Editors Note
This week we bring you information on guest performers at the 26th International Accordion Competition "Premio Citta Castelfidardo" held last week in Castelfidardo, Italy and the winner of the International Premio di Castelfidardo prize.

Next week we will bring you daily reports from the 54th International Coupe Mondiale competition in London, England, which begins on October 24th.

Wayne Knights Webmaster

Contributed by Holda Paoletti-Kampl

The 26th International Accordion Competition "Premio Citta Castelfidardo" was held from October 10th to 14th in Castelfidardo, Italy. Competitors came from all over the world including Portugal, Poland, France, China, USA, Russia, Greece, Belarus, Ukraine, New Zealand, Yugoslavia, Finland, Croatia, Czech Republic, Italy, Sweden, United Kingdom, Scotland, Denmark, Lithuania, Moldova, Kazakhstan, Macedonia, Spain, Norway, Brazil and Slovenia.

The competition included sections for soloists, ensembles and orchestras in Classical Music, Light Music, Jazz Music & the International Premio di Castelfidardo prize, which was won by Aidar Gainullin (Russia). City Hall Mayor Terzilio Marotta presented the awards.

Guest performers included Alexander Dmitriev, Italian jazz band "Terre di Mezzo", Simone Zanchini, French jazz band "Frederic Schlick Sextet", Gypsy group "Kale'Rom", "La Crus" (with Riccardo Teresi, vocalist Antonella Ruggiero and accordionist Renzo Ruggieri).

Contributed by Holda Paoletti-Kampl

Popular guest artists will perform at the 13th National Festival of Accordion, which will take place on October 20th in the Park of the Exhibitions of Le Mans. These include Jean-Robert Chappellet, Carole Montmayeur, Pierre Peribois, Fabrice Charpentier, Tony and Coralie Brusse, Bernard Dubos, Benedicte Jeulin, Isabelle Janvier, Herve Capelle, Jean Bonna and orchestras of Thierry Bonnefous and Angelique. The event will include three dance floors and a giant screen. . Bookings can be made at the Office of Tourism of Le Mans (+33 2 43281722) or at the Bar of Brittany (+33 2 43280674), which offer reduced rates (140 francs) for advanced bookings. For additional details phone: +33 6 11975959

Over 12,000 people packed into the Sacramento ARCO Arena on October 5th for a concert by Luciano Pavarotti, accompanied by accordionist Bart Beninco (founding member of the Accordion Club of the Redwoods) and a 65 member symphony orchestra.

Bart said "This has been a lifelong dream of mine - I've always wanted to perform as part of a symphony orchestra. I never would have dreamed that I would also accompany Luciano Pavarotti!" At the rehearsals Bart said that Pavarotti was extremely serious about how everything was to be presented - it was important that all the musicians in the orchestra understood the mood and story of the music.

The evening performance was a magnificent event. Pavarotti performed song after song, weaving a tapestry of classical arias, popular songs and Italian folk ballads with the effortless skill of a master musician. It was an unforgettable night!

Contributed by Angel Russo

The tribute to the Anconetani family, organized by the Secretariat of Culture of the City of Buenos Aires and held in Capital Federal on October 7th was a great success. Giovanni Anconetani travelled from Italy to Argentina in 1892 and began the first Argentinean accordion manufacturing business 105 years ago in 1896. His four children continued the business, which is now run by the two survivors Josefina (86) and Nazareno (82) who both attended the celebrations. The event included a march of over 40 top accordionists such as Julio Erman, Luis Santisi, Caruso, Julio Solari, Angel Russo and many more who accompanied Nazareno Anconetani.

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

Contributed by Hillebrand Van Der Veen

The Amsterdam Accordion Club Forzando B-orchestra (conducted by Marian van Vloten) will entertain at the Eduard Douwes home for the elderly in Amsterdam Noord on October 22nd. Their program will include some classical music and some lighter tunes that the residents can sing along with.

Composer/accordionist, Dr. William Schimmel has just finished a new work entitled "Empty World" for accordion and chamber orchestra. The work was commissioned by North South Consonance, a group founded by Mexican/American composer Max Lifchitz (whose tientos for accordion was written for and recorded by Schimmel) and specializes in music of the Americas. Schimmel's work draws on many sources including: tango, rock, jazz, salsa, Motown, Elton John, Scarlatti, classical, Brahms, baroque, modern eclectic and punk, and is inspired by two existing songs, "My World is Empty Without You Babe" (by the Supremes - hence the Title Empty World) and "Sixty Years On" by Elton John (from his very first album).

All of the elements are fused together by the process of compositional reality, giving the accordion the main say in a true reality dimension, not a dream-like state. Although not literally a concerto, the work is concerto-like in its interplay between the accordion and the chamber orchestra, yet the accordion solo part also blends with the instrumental textures.

