Editors Note
Accordions Worldwide coordinator of the East European News Sergej Tchirkov (Russia), was competing at the International Lasse Pihlajamaa Competition held this month in Ikaalinen and Tampere, Finland. Sergej was selected as one of six finalists, achieving third place in intense competition. Accordions Worldwide would like to congratulate Sergej on his very successful performances.

Wayne Knights Webmaster

Contributed by Kimmo Mattila

The first International Lasse Pihlajamaa Competition for virtuoso accordionists was held from September 17th to 22nd in Ikaalinen and Tampere, organized by the Finnish Accordion Institute under the patronage of the President of Finland Tarja Halonen. The Artistic director was Matti Rantanen and Chairman of the organizing committee was Kimmo Mattila. Competition finals were held at Tampere-talo followed by a prize giving ceremony. Lasse Pihlajamaa personally presented awards after the final round and congratulated all of the finalists.

Performances were given by The New Young Chamber orchestra (UNKO) conducted by Jani Telaranta (which was broadcast by Finnish TV), accordionist Matti Rantanen, Mika Väyrynen & Marko Ylönen (cello) who performed Finnish music by Nuorvala, Kantelinen, Kaipainen and Kuusisto, and the premiere performance of Accordion Concerto, op. 60 by Timo-Juhani Kyllönen.

Finalists included Aidar Gainullin (Russia), Teemu Kyllönen (Finland), Sergei Tchirkov (Russia), Niko Kumpuvaara (Finland), Veli Kujala (Finland) and Alexandre Matrossov (Russia). Jury members included Harri Wessman (Chairman- Finland), Merja Ikkelä (Finland), Vladimír Cuchran (Slovakia), Max Bonnay (France) and Stefan Hussong (Germany).

Results:

1st Prize: Veli Kujala (Finland)
2nd Prize: Aidar Gainullin (Russia)
3rd Prize: Sergei Tchirkov (Russia)

The event was very successful and participants were impressed with the well organized event.

Contributed by Li Cong

The "Qingdao Musicians Association Accordion Professional Board" in Shandong Province was formed this year, as there has been many accordion events in Qingdao City in recent years, with increasing numbers of people learning the accordions. The association aims to promote the accordion in this area.

Over the past few months the association has sent 20 accordionists to attend the 2nd Beijing Yingwu Cup Accordion Competition, organised for an accordion Trio to appear on the Qingdao Radio Live programme, sent 14 people to the Summer Accordion Camp (organised by the China Accordion Association), held the 1st Qingdao Accordion Competition (co-organised with the Qingdao Dairy Food Company), and set up the Qingdao Teenager Accordion Orchestra. The association will also send accordionists to compete in the Shangdong State Accordion Ensemble & Orchestra Competitions.

The committee of the Qingdao City Accordion Association includes Cui Shao Hua (Chairman), Wang Ming Zhi, Lu Mei, Han Lu (Vice Chairmen) and Zhao Yi Gang (Secretary). For further information on this association phone: +86-532-5729116

Accordionist Guy Klucevsek received a composer award on September 21st in New York. The award reads: "Dance Theatre Workshop presents a New York Dance and Performance Award, in recognition of outstanding creative achievement during the 2000-2001 season, to Dan Hurlin and Guy Klucevsek, for a "bunraku musette of puppetry and accordion, a toy theatre of the examined life," in Everyday Uses for Sight: No. 7, The Heart of the Andes".

Contributed by Holda Paoletti-Kampl

On September 13th a concert was held at the theatre of the Sidi Gaber Cultural Palace in conjunction with the "Festival Alexandriana". Performers included Mirco Patarini (Italy), Saleh el Artist (Egypt) and other musicians from Spain, Sweden and France. The theme was "Meeting with Islamic traditions in the Mediterranean World."

Contributed by Martin Frey

The "Timbre Russian Accordion Group (Moscow) will tour Switzerland and Germany from October 20th to November 2nd. The group includes five musicians from the Gnessin-Institute in Moscow, who are winners of several important world competitions such as the Citta di Castelfidardo (Italy). Their instruments are constructed by Russian engineer Nikolaj Kosokruzow, who designed the instruments specially for the ensemble and similar to instruments of a symphony orchestra.

The ensemble will play a variety of classical music by composers such as Tchaikovsky & Vivaldi, folk pieces from Russia and South America, Piazzolla tangos as well as contemporary works from Russian and international composers.

