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International Palanga Accordion Seminar -
Lithuania
  Contributed
by Raimondas
Sviackevicius
The 9th International Summer Accordionists Palanga
Seminar was held at the S. Vainiunas Music School from August 1st
to 10th. As usual many accordion friends came to meet each other
to learn new methods and combine accordion art with relaxation at
the beautiful beach of the most popular health resort in Lithuania.
  The
event included ten days of intensive music. Each morning accordion
teachers, enthusiasts and students had lessons, forming the United
Republican Accordion Orchestra conducted by seminar chiefs Professor
Ricardas Sviackevicius and Professor Eduardas Gabnys as well as
guest Professor from Germany, Elisabeth Glauber. Elisabeth worked
with her own modern compositions and other German works. The Orchestra
prepared 9 compositions (3 with each conductor), which were performed
at the final Gala Concert. One of the compositions was composed
by Modestas Jukna, an accordion student from the Lithuanian Academy
of Music. The work for solo accordion and orchestra was well received
with the audience giving it three encores.
  Tutors
included Professor Pavel Fenyuk (Ukraine), Professor Viktor Dukaltetenko
(Russia), Vladimir Ushakov (Russia) as well as teachers from the
Lithuanian Academy of Music including Professor Eduardas Gabnys,
Assistant Professor Zita Abromaviciute, Professor Ricardas Sviackevicius,
Lecturer Gintautas Smolskas and Raimondas
Sviackevicius who held "open lessons" and "Master
classes".
Each day two concerts were held, one for younger
musicians and pupils of music schools, and an evening concert for
concert performers and groups. In total 15 concerts and 2 methodical
reports were held.
 Performers
included Pavel Fenyuk (Ukraine), Viktor Dukaltetenko (Russia), Piotr
Biazik (accordion) with string quartet (Poland), Jurij Peshkov (Latvia),
Quintet "Concertino", Musette Ensemble (Russia), Accordion
quintet "Modus", Accordion Quintet of Siauliai City and
students of LMA teachers: Tomas Vaise, Neringa Kacinskaite, Vilma
Miliute, Andrius Balachovicius, Gintare Strazdaite, Modestas Jukna,
Povilas Velikis, Marius Laurynaitis, Martynas Norvilas, Sailius
Subacius, and students and pupils of Kaunas and Siauliai Conservatories.
 The
final Gala Concert, attended by citizens and tourists included successful
performances by all members of the seminar and united orchestra.
The 10th seminar will be held from August 1st
to 8th, 2004.
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Mirco Patarini Tours the USA
 Contributed
by Renzo
Ruggieri
Italian accordionist Mirco Patarini traveled
to the USA recently to take part in two prestigious events. From
June 22nd to 25th he performed at the International
Accordion Festival in Las Vegas, then at the ATG
Festival in Chicago. In both events Mirco's personal repertoire
was very well received by the public, who voted him among the best
artists at the festivals.
Mirco began studying the accordion at a very
young age and has won several national and international competitions,
including the prestigious "World Trophy" at Caux-de-Fonds
(Switzerland) in 1985, when he was only 18. The artist is also active
outside of the world of performance, and is manager or partner of
several important accordion makers (Scandalli,
SEM,
Paolo Soprani).
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"La Bottine Souriante" Rock - Scotland
"La Bottine Souriante" performed at
a packed hall in Edinburgh on August 8th, where the excited audience
rocked to the fantastic rhythms of this Quebec (Canada) nine piece
group. The band includes Michel Bordeleau (foot-tapping, drum, mandolin,
fiddle, guitar, vocals), André Brunet (fiddle, guitar), Régent
Archambault (acoustic and electric bass),Denis Fréchette
(piano, piano accordion), Jean Fréchette (saxophone and arrangements),
Robert "Bob" Ellis (bass trombone), André Verreault
(trombone) and Jocelyn Lapointe (trumpet). The group performs music
with a "pulsating rhythm, breathtaking sound, and exuberant
spirit".
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Whitby Folk Week 2003 - UK
 The
annual Whitby Folk Week will take place in Whitby, North Yorkshire
from August 16th to 22nd. Accordionist Karen Tweed will perform
solo at the event. In addition she will entertain with Roger Wilson
plus students from the Degree Course in Folk and Traditional Music
at Newcastle University. Their program will include "Delia"
(Wilson) and "Moonbeam Passage" (by Karen Tweed). Karen
will also tutor a "slow tunes session" and 2 workshop
for intermediate accordionists.
The main emphasis of the festival is the traditional
dance, music and song of the British Isles and Ireland which is
presented in over 20 indoor venues as well as on the streets and
open spaces around the town. Over 600 different events are scheduled
including dance displays, processions, street entertainment, formal
and informal concerts, workshops, lectures, audio/video presentations,
sessions, barn dances, interviews, storytelling, children's entertainment
and special events.
Other accordion performers include Dave Townsend
and John Kirkpatrick. For further details email: wfw@box44selby.freeserve.co.uk
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9th Acco Land Seminar - Spain
 Contributed
by Holda
Paoletti-Kampl
The 9th Acco Land seminar was held from July
8th to 14th in San Sebastian with students from a variety of Spanish
cities attending, such as Huesca, Santander, Madrid, Barcelona,
Gipuzkoa, Alava, Bizkaia, Cuenca and Albacete.
Attendees included 22 active students and enthusiasts
from the accordion class directed by Stefan Hussong and students
from the Alexander Technique directed by Anne
Landa. On July 11th they participated in a Master Class with
Stefan Hussong on the evolution of the accordion based on his studies
of the roots of the instrument followed by another Master Class
by Kepa Junkera about music and its development.
On July 14th the Acco Land Seminar closed with
a concert held in the Town Hall of San Sebastian.
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"Bad Renaissance People" Master Class
and Concert Series - USA
Three consecutive days of seminars, workshops,
lectures, discussions and performances entitled "Bad Renaissance
People" will be held at the Tenri Cultural Institute in New
York from August 29th to 31st.
"Bad Renaissance People" are people
who are bad for good reason, people who are possessed by more than
one vision, charmingly unfocused people who like to "see in
the dark," people whose journeys are dictated by the whims
of the accordion, constantly re-inventing the wheel and themselves,
to be there for the show, yet to be seen at the same time, serious
people, party people, healthy minds, sick souls, burned out bodies
yet still moving on, moving on in every unpromising direction, loving
every excruciating moment.
Composer/author/philosopher/accordionist Dr.
William Schimmel will curate and moderate the ninth smash year of
this esteemed Master Class and Concert Series sponsored by the American
Accordionists' Association.
For workshop and concert details see the AAA
site.
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AFNA
Annual Festival - USA
Day
of Romantic Music - Netherlands
The
Minnesota Accordion Orchestra with 
Colombian
Accordionist Performs in Dominican Republic
Renzo
Ruggieri Performs in Holland 
St
Audries Bay Summer Accordion Festival - England
Contributed
by Ron Bennett
The
St Audries Bay Summer Accordion Festival, held from July 19th to
26th, was again well attended with over 250 accordionists and friends
making their annual pilgrimage to St Audries Bay amidst the beautiful
Quantock Hills of Somerset in England. The annual event is where
musicians (no matter what standard) will get many opportunities
to play their instruments as a solo artist, duetist, in a group
or orchestra or at one of the many busking sessions often lasting
into the early hours of the morning. This is a very popular Accordion
Festival that has evolved over the years to become a relaxed fun
filled musical week where "we entertain ourselves".
Antique
Accordion Information