September is the start of the new music season in many countries of the world. Accordion schools and universities will begin teaching new enthusiastic groups of musicians. If your school has room for further enrollments please email: news@accordions.com and we will ensure you are listed in the "Schools, Conservatories & Universities" section of the Yellow Pages so prospective students can find you. Please also send us details of upcoming concerts for the Weekly News and Future Events section.

Wayne Knights Webmaster

• Premio Internazionale "Citta di Castelfidardo" Competition and Award - Italy
• Church Concert - Finland
• Montalto Uffugo Competition - Italy
• Chris Wood & Andy Cutting Tour UK
• New Zealand and Australia Update Competition Rules
• Colombian Cultural Festival - Milan, Italy
• Tony Lovello Workshop - USA
• Sylvia Pagni Performs with Marangoni and Sander - Italy
• Bernadette Conlon Tours Adelaide - Australia
• "K" Trio Performs "World Premiere" in Soho - USA
• Summer Jazz Festivals - Italy
• Leyland Accordion Club Workshops - England
• South German Concertina Meeting - Germany
• Seattle Mountaineers Concert - USA
• National Competition in Montese - Italy
• Klaus Paier Trio - Austria
• The Accordion within Different European Cultures - Italy
• Weaver Valley Accordion Band Concert - England
• St. Joseph's Church Concert - USA
• Swedish Accordionist in Argentina
• Couleurs Festival - Canada
• Kolevi Tour 2000 - USA
• Accordion Party - Japan
• Fuccelli in Concert in Cosenza - Italy
• Uncle Otto's Oktoberfest - USA
• New Sites
• Memorial for Ivan Adamovich Yashkevich
• Information on Accordionist Required

Contributed by Holda Paoletti-Kampl

The Premio Internazionale "Citta di Castelfidardo" Competition and Award will be held from October 10th to 15th in Castelfidardo. The Artistic Director of the event in Paolo Picchio and Benjamino Bugiolacchi is the Co-ordinator and presenter. The event will include a welcome evening at the "Astra" Nuovo Teatro with performances by the 1999 "New Generation" competition winner Fire's Sons, the Bosio Big Band, directed by Ambrogio Sparagna and a show with folk music and theatre entitled "Il Fischio della Papera". Competition categories include "Entertainment", "Jazz music" and "Classical music".

Concerts will be given by Duo Modus with accordionist Jytte von Rüden (Denmark), Zap Jazz Duo with accordionist Henry Lemarchand (France), Richard Galliano (France), Demo Morselli Big Band Orchestra (Italy), Fabio Rossato (Italy), Folk Rose (Italy), La Macina (Italy), Alfred Melichar (Austria), An evening to honor Federico Fellini and Nino Rota will also be held with performances of improvised music to films of Fellini by Renzo Ruggieri and Luciano Biondini. The Piccola Orchestra Avion Travel (Italy) will perform before being presented with the "Voce d'Oro" Cagnoni "Quality Reeds" award.

Other awards include the Premio e Concorso "Città di Castelfidardo" award which includes a "live" CD presented by the Menghini Company, and an award from Excelsior, the Pigini orchestra award, a scholarship offered by the Ensemble di Aosta in memory of Fabio Carrozza, an orchestra scholarship offered by the Burattini Family in memory of Orfeo Burattini, the "Accordions Worldwide" award and the "Intermusik Schmülling" award. For competition details see Future Events.

Accordionist Mika Väyrynen will perform at the Temppeliaukio Church in Helsinki on October 10th. His program will include works by Bach, Mozart, Piazzolla; Stravinsky, Kaipainen, Makkonen, Segerstam, Kantelinen and Nuorvala. For details email: mika.vayrynen@pp.inet.fi

Contributed by Holda Paoletti-Kampl

The 2nd International Montalto Uffugo accordion competition for soloists and groups was held recently in Calabre, Italy. Jean-Louis Noton was the President of the jury during this competition, in which over 100 musicians participated. Noton and Roberto Fuccelli gave two outdoor concerts to audiences of over 3,000 people during the event.

Matthieu Chaussalet, 1st prize winner in the "MIDI accordion" category presented a 15 minute program of own choice pieces and was unanimously chosen by the jury as the winner, receiving 99 out of 100 points. Following the competition, Matthieu also gave a concert to the 3,000 strong audience.

Andy Cutting (melodeon) and Chris Wood (violin, guitar and vocals) will tour the UK from October 4th to 15th. The duo will perform in Kent, E Sussex, Nailsworth, Aldershot, Kingston, W Sussex, Devon, Penzance and Newnham-on-Severn. For further details email: andy@cutting-tweed.demon.co.uk

The New Zealand Accordion Association (NZAA) and the Australian Accordion teachers Association (AATA) have updated their rules to be the same as the new international piano accordion class competition rules for the 2001 Coupe Mondiale. Contestants will compete in the annual competitions of these two countries in May and June 2001. Winners will then compete in the 54th International Coupe Mondiale Competition to be held in London from October 24th to 28th, 2001.

