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ATG Promises to be an International
Affair - USA
Contributed by Kevin
Friedrich
For four days, accordion guests ranging from
Finnish superstar Mika Väyrynen, The Viennese
Chamber Accordion Ensemble (Austria), the Accordion Orchestra
of Lower Saxony (Germany) and Moldovian born Stas Venglevski will
shower the ATG
festival attendees with a dazzling array of accordion virtuosity
and variety.
Meanwhile, contestants from as far afield as
Australia, Russia, Europe and across the USA will compete in three
competitions, the Galla-Rini Competition for Classical Accordion,
the ATG Virtuoso Entertainment Competition and the jointly sponsored
ATG/TAA
Competition for Folk Music, offering almost US$5000.00 in prize
money.
Also included will be a series of concerts,
workshops and trade shows and a Festival Orchestra, which will provide
the opportunity for attendees to be conducted (in concert) by orchestral
directors from Austria, Germany and the USA.
All activities will take place at the Sheraton
Gunter Hotel, just a short stroll away from the famous River Walk
in the beautiful and historical Texas town of San Antonio. For information,
online booking, schedule information please visit the ATG
site or email President Joan
Sommers at: sommersj@umkc.edu
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New Accordion Postal Stamp - Germany
Contributed by Holda
Paoletti-Kampl
 After
many long discussions with postal stamps producer the German Post
AG, the editor of Intermusik
was successful in marketing their own stamp, which of course has
the picture of an accordion, inspired by the Italians from Castelfidardo
who have had their own stamp for many years.
Intermusik was able to convince German Post
AG, how important it is for the German stamp-market to honor the
"accordion", which has been of great importance (as no other instrument)
in the history of German culture and economic development in traditional
manufacturing places like Trossingen and Klingenthal.
The stamp value was requested to be suitable
for the high value of the accordion, so will be available at 1.10
DM (Euro 56 cents).
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First Cologne Accordion Orchestra
1935 Tours France
Contributed by Winfried Haushalter
 The
First Cologne Accordion Orchestra 1935 took 44 members on a concert
tour of Biscarrosse, South West France from June 19th to 25th. On
June 21st, the orchestra performed in Arcachon in the "Concert Shell"
by the lake side in front of a wonderful background. Unfortunately,
the orchestra was not able to fulfil all the encore requests, as
they had to leave to perform a concert that evening at the "Fete
de la Musique" (Festival of Music) in Biscarrosse. At this concert
the orchestra performed on a specially built stage till late in
the evening.
The highlight of the tour was a concert in the
church of Saint Martin-Biscarrosse Bour. This performance was specially
enhanced by the great acoustics of the church. The audience showed
their appreciation with a standing ovation at the end of the concert.
The final concert of the tour was an open air
performance on June 23rd in celebration of St. Jean Day. Their program
included "Trompe Voluntary" (Jeremiah Clarke), "Sinfonia in B Major
(Bach), "Allegro" (Vivaldi) and La Rčjouissance (Fireworks Music)
by Händel.
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Church Concert - Italy
Contributed by Luigi Luoni
The Complesso Fisarmonicisti Cittā di Varese will
perform a concert at the Azzio Church in Varese Province on July 21st.
This orchestra of 16 accordionists has performed over 200 concerts in
Italy and internationally since being refounded in 1984. They will perform
a program of both classical and non-classical music. For further details
email: levetmlmr@libero.it
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"Accordion Dreams" on National PBS
Television - USA
Contributed by Evy Ledesma
 "Accordion
Dreams" will feature on National PBS television in the USA on August 30,
2001. Galán Productions recently completed the documentary, which was
premiered on March 3rd at the Cinefestival in San Antonio and had numerous
screenings at South by Southwest in Austin during March. The film has
also screened at the Dallas Video Festival, at the Historical La Villita
in San Benito, Texas and at the 8th annual CineSol Latino Film Festival
on South Padre Island.
"Accordion Dreams" brings the rich and diverse history
of Texas-based Mexican American music to the forefront in an exciting
way that includes performance footage, archival footage/photos, and heartfelt
interviews, weaving a character-driven story that entertains as it educates.
Narrated by singer/songwriter Tish Hinojosa, the documentary captures
the history and impact the European button accordion has had on the development
of a unique American musical genre called Conjunto.
"With Accordion Dreams I wanted to literally follow
the button accordion's journey from Europe to Texas and explore its major
role in the creation of this musical expression called conjunto- that
is native to Texas," says Hector Galán. "To do this, we focused
in on Central Texas, specifically the city of New Braunfels, which was
settled in the late 1800's by German immigrants."
 The
documentary also touches on the impact the Italian Immigrant community
had on the popularity of the accordion in the United States. Eddie Chavez,
a prominent accordion historian, whose book "The Golden Age of the Accordion",
is considered one of the most comprehensive writings on the subject, is
interviewed in Accordion Dreams. Chavez reminisces with fondness about
the "Golden Age" when the accordion was at the top of its popularity in
mainstream America, and acknowledges that it is today's conjunto musicians
who are "keeping accordion music alive."
