While some countries are currently organizing their "end of the year" concerts, prizegivings and final examinations, Universities and music schools are taking new student enrolments and others are busy organizing upcoming festivals, competitions etc. Most northern European countries have their festivals at this time of the year such as the Ransäter Festival (Sweden), International Reykjavik Accordion Festival (Iceland) and the Sata-Häme Accordion Festival (Finland). Many accordionists travel overseas to attend these events, so if you know of a festival in your country, please email: news@accordions.com and we will include details in the Weekly News and Future Events.

Wayne Knights Webmaster

• International Accordion Festival - Belgium
• Accordionist Tours Africa
• CD Release at International Reykjavik Accordion Festival 2000 - Iceland
• Fabiano Performs to Over 58,000 in Marseille - France
• University of Stirling Accordion Course - Scotland
• Bloomer Chamber Concert- USA
• "Zellsommernachts-Festival" - Austria
• Main Square Accordion Orchestra Concert - Mexico
• Royal Academy of Music Concert - England
• 65th Anniversary Celebrations - Germany
• Accordion Ensemble Featured on Radio - USA
• Irish Session at Accordion Museum - Netherlands
• Electronic Accordion Competition - Italy
• Sweet and Lovely Concert - Japan
• Northwest Squeezefest - USA
• Graduation Ceremony - England
• Marseille Orchestra in Treviso - Italy
• Accordionist Receives Prestigious Award - Australia
• Annual Music School Concert - Italy
• New Sites
• Antique Accordion Information

Contributed by Stefaan Taelman

An International Accordion Festival organized by the "'t Schuusies Muziek" (Music of Schorisse) Accordion Club will be held in the "Salons Mantovani", Oudenaarde on September 30th. The aim of the festival is to give Belgian accordionists the opportunity to perform with players from other countries and to gain experience in different styles of music.

Guests include "Avanti" (Netherlands), "Les accordeonistes de la vallée de la Seine" (France) and "De Petra" (Belgium). Members of the 't Schuusies Muziek club will play a program of well known pieces such as "Tico Tico" and "Czardas". Festival commentator will be local TV star Marijn De Valck. For further information email: stefaantaelman@advalvas.be

French accordionist Danielle Pauly will tour the Democratic Republic of Congo, Africa from July 7th to 18th. Performances in Kinshasa include a concert at the French Embassy during the National Day of France and at the "French House" in the French Cultural Center.

Contributed by Jonatan Karlsson

The International Reykjavik Accordion Festival 2000 (held from July 14th to 16th) will include the release of a CD (published in celebration of the festival by General Agency) at the main concert on July 15th. Special guests include the Bornholms Music School Children's Accordion Orchestra (Denmark), Martin Noordegraaf, Bjarke Mogensen, Accordéon Mélancolique (Jean Pierre Guiran & Cherie de Boer - Holland), Sergei Voitenko (Russia), Gena Churchill (USA), The Faeroe Islands Accordion Club, Karl Jonatansson (Iceland) and his quartet, The Storm (from the Reykjavik Accordion Club), Sveinn Runar Bjornsson, Svanur & Gudbjorg, Berg & Jacobsens Dance Orchestra, Asa, Ingunn and Hekla Eiriksdaughters, Jona Einarsdottir, The Light Orchester and the Hjordis Geirs Band. For further details email: festival@iceland-online.com

Contributed by Holda Paoletti-Kampl

A show combining music and "aquatic ballet" took place in the Borély Castle Park in Marseille recently to over 58,000 people. Accordionist Jean-Marc Fabiano performed Mediterranean music to the enthusiastic crowd.

The University of Stirling will hold an Accordion Course with tutor Ian Lowthian from August 7th to 12th in Stirling, Scotland. The course will cover ornamentation, analysis of tunes, composition, different types of harmony, left hand technique, special effects such as bellows shake as well as technical aspects such as articulation, fingering and phrasing.

Many tune types will be covered such as jig, reel, waltz and march, along with time signatures such as 5/4 and 11/16, some light jazz and blues. The course will end with a ceilidh on the Friday evening. For further information please email: m.f.stirling@stir.ac.uk

Accordionist Dee Langley joined the Northwoods Classical Players string quintet (members of the Chicago Symphony) in a recent concert sponsored by the Bloomer Chamber of Commerce in Bloomer, Wisconsin. Their program included Barcarolle from "Tales of Hoffman" (Offenbach), Intermezzo from Cavalleria Rusticana" (Mascagni) and Hungarian Dance No. 5 (Brahms).

On June 23rd Dee participated in the Roots World Cyber Free Reed festival on KFAI radio, which was broadcast in conjunction with Accordion Awareness Month.

Contributed by Franz Hochwimmer

Austrian group ZAGOS - da capo will perform three concerts at the "Zellsommernachts-Festival" in Zell am See, held from July 26th to August 23rd.

The quintet includes accordionists Anita Reichegger, Franz Hochwimmer, Doris Salzmann, Heimo Gesswagner and Wolfgang Frank. Their program includes popular pieces such as "In the Mood", Pink Panther Theme, "Swinging Safari" and traditional Austrian folkmusic. For further information email: hochwimmer@mailcity.com

Contributed by Serguei Tibets

Last month an Accordion Orchestra Concert was held in the Main Square of Cadereita City in Mexico. Over 20 pieces were performed, including traditional Mexican music such as Corrido Monterrey, De Ramones a Teran (huapango) and Tampico Hermoso (polka).