Concerts will be held in Gurtweil, Ravensburg, Meckenbeuren and Allgäu (Germany) and at the Aula des Schulhauses Wydenhof in Ebikon, Switzerland (October 27th), Zug Musikschule on October 30th and a final concert at the Haldenbühlkirche Pfarreisaal in Gossau on November 2nd. For further details email: akkdino@cwmail.ch

Contributed by Sheona Smith

The Arbroath Accordion & Fiddle Club will hold their next meeting at the Viewfield Hotel, Arbroath, Angus on October 7th with guest Ian Cruickshank. The club holds regular meetings on the first Sunday of each month. Members, non-members and musicians are all very welcome to attend. For further details email: ssbolshan@btinternet.com

Contributed by Angel Russo

The Secretariat of Culture of the City of Buenos Aires has issued an invitation to accordion lovers to attend a tribute to the Anconetani family on October 7th in Capital Federal. Giovani Anconetani travelled from Italy to Argentina in 1892 and began the first and only Argentinean accordion manufacturing business 105 years ago in 1896. His four children Luis, Juan, Josefina and Nazareno continued the business which is now run by the two survivors Josefina (86) and Nazareno (80).

The family, together with other accordionists, founded the Asociación Internacional de Acordeonistas - AIDA (Argentina Accordion Association).

For further details email: maquinapastarusso@fullzero.com.ar

Contributed by Toru Katou

On September 30th the annual Ensemble and Concert Section of the Kantou area accordion contest will be held at the Kameido Culture Center, Koto Ward, Tokyo. For further information phone Mr Tsukamoto at: +81 44-877-9871

Contributed by Joyce Clyde

Popular group "Anoush" will play Southern Balkan music at the Ashkenaz Music and Dance Community Center in Berkeley on October 2nd. Anoush consists of Dan Ziagos (accordion), Michael Matthews (clarinet), Ken McCormick (violin & vocals), Michele Simon (tupan & vocals) and Ken White (darabuka & defi). For further details phone: + 1 510 525-5054

Contributed by Marc-Oliver Brehm

The orchestra and quintet of the Handharmonika-Spielring Stuttgart-Möhringen will perform a concert in the Martinskirche in Stuttgart on October 7th. Their varied program will range from the masterpieces of the Baroque period to works by Mozart and Grieg and contemporary compositions. In addition, the program will include a new arrangement of the theme from the film "Schindlers List" and three works performed by accordion soloist Andrej Baumgard. Entry to this concert is free. For further information email: hsm-online@gmx.net

Frosini-Deiro Society Concert - Sweden

Contributed by Knut Halling

The Frosini-Deiro Society held a concert on September 22nd in memory of the great Pietro Frosini, who died in September fifty years ago. The concert took place at the Music Museum in Stockholm, with performances of Frosini's music.

Contributed by Holda Paoletti-Kampl

Accordionist Pascal Contet will perform five concerts during the "October in Normandy" festival in France. Two of these will be with the National de Lille Orchestra (directed by Jean-Claude Casadesus). Contet's solo recitals will include works by Scarlatti, Couperin, Arne Nordheim and Camille Roy. For details email: pcontet@hotmail.com

Contributed by Jane Berkovitz

On October 6th, the Accordion Association of Puerto Rico will perform at the Club Deportivo de Ponce, an elite social club in the largest city of Puerto Rico. A varied program is planned to entertain club members and guests.

The weekly Australian radio show "The World Of The Accordion" hosted by Robert Gesmundo has been very successful thanks to the accordionists that have submitted recordings to producers, CLP Productions. The show has featured Frank Cambareri (CD - Tender Feelings), Bernadette Conlon (CD - Accordionally Yours), Eddie Chavez, Enzo Toppano, Lou Toppano, Lou Campara, Ron Pearce, Sam Aquilina, Joseph Castorina, Guz Merzi, Air New Zealand Accordion Orchestra (CD - On Tour), Pearl Fawcett (CD - Ettore Fantasia) and the Peter Piccini Jazz Trio (CD - Cool Change). This CD (Cool Change) has also been played on many of the top Jazz radio programs around Australia. Accordions Worldwide included a CD Review of the CD by Tania Lukic-Marx on August 31st.

Contributed by Séan Minnie

The Pretoria Branch of the Boer Music Club will hold a meeting and social night on October 6th at Odendaal High School in Pretoria. For details phone Tom Adams at: +27 12 651 3700

Contributed by Jan Hülsmann

The Akkordeon Club Langenhagen 74 e.V. will perform at Aula Schulzentrum (near the City hall) in Langenhagen on October 28th. Their program will include "Sister Act", "Miss Marple" and "Rhapsodie Andalusia". For further details email: ACL74EV@aol.com

Miss Cybelvis Monroe, a Marilyn Monroe impersonator who interprets Elvis Presley's hit songs to accordion & sequencer backing by Botielus of Samsonite & Delight-Ya, will perform at "Plan B" in Portland, Oregon on October 11th. The show will include a variety of "hip gyrates" and bellows shakes and is a cabaret style musical comedy with a touch of burlesque and "a whole lotta camp goin' on". Cybelvis is a "hunka hunka burnin' blonde" with her clinging pink & black jumpsuit and crimson lip curls! For further details email: Cybelvis@Cybelvis.com