Editors Note

This week we have updated our "Readers Comments" Page. This page includes a variety of comments we have received from customers and readers. If you would like to comment on the Accordions Worldwide site please email: news@accordions.com

Wayne Knights Webmaster

The "Perles de Nacre" Accordion Festival was held for the 4th time in Lavaur (south of France) from July 3rd to 6th organized by the Perles de Nacre Association with help from the Mayor of Lavaur and the Regional Council. The aim of the festival is to show the public the diversity and different styles of music possible on the accordion.

During the festival the accordion could be heard at various locations throughout the day, with concerts held each evening in the City Hall. The festival opening concert included a performance by the "Paris-Moscow" Duo (Domi Emorine & Roman Jbanov), who took the audience on a musical journey with a variety of classical music and original compositions by French & Russian composers.

This is not the first time that Domi & Roman have performed at this festival. Two years ago they entertained at the event, which was held in La Bastide St. George where President of the association Serge Salvan attended.

Over the following days, jazz music was presented by the Sebastian Farge Group, with French music by the duo "Brothers Maulus" and French accordionist/vocalist Gerard Blanchard.

The festival finale included dancing at the traditional "Bal-Musette" with entertainment by Jerome Richard and his band.

For information on the 2004 festival email: perles-de-nacre@wanado.fr

Contributed by Kevin Friedrich

During the recent elections at the Accordionists and Teachers Guild, International (ATG), Milwaukee based accordionist Stas Venglevski was elected President. Stas takes over from Joan C. Sommers who has served the maximum two consecutive term limit as President. Joan will now serve as a member of the ATG Board of Directors.

Stas, a native of the Republic of Moldova, part of the former Soviet Union emigrated to the United States in 1992 and now makes his home in Milwaukee. Stas is a graduate of the Russian Academy of Music in Moscow where he received his masters Degree in Music under the tutelage of the famed Russian bayanist, Friedrich Lips. An avid composer as well as performer, Stas has produced several CD recordings as well as published some of his original compositions. He recently performed the world premiere of the Anthony Galla-Rini Concerto No. 2 in Wisconsin. Galla-Rini is the President Emeritus of the ATG and was in attendance at this momentous occasion.

The 2003-2005 ATG Officers (elected and appointed) include: President: Stas Venglevski, First Vice President: Dee Langley, Second Vice President: Julia Cortinas, Executive Secretary: Joanna Arnold Darrow, Treasurer: Gail Overly, Newsletter Editor: Jay Landers, Historian: Stan Darrow, President Emeritus: Anthony Galla-Rini, Board Members: Shirley Barry, Arlene Boddicker, Faithe Deffner, Kevin Friedrich, Elizabeth Finch, Peter Giacalone, Rina Rosa, Amy Jo Sawyer, Barbara Slechter, Trudy (Dudley) Scott, Joan Cochran Sommers, John Simkus and Mary Tokarski.

Stas is pictured here with outgoing President Joan C. Sommers at the conclusion of the Annual Competition and Festival held in Chicago where the official changeover of office took place.

Contributed by Arnold Kutzli

The 9th Deutscher Akkordeon Musikpreis 2003 for soloists, duos, ensembles and chamber music (one accordion with up to 4 other instruments) was held from June 20th to 22nd in Baden-Baden organized by the DHV. Over 560 musicians took part in the event which included competitions for five age groups in 10 categories. The competitions took place in the Baden-Baden Kurhaus (Recreation Centre), the Bonhoeffer Hall, the local council hall, the old city hall and the "Alten Gymnasium" (Secondary School). Prior to this competition, over 3,000 accordionists took part in national elimination contests held throughout the country since February.

This year was the first time a special class for European accordionists was held with participants from around Europe and Switzerland competing.

The event, which is held every three years, also included a variety of concerts. Performances were given by the Landes-Akkordeon-Bigband Hessen (directed by Wolfgang Russ-Plötz) at the Bénazet-Saal des Kurhauses. This was followed by a gala concert on June 21st entitled "Best of Accordion and More" which included performances by the Duo Bajanello (accordion & cello), Evi Gallmetzer (accompanied by accordionist Andreas Nebl), Ensemble Via-Klass, Akkordeon/Streichquartett and the Cologne Damen-Salonorchester who entertained with a variety of foxtrots, tangos, waltzes and dance hits.

"La Fisarmonica D'Oro" International Festival - Italy

The "Fisarmonica d' Oro" International Competition and Festival will be held on August 2nd at the prestigious Roman amphitheatre in Benevento. The event will include a variety of solo and group competition categories such as classical, variété, jazz and light pieces with the main prize of an Excelsior accordion. Registration is free of charge and the competition program includes own choice music.

The event will also include a concert with performances by Peppino Principe (Honorary President) with the "Ars Musica" orchestra, Valentino Lorenzetti, Sylvia Pagni Progetto Arte Group and Renzo Ruggieri with the "Ars Musica" symphonic orchestra.

