Editors Note
Welcome to our first news edition for 2002 and a Happy New Year to you all. We hope you will enjoy reading about exciting accordion festivals, concerts, competitions, CD releases etc., throughout 2002. If you know of an accordion performance or concert over the New Year period please tell us, so we can tell the world about it.

This week News co-ordinator, Christine lost some emails, so if you sent a news item on January 14th or 15th and receive no acknowledgement please resend to: news@accordions.com

Wayne Knights Webmaster

Contributed by Dr Herbert Scheibenreif Manager of Friedrich Lips Productions

The 12th International "Bayan and Bayanists" Festival was held in Moscow from December 12th to 16th. The opening gala concert was dedicated to Russian prize winners of national and international competitions and included performances by the "Vivat, Akkordeon" Orchestra (conducted by V. Bobishev), A. Selivanov, M. Burlakov, A. Statsenko and bayan duo N. Sivchuk & A. Peresidly.

Concerts were also given by Y. Medjanik (1st prize winner at the 2000 Moscow International Bayan Competition) and the Non Stop Quartet (1st prize winner in Castelfidardo, 2001). Quartet members include S. Voitenko, A. Tcherdakli, F. Djukov and M. Rusakov.

Friedrich Lips organised a presentation of accordionists from different Russian regions, including B. Poterjajev, Duo of L. & V. Gerasimov, N. Maligin, Ural Bayan Duo (Nikolay & Natalia Ishenko) and Viktor Romanko.

On December 15th, Professor Alexander Dmitriev (St. Petersburg) celebrated his 50th anniversary and 30 years of performing. During the festival he performed duets with his son Vitaly.

The final concert was a "Baltic evening" which included performances by The Accordion Quintet "Koncertino" (directed by R. Sviackevicius from Lithuania), Y. Peshkovs (Latvia) and the "Jazz-Trio" (A. Jakobi, I. Tetsmann & T. Remmel) from Estonia.

This popular festival was a great success.

The "At the Sound of Concertina" seminar was held at the Foundation Dionísio Pinheiro in Águeda on January 6th, organized by the d'Orfeu Cultural Association. The events included sessions and talks by players, instrument builders, tuners and artists.

The Seminar was also held to coincide with the opening of the new Thematic Festival of World Music. This festival, which was sponsored by the IPAE/Portuguese Ministry of Culture, featured the concertina and included performances from a number of international players.

Contributed by Jenny Findeis

Popular group "HISS" (which features accordionist Stefan Hiss) performed on the show "Silvester-Gala" on MDR-TV Germany on December 31st. The group played two songs from their latest CD "Tranen, Tabak and Tequila", "Tanz mit der Dor" and "Für Dich meine Liebe".

Contributed by Holda Paoletti-Kampl

The "Fisarmonica-Orchestra" conducted by Paolo Picchio gave two very successful concerts on December 23rd in Castelfidardo and on the 29th in Cingoli. The Castelfidardo performance was unfortunately preceded by an impressive snow storm which threatened to keep the audience from reaching the venue at the Auditorium San Francesco, but the bitter cold did not stop the hundred or so enthusiasts who cheered the group on. The Cingoli concert also drew a crowd and the prestigious venue, the "Verdi" Hall of the Municipal Palace, impressed both performers and audience with its ultra-modern lighting system and its brilliant acoustics.

Accordion soloist Carmelo Pino was recently featured in Alan Hovhaness' captivating "Rubaiyat", performed as part of a series of concerts in which Elizabeth Schulze conducted the Maryland Symphony Orchestra at the Maryland Theatre in Hagerstown. The Hovhaness work, scored for accordion, symphony orchestra and narrator, provides a musical setting for the verses of Omar Kahyyam.

Each concert was introduced with a "Prelude" lecture by Ms. Schulze, who is also the assistant conductor of the New York Philharmonic. Lecture participants were Robert Aubry Davis who narrated "The Rubaiyat", Susanne Mentzer, mezzo-soprano who sang in "Sheherazade" and Carmelo Pino who played songs from "The Rubaiyat" demonstrating the beautiful and varied tone colors of the accordion. Ms. Schulze voiced her enthusiasm for the accordion, with references to "this wonderful instrument", as she spoke of the concert's theme, "Mystery and Romance".

Contributed by Pavel Yucketchev

The Paris-Moscow Duo (Domi Emorine and Roman Jbanov) toured Siberia during December 2001. On December 16th, the duo performed in the concert hall of the musical College of Barnaul (Altai). This event was organized by Yuri Krikun, Professor of accordion at the college.

On December 18th, the duo held a concert at the "Izumrudny" concert hall, which is attached to the State Novossibirsk Conservatory where Roman studied in the past. This concert was organised by the Conservatory Director, Alexandre Tikhonovitch Martchenko. The following day the duo held a Master class with the students and Professor Alexandre Vitalievitch Krupin. Participants enjoyed learning new pedagogy and the duo's approach to the accordion.

