This week we have updated information on the history of the accordion in Italy in Italian; soon available in English. If you have information to contribute on the history of the accordion in your country, please send it to: tatiana@accordions.com

We would also like to keep the listings in the Yellow Pages updated with correct email addresses and other details for solo accordionists and businesses. Please check your listing and email: news@accordions.com if yours requires updating. Also if you have a listing in the Buy/Sell section and have sold your instrument please let us know so we can delete the entry.

Wayne Knights Webmaster

• International Accordion Week - Italy
• Workshop Lectures and Concerts in Tianjing - China
• Accordion International Competition 2000 - Switzerland
• "Les Nuits de Nacre" Festival - France
• Accordion Workshop - Austria
• Accordionist with Philharmonic Orchestra - Japan
• Accordionist Performs in Town Hall - New Zealand
• Viacheslav Semionov in Shanghai and Beijing - China
• "Young Soloist of the Year 2001" - Norway
• Towersey Village Festival - England
• Army Band Performs at Twilight Tattoo - USA
• Aquatic Accordionist - France
• Gold Coast Concert - Australia
• Holiday Celebration Concert - Romania
• NorthWest SqueezeFest Cancelled - USA
• Battiston in Bellosguardo - Italy
• New Sites
• Antique Accordion Information
• Accordion Information Required

Contributed by Renzo Ruggieri

International Accordion Week will be held in Stradella, Italy from September 6th to 10th organized by the Stradella Accordion Museum, the Stradella City Council and artistic director Livio Bollani. Events include piano bar concerts and jazz evenings featuring well-known personalities from Italy and abroad. Master Classes will be conducted by special guest Richard Galliano, Iller Pattacini and Renzo Ruggieri. Concerts will be given by the "TiCi Funky" Jazz Group with Tiziano Chiapelli, Richard Galliano Duo and the Renzo Ruggieri Quartett. For program details see Future Events

Contributed by Li Cong

The first workshop lectures in Tianjing were held by Professor Friedrich Lips, Professor Elsbeth Moser, Cao Xiao-Qing and Dr Herbert Scheibenreif from July 24th to 30th organized by the Tianjing Music Conservatory, North China. Lectures included information on the latest direction and development of the accordion in Europe.

Over 200 teachers and students from all over China attended the Workshops. Professor Lips (who first came to China seven years ago) noted that there had been a big improvement in students' musical notation, style and taste, and felt that the accordion in China was heading in the right direction.

Concerts were given by Professor Lips, Domi Emorine, Mr Roman & students of the Tianjing Music Conservatory.

The Tianjing Music Conservatory plans to hold this event annually as they believe it can only have a positive effect on the future of Chinese accordion teaching and playing

Contributed by Daniel Doebeli

The Accordion International Competition 2000 for soloists will be held in Reinach AG, Switzerland from September 22nd to 24th. This competition is organized every three years by the Regional Accordion Orchestra Peter Frey, Reinach AG. This year over 100 participants from Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Poland, Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Austria, Germany, Great Britain, China, Hong Kong and Switzerland will compete in five categories (3 for juniors and 2 for soloists). Competitors can play a variety of musical styles and test pieces in the various classes.

The international jury includes Professors Juergen Loechter (Germany), Joachim Pichura (Poland), Walter Maurer (Austria), Milan Blaha (Czech Republic), Dr. Ronald Fischer (Germany), Sylvia Zobek (Austria), Vera Ublova (Czech Republic), Erwin Christen, Ruedi Marty and Felix Zimmermann (Switzerland).

Evening concerts will be held with guest performers the Schlesian Accordion Quintett (Poland) and the 1st Cologne Accordion Orchestra (Germany). The competition will be recorded by the Swiss Radio Station of Zurich. For further information email: info@musikstudio-reinach.ch

French accordionist Danielle Pauly will participate in the "Les Nuits de Nacre" (Pearly Nights) festival in Tulle in September. Danielle will perform pieces for school children in order to present the accordion to them and show them its potential. For further details email: Danielle.pauly@wanadoo.fr

Contributed by Eva Lugger

Klaus Paier will hold an Accordion Workshop at the Music School in Wolfsberg, Austria from August 28th to September 2nd entitled "Jazz & Argentinean Tango". The workshop will cover Astor Piazzolla's music and its arrangements for the accordion, jazz theory (chord symbolism, scales, voicings and cadences), and Jazz Improvisation. On August 30th Klaus will perform with his Jazz & Tango Nuevo trio, including Stefan Gfrerrer (bass) and Roman Werni (drums).

Klaus has played many concerts with various groups in Austria, Germany, The Netherlands, Italy, Croatia, Poland and France. He considers it a special challenge to oppose the traditional way of accordion playing by performing jazz and tango and has developed his own style of music, incorporating jazz phrasing and swing improvisation. The trio has developed a style of interaction reminiscent of chamber music. Their repertoire includes their own compositions as well as compositions by Astor Piazzolla and jazz standards. For further information email: entersound@aon.at

Contributed by Toru Katou

Accordionist Eizo Miyatani will perform with the Kansai Philharmonic Orchestra on August 27th at an event entitled "Poems of Memory" held at the Symphony Hall in Osaka. For further details email: cato@ipc.hiroshima-u.ac.jp

Contributed by Campbell Bettridge

Auckland accordionist and member of the North Shore Accordion Orchestra, Roseanne Rosario played "Concert Waltz" by well known conductor Gary Daverne at the Auckland Town Hall on August 9th. Roseanne was accompanied by the Carmel College Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Sheryl Henderson.