On June 28th an accordion chamber music concert was held at the Royal Academy of Music to over 180 people. Prior to the concert Owen Murray gave a talk on "The Accordion in Chamber Music". This is a follow up to two recent talks he has given entitled "The Development of Accordion Repertoire" and "The Accordion Education Structure in the U.K.".

Contributed by Winfried Haushalter

On June 24th the "First Cologne Accordion Orchestra 1935" celebrated its 65th anniversary with a concert and dance. Performances were given by the main orchestra (conducted by Matthias Hennecke), the Youth Orchestra, a children's group and the "Oberbergische Accordion Sextet". Eighty-six year old founder and honorable conductor Heinz Gengler, conducted the main orchestra during two pieces.

Celebrations will continue throughout the rest of this year, ending with a traditional annual concert on December 3rd at the Cologne Music School.

Contributed by The Classical Free-Reed

The Dutch Accordion Ensemble "Alphen Opus 2" (conducted by Serg Latychev), was featured during the "Performance in Pittsburgh" weekly radio show on June 25th produced and broadcast by WQED-FM studios in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The one-hour show was broadcast again on June 29th and consisted of the group's concert at the First Unitarian Church recorded last April, interspersed with informative and enthusiastic commentary by producer-host Paul Johnston. Interviews were held with Alphen Opus 2 spokesperson Peter Klaver and accordionist Henry Doktorski (who organized the Pittsburgh concert).

The radio program included Overture Feuerbaendigung (Andrei Petrov), Variationen fuer Akkordeon-Orchester (Rudolf Wuerthner) and Asturias (Isaac Albeniz).

Producer Paul Johnston was visibly impressed by the virtuosity and musicality of the performers and he stated that Pittsburgh audiences were extremely fortunate to be able to hear this great accordion ensemble.

Contributed by Jock Shaw, picture courtesy of Gert-Jan Kamphorst

An Irish Session was held recently at the Accordion Museum in Malden near Nijmegen. Over 60 people enjoyed performances by a variety of entertainers, requesting popular songs such as "Molly Mallone", "The Town I Loved so Well", polkas, sing-a-longs and ballads. The Museum is an old converted church and owner Henk Kuik has a large collection of accordions and other free reed instruments on display.

The 8th "Ascoli Piceno" Trophy for Electronic Instruments was held on June 10th in Ascoli Piceno, Italy. Yet again the accordion had a prominent role in the event, not only by showcasing many young talents, but also by producing the overall winner, Giovanni Di Silvestre, who was awarded the first prize in the accordion category and in the championship category for all instruments. Giovanni is a student of Renzo Ruggieri.

Contributed by Toru Katou

On July 24th, accordionist Hiromitsu Ito will perform at the "Sweet and Lovely" Concert in conjunction with the 68th Midosuji Jazz Gallery event in Osaka. For further information see Future Events.

The Northwest Squeezefest, held from September 8th to 10th in Twisp, Washington, is for accordionists to gather, interact, swap tunes and split into groups to play for fun. A commemorative t-shirt will be given to all participants. For further information email: twisper@my-deja.com

Contributed by Owen Murray

The Royal Academy of Music graduation ceremony took place at St. Marylebone Parish Church on June 30th. Two accordion graduates, Ian Watson and David Farmer, were awarded the Diploma of the Royal Academy of Music (Dip RAM). This post graduate award is only given to candidates who present an outstanding Final Recital or Final Portfolio and this year it was wonderful to see two accordionists awarded this coveted diploma. The awards were presented by The President of the Royal Academy of Music, HRH The Duchess of Gloucester.

Contributed by Holda Paoletti-Kampl

On July 28th a 30 member accordion orchestra (conducted by Jean Marc Fabiano) will be the guests of honor at the Treviso Orchestral Festival in Italy. Their program will include arrangements by Claude Thomain.

Australian accordionist Bernadette Conlon has just received a Queen's Trust Young Achievers Award, which will enable her to study with Professor Oleg Sharov at Rimsky Korsakov University in St. Petersburg. Bernadette will also study with James Crabb, at Graz University in Austria and Professors Basfamilnov, Jaskavech, Rizol, Cherkasova and Fenuik (with whom she has had some previous study) in Kiev.

The Australian Governor will present the award on July 18th. Another first for an accordionist!

Contributed by Holda Paoletti-Kampl

Great enthusiasm and appreciation was shown to young accordion students of Paolo Picchio, who took part in the final Music School concert in Osimo on July 3rd. Amongst the performers was the nephew of accordion manufacturer Guerrini (Castelfidardo). Many of the players were members of the well-known Osimo Accordion Orchestra.

http://www.accordions.com/sonola Updated information on Sonola Accordion manufacturers

http://www.accordions.com/rastelli Updated information on accordionist Emanuele Rastelli with CD information and sound files available.

Mark Sears would like some information on a black Enrico Bertini piano accordion inlaid with rhinestones. Please email: bluespruce@voyager.net

Cindy Trump would like information on a "SilvioMarotta" 120 bass piano accordion. It has "Castelfidardo" written on it and is a blue/grey marble color. Please email: cindy-trump@uiowa.edu