Accordions Worldwide staff have completed a successful International Congress in Fiji. Over the next two or three months we will be implementing some exciting new projects and improvements to our sites. Beginning this week, in addition to featuring news items on our Home Page, we will also include details of New Sites, CD Reviews and Articles. Look for more new things next week.

Wayne Knights Webmaster

• Kokkola Winter Accordion Festival - Finland
• AATA 2001 Rules, Available Only On Line - Australia
• Anniversary Celebrations - Lithuania
• New Projects for 2001 - Spain
• Accordion Competition and Festival - Ireland
• Accordionist Performs at Resort - Puerto Rico
• Free Range Accordion Recording - USA
• Concert with Oare String Orchestra - UK
• Soave Performs with Philharmonic Orchestra - Roumania
• New CD "Fire Kiss" - China
• Positive Tour Reviews - Germany
• Michael Ganian Memorial Group TV Documentaries - USA
• Dandelion Concert - Japan
• Accordionist Appointed Representative of the Friulana Association - Argentina
• New Year Concert - Italy
• New CD in Spain
• Master Class with Marc Perrone - France
• New Sheet Music for Accordion Orchestras - Austria
• Workshops at Leyland - England
• Amsterdam Accordion Club Concert - Netherlands
• Fisorchestra Liberina Plays for UNICEF - Italy
• Obituary for Sir Jimmy Shand Now Online
• New Sites
• Antique Accordion Information

Contributed by Raimo Vertainen

The "Kokkola Winter Accordion Festival" is now underway in Kokkola until January 28th. Performers include Friedrich Lips who will play with the well known Ostrobothnian Chamber Orchestra ("Seven Words" by Gubaidulina). This concert will be recorded by the Finnish Radio Broadcasting Company who will broadcast it this week.

At the Ostrobothnian Conservatory Hall, the Trio Fratres will play "Pictures at an Exhibition" (Mussorgsky), which has been arranged for accordion trio by Heikki Jokiaho. Their program will also include works by Finnish composers Tiensuu, Nuorvala and Makkonen. Trio Fratres has toured Germany, Belgium, Norway, Sweden, Russia, France and Estonia. For further details email: raimo.vertainen@pp.inet.fi

The Australian Accordion Teachers Association has put on line the rules for their 2001 competitions to be held May 25th to 27th. In what is probably a world first for any accordion association, AATA President Tania Lukic-Marx writes: "As part of the AATA policy of moving with the times and keeping costs from rising for our members, many of whom are families, we are not printing the Prospectus (containing rules) this year. Today, nearly everyone has internet or a friend or school or library where they can view the internet and print out only the classes or rules that apply specifically to them."

The AATA also wishes to announce that the rules for the Australian International Piano Accordion Solo Championship (their top class) are now aligned with the new International Piano Accordion Class being held for the first time at the 2001 Coupe Mondiale in London in October 2001. The winner of that class will be sponsored, wherever in the world they may live, to perform concerts at the 2002 Australian International Accordion Championships in Sydney and the 2002 South Pacific Accordion Championships in Auckland. Music Requirements in English, French, German, Russian, Italian and Spanish.

Contributed by Raimondas Sviackevicius

The Lithuanian Accordion Association will celebrate its 15th anniversary with a Seminar and Master class on April 4th and 5th in Vilnius. The event, which is organised by the LAA and the LMA (Lithuanian Music Academy) will include conferences, open lessons, workshops and concerts and is open to students and teachers. Guests include Professors Oleg Sharov (Russia), Lech Puchnowski (Poland), Ricardas Sviackevicius, Eduardas Gabnys and Zita Abromaviciute (all from Lithuania).

Evening concerts will include a solo recital by Oleg Sharov, entertainment by Lech Puchnowski's class students, M. Majkusiak (accordion) & B. Karwowski (clarinet) and Lithuanian accordionists. For further information email: laa@takas.lt

Accordionist Iñaki Alberdi has some exciting new projects for 2001 with his contemporary music group "Oiasso Novis". The group are currently working on a completely new repertoire for this year's concerts. Their final concert for 2000 included a performance at the Contemporary Music Festival held at the Museum of Fine Arts in Bilbao, where the group played pieces by Basque composers. .

