Editors Note
Because a number of Accordions Worldwide staff and representatives were going to attend the Coupe Mondiale in London, it was decided to celebrate the 5th Anniversary of www.accordions.com at a meeting prior to the Coupe Mondiale.

At the Coupe Mondiale prize giving, NAO (National Accordion Organisation of the UK) President Raymond Bodell presented to Accordions Worldwide, an award recognizing their 5th birthday and the "large contribution" AWW has made to the accordion. Present to accept this award were Harley Jones (Director), Holda Paoletti-Kampl (Europe Manager), Tatiana Lanchtchikova (Office Manager), Kevin Friedrich (Manager North America), Frederic Deschamps (France), Tania Lukic-Marx (Australia), Sergej Tchirkov (East Europe News editor) and Gregory Frenard (France).

While there, the AWW team published daily a competition review and results - see the news item below.

Wayne Knights Webmaster

The 54th Coupe Mondiale International Competition for accordion soloists was held in London from October 24th to 28th, 2001 hosted by the National Accordion Organization of the UK (NAO). This year, the first piano accordion category was held. This new category enjoyed the highest entries and its musical success, lead the CIA Congress to make this a permanent category. First prize for next year remains a concert tour to Australia and New Zealand plus an additional first prize sponsored by the American Accordionists Association of a concert tour to the USA.

The Coupe Mondiale finished with five finalists, who performed their own choice program to a large audience at St. Johns Church, Harrow on Saturday afternoon. The finalists were: Milos Milivojevic Yugoslavia), Aidar Gainullin (Russia), Vladimir Loukitchev (Russia), Mathilde Royet (France) and Accordions Worldwide East European News co-ordinator Sergej Tchirkov (Russia).

The event finale was a "Prizegiving Concert", which included performances by the St. Johns Accordion Orchestra (Northern Ireland), who premiered a new work written for the CIA concert, and Oleg Sharov (Russia), who has performed over 2,000 concerts during his career.

At this concert, each of the contestants was presented with a certificate of participation, and trophies and prize money were awarded to the first, second and third place getters in each category. To conclude the concert, each of the prize winners was invited to perform.

In conjunction with the competition, the CIA congress was held in London. CIA President Ove Hahn officially finished his 20 year term at the Congress, and the international delegates unanimously elected Kevin Friedrich to the office of President. The CIA Vice President for eight years, Kevin is a citizen of New Zealand although he has resided in New York City, USA for many years. Since the forming of the CIA in 1935, this is the first time a person outside of Europe has held the office of President. Kevin's first official duty was to present four CIA Merit Awards recognizing outstanding contribution to the International Accordion Movement.

Competition results:

Coupe Mondiale:
1st Aidar Gainullin (Russia) US$1,000
2nd Sergej Tchirkov (Russia) US$500
3rd Milos Milivojevic (Yugoslavia) US$300

Piano Accordion Championships:
1st Branko Dzinkovic (Yugoslavia) concert tour to Australia & New Zealand
2nd Dmitri Reshetnikov (Russia) US$500
3rd Nadejda Bouseva US$300

Virtuoso Entertainment Category:
1st equal Gwenola Maheux (France) and Pierre Mussi (France) US $550 each
3rd Franck Fieutelot (France) US $200

Junior Coupe Mondiale: 1st Ivan Simic (Yugoslavia)

Junior Virtuoso Entertainment Category: 1st Laurent Derache (France)

In Copenhagen, Denmark, the CIA will incorporate a new Chamber Music Competition into the 2002 Festival. Initially this will be for accordion and one or two other instruments. Full details of the program requirements will be available on the CIA site soon.

Contributed by Paul Pasquali

The second annual Las Vegas International Accordion Convention was a great success, with over 450 attendees from around the world! Dick Contino was awarded the 2001 Honorary Director of the event. Dick put on a "Las Vegas" style show with his son Pete on drums and Corky Brumble on keyboard. Dick also gave a talk about his career and mingled with attendees during the event as did all the entertainers including Art Van Damme, Peter Soave, Tony Lovello, Gina Brannelli, Julien Labro and Joe Vento.

Performances were given by Dick Contino, Gina & Romany Rye, Peter Soave and Julien Labro (who played an astounding rendition of "Flight of the Angeles"). Workshops were well attended and ranged from popular ethnic styles to jazz & blues along with bellows technique and accordion repair.