Contributed by Li Cong and Toru Katou

Russian bayanist Viatcheslav Semionov performed a concert with two of his Chinese accordion students at the Shanghai Concert Hall in Shanghai on August 8th. Semionov played 10 solo pieces including his own composition "Bulgarian Suite" and "Don Rhapsody". Students Liu Yiru and Bao Yong Yan (who have learnt with Semionov for over 4 years in Moscow) played solos, duets and a trio with Semionov. Over 1300 people attended the well received concert with 100 accordion enthusiasts queuing for spare tickets. Several Shanghai newspapers and TV channels reported the concert.

Following this the 7th China International Accordion Art Festival was held from August 10th to 14th at the National Library Music Hall in Beijing, Peking. On August 11th Viatcheslav and his two students played "Moscow Fantasy", arranged by Viatcheslav especially for this festival.

Contributed by Astrid Holen, Photo courtesy of Marita Aarekol

Norwegian accordionist Frode Haltli was awarded the Norwegian Concert Institute "Young Soloist of the Year 2001" prize at a public concert in Bergen recently. Frode performed Jeux d'anches (Magnus Lindberg) and Sofia Gubajdulina's Et Expecto (sonata for accordion in 5 movements) at the final contest, which included four finalists (from auditions held earlier this year). The award includes a separate solo recital tour of Norway in 2001 as well as other promotional activities.

Launching grants from the Norwegian Concert Institute have existed since 1972. Four accordionists have so far received the grants: Ingvei Eikaas (1986), Jostein Stalheim (1987), Erik Bergene (1992) and Geir Draugsvoll (1995), who was also awarded the "Young Soloist of the Year" for 1995.

The Norwegian Concert Institute (Rikskonsertene) is a government institution, which aims to make live music of a high artistic quality available to everyone in the country. The institute also promotes public and school concerts all over Norway.

Frode Haltli has already won several national and international contests and is currently a member of Oslo Sinfonietta.

The Towersey Village Festival will be held in Oxfordshire from August 24th to 28th. The event includes concerts, workshops, dances, displays and a childrens festival. Performers include Andy Cutting (accordion) with Chris Wood and "Flowers and Frolics" (concertina player Roger Digby). For details email: towersey@mrscasey.co.uk

The U.S. Army Band (with accordionist Manuel Bobenrieth) will perform at the Twilight Tattoo in Fort Belvoir, Virginia on August 24th. The following evening the Army Blues jazz ensemble will play at a Summer Concert Series in Washington D.C.

The Army band, which played at the AAA Millennium festival in July, have a repertoire that includes "South Pacific Medley", "Goin' Out Of My Head," "Guys and Dolls Medley" and some pieces arranged by Manuel himself. Comprising of 20 musicians, the primary "mission" of the band is to provide presidential and musical support in Washington D.C. for various military and government functions. Manuel has so far had the privilege of playing for three Presidents (Reagan, Bush and Clinton) at the White House for dozens of State Dinners. As accordionist with the Army Band, his responsibilities include playing solo pieces, arranging material for the group, playing with the Strolling Strings and of course playing the accordion parts. For further details email: mboben@dellnet.com

Contributed by Holda Paoletti-Kampl

Accordionist Jean Marc Fabiano, apart from his talents as a musician, has another string to his bow, which allows him to replenish his energy reserves! He participated in the recent French Sailing Championships, where he came 3rd. Bravo Jean Marc!

Contributed by Maurice Jones

Lian Jones (nee Huang Ling Ling) was the international guest artist at the Queensland Accordion Club's annual concert on the Gold Coast, Australia on August 6th. The concert also featured some of Australia's top accordion soloists, duets and accordion orchestras, playing to a near capacity crowd of over 630 appreciative music lovers.

Lian's performance of American concert novelty pieces and traditional Chinese compositions was particularly well received. For most of the audience, it was the first time they had heard traditional Chinese music played on the accordion.

Lian, a graduate of Fujian Normal University, P.R. of China, now resides and teaches in Auckland, New Zealand.

Contributed by Holda Paoletti-Kampl

Ivano Battiston will teach an accordion course in Bellosguardo from September 7th to 9th. The course will include both individual and group lessons, with a program covering solo repertoires, ensemble performances and several combinations of accordion and flute, with a special focus on ethnic music. For further information phone: + 39 55 8723749

http://members.aol.com/loucoppola Information on American accordion entertainer Louis Coppola and the Stereo Strings

http://www.accordions.com/tony-joe Information on accordion jazz duo Tony Dannon and Joe Cerrito

http://www.accordions.com/eugeniamarini Information on accordion and bandoneon concert performer Eugenia Marini with sound files available

Charles Booz has a one row diatonic accordion, purchased 32 years ago from a used collectibles shop. The instrument is made of wood, black leather, Ivory or bone keys with a light wood on each side. He is considering having it refurbished and would appreciate some information on its current value. Email: crb@b-p-solutions.com

A reader would like information on a small accordion marked with metal bands that have "Gebr:Ludwig's Accordeon" on them, made in Germany. It also has two ivory colored ceramic buttons on the top that have green trees on them and the words "Schutz-Marke" around the trees. Email: tomollymom@webtv.net

Greg Grimes has a Vivona Tone Master accordion, made in Italy and would like details on the year of manufacture, Vivona Company information and Canadian Accordion clubs. Email: g.grimes@home.com

Alcide Doyon would like to know how long the Cordovox and the Elkavox accordions have been around, and who developed them. Email: odyno@ivic.qc.ca