This is our last news for the year 2000. We hope you have enjoyed reading the Weekly news as much as we have enjoyed bringing it to you. The Accordions Worldwide staff will hold an International congress in January 2001 and welcome the opportunity to pass on your feedback of positive and constructive comments to the team. Please send comments to Christine at: news@accordions.com

Our first news for 2001 will be online January 19th. We hope you have a wonderful Christmas and a very Happy New Year.

Wayne Knights Webmaster

• 3rd International Competition of Bayan and Accordion Players - Russia
• Arrasate Accordion Competition - Spain
• New Year Bavarian Club Concert - USA
• Christmas Gift from Renzo Ruggieri
• Modern Comic Opera - France
• Hogmonay Party - Scotland
• VI International Malanin Festival - Russia
• Fisorchestra Italiana in Milan - Italy
• "Mad Pudding" Celebrates in California - USA
• Shanghai Accordion Competition - China
• Accordions in Concert in Cairo - Egypt
• Burns Night Dance - England
• Church Concerts - Italy
• Accordionist Special Media Guest on Cruise Ship - USA
• "Top Accordeon" TV Show - France
• Accordionist Appointed "Head of Studies" - England
• Busy Christmas Concert Schedule - Italy
• "Again to Cherish" Concert - USA
• Christmas and New Year Concerts - Russia
• 2001 Concert Tour by Gary Blair - England
• New CD by Viktor Romanko - Germany
• Accordion Symposium - USA
• New Publication - Italy
• Teenager Centre Concert - China
• Charms Tour - USA
• Intense Concert Activity for Sylvia Pagni - Italy
• New CD by Noton and Soave
• New Sites
• Antique Accordion Information
• Accordion Information Required

Contributed by Dr Herbert Scheibenreif Manager of Friedrich Lips Productions

The 3rd International Competition of Bayan and Accordion Players took place from December 10th to 17th in Russia's Gnessin Academy of Music with great success. The International jury included Chairman Sergey Kolobkov (Russia), Nikolay Sevrjukov (Belarus), Owen Murray (England), Anatoly Gaysin (Kazakhstan), Radomir Tomic (Yugoslavia), Lech Puchnowski (Poland), Anatoly Belyaev (Russia), Friedrich Lips (Russia), Viacheslav Semionov (Russia), Max Bonnay (France) and Vladimir Besfamilnov (Ukraine).

Competitors from Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, China and Finland took part in this event, which included three rounds of close competition with six finalists battling for first place.

A variety of concerts were held (including opening and closing concerts) with performances by the Bayan orchestra of the Gnessin Academy of Music, Iñaki Alberdi (Spain - winner of the 1995 Competition) and the Pawel Smirnow Orchestra (St. Petersburg).

The "Silver Disk" (for special accomplishments in the accordion and bayan culture fields) was presented to Boris Jegorov for his book dedicated to 50 years of the bayan faculty at Gnessin's Academy of Music, Yury Motorin and Alexander Sisov (two famous bayan Masters from the factories in Tula and Moscow) and German composer Jürgen Ganzer. The competition was aired on television and radio.

Results:

• 1st equal: Ajdar Gainullin (Russia) and Yury Medyanik (Russia)
• 2nd: Andrey Statsenko (Russia)
• 3rd equal: Michail Burlakov (Russia), Igor Kvashevich (Belarus) and Alexander Selivanov (Russia).

Contributed by Maribel Insausti

In conjunction with the Arrasateko Akordeoi Lehiaketak Festival the VIII "Arrasate Hiria" International Accordion Competition took place at the Amaia Theater in Arrasate-Mondragon (Basque) from December 4th to 8th. Accordionists from Russia, Yugoslavia, Denmark and Estonia took part in the event, which saw eight finalists competing for the first prize of 500.000 pesetas (US$3,500).

Results:

• 1st: Aidar Gainullin (Russia) - Aidar also won the Public Prize and the prize for the best interpretation of the test piece "Retratos y Transcripciones" tango by Luis de Pablo.
• 2nd: Artem Kouznetsov (Russia)
• 3rd: Milos Milivojevic (Yugoslavia)

Due to the high playing standard, this year's jury (comprised of Iñaki Alberdi - Basque, Max Bonnay - France, Friedrich Lips - Russia, Matti Rantanen - Finland and Vojin Vasovic - Yugoslavia) decided to award two further prizes to Eugeny Petrov (Russia) and Srdjan Vukasinovic (Yugoslavia).