Honorary Conductor for 2001, Art Van Damme was rushed to hospital during his performance with his quintet. He underwent tests and is now fully recovered, so will travel to Brazil this week for a major performance.

Myron Floren will be the Honorary Conductor for the 2002 event, which will be held on June 23rd, 2002. Over 100 people have already registered for next year's event.

This year the coveted Crystal Frosini Award was presented to the Accordion Club of the Redwoods of Petaluma, California. The award is presented to the club judged to have done the most in their community to promote the accordion. Head of the judges this year was Arlene Boddicker, long time music educator. Second place went to the ALSI Club of San Diego, California and third place went to the Arizona Accordion Club. All accordion clubs and organizations are invited to participate in the 2002 Frosini Award. For more information email: frosini@accordioninfo.com

Contributed by Margery Stirling

The University of Stirling Summer School will hold a course for intermediate and advanced players of piano and continental chromatic accordions on November 10th and 11th. The course will be held at Airthrey Castle, University of Stirling in Stirling, Scotland with tutors Ivor Britton and Colin Dewar. Subjects covered include music for Scottish Country and Ceilidh dances, fingering techniques, accompaniment skills, chord formation and pipe music interpretation. For further details phone:
+44 1786 467951

Moreno Straccialini, Christian Di Battista and Bernardo Di Bonaventura, students at the "Voglia d'Arte" Music School directed by Renzo Ruggieri, toured Andorra recently with the Osimo Accordion Orchestra. Director Marco Guarnieri and the entire accordion contingent were warmly acclaimed during the tour.

A birthday party for Myron Floren will be held in Das Grosse Zelt at Wurstfest in New Braunfels, Texas on November 4th. Accordionists are invited to go on stage and perform "Happy Birthday" for Myron. For details phone: +1 800-221-4369

Contributed by Maurice Jones, President, Auckland Accordion Association, New Zealand

While in Singapore recently, my wife Lian (nee Huang Ling Ling) and I had the opportunity to spend a few days with famous accordionist Fang Yuan, Director of the School of Young Talents, in Singapore's highly prestigious Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts. The School has four departments, Junior Music, Dance, Drama (English and Chinese classes), and Arts, with 1700 students aged from 4 to 18.

Yuan established the Gifted Young Pianists Course in 1991 and recently held concerts to celebrate 10 years of major achievements in many national and international competitions. Many dignitaries attended these concerts including the President of Singapore, Mr S. Nathan.

Although the majority of Yuan's teaching is on the piano, she is still interested in accordion activities. The North Shore Accordion Orchestra (Auckland, New Zealand) is planning a concert tour to South East China in Sept. 2002 and hope to perform in Singapore on the way to China. Yuan (who is from Shanghai), may accompany the North Shore Accordion Orchestra to her home city for the concerts there. Fang Yuan passes on her best regards to her friends in the accordion world.

Contributed by Anita Agnas

An accordion festival will be held at the Royal College of Music in Stockholm from November 22nd to 24th. The festival will include teachers and students from the Royal College in Stockholm and Malmö. Special guest Professor Oleg Sharov (Russia) will perform at the event. For details email: anita@agnas.se

"Flashback - 5 Years Ago"

Accordion Helps Cows - Austria

CNN Broadcast, 26th October 1996. Joseph Kerschbaumer, a farmer from Linz in Northern Austria, has found a new way of getting a better milk yield from his cows, by playing traditional Austrian folk music on his accordion!! He says by doing this he can get up to two more litres per cow. Because they are stimulated, milk is released a lot easier.

He says the cows enjoy most music, but they have a preference for traditional Austrian polkas. He explains they get a glaze in their eyes, become curious, and have fun.

Joseph's children are following in their father's footsteps. His six year old son Oliver practices his accordion to the pigs. They seem to find it fun also. It will be interesting to hear whether or not these pigs will produce better tasting pork!! For further details see Past News

Contributed by Uli Ebner

The "Timbre Accordion Group of Moscow" held a successful concert at the Hall Gurtweil in Germany on October 20th. The large audience enjoyed their varied program, which included works by Vivaldi, Bach, Rossini, Tchaikovsky, Shostakovich, De Fallia, Piazzolla and The Beatles.