The prize for the 2001 Couple Mondiale Piano Accordion class winner will be an international concert tour, from their country to New Zealand and Australia to perform as guest artist at the South Pacific Accordion Championships in Auckland, New Zealand and at the Australian International Accordion Championships in Sydney, in May 2002.

Colombian accordionist Lácides Romero is organizing a concert for the Inauguration of the First Colombian Cultural Festival in Milan, which will feature Colombian painting, sculpture, literature, music, films and videos. Romero will present a concert featuring Colombian music works, including his arrangement of "Variations on the Carnival of Venice" on October 7th in the Comuna Baires Agora Club. For details see Future Events.

Following this Romero will perform further concerts in Milan, Macagno, Liscate and Paris and will take part in the Premio Internazionale "Citta di Castelfidardo" Competition from October 11th to 15th.

The San Antonio Accordion Association sponsored a workshop by Tony Lovello, which covered bellows shake, glissandos and embellishments on September 9th. The workshop was followed by a concert with performances by Tony and members of the San Antonio Accordion Association.

Contributed by Holda Paoletti-Kampl

During the summer accordionist Sylvia Pagni performed in a series of shows in Italy and abroad with a group of artists including well-known entertainers, illusionist & vocalist "Sander" (just returned from Las Vegas) and G. Marangoni. Sylvia's repertoire for this tour included international accordion classics. The artist will now take a short break from her concert activity in order to prepare a new CD, which will be launched at the Frankfurt Fair.

Melbourne accordionist Bernadette Conlon will tour Adelaide from October 13th to 15th. Concerts include the Cambelltown Soccer Club, the Marche Club and a private charity luncheon. Bernadette will play a variety of Italian, German and continental music. For further details email: accordionbernadette@bigpond.com.au

The "K" Trio performed the world premiere of Dr. William Schimmel's "Kosovo: Land of Broken Dreams" at the Tenri Cultural Institute in Soho, New York recently. Dr Schimmel attended the premiere and introduced the performers as he has been a life-long friend and colleague of the trio members. The work (which was written especially for The "K" Trio) was received with great enthusiasm by the audience and will be included on the group's next CD.

The trio have recently returned home from guest appearances in Washington, D.C. for the American Accordionists Association Festival, and from Chicago for the Accordionists and Teachers Guild Festival. Their next concert will be at the Paramount Theater in Peekskill, New York on October 15th.

The group will make guest appearances for the 2000-2001 concert season in Australia, New Zealand, Texas, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire. For more information email: mary.tokarski@snet.net

Jazz accordionist Renzo Ruggieri took part in the third edition of the "Mediterranean Sounds" jazz festival held in Atri (near Teramo) with a new group named "Etnikos" led by Giovanni Finizii (guitar), Ada Montellanico (vocals), Ares Tavolazzi (double bass) and Tiziano Ferrone (drums). This ensemble aims to translate into the language of jazz the compositions of well-known composer Antonio Di Iorio.

The classic American films of the silent era and the sound of jazz were the two main components of the "Cinema Jazz" project, a touring festival which put the films of Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton alongside a live soundtrack provided by a contemporary orchestra directed by Toni Fidanza. Accordionist Renzo Ruggieri played an important part in the orchestra, highlighting the moods of the various films.

Contributed by David Batty

The Leyland Accordion Club plan to begin one-day workshops in November which will cover fingering, bellows control, presentation, time signatures, waltz, march, bellows shake, left hand techniques, MIDI, Scottish, standing, singing, continental music and much more. The workshops will be suitable for all playing levels.

Tutors at the first workshop will include George Syrett, Walter Perrie, Steve Roxton and Johnny Coleclough. For further details email: david@sectorsoftware.demon.co.uk

Contributed by Klaus Wenger

The Southern German Concertina group will hold their next meeting from October 27th to 29th in Rieden, near Wasserburg am Inn. The group encourages players to join together for a fun jam session. Musicians who play other instruments are also invited to attend. For further information contact Jochen Riemer Tel/Fax: + 49 8039 409056

"Folkvoice" will perform for the Seattle Mountaineers in Seattle on October 6th. The event will celebrate the 99th birthday of Zizu Legrange (of Earl and Zsisu). The group, which features accordionist Birgit Teuwen and Phil Ages (concertina) will play a program of pieces such as Salty Dog Rag, Corrido, La Bastrangue, Kostursko Horo, Miserlou and Ada's Kujaviak. For further information email: folkvoice@email.com

Contributed by Holda Paoletti-Kampl

Sylvia Pagni and Vladimir Zubitsky were invited again this year to take part in the national accordion competition recently held in Montese, near Modena. These two well-known accordionists acted both as jurors and as performers. The event included stands organized by manufacturers from Castelfidardo alongside the competition itself, which featured several categories. Sylvia performed (on the Excelsior) a homage to Wolmer Beltrami, who passed away last year, playing some of his compositions and transcriptions in front of an enthusiastic audience which included many of his fans.