"The Poozies", which includes Karen Tweed (accordion) played at the Croydon Folk Club (London) Christmas Party on December 17th. The concert was so successful that further concerts were booked for 2002. For future concert details email: kstweed@yahoo.co.uk

Contributed by Jane Berkovitz

The Accordion Association of Puerto Rico performed during a seven day Caribbean Cruise on the Norwegian Majesty in December 2001. They gave two concerts, one in each of the ship's theatres. Their repertoire consisted of selections from Mexico, Cuba, Argentina, Puerto Rico and the USA and they concluded each concert with "God Bless America".

The theatres were filled to capacity and the orchestra received standing ovations. After the concerts the orchestra played "Accordionatas" (informal music for dancing and singing) in the cruise ship lounge. The trip was a most joyous occasion for both passengers and musicians.

Contributed by Carlo Fortunato

The northern Italian city of Alessandria is hosting a very original initiative for the promotion of the accordion. This series of events, which will take place at the local Ethnographic Museum, includes monthly concerts throughout the year featuring a variety of musical genres. The first of these concerts took place on January 16th and featured Gianluca Campi, International Competition winner in 2000. Each of the twelve accordion performances will be preceded by an historical introduction by event organiser Carlo Fortunato. The series, entitled "FisAlMuseo", will also feature an interesting exhibition of antique instruments, accordion courses for beginners and master classes.

Contributed by Valencienne Felten

A "Winter Concert" will be held at the "Relais Culturel" in Wissembourg on January 27th. Performers include the Orchestre Sénior de la SAW, CH Sonntag Music School and the Choral Society St Charles of the Parish St Peter and St Paul. For further details email: valencienne@club-internet.fr

Ripon Cathedral Concert - England

The Czardas Duo (Ian Watson - accordion & Matthew Forbes - cello) began their 2002 series of concerts with a performance in the Ripon Cathedral in North Yorkshire on January 7th. Their program included works by Charpentier, Bach, Vivaldi, Bartok, Gershwin, Piazzolla, Gubaidulina and Gorton.

The Duo have recently attracted much press attention after a concert of new music at the British Music Information Center followed by a performance and interview on BBC Radio.

Returning to the Tonic in New York City for the fourth year in a row, the "New Circle Five" performed their unique blend of collective creative improvisations from dreams of a non-violent world, in two separate concerts on January 11th. The group consists of Pauline Oliveros (accordion), Susie Ibarra (percussion), Monique Buzzarté (trombone), Rosi Hertlein (violin and vocals) and Kristin Norderval (soprano).

During 2001, accordionist Renzo Ruggieri had the opportunity to bring the accordion into contact with great artists of the theatre and sculpture worlds. On July 7th within the sculpture installation "Site Transitoire" in Asciano (Siena province) and on August 10th at the magnificent fortress of Radicofani (also in Siena province), actress Lucia Poli staged a show entitled "Antonio Tabucchi Dreams of Cecco Angiolieri and Boccaccio", with original music composed and improvised by Ruggieri. The performances took place among the inspiring contemporary works of sculptor Jean-Paul Philippe and were enriched by the costumes created by Denise Bourillon. Pictured are a scene from the show and the painting dedicated to Ruggieri by J.P.Philippe.

Contributed by Peter Piccini

Well known professional accordionist Victor Mestichelli (born in 1926) sadly passed away on January 7th, 2002 in Western Australia. His personal warmth and inspiring music will be remembered always. "Let the Music Play"!

Accordionist Dr. William Schimmel, Estonian bassoonist Martin Kuuskmann and Russian percussionist David Rosenblatt performed at the Brooklyn Museum on January 5th. Their program included selections from their new critically acclaimed CD "Archipelago".

Prior to this, accordionist Dr. Schimmel's work "Four Calls", which includes "Real Christmas", was broadcast 3 times over WNYC FM in New York over the holiday season and will be broadcast yearly as part of a Christmas Tradition. This radio piece is one in a series of pieces commissioned by WNYC for Dr. Schimmel to create topical works as the accordion philosopher. There will be more broadcasts throughout the year.

Dr. Schimmel also performed at a benefit for the homeless on December 20th at the West Park Church (where he is Director of Music, Arts and Worship). Dr. Schimmel performed his own composition "Real Christmas" for voice and accordion along with members of the Metropolitan and New York City Opera. The event was produced by Lauren Flannagan.

