Editors Note
Accordions Worldwide staff have a busy time ahead with the New Zealand International Accordion Championships and Festival held in Auckland this weekend. As you will have seen in last week's Editors Note, some of us attended the AATA Accordion Championships and Festival in Sydney, Australia last weekend (see news item below). Contestants from Australia will compete in the New Zealand International competition categories and accordionists are looking forward to an exciting event. Yugoslavian accordionist, Branko Dzinovic, winner of the Coupe Mondiale 1991 International Piano Accordion Class will perform as guest artist.

Wayne Knights Webmaster

Contributed by Christine Adams

The 2002 Australian International Accordion Championships were held at the Nineveh Sports and Community Centre in Edensor Park, Sydney from May 24th to 26th. The event included a variety of National and International classes. The event concluded with a Gala Concert featuring special guest Branko Dzinovic (Yugoslavia), winner of the Coupe Mondiale 1991 International Piano Accordion Class (who played works by Ganzer, Beloshitsky, Galliano, Piazzolla and Kurmangazy).

Other performers included the NSW State Accordion Orchestra, ACE Ensemble, Sydney Balalaika Sextet, led by Milica Obradovic (2001 Australian International Button Accordion Champion), Cathie Travers (Perth) who played works by Piazzolla and her own compositions, Elizabeth Jones (Sydney) who played works by Bach and a piece for accordion and 2 synthesisers (Hatzis) and International Competition class winners. The concert concluded with entertainment by New Zealand accordionist Lionel Reekie.

Results:

Australian International Open Solo Championship: 1st equal - Ann-Elise Koerntjes (Australia) and Hilary Thwaites (New Zealand

Australian International 15 years and Under Solo Championship: 1st - Ann-Elise Koerntjes (Australia)

Australian International 12 years and Under Solo Championship: 1st - Christopher Thwaites (New Zealand)

Australian International 9 years and Under Solo Championship: 1st - Campbell Thwaites (New Zealand)

Australian International Open Free Bass Solo Championship: 1st - Mylie Thwaites (New Zealand)

Contributed by Dr Herbert Scheibenreif Manager of Friedrich Lips Productions

After the so-called "troika" (S. Gubaidulina, E. Denisov and A. Schnittke), Ephrem Podgaits is one of the most important composers in Russia today. After listening to Friedrich Lips' performance of Berinsky's "Concerto" Podgaits fell in love with the bayan and started to write for this instrument. His first work for bayan was "Fantasy in Memoriam of A. Schnittke". Then in 2000 he wrote the test-piece for bayan solo and chamber orchestra for the Bayan Competition in Moscow and most recently he has written "Lips Concerto" for bayan solo and symphony orchestra. On May 11th, the world premiere of this work took place in Markneukirchen during the opening concert of this year's Klingenthal Accordion Competition. Podgaits uses different rhythms based on the initials of Friedrich Lips (F & L), the theme of J.S. Bach's "Invention in F" (fa-la), his telephone number (315-28-24) and an "ellipse" which contains the name of the artist (Lips).

Friendship and collaboration between accordionist Vladimir Zubitsky and the "Kiev Camerata" Chamber Ensemble (conducted by Valery Matiukhin - art director of Oles' Yas'ko) has continued for many years. In March and April this year they performed a series of five concerts in Kiev concert halls. Their program included "Concerto for Accordion and Orchestra" (Zubitsky), "Omaggio ad Astor Piazzolla" and a piece dedicated to the first violinist of the Oles' Yas'ko ensemble entitled "Chao, muchahco!" The concerts were well received by the Ukrainian public.

Duo 2000 will continue their popular soirées in Robindale, Randburg on June 7th and 8th. Their program will include a variety of works such as "Come Heart's Delight" (Gondola Song from A Night in Venice - Strauss), "Va Pensiero" (Slave Chorus from Nabucco - Verdi) and "The Elephant" (from The Carnival of the Animals - Saint-Saëns). For details email: duo2000@global.co.za

Final "Tango for Four" Performance - Finland

The final performance by "Tango for Four" will be held at the Rovaniemi Accordion Festival in Rovaniemi on June 15th. The group which includes Mika Väyrynen (accordion), Kalle Elkomaa (piano), Henrik Perello (violin) and Jaan Wessman (bass) will perform tangos by Piazzolla and other pieces by Gardel, ABBA and Finnish composers.

The quartet has performed many concerts during their career, recorded two CD's for Warner Classics (which have been sold all over the world), performed for the President of Finland, toured Japan etc. Mika will now pursue other interests and projects such as working with new music, concertos, recordings, recitals, teaching etc. For concert details email: mika.vayrynen@pp.inet.fi

Contributed by Gina Brannelli

The Teachers Advisory Council at the British College of Accordionists announced several appointments at their meeting on May 26th. The Governing Council was delighted to announce: Cyril Pasby ABCA (TD), LBCA the post of Honorary Principal following his decision to step down as Principal. Raymond Bodell Bsc (hons), FLCM, Amus TCL, LBCA (TD), ABCA (TD), LBCA has accepted the post of Executive Director - incorporating the academic work of Principal together with his role as Promotion and Development. Gina Brannelli ALCM LLCM LLCM (TD) BA PGCE was welcomed to the Governing Council, bringing a vast experience in all realms of music.