For further information email Luigi Febbraro at: feblu@virgilio.it

Successful "Brazil of the Accordion" Musical Spectacle - Mexico

Contributed by Myriam Taubkin

The musical spectacle "Brasil da Sanfona" (Brazil of the Accordion), held at the Teatro de las Artes (part of Cenart - Centro de las Artes) in Mexico City in mid June was a great success. Accordionists Renato Borghetti (from the South) and Toninho Ferragutti (from São Paulo) took part in the show with video scenery by Sérgio Roizenblit and light direction by Márcio Aurélio. Many international producers have seen the show and invited the directors to present the project in Europe, Latin America and United States in 2004 and 2005. This will be great exposure for the accordion! For further details email: myriamtaubkin@ig.com.br

Accordionist and composer Dr. William Schimmel will be the featured soloist on July 24th and 25th with the Grand Rapids Symphony in a summer series entitled "Romance Under The Stars".
Schimmel will play his own works as soloist with the orchestra including "Empty World" (critically acclaimed by the New York Times), Bizet's Carmen Fantasy (the entire opera in six minutes) and Bachianas Argentinas (Bach Meets The Tango).

Schimmel will also improvise with the orchestra in such works as The Godfather Theme, Gone With The Wind, Romeo and Juliet and West Side Story. He will solo in a special orchestration (by Michael Sahl) of "Por Una Cabeza" - the tango that features the famed Grammy nominated Tango Project in the films "Scent of a Woman" and "True Lies". Dr. Schimmel will also perform the immortal La Cumparsita. The concerts will take place at the Cannonsburg Ski area just outside Grand Rapids, Michigan. The conductor is John Varineau. For details email: gwilliamandmicki@aol.com

Accordionist Joseph Petric will take part in the Brome Beaux Arts concert series held in the town of West Brome, Quebec on August 16th and 17th. Joseph will play in three performances of "Tango Sensations" with the Adaskin String Trio (which includes Emlyn Ngai, Steve Larson and Mark Fraser) with guest violinist Annie Trepanier. Their program will include the world premiere of "Tango Dreams" (Ray Luedeke), "Dance of the Blind" (Marjan Mozetich), "Glassharmonika Quintet" (Mozart) and 5 Tango Sensations (Piazzolla). Admission is free. For details email: jpetric@interlog.com

Contributed by Tai Hung, Hanoi National Conservatory, Accordion Department

Vietnamese accordionist Nguyen Thi Quynh Trang, student at the Hanoi Conservatory of Music (with tutor Professor Luu Quang Minh), was invited to play at the opening concert of the 7th Musical Olympus Festival in St. Petersburg, Russia on July 15th. Her performance, which took place at the Hermitage Theatre, included "Fairy Tales" - Concerto for Accordion and Symphony Orchestra (V. Trojan) accompanied by the Symphony Orchestra of the State Opera and Ballet Theatre of the Rimsky-Korsakov Conservatory (St. Peterburg) conducted by Alexander Sladkovsky (Russia).

Nguyen Thi Quynh Trang won the Hong Kong Musical Competition for Young Asian Performers in 2001.

The Musical Olympus Festival is widely supported by prominent artists of the world. Among the members of the Honorary Committee of the festival are Claudio Abbado, Zubin Mehta, Montserrat Caballe, V. Gergiev, M. Rostropovich, Y. Temirkanov and Placido Domingo.

Kosmos World Music & Dance Camp - USA

The Kosmos World Music & Dance Camp will be held for the first time in Saratoga Springs, California from July 25th to 27th. The event will include a variety of exciting workshops & performances with a wide range of musicians & dancers. The Balkan accordion class will be tutored by Dan Cantrell. For details email: fureyousproductions@yahoo.com

Birthday Celebrations for Accordionist Gerardo Rizza - Tenerife

An event to celebrate the birthday of accordionist Gerardo Rizza was held recently at the Recreational Park of Monte de Arafo in Tenerife, "Los Frailes". Attendees included Felipe Gadea (accordion teacher, performer and manufacturer), Emilio (Professor of Ilse Accordion), accordion amateurs, Llaureano (accordionist studying at the Superior School of Accordion of Tenerife), Ignacio (Professor of accordion at the same school), Pepe Rodriguez (accordionist who studied with Felipe Gadea and performed at this event on button accordion and guitar) and Francisco Jose (accordion student).

After a celebration pot-luck lunch organized by Gerardo Rizza, all played a variety of music on the accordion and vocals with others accompanying on various musical instruments such as maracas, güiro, guitar etc. The entertainment was closely watched by the attendees with applause following every piece.

The Federation of Neighbors "La Unión of Geneto" collaborated in this event with members of the Board like Angeles and Javier Basterrechea attending the event.

Music Celebration - Belgium

Contributed by Marie Coppens

A music celebration entitled "Folk and Music of the World" will take place in Brussels on July 21st organized by ASBL Muziekpublique. Local and international accordionists will take part in this event which will feature in different locations throughout the city. At the Place du Vieux Marché aux Grains Daniel Grusel (Luxemburg) will perform works by Astor Piazzolla and Richard Galliano on the chromatic accordion. This will be followed by the "Quarteto Paola Bartoletti" (Italy), which includes accordionist Gwen Cresens, then a performance by the Tref Trio.