The premiere will take place in North South Consonance's 2002 season. For further details email: GWILLIAMANDMICKI@aol.com

Competition Time In China

Contributed by Wu Jie

In August, bayanist Viatcheslav Semionov (Russia) and jazz accordionist Grant Martin (New Zealand) performed concerts at the Third International Accordion Festival held in Beijing, and the Inaugural Yunnan International Accordion Festival.

There have been many accordion competitions in China recently including the 4th "Xiwang Cup" Beijing Children and Young Accordionists Competition (held in the Cultural Centre of the Eastern Districts of Beijing), which had over 400 competitors.

For further details see Past News.

Accordionist Joseph Petric will take part in a live CBC recording of a concert celebrating the music of composer Bengt Hambraeus on October 30th. The event will take place at the Redpath Hall in Montreal and include "Trois Danses" for accordion and percussion.

Contributed by Christine Adams

Oktoberfest celebrations began at the Orewa Beach Seaside resort, North Auckland on October 12th and will run until the 27th organized by the Happyman's Restaurant. Planned events include spot prizes, non stop entertainment by bands and soloists, dance music by "Ziggy Zaggy's Ohm Pah Band" and the "Woodchopper Band", yodelling competition, nailing competition and a variety of German foods and beer.

Rodney Mayor John Law opened the event and showcased four young local performers including accordionist Kristina Panzic who played "The Entertainer" and "The Happy Wanderer". The enthusiastic crowd enjoyed clapping along with Kristina's performance.

Contributed by Toru Katou

A Music Instruments Fair began at Ikebukuro Sunshine City in Toshima Ward, Tokyo on October 18th and will run until the 21st. The event, which is held every two years will include hundreds of exhibits by music shops and instrument makers including accordions. For further details phone Taniguchi Gakki at: +81 3 3291-2711

November House Concerts - South Africa

Duo 2000 will perform their regular monthly "House Concerts" on November 2nd, 3rd and 4th in Robindale, Randburg. The Duo have added eight new pieces to their repertoire, which they will perform at these concerts, including "Twilight Time" and a medley of Leroy Anderson works. For details email: duo2000@global.co.za

Wednesday evening Drop-In Accordion Classes began at Boaz Accordions on October 10th. Henri Ducharme tutors the piano accordion classes for beginners and advanced, while Boaz Rubin tutors classes for button box and concertina. Music styles include sea chanteys, French Canadian, Irish and folk. For more information phone: +1 510-845-1429

Accordionist Frode Haltli performed a new work entitled "Ness" (for accordion and string quartet) by Jon Oivind in Oslo, Norway on October 16th. This work was performed with the Cicada String Quartet and Maja Ratkje (vocalist). His program also included Argentinian tangos.

Contributed by Maya Niethard

The Akkordeonclub Bammental Jugendorchester and Jugendensemble will visit their partner orchestra "Accordionclub de la Brie" in Coulommiers near Paris from November 1st to 4th. The orchestras will give a concert which will include works such as "Drive Point" (Woflgang Kahl), "The Girl from Ipanema" and "Rhapsody in Blue" (Gershwin). For details email: MayaNiethard@gmx.de

Accordionist Bernadette Conlon will perform a three-hour solo concert for the Bentleigh Organ Club, at the Coatesville Bowling Club, Bentleigh East on November 5th. The concert will be presented in two sections - the first on acoustic and the second on MIDI accordion.

Her program will include works by Scarlatti, Bach, Norrbach, Sharov and Makkonen, popular vocal pieces (Ricky Martin, Kylie Minogue), Russian folk songs and audience requests. This concert is one of the Club's biggest each year. For details email: accordionbernadette@bigpond.com

Accordionist David Farmer recently gave four performances (in one week) of "Silenzio" by Sofia Gubaidulina. The concerts were part of the London Festival of Chamber Music and took place in four separate venues throughout the city. The violinist and cellist were Diana Cummings and Tamsy Kaner, members of the English String Quartet.

Contributed by Uli Ebner, Director of Creativ-Shop

The "Timbre Accordion Group of Moscow" will entertain at the Hall Gurtweil in Germany on October 20th. For concert details phone: +49 7751 910149

A new music book entitled "Latin Favorites for Accordion" arranged by Gary Dahl is now available. Tunes include "Adios Muchachos", "Besame Mucho", "El Cumbanchero" and "Perfidia". For further information email: garydahl@webtv.net

www.accordina.com Information on the accordina, a free reed accordion produced by specialist Laurent Jarry since 1995.

www.accordions.com/cameli Updated information on Italian accordionist Giuliano Cameli including new contact information

www.accordions.com/zanchini Updated information on jazz accordionist Simone Zanchini including new contact information

www.accordions.com/alessandrini Updated information on Fratelli Alessandrini, accordion manufacturer and workshop founded by brothers Alfred and Gino Alessandrini.