The documentary looks at today's young rebel accordionists
who have expanded this musical style to the fringes of rock, blues, and
pop, while paying homage to its pioneers. Some of the featured artists
include Flaco Jimenez, Oma and the Oompahs, Tony De La Rosa, Valerio Longoria,
Ruben Vela, Paulino Bernal, Eva Ybarra, Albert Zamora, up and coming accordion
whiz Jesse Turner, and fifteen-year-old sensation Victoria Galvan. For
further information email: galan@galaninc.com
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Cittā di Osimo Accordion Orchestra
in Concert - Italy
 Contributed
by Holda Paoletti-Kampl
The end-of-year concert of the school of the Cittā
di Osimo Accordion Orchestra was held on June 26th at the church of "San
Filippo Neri" in Osimo. The concert featured students from the institute,
which is directed by Paolo
Picchio. First to perform were soloists (aged from 5 to 18), followed
by the school orchestra (which includes 14 accordionists, guitar and percussion)
conducted by Paolo Picchio. The event was attended by local personalities,
Diego Terzoni of the Marche regional council and the President of ANBIMA
(National Association of Independent Bands).
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Scottish Trio Tours Sweden
Contributed by Stuart Thomson
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Dan Giselsson, Stuart
Thomson, Alex Wilson, Kenny Thomson & Kjell Hermansson
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The Kenny Thomson Trio (based in Cumnock, Scotland)
recently spent a week in Sweden, playing for Scottish Country Dance Demonstrations
held during the "Midsummer" event. The visit was a joint venture by the
Royal Scottish Country Dance Society (Ayr Branch) and Folkdanslaget Vastanvind
of Göteborg. Sweden holds "Midsummer" in very high regard and the Midsummer
Day itself involved no fewer than 6 separate events.
This photograph was taken at an informal session in
the "Gräfsnäsgården" in Göteborg and shows the trio enjoying a tune with
Folkdanslaget Vastanvind's two resident musicians, Dan and Kjell.
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Accordionists Wedding - USA
  On
June 23rd accordionists Mary Kay Welter & Henry Doktorski were married
at St. Patrick Church in Oakdale, Pennsylvania, USA. Henry played and
sang a "Betrothal Pledge" which he wrote specially for his new bride Mary
Kay. Following this he played a polka medley with the band "The Mike Westbury
Quintet" which got the crowd up and dancing. Henry was a member of this
band for four years.
Six year old Nathan Webster brought his accordion
all the way from Minneapolis, Minnesota (about 900 miles) especially to
play at the event.
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Buckwheat Zydeco "Down Home Live!"
Tour - USA and Canada
Buckwheat Zydeco's "Down Home Live!" tour began on
June 30th at the Milwaukee Summerfest in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. During
the tour the group will perform at the Ottawa Citizen Blues Festival in
Ottawa, Ontario and the Calgary Folk Music Festival in Calgary, ALB, (Canada)
as well as at a variety of venues throughout Canada and the USA. The tour
is due to finish on October 7th at Citystage Greensboro in North Carolina
(USA). For further details see Future
Events.
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New Jazz CD "Cool Change" Now Available
- Australia
A New Jazz CD by the Peter Piccini Jazz Trio entitled
"Cool Change" was recently released by CLP Productions, Booragoon, Western
Australia. The CD, which contains original compositions and arrangements
by Peter Piccini, has been played on many jazz radio programmes around
Australia. Tracks include "Cool Change", "Pete's Blues" and "Soft as velvet".
For further details email: piccini@bigpond.com
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New CD "Lorius" - Spain
A new CD entitled "Lorius" has just been released
by "Alboka", a band specializing in Basque traditional music with members
Joxan Goikoetxea (accordion and synthesisers), Alan Griffin (bagpipes,
flutes and whistles) and Juan Arriola (violin).
The CD includes a carefully chosen combination of
traditional material and original compositions. Guest performer, Hungarian
vocalist Márta Sebestyén sings on five of the CD tracks. For further details
email: joxan@joxan.com
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Orkney Folk Festival - Scotland
The group "Keep it Up" enjoyed themselves so much
at the Orkney Folk Festival last month, that they have decided to set
aside time in September to record their 2nd CD with the Foot Stompin'
label. Band members include concertina player Simon Thoumire (member of
The Simon Thoumire Three), Eilidh Shaw (member of The Poozies), Malcolm
Stitt and Kevin MacKenzie. For further CD details email: footstompin@tartantapes.com
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The
Kuhmo Chamber Music festival will be held during the last two weeks
of July and is one of the biggest and most respected festivals in
the world. Accordionist Mika Väyrynen will perform solo works at
the Kuhmo Arts Center as well as works with Jan-Erik Gustafsson
(cello) and a string quartet which includes Yoshiko Arai (violin),
Vasile Pantir (violin) and Vladimir Mendelssohn (viola). These concerts,
which will take place on July 28th, will include pieces by Sofia
Gubaidulina ("In Croce for Cello and Accordion" and "De Profundis")
and Astor Piazzolla ("Le Grand Tango" and "Five tango sensations").
For further details email: 
The
The
quiet of summer in Lapedona will be broken on July 26th by a musical
event. Organised by the countryside tourist resort "Il Rustico"
and by the 
Contributed
by 
The
27th annual Kimberley International Old Time Accordion Championships will
be held in Kimberley, British Colombia from July 9th to 15th. Performers
include Myron Floren, Kerry Christensen, the Laurie Accordion Orchestra
(Scotland), The Cottonpickers, Johner Brothers, The Emeralds and the Killaly
Rhythm Kings. Events include the Old Time Accordion Competition, jam sessions
and a family social and dance with the Sam Pecorilla Dance Band. Workshops
will also be given by Bill Sturgeon (accordion), Al Almassy ("Old Time
Music" and "Button Box Clinic") Derek Sanders ("Playing by Ear").
Contributed
by Uwe Zumpe