Winner of last year's competition Sergei Voitenko, gave a series of concerts in Arrasate and other cities.

As part of the Arrasateko Akordeoi Lehiaketak festival, the XXI National Accordion Competition was also held from December 6th to 8th in Arrasate-Mondragon.

Results:

• Senior category, 1st: Iban Galdos
• Junior category, 1st: Beatriz Garcia
• Children's category, 1st: Aritz Sodupe

The J.T. Orchestra (German polka band) will play at the Austrian Village on December 30th and at the Bavarian Club in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on December 31st.

The group, which includes accordionists Dino Jakovasic and Clara Fabian play a variety of German-American Music. For further detail email: Info@JTOrchestra.com

Jazz accordionist Renzo Ruggieri has made an electronic metronome that you can download free. This metronome is his Christmas gift to accordionists all over the world. Please check our home page for download details.

French accordionist Bruno Maurice performed with the Symphonic Orchestra of Orleansa at the Orleansa Theatre from December 12th to 14th. Their program included the modern comic opera by Fransois Couturier (Wolfgang Mozart suite and fugue) directed by Philippe Nahon.

On December 24th, Bruno will give a concert at the Church of Vendame. His program will include works from his new CD "Appassionata". For further concert details email: bruno.maurice@mageos.com

The Graham Geddes Band will perform at a Hogmonay Party at the Aberdeen Beach Ballroom on December 31st until 1am. The band recently performed at a "Tartan Ball" in this venue in front of HRH Princess Margaret to raise funds for a children's charity.

Over 400 people have already booked to dance the night away on December 31st. The group will perform traditional Scottish dances including reels like "Strip the Willow" and "Virginia Reel". For details email: Gizasong@aol.com

Contributed by Sergej Tchirkov, East European News Coordinator

The 6th International Malanin Festival and competition will be held in Novosibirsk, Siberia, from January 17th to 21st organized by the Musical Society of Novosibirsk and dedicated to the memory of well known Siberian bayanist Ivan Malanin. The festival takes place every two years and performers of any age are invited to participate in the competition and seminar. A number of concerts by festival participants will be held during the event as well as a seminar on the problems of teaching and performing folk music. For further details email: fomirina@mail.ru

Contributed by Holda Paoletti-Kampl

The Fisorchestra Italiana (conducted by Vincenzo Mininno) performed with soloists Peppino Principe and Gianni Miedico at the Palazzina Liberty in Largo Marinai d'Italia, Milan this week. Their program included "Concertino" (composed by Principe), Fantasia Brasiliana and La Gazza Ladra Overture (Rossini).

"Mad Pudding" will perform "First Night Celebration" concerts in Santa Cruz and Monterey in California on December 31st. The group, which includes accordionist Amy Stephen plus bass, drums, guitar, violin and vocals, play a variety of celtic music. For details email: madpud@istar.ca

Contributed by Li Cong

The year 2000 Shanghai Accordion Grade Competition was held on December 2nd to 3rd in Shanghai. Over 500 students attended the event (which included 10 competition levels) all of whom participated in accordion examinations during the year 2000. The aim of the competition is to choose outstanding players from each grade level, giving them encouragement for the future. During the year 2000 over 3,500 people sat examinations. The jury awarded over 100 first, second and third placings. The Shanghai Accordion Association will hold an Award Ceremony and concert on December 30th.

Contributed by Holda Paoletti-Kampl

Following the success of last year's accordion concerts, the Italian Ministry of Culture has organised another concert at the Opera Theatre in Cairo, Egypt this month. The event will feature Roberto Lucanero (Cemex) and Valentino Lorenzetti (MIDI) & Mirco Patarini (from the Menghini factory).

Accordionist Heather Hawthorn is currently entertaining twice a day at senior citizen Christmas parties and at nursing homes in England.