Contributed by Enda Kelly

An Accordion Competition and Festival will be held in Kells, Co. Meath, Ireland on May 6th which will cater for solo classical and traditional Irish accordionists (beginner to senior and concert artist), accordion groups and orchestras of all levels. In addition to the graded sections there will also be classes for age related groups. The competitions are open to accordionists from around the world and all music performed will be the competitors own choice.

There will also be sections in solo Irish Traditional music for concertina, melodeon, concert flute, violin, piano and tin whistle as well as a classical solo section piano.

Over 2,000 people are expected to attend the event, organised by the Oristown Accordion Orchestra, Kells, Co. Meath. Festival Secretary, email: kellsmusicfestival@eircom.net
Entries close on April 2nd, 2001.

Contributed by Holda Paoletti-Kampl

Accordionist Jon Hammond appeared as a special guest at the exclusive Ocean Villas Resort near San Juan this month. The resort has 11 restaurants and several "Lounges" and bars with live musical entertainment. Jon gave impromptu performances to holiday makers

A solo recording featuring accordionist Guy Klucevsek entitled "Free Range Accordion" is now available on the Starkland label. The CD includes works commissioned for Klucevsek by Pulitzer Prize winner Aaron Jay Kernis, Stephen Montague, Lois V Vierk, Somei Satoh, Jerome Kitzke and Lars Hollmer. Other tracks include Klucevsek's composition "Three of a Kind" plus works by Burt Bacharach. For further information email: Guysqueeze@aol.com

On February 3rd, accordionist David Farmer will perform "Concerto for Accordion" (by British composer John Webb) with the Oare String Orchestra in Faversham, Kent. This concerto was selected to be the Final Round concerto in the 2000 Klingenthal Accordion Competition. This is only the second time the piece has been performed in England. For further details email: dfarm76@hotmail.com

On January 17th and 21st Peter Soave performed nationally televised concerts with the Roumanian Philharmonic conducted by Roberto Salvalaio in Bucharest. Their program included works by Piazzolla such as Aconcagua, Tres Minutos Con La Realidad, Remembrance, Cavalcata, and Adios Nonino.

Chinese accordionists Meng Fan and Ye Rong released a new CD entitled "Fire Kiss" recently. The CD celebrates their first wedding anniversary and includes a variety of different styles such as tango, jazz, blues, waltzes and polkas. For details email: mengfan001@sina.com

Contributed by Jutta Menn

Viktor Romanko's recent successful concert tour of Germany received many positive reviews in regional newspapers with articles entitled "Fireflight through folklore", "Bayan replaces Organ" and "Absolutely Exceptional". Viktor's professional appearance and performance of a variety of musical styles was well received by audiences.

Critics wrote the following: "With ingenuity, ardour and improvisation talent Viktor Romanko guides the bayan or accordion out of its stepchild existence into the area of the better established musical instruments".

These positive reviews can only help to increase the popularity of the accordion in many areas.

Contributed by Holda Paoletti-Kampl

Recent activities of the Michael Ganian Memorial Group include a Los Angeles Television broadcast of four documentary films that were dedicated to composer and accordionist Michael Ganian. A New York radio station also broadcast a concert by Michael, accompanied by his teacher, conductor Choren Anagian.

At the 2000 Armenian World Music Festival (held in Los Angeles), musicians expressed their deep respect for Michael Ganian's refined artistic talent and his contribution to the world of music. It was decided, that this festival will be dedicated to his memory in future.

Currently a film is being made which covers the last few years of Michael Ganian`s work and two books dedicated to his memory are now available. The first is by Vahan Grigoryan who wrote the book to commemorate the first anniversary of Ganian's tragic death. The author of the second book, Vahan Harutyunyan, is also working on a memorial CD that will contain selected compositions performed by Michael Ganian.