At the Place Saint-Nicolas, Neder-Over-Hembeek Máximo Jimenez (Colombia) will entertain on the diatonic accordion with another Colombian accordionist, Miguel Osorio. For further details email: info@muziekpublique.be

Argentinean bandoneonist Norberto Vogel performed in a trio at the Tango Week in San Francisco from July 4th to 11th. Norberto then played a concert of classical tangos with Pepe Mota (piano) and Julian Avila (vocals) in Las Vegas.

Contributed by Holda Paoletti-Kampl

From July 27th to August 3rd an accordion and bandoneon course with individual and group/orchestra training will be held at the Cordeliers Center in Gourdon, Querçy. The course will cover traditional accordion, variety, jazz, bandoneon, accompaniment, improvisation, rhythm and accordion folklore.

The Cordeliers Center is located in a vast shaded park in the town of Gourdon. It has many work rooms and offers the trainees various sports activities (swimming pool, volleyball, football etc).
Younger trainees will be assisted by monitors who will guide them outside the course hours plus the dormitories will be supervised to assure safety.

Tutors include Peter Soave, Lionel Suarez, Mady Soave- Dessimoulie, Sylvie Pulles, Patricia Lafon and Muriel Roques. For details email: cahors.accordeon@wanadoo.fr

The International Songwriting Competition (ICS) for all musicians, bands, solo artists, and songwriters offers 13 categories of music and has a total of 68 winners with over US$100,000 in cash and prizes!

The event organizers are pleased to announce the addition of many new judges this year including Monte Lipman (President, Universal Records), Arif Mardin (VP/GM, Manhattan Records), Bruce Lundvall (CEO/President, Capitol Jazz/Classics), Rob Thomas (Lead Singer/Songwriter, Matchbox 20), B.B. King (Legendary Blues Artist), Pat Metheny (Jazz Guitarist), Phil Vassar (Country Artist, Singer/Songwriter), Dan Haseltine (Lead Singer/Songwriter, Jars Of Clay), Vanessa Carlton (Singer/Songwriter - Teen Category Only), Bebe Winans (Gospel Artist), Guru (Rapper/Composer, Gang Starr), Paul Oakenfold (DJ/Producer/Remixer), Raine Maida (Lead Singer/Songwriter, Our Lady Peace), NSYNC (Teen Category Only), Nile Rodger (Producer/Performer - Chic, Madonna, Peter Gabriel, etc), Frank Callari (Sr. VP A&R, Lost Highway Records), Tina Davis (Sr. VP A&R, Def Jam/Def Soul), Rose Noone (Sr. VP A&R, Epic Records), Jimmy Bralower (VP A&R, Atlantic Records), Kim Stephens (VP A&R/Promotion, Lava Records), Tara Griggs-Magee (Sr. VP/GM, Verity Records), Robert Beeson (President, Essential Records), Errol Kolosine (GM, Astralwerks Records) and Michael Gudinski (Chairman, Mushroom Group Of Companies).

Categories include Pop/Top 40, Rock; Country, AAA/Roots/Americana, R&B/Hip-Hop, Blues,
Folk/Singer-Songwriter, Jazz, World, Gospel/Christian, Dance/Electronica, Lyrics Only, and a special Teen category for songwriters who are 18 yrs and under. You may enter as many songs as you want in as many different categories as you want. The entry deadline is September 15th, 2003.

For details write to: International Songwriting Competition, Zero Governors Avenue #6, Medford, MA, USA 02155

A new CD "Legend of the Bulgarian Accordion" by Boris Karlov (1924-1964) has just been released by BMA Productions, Canada. Boris Karlov is credited for being the first to develop a distinct technique and style for playing Bulgarian folk music on the accordion. This unique 2 CD set features 40 exciting folk melodies compiled by Yves Moreau from the archives of the Bulgarian National Radio, Balkanton Records and rare old 78's.

Some of the tunes have become standard favorites among North American Balkan music and dance adepts such as Bavno Horo, Gjusevska Rachenitsa, Daichovo Horo, Gankino Horo, Elenino Horo, etc. For further CD details email: info@bourque-moreau.com

New CD - "Cafe Jew Zoo" Now Available

The new CD "Cafe Jew Zoo" by accordionist Yale Strom with Hot Pstromi & Klazzj is now available on the Naxos World label. This CD reflects Strom's wide knowledge of Jewish music, where he laments the decreasing Jewish population even as Jewish culture and music are achieving more popularity. Tracks include "The Bonesetter's Last Dance", "Stoliner Skotshne #1" and the funk-pop "Ten Plagues". For CD details email: Yitztyco@aol.com

It is a pleasure to welcome the following website holder to Accordions Worldwide. We invite you to visit their website to familiarize yourself with their site and services they have to offer.

www.accordions.com/areunlimited New site for Accordions Unlimited, owned and operated by Natasha Geddie, offering a unique collection all things accordion related including: instruments, music, repairs, recordings, teaching, ensemble, specialty items and more

www.accordions.com/stas Updated information on Stas Venglevski, including new postal and email address details. Stas was recently elected the new President of the Accordionists and Teachers Guild, International (ATG) member of the Confederation Internationale des Accordeonistes (CIA) member of IMC-UNESCO.