On January 20th Heather and her band will entertain at the Nottingham Scottish Association "Burns Night Dance" in Nottingham. They will playing Scottish dances such as West's Hornpipe and the Eightsome Reel as well as waltzes, quicksteps and old-time dances. For further details email: heather@heathermixture.co.uk

Contributed by Holda Paoletti-Kampl

Accordionist Giorgio Dellarole performed at the Church of Verrès in Aosta province with the Aosta Akkordeon Ensemble on December 21st. Their program included works by Fugazza, Solotarev, Seiber and Piazzolla. They will repeat this program on January 2nd at the Church of Morgex.

On December 23rd, Giorgio will play klezmer music at the Church of San Michele in Vercelli with the "Klezmer" Trio.

Contributed by Holda Paoletti-Kampl

Accordionist Jon Hammond appeared as special Media Guest on the world's fastest cruise ship "Olympic Voyager" for the "USA Inaugural" event in Port Everglades, Florida recently. The ship had just arrived from a whirlwind 7 day tour of Greece, Turkey, and Egypt. Hammond performed two evening concerts with cruise ship veteran Peter Nowak and the Boston Herald Newspaper's Travel/Entertainment Editor, Mark Chapman. Their program included pieces appropriately entitled, "My Ship", and "All or Nothing at All".

Accordionist Jean-Robert Chappelet has a weekly TV show in France on TV8 Mont Blanc entitled "Top Accordeon". The show is jointly presented by Jean-Robert, Carole Montmayeur and S. Geroudet. On December 16th guest Peter Soave (USA) performed on the show.

The show will hold a national and international competition "Trophée Jean-Robert Chappelet" and invites accordionists to send a two minute tape for selection to: Mr Chappelet Jr., 73200 Grignon, France. Competition finals will be held in December 2001. For further details email: jr.chappelet@wanadoo.fr

Jean-Robert will also perform at Christmas and New Year functions. For details see Future Events.

Accordionist David Farmer, former student at the Royal Academy of Music in London and now an International soloist has recently been appointed Head of Accordion Studies at Blackheath Conservatoire of Music in London. David will officially take up the position in January 2001. The Conservatoire is committed to the development of the accordion in Britain and with David at the helm will work to encourage young people to take up the instrument.

Contributed by Holda Paoletti-Kampl

The Accord'Ance sextet (Cesare Chiacchiaretta, Giancarlo di Giovanni, Monica D'Emidio, Alisia Fragassi, Alberto Centorami, Rocco Ronca) have a busy Christmas performance schedule with concerts in Roseto (Teramo), Pescara (special Christmas concert), Guglionesi (Campobasso province), Langhirano (Parma province) and Silvi (Teramo province).

Their program will include works by Dvorak, Brahms, Solotariov, Seiber, Piazzolla, Bach, Vivaldi, Mendelsohn, Corelli, Strauss, Von Suppé, Franck, Couperin, Gershwin and Barber. For further details see Future Events.

A concert entitled "Again to Cherish" will be held at the First Parish Unitarian Baptist Church in Arlington, Massachusetts on January 5th. Entertainers include accordionist Patty Furlong. For further information email: bhockett@music-for-robin.org

Contributed by Olga Kopylova

Accordionist Sergei Voitenko will perform a variety of Christmas and New Year's concerts with his quartet "Non Stop" in Samara, Russia and surrounding regions. Their program will include new cover versions of popular classical and modern melodies. For further information: servoit@hippo.ru

Contributed by Sue Bennett

Accordionist Gary Blair will make a "Mini Tour Down South" from February 11th to 14th, 2001. This tour will includes performances at the "Uxbridge Accordion Club" in Middlesex, "Kool Accords" in Burgess Hill, West Sussex, "Guildford Accordion Club" in Nr. Guildford and "Harlow Accordion Club" in Harlow, Essex. For further details see Future Events

Contributed by Juergen Bruch

Accordionist Viktor Romanko has just released a new CD "Improvisationen". The CD includes works by J.S. Bach, W. Solotarjov and J. Derbenko as well as the art of improvisation, which he has never presented on a CD before. Viktor plays well-known tunes and presents them spontaneously in different styles, transforming them into new compositions. The improvisations on this CD were recorded in a studio and are unique.