Contributed by Toru Katou

The Kawagoe Accordion Circle "Dandelion" will hold a concert at the Kawagoe West Cultural Hall, Kawagoe, Saitama Prefecture on March 4th. For further details phone: +81 492-24-9312

Accordionist Florencia Herrera was recently appointed a representative of the Asociacion Friulana located in Paraná, Entre Rios, Argentina. As part of this position, Florencia performs solo concerts regularly playing a repertoire of Italian tunes such as O Sole Mio, La Traviata as well as mazurkas and polkas. On January 1st Florencia performed at the Paraná Amphitheater. Prior to this she played on a TV cultural program, which was aired on Christmas Eve.

Contributed by Holda Paoletti-Kampl

On January 5th accordionist Sylvia Pagni held her first concert for 2001 in a sixteenth century palace in Sarzana (province of La Spezia) known as "Il Loggiato". The performance, which was organised by Professor Elisabetta Tavani in collaboration with the regional cultural council, was held in front of a large audience, a testimony to the enduring popularity of the accordion.

Keeping in mind the classical aura of the palace, Sylvia played Symphonic pieces from operas such as "The Thieving Magpie", "An Italian in Algiers" and "Norma", giving the feel of a whole symphony orchestra to the audience.

The following day Sylvia played in the beautiful city of Rapallo, where she had held very successful concerts a few months before.

Accordionist Angel Luis Castaño has directed the production of a new CD entitled "Historias". French composer Patrick Busseuil and Angel Luis collaborated with other Spanish accordionists Raquel Ruiz, Iñaki Dieguez, Esteban Algora and Salvador Parada, all of whom are teachers in Spanish Conservatories.

The CD has received positive reviews from critics and aims to present works by composer Patrick Busseuil. For further CD information email: ANGELLUI@teleline.es

Contributed by Nathalie Dubreuil

An accordion master class and concerts will be held by Marc Perrone from February 1st to 4th at Le Grenier à Sel in Trappes entitled "Les Enfants de l'Accordéon". For details phone: + 33 1 30 13 98 53

Contributed by Holda Paoletti-Kampl

On February 15th new sheet music for accordion orchestras will be available from ABC-Edition in five parts. The music is designed for beginner groups and also includes parts for trumpets and clarinets to enable mixed arrangements.

Contributed by David Batty

On February 3rd a workshop (tutored by Walter Perrie) will be held at The Priory Club, Leyland, Lancashire for all levels from absolute beginners to advanced players. Participation will not require music reading. This is one of a series of workshops aimed at providing information on all aspects of accordion playing including accordion positioning, bellows techniques, fingering, standing, sitting, introductions, endings, bass techniques, singing, nerves, audience control, presentation, sheet music, styles, microphones, MIDI, chords, practice techniques etc. Future workshops will be held by Steve Roxton and Johnny Coleclough. For further details email: david@sectorsoftware.demon.co.uk

Contributed by Hillebrand van der Veen

The Amsterdam Accordion Club will hold a concert on January 28th at the Buurthuis De Rietwijker in Amsterdam Noord. The A-orchestra (conducted by Piet Verzijde), B-orchestra (conducted by Marian van Vloten) and the Forzando Light Orchestra will play a program of light music and pieces suitable for square dancing. For details email: H.J.Veen@net.HCC.nl

Contributed by Holda Paoletti-Kampl

The Fisorchestra Liberina performed at a recent show organized by the ITIS Giordani Musical Laboratory at the Ferrari Orsi military complex in Caserta, Italy. Professor Luigi Liccardi coordinated the event, while Professor Pasquale De Marco served as its artistic director. The large audience in attendance acclaimed the numerous young artists who performed difficult and socially committed pieces.

The show concluded with the performance of "Astro del Ciel", sung by students and teachers of the ITIS to celebrate a project which was simple yet rich of human values and uncommon artistic talents.

An obituary on Scottish accordion legend Sir Jimmy Shand is now online at: http://www.accordions.com/memorials/mem/shand_jimmy/index.shtml submitted by Stuart Thomson

http://www.accordions.com/klingenthal Updated information on the annual Klingenthal Competition from May 4th to 10th including program details, jury information etc.

http://www.accordions.com/aata Updated information on the Australian Accordion teachers Association International competition from May 25th to 27th.

Joe Thompson would like details on a Concertone button accordion made in Germany (possibly in the early 1900's), which is brown with flower designs. Email: jotnorsk@discover-net.net