Contributed by Eva Lugger

The Klaus Paier Trio will perform a concert in Graz, Austria on October 5th. The following day they will play in Lienz before travelling to Germany to play in Memmingen on the 7th. The trio, which includes accordionist Klaus Paier, Stefan Gfrerrer (bass) and Roman Werni (drums) perform a program of jazz and tango music, Astor Piazzolla works as well as their own compositions. For details email: entersound@aon.at

Contributed by Holda Paoletti-Kampl

The "Accordion Culture" musical association based in Castel Ritaldi (in the province of Perugia) is looking for accordionists from within the European Union who would be willing to take part in an initiative named "The Accordion within Different European Cultures". The study is part of the "Leonardo da Vinci" project sponsored by the European Union, and aims to develop our knowledge of the spread of music for the accordion and other diatonic instruments throughout countries that belong to the Union.

The "Accordion Culture" association has been active for many years in the promotion of traditional Italian music for the accordion. People interested in taking part in this initiative can email: libian@tiscalinet.it

The Weaver Valley Accordion Band will perform a joint concert with the Kelsborrow Choir at the Frodsham Community Centre, Frodsham on October 6th. For further information see Future Events.

Accordionist Rocco Anthony Jerry will perform a solo concert on October 7th, at St. Joseph's Church, Rensselaer, New York. His program will include works by Luciano Berio, Sofia Gubaidulina, Paul Creston, William Grant Still, Astor Piazzolla and others. For more details phone St. Joseph's Church at: + 1 518-463-4401

Swedish bandoneon player Mikael Augustsson is currently in Argentina to perform at a tango festival with the group Kriminaltango in Buenos Aires. Mikael has spent some time in Argentina studying the bandoneon. In Sweden Mikael is a member of the group Tango Libre, which has released a CD "Tango Libre nr 907 förlag BIS Sweden".

The Bellows and Brass Trio (accordionist Joseph Petric) will perform at the Couleurs Festival in Montreal on September 30th. The trio performs a repertoire of pieces by Krebs, Rameau, Bach, Mozart and Couperin as well as commissioned chamber and solo works. For details email: jpetric@interlog.com

Contributed by Sandie Merrill

Composer and performer Milen Slavov (accordion & tambura) will join Donka & Nikolay Kolevi and Nikolay Doktorov on the "Kolevi Tour 2000", performing throughout the United States over the next two months. The group will perform at Folk dance events in Arcata, Mountain View, Chico, Sonoma, Aptos, Berkeley and San Francisco. For further details see Future Events

Contributed by Toru Katou

On October 8th the "Accordion Player's Party" will be held at Aster Plaza, Naka Ward, Hiroshima. This event has been organized by accordion enthusiasts in Hiroshima and will feature performances by accordionists Hideaki Yamaoka (Tokyo), Katsuhisa Fujibayashi (Osaka) and Kim Sugang (Hiroshima). For further information email: cato@hiroshima-u.ac.jp

Contributed by Holda Paoletti-Kampl

Accordionists Roberto Fuccelli and Gervasio Marcosignori will be the special guests of a gala concert, which marks the final exams at the CDMI (Italian musical teaching centre). The centre is directed by Francesca Cosenza and Domenico Tunno.

Popular accordion entertainers Samsonite & Delight-Ya performed at Uncle Otto's Oktoberfest held from September 15th to 17th at the Portland Brewing Company, Portland, Oregon. The duo played a program of rock tunes (to a polka beat) and many television theme songs & jingles such as Freebird (Lynrd Skynrd), Smoke On the Water and Tequila (complete with a conga line around the hall, punctuated by shouts of "POLKA"! instead of "Tequila"!). The duo also played at "Kiddie day" providing a special set for children such as "Happy Happy Joy Joy" (from the Ren & Stimpy TV show) and "How Much is That Doggie in the Window". Organizers were so impressed with this duo that they have asked them back for next year's Oktoberfest!

Other popular performers included Those Darn Accordions and Polkacide.

http://www.accordions.com/nikolic Information an Yugoslavian accordionist Boban Nikolic, winner of the Zolotarjev 2000 Competition held in France.

http://www.accordions.com/garydahl Updated information on USA accordionist Gary Dahl, with new books, sound files and a photo of the Gary Dahl trio.

http://www.accordions.com/alcobaca Information on Alcobaça, where the 50th Trophée Mondial de l'Accordéon takes place in Portugal from September 27th to October 2nd. Check this site for competition information and updates.

http://www.accordions.com/freire Updated information on Portuguese accordionist Aníbal Leão Freire.

http://www.accordions.com/serenata Updated information on the Serenata Music School in Alcobaça, Portugal.

http://www.accordions.com/casarzalig Updated information on the 6th Trofeo Internazionale competition for accordion, keyboard, organ, guitar, wind and stringed instruments, held in Casarza Ligure, Genoa, Italy.

A Memorial for Ivan Adamovich Yashkevich by Australia accordionist Bernadette Conlon is now online and can be seen at: http://www.accordions.com/memorials/mem/yashkevich/index.shtml

Richard Kimker would like some information on French accordionist Fabrice Peluso. He has a cassette by the artist entitled "Au bal mussette" Vol. 4. Par F. Peluso released by Melody Music, Studio Bleu Nuit (Lyon) and would like to know details of Volumes 1, 2 & 3. Please email: kim@inlink.com