Viktor says: "Improvisation is the mood of the moment in which I am while I am playing and which I cannot repeat in the same way again".

Viktor has played many concerts in Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Lithuania, Latvia, Moldavia, Poland, Czech Republic, Italy, Belgium, Austria, France, Norway, Sweden, Germany, and Turkey and Switzerland. For further details email: jbmusic@jb-music.de

Contributed by Allan Atlas

A Spring 2001 accordion symposium will be held on March 23rd, 2001 (sponsored by The Center for the Study of Free-Reed Instruments) at The Graduate Center of The City University of New York. The symposium, which is entitled "The Accordion as an Icon of Italian American Culture" will include three papers by Peter Muir, William Schimmel and James Periconi. A concert will also be held by Henry Doktorski, Robert McMahan and William Schimmel who will perform works by Pietro Deiro, Pietro Frosini, Charles Magnante and Paul Creston. For further details email: aatlas@gc.cuny.edu

Contributed by Ivano Battiston

A new publication entitled "Principia seu elementa ad bene Pusandum Organum e Cimbalum" containing an interesting collection of music for keyboard instruments (including the accordion) is now available for a variety of learning levels. The publication (by Domenico Zipoli and other authors and edited by Roberto Antonello and Luis Szarán), includes South American pieces from the XVIII century. For further information email Roberto Antonello: antorob@libero.it

Contributed by Li Cong

An accordion concert was held recently in the Teenagers Center in Huangpu District, Shanghai with over 400 people in attendance. Performers were participants of accordion training courses held at the Teenagers Center by Qian Xing. The successful concerts included a program of pieces such as "A Little Driver", "Beijing Opera Tune", "Evening in Tianshan" and "Carnival of Venice".

Accordionist Guy Klucevsek will tour with the "Charms of the Night Sky" band in January, in celebration of the release of their new CD "A Thousand Evening" on BMG. The band consists of Dave Douglas (trumpet), Mark Feldman (violin), Guy Klucevsek (accordion) and Greg Cohen, bass. The group will perform in California, Washington, Oregon, Massachusetts, Tennessee, Illinois, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Florida and Vancouver (Canada). For further details email: Guysqueeze@aol.com

Contributed by Holda Paoletti-Kampl

Sylvia Pagni's tour of the coast of Liguria (which began in November), included many successful concerts in some of the most beautiful areas of Italy. The performances took place in local venues and theatres, where Sylvia presented a program ranging from classical music to swing that was well received both by the audiences and the critics. More recently Sylvia was in Bologna for a series of concerts which ended on December 20th.

Contributed by Holda Paoletti-Kampl

French accordionist Jean Louis Noton and Peter Soave (USA) have released their first CD together "Accordéon Sans Frontière". The CD includes a track dedicated to Francesca Pigini (owner of Pigini Accordions) entitled "Francesca". Other tracks include "Aquillon" and "Adios Nonino". CD information is available on Jean Louis Noton's site with Accordions Worldwide.

http://www.music-marche.com Updated information on Music Marche, the consortium for the protection, promotion and development of hand-crafted, quality musical instruments produced in Marche, Italy.

http://www.accordions.com/noton Updated information on French accordion entertainer Jean-Louis Noton

http://www.accordions.com/regina Updated information on Regina Accordions including details on new products

http://www.beltuna.com/diModugno.htm Information on well known Italian jazz accordionist Pino Di Modugno

http://www.beltuna.com Updated information on Beltuna Accordions including details of their artists.

http://accordions.com/fisorchestrafancelli Information on the "L. Fancelli" Fisorchestra, winners of the orchestra section in the 2000 Città di Castelfidardo competition.

http://www.accordions.com/ravaglia Updated information on Italian accordionist Daniele Ravaglia

Roland Turley would like some information on a Imperial accordion made in Germany which has a trade mark of two anchors and the words "Fabrik Marke". Email: rturley@iqnetsys.net

Accordionist Antonio Perez and his church in Orlando, Florida were given a Sanovox all electronic accordion without the Power Pack required to run it. (This accordion does not have traditional bellows). If you can help with information on a suitable power pack please email: talym1@netzero.com