The meeting was well attended, Chairman Colin Cook and Executive Director Raymond Bodell chaired the meeting where many interesting points were raised. The meeting concluded when the three finalists for the Francis Wright Memorial Scholarship played their Recital programs. Players were Larysa Bodell (London), Kimberley Catling (Bournemouth) and William Langton (Blackpool). Adjudicators were Frederick Parnell, Graham Laurie and Karolyn Broadhead.

Contributed by Li Cong

French accordionist Jean-Louis Noton visited China recently giving concerts in three cities accompanied by Chinese accordionist Ren Lihong, who arranged the tour. Noton first attended a ceremony in Wulumuqi, Xinjiang where he played to over 3,000 people (May 18th). The next day he flew to Shanghai and performed a solo concert at the Shanghai Concert Hall to over 1,000 people. His program included his own compositions such as "Carmel Dance" and "Pinky Life".

President of the Shanghai Accordion Association, Li Cong showed Noton and Ms Reng the ancient town of Zhouzhuang with over 1,000 years of history. Noton then flew to Chendu where he held his final concert of this trip.

Contributed by Holda Paoletti-Kampl

Accordionist Lorenzo Munari performed a concert at the Teatro Regio in Reggio Emilia organised by the local Lions Club recently, where he played both as a soloist and together with Giovanni Lombardi (piano). Their program included pieces by Bach, Piazzolla, Zubitsky and Galliano, and its success was clearly shown by the numerous encores demanded by the audience.

Munari enjoyed a similar success recently as conductor of the "Luigi Valcavi" accordion orchestra, formed by students of the Music School by the same name, which took part in a show where music and theatre were united for the enjoyment of the audience (thanks to the participation of the "Il Buffone di Corte" Company). The accordion orchestra has been invited to hold two concerts in front of members of the local Italian community of Stuttgart (Germany) this coming June.

American concert accordionist Henry Doktorski will perform with the Civic Light Opera Orchestra of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in 15 performances of "Fiddler on the Roof" from June 18th to 30th. This award-winning musical, based on the book by Joseph Stein with music by Jerry Bock and lyrics by Sheldon Harnick, captures the colorful story of one Jewish father's struggle to hold on to his family's traditions amidst the rebellious antics of his three independent daughters and the turmoil of an ever-changing world. The score includes such classics as: "If I Were a Rich Man," "Sunrise, Sunset," "Matchmaker, Matchmaker" and Tradition."

All performances will take place at the Benedum Center for the Performing Arts in Pittsburgh's downtown cultural district, which boasts the 3rd largest stage in the United States. For details email: henry@henrydoktorski.com

This year Renzo Ruggieri recorded his new CD, featuring Massimo Manzi (drums), Massimo Moriconi (double bass) and Paolo Di Sabatino (piano). The recording session took place at the "Musicomania Digital Studio" in Nepezzano (province of Teramo) and the album will be released in early July.

Earlier this year the group (with Luca Bulgarelli on double bass) played at the "La Palma" jazz club, one of the most important venues in Rome. This concert was followed by an appearance at the prestigious "Kabala" in Pescara in one of the best concerts of the year.

Future events featuring Ruggieri include a concert with Maurizio Rolli (double bass) and Diana Torto (vocals) on June 22nd in Terni, a performance with the Renzo Ruggieri Group on June 30th in Stradella and a tour of Iceland from July 3rd to 8th. For further information please email: ruggieri@semaccordions.com

Marseilles Music Festival - France

Contributed by Holda Paoletti-Kampl

Pascal Contet will perform in a variety of different venues during May and June. First, he was invited to be part of the multimedia show (video, dance & chamber music trio) of Andre Serre for the "Les Musiques de Marseille" festival at the Theatre de la Criee on May 27th.

The following day he gave a recital at the Chapelle Sainte Catherine which included a program of works by Jean-Pierre Drouet, Arne Nordheim and Camille Roy. Camille Roy's piece "The Voice of His Master" was specially composed for Paulo, Pascal's small dog. Paulo adores the stage and being admired! For details of June concerts email: pascalcontet@wanadoo.fr

The world premiere of the "Nexus" concerto for 2 accordions and percussion will take place on June 9th at Sephardic House, The Center For Jewish History in New York City. Performers include accordionists Ismail Butera & Peter Stan, Elizabeth Schwartz (violin), Marty Confurious (bass) and Raquy Danziger (percussion). The work is composed by Yale Strom. For further details phone: +1 212-781-9192

Applied Microphone Technology has just introduced new accordion microphone systems for full sized accordions as well as smaller piano, button, chromatic and cajun accordions. Due to it's frequency response, Applied Microphone Technology claim that extra gain before feedback is achieved while still maintaining the natural sound of the instrument. Another feature is tiny microphones are installed internally with all of the electronics housed in a belt pack. The controls and electronics are not installed into the limited spaces of the accordion! For further details email: ron@appliedmic.com

www.accordions.com/pica Updated contact information for concert accordionist Gianluca Pica

www.comune.castelfidardo.an.it Information on accordion events held in Castelfidardo, Italy

Richard J Smith would like information on Californian accordionist Teresa Karbach, (May 31st 1934 - February 21st 1975). If you knew her, heard her play or played with her please email: richard@smith.name