Contributed by Toru Katou

On January 21st, accordionist Tetsuya Kuwayama will perform at "Takuzo", Chigusa Ward, Nagoya City. The following day, he will perform at "Mandala" in Tokyo. For further information on these concerts phone: +81 3 5159-3282

Joseph Petric's fall 2001 Bach CD release on the Analekta label has been described by the media as "shimmering - Petric gives astonishing new life to the music of Bach. His performances are brilliant in their rigour and fantasy", "sophisticated interpretations". His recent release of the Koprowksi Accordion Concerto recorded for the CBC 5000 Series with Jukka Pekka Saraste and the Toronto Symphony Orchestra were described in the American Record Guide as "...gripping, large scale and full of virtuoso demands...(Petric) plays with persuasiveness and commitment."

Recent performances have taken Petric to the 2001 edition of the Victoriaville Festival with his duo Erosonic (includes saxophonist David Mott), Montreal's Chappelle du Bon Pasteur, Montreal's Place des Artes and Redpath Hall in a performance for the Bengt Hambraeus memorial concert, and a lengthy US tour of 17 concerts from Chicago to Texas to Oregon.

Contributed by Holda Paoletti-Kampl

Artists from all over the world met in Orvieto recently for the 3rd Festival of Dance, Musical and Theatrical Improvisation. Claudio Jacomucci, who took part both as an accordionist and as a tutor of Alexander Technique, gave several performances alongside musicians Nicola Raffone (percussion), Luca Spagnoletti (live electronics) and Andrea Polinelli (sax), dancers and actors. His Alexander Technique workshop was attended by artists from Germany, Hungary, New Zealand, Italy, France and United States.

Jane Berkovitz (member of the Puerto Rican Accordion Orchestra) is currently living in Sarasota, Florida for the winter and is a member of the newly formed Sarasota Accordion Association. She has started a trio called the "Gulf Coasters", consisting of bass guitar, vocalist and guitarist in addition to the accordion. The trio entertained on Christmas day at the Salvation Army Dinner in Sarasota playing a medley of Christmas music followed by standard American "singalong" tunes.

Each Thursday the group plays regularly with the Gulf Gate Banjo Society at Snook Haven in Venice, Florida. For further concert information email: janeberkovitz@msn.com

Contributed by Sun Yijun

The Shenzhen Special Zone Daily paper reported an item on accordionist Xia Fanghao's new album on January 6th. This is Xia's 2nd free bass accordion album which was released recently. The album includes pieces that express new techniques and styles of free bass composition. i.e. The piece "Whose Song" is a modern German free bass piece; "Kangtinuwu" shows multi expressions of accordion music; "Funny Man", is a fun piece; and "Tango" shows off the beauty of South American style with its tango rhythm.

Contributed by Holda Paoletti-Kampl

On January 2nd, a new company, Voci Armoniche S.r.l. was formed in Osimo by the merge of Siva S.r.l. and Salpa S.r.l.. This new company will continue the production of accordion reeds, while retaining a high standard of craftsmanship and over 60 years experience. Voci Armoniche S.r.l. believes that with a larger and better organized structure, customers will receive higher quality instruments, improved service, while giving the firm competitive power, leading to a positive effect on the final accordion product.

On January 17th Jon Boden & John Spiers entertained with their violin and melodeon duos, coupled with vocals at the "Folk At The Royal Oak" in Lewes. The next music evening at this venue will be held on January 24th and is entitled "Open Night". For details phone/fax: + 44 1273 478124

www.semaccordions.com Information on one of Italy's largest accordion factories will feature prominently on this new website of SEM srl. The company is undergoing a major overhaul in terms of products, personnel and image.

www.beltuna.com Updated information on Beltuna artists worldwide

www.accordions.com/pierremussi Updated information on French accordionist Pierre Mussi including additional contact information

www.accordions.com/lips Updated information on Friedrich Lips including CD ordering details

www.accordions.com/italcinte Updated contact information for Italcinte, manufacturers of straps, bags, bass straps & backstraps for accordions and other musical instruments.

Gary would like information on two accordions. The first is a 12 bass Geraldo piano accordion, possibly made prior to 1945. The second is a 48 bass Pigliacampo Numana piano accordion, made in Italy. Email: Eddie22dg@aol.com

Joe Clark would like information on Numana Accordions and where to buy replacement part. Email: joeclark@gisco.net

Auburn would like information on the white Vintage Frontalini piano accordion (pictured), made in Italy about 1932. Email: AUBURNK@aol.com

Dominique Henry would like to purchase a CD by accordionist Pablo Rada but has been unsuccessful. He lives in Colombia. Email: DOMINIQUE.HENRY16@wanadoo.fr

Alan would like information (for insurance purposes) on the Sonola 120 bass piano accordion (pictured), made in Italy, which has hand inscribed couplers. Email: alann19@cox.net

Todd Stockham would like information on a "V Soprani di Silvioel" accordion made in Italy with "Recanati" on it. Email: darkshapes@hotmail.com