Contributed by Pam Ardern

A Combined Accordion Club Day will be held at the Mercer Boating Club in Mercer on November 25th. This event is a fun day for all accordion enthusiasts. Orchestra music is sent out to clubs and individuals prior to the event so all players can join a combined orchestra performance. Solo jam sessions will also be featured. For details email: elizabeth.fong@xtra.co.nz

Accordionist with "Icebreaker" Ensemble - USA and England

Accordionist Ian Watson performed with the new music ensemble "Icebreaker" in Brooklyn, New York, USA as part of the "New Wave" contemporary music festival on October 28th.

The group will perform again at "Ocean" in Hackney, London on November 11th. Their program will include "Metrum" (Diderik Waagener), which includes a substantial part for the accordion, as well as other works by contemporary composers.

Ian can also be seen on BBC television in November with the BBC Concert Orchestra performing with the opera singer Lesley Garret as part of her "Tonight with Lesley Garret" series. For details email: ianwatson99@lineone.net

Contributed by Alexander Sevastian

On October 25th, two accordion concerts were held in Toronto. The first included a performance of works by Marjan Mozetich, J.S.Bach, Milton Barnes, Astor Piazzolla and his own compositions by David Carovillano (student of Professor Joseph Macerollo from the University of Toronto) at the Glenn Gould Music Studio. David performed with Richard Marsella (guitar), Julia Wedman (violin), Aisslinn Nosky (violin), Kathleen Kajioka (viola) and Felicity Deak (cello). Over 300 people attended this concert, which was recorded by CBC Radio.

On the same day, Anne-Maria Hollmach (student of Hugo Noth and currently studying with Joseph Macerollo) performed "Sonnet o Tatrach" by Lydia Zielinska at the Walter Hall, University of Toronto. This work about "nature" is written for accordion, violin, trumpet, trombone and sheep bell.

Dr. William Schimmel has recently given a series of twilight concerts at Rohr's in Manhattan. The purpose of these concerts is to bring the accordion back into the community (where it once was predominate), but in a new way - with an eclectic musical menu and a wide array of coffees, teas and food from around the world.

The concert series was the catalyst for Schimmel's "Twilight Time" CD, also an international success. His most recent concert on October 24th was a benefit concert, where all proceeds went to the families of the New York city fire fighters who lost their lives in the World Trade Center tragedy. Schimmel takes requests at these concerts, which range anywhere from classical pieces to tangos, reggae and an occasional polka from the older Yorkville set.

Schimmel believes these twilight time concerts create a sense of neighborhood cultural identity and community around the accordion.

Accordionist Bernadette Conlon performed a concert at the Deakin University School of Dance recently. The University used her latest CD "Accordionally Yours" in their dance production and invited Bernadette to perform live as well. Her popular program included tangos and some Russian folk music.

On October 24th, accordionist David Farmer took part in a "Sofia Gubaidulina 70th Birthday Portrait Concert" in London. The event was part of a series of concerts which have taken place throughout the year to mark Gubaidulina's 70th anniversary. This concert, which took place on her birthday itself, contained solo and chamber works with David giving performances of "De Profundis" & "Silenzio". The concert was recorded for broadcast in November by BBC Radio 3 "Here & Now".

Contributed by Holda Paoletti-Kampl

On October 26th and 27th accordionist Pascal Contet and eight dancers, writers and musicians took part in a musical "swirl", which was a scenario that included several scenes around the accordion. These scenes included dance performers and humorous events such as a radio-controlled phonograph followed by a dog, and a percussionist dragging his drums with a caravan.

Contributed by Meng Hui

Young Chinese accordionist Zhang Wei Yi won the 13 to 15 years age class at the recent Castelfidardo International Competition in Italy. Zhang Wei Yi, who is a Grade 4 student at the Affiliated Middle School of Tianjing Music Conservatory in China, competed against 15 other accordionists from around the world.

Zhang's win was another successful result by young Chinese accordionists competing internationally.

Contributed by Martin Fischer

Thomas Graf has just released a new CD entitled "Thomas Graf Young G'stanzlsaenger" on the Polysound Musikverlag label. The CD includes Bavarian folk songs sung and played on the Steyrische accordion by 13 year old Thomas, who is looking for a distributor for the CD in the USA. For details email: webmaster@polysound-musikverlag.de

Contributed by Peter Piccini

A new CD by Mario Messineo entitled "A Taste Of Accordion" was released recently by Paz Productions in Western Australia. This CD is dedicated firstly in memory of Mario's late mother and also to his friends Peter Piccini and Dave Krygger and contains all original compositions by Mario. Tracks include "Gypsy Belle", "Tango Classico" and "Accordion Jive". For further details email: messineo@bigpond.com