ATG Competition and Festival Features World Class Musicians - USA
Contributed by Kevin Friedrich

The Accordionists and Teachers Guild, International (ATG) 64th Annual Competition and Festival was held in Milwaukee, Wisconsin from July 21-25, 2004 and featured a world class variety of guest artists performing to capacity audiences during a week that the Mayor Tom Barrett had officially declared "Accordion Week."

The festival, which featured attendees from as far afield as Ireland, Canada, Sweden, Austria, France, Russia and all around the USA opened with a newly established Presidential welcome concert and Wine and Cheese evening featuring local Wisconsin musicians and guests offering a local musical flavor and hospitality.

The festival presented world class artists in five concerts, affording attendees the opportunity to hear the finest accordionists in a variety of styles. The 2002 CIA double winner (Coupe Mondiale and International Competition for Piano Accordion) Alexander Poeluev's polished technical ability and musical style earned him five standing ovations as he presented music from Bach, Liszt and others including those from his native Russia composed by his well known teacher Viatcheslav Semionov. Jérôme Richard from France, the only other double CIA competition winner (Coupe Mondiale and Virtuoso Entertainment) also received many standing ovations for his dazzling USA debut performance, which highlighted his flawless and effortless technical ability with his popular and appealing program. Jérôme was quite surprised that all 75 CD's he brought with him to sell were snapped up instantly, leaving people scrambling for mail and Internet orders.

The other featured artist was American jazz legend Art Van Damme, who's reputation and respect earned him a standing ovation as he walked to the stage. Art was thrilled that he received a standing ovation without even playing a single note! Art's show also brought many standing ovations as the audience was treated to his legendary style that has identified the accordion as a recognized jazz instrument. Also performing were several orchestras including The Jarosh Accordion Ensemble from Calgary, Canada, the 35 member K&S Accordion Orchestra from Ireland and the UMKC Community Accordion Orchestra from Kansas City. Each presented polished and varied programs. Together, along with other accordionists attending the convention, they formed the 2004 Festival Orchestra, an 85 strong group under the direction of Joan C. Sommers which was featured at the Peck Pavilion in downtown Milwaukee during an outdoor concert as well as at the Gala Concert and Banquet during the festival.

Other artists included a young Swedish accordionist Daniel Anderson, the Busso Trio from Staten Island, New York (Frank Busso Sr., Frank Busso Jr., and Christina Busso) and a variety of American based artists including: Dee Langley and Greg Dagoumas, Lidia Kaminska, Joanna and Stanley Darrow, Milwaukee Accordion Club Ensemble, ATG President Stas Venglevski, John Simkus, the ATG Board of Directors Ensemble, Mikhail Litvin, Tony Gorenc, Amy Jo Sawyer, Kavkas and the Riverwest Accordion Club.

In addition to the workshops given by Betty Jo Simon (Music of Anthony Galla-Rini), Dr. Helmi Harrington (Accordion History), Herbert Scheibenreif (the Accordion Concerto), Gerry Kelly (Irish Accordion Music), and Art Van Damme (the Jazz Scene.) the festival also offered competitions for all ages and levels, exhibits and a trade show area and a daily morning breakfast concert.

The ATG inducted its 2nd and 3rd members into its International Accordion Hall of Fame, with Myron Floren and Joan C. Sommers receiving these prestigious awards which were presented by ATG President Stas Venglevski. In the festival competitions, the K&S Accordion Orchestra from Ireland (under the direction of Gerry Kelly) won the Junior Virtuoso Orchestra Competition, the Jarosh Accordion Orchestra (under the direction of Maureen Jarosh) won the Open Virtuoso Orchestra and Benjamin Lang (student of Dr.Helmi Harrington) won the US Pre-Junior Virtuoso Competition.

The 2004 festival was organized by Faithe Deffner and ATG Festival Committee members Shirley Barry, Dee Langley, Kevin Friedrich and ATG President Stas Venglevski. Pictures courtesy of Erol Reyal, Milwaukee.

For a full review, please visit www.accordions.com/atg
 

Zoltán Orosz Duo - Finland

The Hungarian duo of accordionist Zoltán Orosz and guitarist Gábor Ursu play virtuoso interpretations of well known compositions. The accordion is the lead instrument and the guitar creates a colorful background in their combination. They staged their first performance as the Zoltán Orosz Duo at the Sata-Hame Soi Accordion Festival in Finland last month. The duo were well received with reviewers calling the two "a Recipe for Success!"

The accordionist, Zoltán Orosz has been three time Hungarian Accordion Champion. Zoltán Orosz (and his group) was also featured at the 2003 Coupe Mondiale in Hungary. The duo formed back in 1992 as the Podium Duo, performed well known virtuoso favorites, Tangos, French works and light classics to dazzle their audiences with a fresh and innovative style.

