well as Mexican songs and tangos. This event took place in a 17th century church to over 500 people.

Antonio recently completed recording a double CD of music from the 16th to 20th Centuries, which will be released soon in Mexico.

Contributed by Toru Katou

Popular group "Tefu-Kin-Do" (featuring accordionist Mitsuyo Sakamoto, guitar and bass) will perform at "Libre", Ichikawa, Chiba Prefecture on March 25th. The trio play Jazz, Latin and Brazilian music, tangos, and many unique original tunes. For further information phone: + 81 473-26-9719

Contributed by Sergej Tchirkov

An International Accordion Seminar, held in St. Petersburg from April 4th to 7th will include lectures, concerts and master-classes. Tutors include Professor N. Kravtsov (seminar Director), Professor Imhanizkiy, Paolo Picchio (Director of the 'Citta di Castelfidardo' competition) of Italy and Professor Eduardos Gabnis (Lithuania).

The seminar will open with a concert entitled "Accordion at the beginning of the Century" with performances by International Competitions prizewinners. For further details email: tchirkov@accordions.com

Contributed by Jim Lucas

The first annual "Scandinavian Squeeze In will be held on April 15th in Olseröd, Sweden. Concertina players and accordionists are welcome to come and share in the music and organizers hope for participants from England and The Netherlands.

The day will be very informal, with no official teachers or performers, just people sharing music and ideas. Those who think they have something to teach can offer to do so. Those who want to learn something can ask if there's anyone who will teach them. Those who want to swap tunes or just play will have ample opportunity. During the evening there will be an open-stage concert and dancing. For further details email: jel@danbbs.dk

The day will be very informal, with no official teachers or performers, just people sharing music and ideas. Those who think they have something to teach can offer to do so. Those who want to learn The American Accordion Musicological Society Festival and Symposium was held at the Holiday Inn in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania from March 3rd to 5th. The event included a number of concerts, continuous competitions (with cash prizes for some categories) and workshops, displays of accordions, accordion novelties, music and CDs for sale, massed accordion bands, an award ceremony and most impressively, a full service accordion repair shop set up right in the lobby of the hotel ballroom.

The thirteenth annual AAMS was organized by Stanley Darrow, Joanna Arnold (Acme Accordion School in Westmont, New Jersey) and Dee Langley (representative of the Minnesota Accordion Club). Dee conducted a massed band of the three accordion orchestras (Westmont Accordion Club, Pitman Accordion Club, and the Westmont Philharmonia Accordion Orchestra) that had played "Jessamee" (written by Dee) as their orchestra test-piece earlier that day. She also conducted a massed band of over 100 accordionists ranging from six year-old beginners to professionals.

The "Celebrity Interview" with Nikolai Chaikin is now online in Russian language.

Contributed by Marion Hume

Accordion enthusiast, Mrs. Sherrie Darrow of Acme Accordion School in Westmont, New Jersey passed away on March 18th. Sherrie Darrow ran the Acme Accordion School along with her husband Stanley Darrow for the past 50 years and has travelled on concert tours with her husband to Europe, Chicago, New York, etc..

She was instrumental in organizing the Tri-State Accordion Competition (New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware) in the 1960's. She also served on the boards of various accordion associations. For the past 13 years, she has been Contest Chairwoman for the American Accordion Musicological Society Festival held in March each year. She never ceased in promoting the accordion as a classical instrument. See "Memorials" for others who have recently passed away.

Belgian accordionist and composer Jos Termonia passed away recently. Jos played a classical repertoire but was also well known as a French-musette performer in Europe. Hélène Termonia said "He was a real accordionist "pur sang". Never to be forgotten".

Contributed by The Classical Free-Reed

U.S. accordionist Henry Doktorski will perform a solo recital sponsored by the South Pittsburgh Organ Society (SPOS) at the Hamilton Presbyterian Church in Whitehall, Pennsylvania on April 5th. For more information phone SPOS secretary Joseph Daub: + 1 412 561-7018.

http://www.accordions.com/klingenthal Information about the Klingenthal International Accordion Competition held in the city of Klingenthal, Germany each year. This event is one of the worlds most prestigious accordion competitions.

http://www.accordions.com/tchirkov - Information on Sergej Tchirkov, accordionist from Russia

http://www.accordions.com/accordionhouse Information on Accordion House, the largest Australian and New Zealand accordion stockist.

David Peace would like some information on a Bozelli accordion, purchased in the 1920's (original purchase document available), in perfect condition. Apparently the film "The Maltese Falcon" featured the exact same model. If you can help please email: dpeace@dpeace.freeserve.co.uk

Carlos has a Mercury accordion with ivory keys made in Italy, with an alligator case. If you can help with information please email: BigCee73@aol.com

Suzy Gilfillan has a cream, pearl Renata accordion. If you can help with the value of this instrument, please email: atgilfillans@mtifwb.com

Carol Notaro would like some information on a Davinci accordion made in Italy. Please email: FatimaRE@aol.com

A reader would like information on a Scandal piano accordion (made in Italy) with 7 grille switches and 2 bass switches, and a bellows lock switch in the middle of the back of the accordion, instead of top and bottom. Please email: oldaf1991@netzero.net

Composer Harald Muenz would like an explanatory list of the accordion's register switch symbols and some basic accordion information. Please email: info@haraldmuenz.de