 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Successful Annual Texas Accordion Association
National Convention - USA
 Contributed
by Kevin
Friedrich
Accordionists began gathering on Thursday (March
6th) in Plano, Texas for the annual TAA
accordion convention. The 3 day event included festival orchestras,
workshops and concerts and attracted people from all over the United
States.
 Alice
Aman, directed the Accordion Band (also served as bass accordionist
for both TAA orchestras) and Mary Medrick directed the Advanced
Orchestra. Mary had arranged several pieces for the Orchestra which
included other musical accompaniments such as the violin, trombone,
and drums. These instruments added drama and feeling to the tangos,
while featured accordionists Frank Marocco, John Simkus, Dan
and Kim Christian provided superb solo parts which punctuated
Medrick's arrangement of "Blues in the Nite Medley" and
"How High the Moon".
 A
full schedule of workshops included subjects such as jazz, Midi
accordion, technical advancement as well as a host of other topics.
In addition, Paul Pasquali, organizer of the Las
Vegas International Accordion Convention presented Norman Seaton
(President of TAA)
and the TAA, with the 2000 Frosini Award for fostering public awareness
of the versatility and musicality of the accordion. This award is
shared with all local associations of TAA who promote the accordion
throughout the state of Texas.
As is a tradition of the TAA Festival, after
the completion of concerts, musicians spent the evening in jam sessions
and conversations filled with fun, laughter, music and joy, till
the early morning hours. Attendees are eagerly looking forward to
next years convention!
For a full report, please see the USA
National News news due online on April 1st.
|
| |
|
|
|
3rd International Competition for Diatonic Accordion
Soloists - Austria
 The
3rd International
Competition for Diatonic Accordion Soloists will be held in
Ausservillgraten, East Tyrol from June 13th to 15th, organized by
the Harmonikaverband Osterreichs (HVO) and the Village of Ausservillgraten
(Tyrol). The event will be held under the auspices of the Confederation
Internationale des Accordeonistes (C.I.A.)
founded in 1935 in Paris. The CIA is a member of the International
Music Council (IMC-UNESCO).
The competition is open to soloists of all nationalities
and will be offered for Diatonic accordion soloists in the following
categories: Diatonic Accordion Soloists (Styrian Model) - Seniors
(no age limit but born before 1985), Diatonic Accordion Soloists
(Styrian Model) - Juniors (born after 1985) and Diatonic Accordion
Soloists (any other model) - no age limit.
All categories require an own choice program
consisting of three (3) or more pieces. The entire program must
be played by memory.
All candidates will receive a Diploma of participation
and the 1st Prize Winner of the senior sections will receive a special
award. There is no limit of numbers of candidates from each country.
Entries close on April 15th, 2003. For further details email: icaccordions@netway.at
|
| |
|
|
|
Annual Accordion Orchestra Concert - Germany
 Contributed
by Judith Geisweid
The Akkordeonorchestergemeinschaft Ferndorftal-Wilden
(conducted by Jutta Menn) held their annual concert at the Gebrüder-Busch-Theater
on March 9th. Their varied program included "Swiss Rhapsody"
(Rudolf Würthner) as well as Italian folk tunes and a variety
of other popular songs such as "Thank You For The Music".
"Vocal Journey" performed as a guest
ensemble conducted by Gerd Moos. Their program included national
and international tunes such as "Sentimental Journey",
"Wenn die Elisabeth" "You are my Sunshine" and
"Java Jive". All of these works were arranged for the
ensemble by Gerd Moos.
After the break the "Nachwuchsorchester"
(Youth Orchestra) of the Orchestra Community performed, conducted
by Kerstin Rau. Their program included "The Lion King"
(Elton John), "Rollerskates" and "Spirituals a Go
Go". They ended their performance with the popular piece "Can
Can".
|
| |
|
|
|
|
2nd National Music Competition - Italy
Contributed by Holda
Paoletti-Kampl
The second edition of the "Carpineti in
Musica" national music competition will be held from July 4th
to 6th in the Parish Theatre and the Luigi Valcavi Music School
of Carpineti (province of Reggio Emilia), thanks to the organizational
effort of the Luigi Valcavi Music School, the Italian Centre for
Music Teaching, the local tourism board, and the support of the
Mountain Community Council and the Reggio Emilia Provincial Council.
The prize-giving ceremony at the conclusion
of the event will include the awarding of the 2nd "Bione Franchini"
Prize. The competition includes accordion (folk, variety, classic),
electronic keyboard, piano, guitar, wind instruments and ensemble
music classes. Applications close on June 12th. For further information
please email: fisa.armonica@libero.it
|
| |
|
|
|
Alexander Technique Course - Spain
Accordionist Anne
Landa will give an Alexander Technique Course at the Ferrol
Professional Conservatory of Music in Corunna, Spain from April
4th to 6th.
In addition Anne will perform at the Torrent
Ballester Cultural Centre of Ferrol on April 4th.
For details email: evapato@eresmas.com
|
| |
|
|
|
|
Church Concert - Netherlands
 Accordeon
Melancolique (which includes Cherie de Boer and Jean-Pierre
Guiran) performed a concert in NH Church in Cothen, Utrecht Province
recently.
Their successful program included a variety
of original compositions, Italian folk tunes, Indonesian melodies,
Argentinean tangos, Jewish folk, Texmex and more.
|
| |
|
|
|
Twinning Between Castelfidardo and Klingenthal
 Contributed
by Beniamino
Bugiolacchi, Italcinte
The twinning of the towns of Castelfidardo and Klingenthal
will be made official on May 9th, 2003 at a signing ceremony with the
participation of the two Mayors. Klingenthal is a German city near the
border with the Czech Republic, in the province of Vogtland and the region
of Saxony. It has a population of around 13,000 and is one of the main
centres for the production of musical instruments (violins, flutes, accordions
and mouth organs) of the country. The art of instrument-making was introduced
here in 1659 by Bohemian refugees and was established also due to the
high quality of the wood which can be obtained from the magnificent surrounding
forests. Klingenthal is also renowned for its sports facilities (it used
to be the main centre in the former DDR for cross-country skiing and ski-jumping),
and boasts a small but interesting accordion museum - whose earliest instrument
dates back to the mid-19th century - and a cross-country skiing museum.
Every year, during the second week of May, the town hosts the Internationaler
Akkordeon-Wettbewerb, one of the most prestigious accordion competitions
worldwide, which attracts hundreds of very accomplished musicians.
This brief presentation will make clear what the town
has in common with its Italian counterpart, for Castelfidardo
also boasts a laborious and creative community, a predisposition for artistic
craftsmanship, a drive to promote local tourism and countless initiatives
for the promotion of cultural and commercial activity. The two councils
held two "organizational" meetings in May and October 2002,
first in Klingenthal, then in Castelfidardo, which resulted in the drawing
up of an intense cultural exchange program involving local schools at
all levels. Steps have also been taken towards a commercial exchange program,
with the Castelfidardo local promotion board planning to stage arts and
crafts fairs in Klingenthal featuring silversmiths, food tasting in the
Market square and Italian cuisine days in the local restaurants, while
Klingenthal plans to hold a traditional "Christmas Market" in
Castelfidardo next December.
Europe can grow also thanks to these small but important
signs of integration.
|
|
|
|
|
Reunion Island Philharmonic Accordion Orchestra
Tour
The Reunion Island Philharmonic Accordion Orchestra
will take part in a tour of Europe from July 13th to August 5th.
The tour will include concerts in France, Germany, Czech Republic,
Denmark, Holland and Belgium.
This orchestra (directed by Pierre Varo) is
composed of 43 musicians who are pupils of the St. André
School of Music and the National Conservatory of Reunion. They have
toured several countries including Mauritius Island, South Africa,
France, Monaco, Australia and New Zealand. They have also performed
at a number of official receptions such as Welcoming Ceremonies
and special events in four-star hotels like the Presidential dinner
for Mr Chirac in August 2002.
The varied concert program includes Latino music
(such as "Soul Bossa", Mambo Medley and Calyspo Medley),
jazz & film music (such as "Stormy You", "The
Lion Sleeps Tonight", and Blue Suede Shoes/See You Later Alligator),
plus classical works by Studnitzky, Draeger, Thomain, Lecuona and
R. W. Smith. For tour details email: pierre.varo@wanadoo.fr
|
| |
|
|
|
Complesso Fisarmonicisti Città di Varese
Concerts - Italy
Contributed by Luigi Luoni
The Complesso Fisarmonicisti Città di
Varese orchestra will perform at Sala Concerti in S. Giorgio su
Legnano, Milan on April 5th. Their program will include both classical
and popular music.
The group will stage a second concert at Aloisianum-Iris,
Gallarate, Varese Province on April 10th. For concert information
email: info@fisarmonicisti.varese.it
|
| |
|
Contributed
by Dr 
The
third triology (three different concerts at three different locations)
was dedicated to local hero Otto Lechner who was joined by Austrian
drummer Herbert Reisinger in the Funk, Latin & Jazz Pub Carioca.
The 2nd concert was by Frenchman Arnaud Méthivier at the
French Institute and the final concert by Australian cellist Melissa
Coleman and Austrian guitarist Karl "Charly" Ritter during
the closing event at Vienna's Metropol, which became an endless
session…!! 
Canadian
accordionist 
Accordionist