Their arrangements at Sata-Hame featured both spectacular technical displays and haunting lyrical lines in addition to a touch of jazz where the accordion and guitar provided rhythmical and musical support to each other. Reviewers said "their high energy program which captivated the audience for over an hour, left everyone clapping for more. The duo lived up their motto of providing well-known melodies with virtuoso interpretations."

More information about the Podium Duo's performance in Finland can be found at www.accordions.com/finland
 

Accordiomania Duo on tour - South Korea

Accordionmania, a duo consisting of Russian accordionists Alexander Sheykin and Gyuzel Gudz are currently finishing a tour in South Korea where they organized programs to educate the public about accordion.

On 18th July, the duo ran a master class for 15 accordionists at a beautiful setting outside the city of Seoul. All the participants were invited to perform at least two pieces after which the Alex and Gyuze tutored them to improve their performance and technical ability.

The following concert by Accordionmania included popular accordion songs as well as famous Korean pop songs. Alex said accordion development in Korea is progressing slowly so the duo were eager to assist. This they did with the help of successful Korean accordionist Lim Eun Kyoung.

"It might sound a bit strange, but at present in South Korea the accordion entertainment situation is not so good" Alex said. "There is also a lack of professional development infrastructure (University/Conservatory) and in the Music Colleges of Seoul, accordion classes are not yet available." Accordionmania hope that their visit will be another step in the progress of South Korean accordion development.
 

Basingstoke Accordion Club - UK

The Basingstoke Irish Society, the Accordion World Magazine, the Basingstoke Gazette and Modern Music are proud to present "The Richard (Dick) Daly - Amateur Musician of the Year" Challenge Cup Award. The competition will be held at the Basingstoke Irish Society on Council Road in Basingstoke on 30th July at 7.00pm.

The judges include David Keen of Accordion World Magazine, Chris Wibrew of Modern Music and Jean Filkins, a private music teacher. The prizes include 13 trophies, 3 for each section plus the 3 challenge cups and the Dick Daly Cup. Categories include: Junior Solo - up to grade 3, playing time 3 mins. Intermediate Solo - grades 4 to 6, playing time 5 mins Senior Solo - grade 7 & above, playing time 7 mins.

For further information, email accordionfriends@aol.com
 

Victor Prieto Concert - USA

Successful accordionist and tutor at the Brooklyn Conservatory of Music, Victor Prieto will perform with Adrian Mira (clarinet) on 30th July from 7pm to 8.30pm at 376 9th St. corner of 6th Ave. Park Slope, Brooklyn, New York. Victor Prieto will again be displaying his newer jazz sounds which are attracting strong interest from jazz lovers.
 

Renzo Ruggieri Composes and Directs the Music for a Theatre Show - Italy

The director Paolo Perelli who produced the show "Novecento" by Alexander Baricco featuring the same story as the very successful movie "Leggenda del Pianista sull'Oceano" (The Legend of 1900). All music for the show has been written by Renzo Ruggieri and performed by the Piccola Orchestra Moderna which Ruggieri formed and directed. The show had its debut last March at the Central Theater of Ostia (Rome) and you may listen to some demo sound files on Renzo Ruggieri's site: www.renzoruggieri.it/teatro/
 

Bernadette Conlon Concerts - Australia

Accordion performer and teacher Bernadette Conlon, has some exciting performances coming up. 16th August, Bernadette will perform at a variety concert in Caulfield RSL, St Georges Rd in Elsternwick. This concert takes place monthly and it usually features professional musicians from television and theatre performing all genre of music.

29th August, Bernadette is performing with the Frankston Symphony Orchestra at the Performing Arts Centre, Frankston where Bernadette will be guest soloist, playing two accordion concertos and bandoneon at 2.30 pm.

1st November, launches her new CD followed by a 3 hour concert at the Bentleigh Organ Club, Coatesville Bowling Club, Bentleigh East, Melbourne. Next year, Bernadette performs on 27th and 28th February at the Paynesville Jazz Festival at various venues in Gippsland, Victoria. The Paynesville Jazz festival is an annual event focused on Jazz and Bernadette heads the list of artists to perform there.
 

Daniel Pinelli Concert - Argentina

Argentina's master of the bandoneon, Daniel Pinelli has an exciting schedule of performances from now to December in Brazil, USA, Canada and Argentina. Pinelli is popular for his renditions of works by Horacio Salgán, Ariel Ramirez and especially Astor Piazzolla.

He has toured extensively in Spain, Portugal, Italy, France, Australia, China, Japan, South America and USA. Pinelli's performances reflect the elegance and subtlety of the Tango, the sauciness of the Milonga, the romance of the Waltz and the temperament and power of contemporary Tango.

Future appearances include:
August 7 at Vancouver, Canada.
August 29 with the Sinfónica OSPA in Porto Alegre, Brazil.
September- October - November with the Tango Metropolis in the USA.
November 24 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil with the Teatro Municipal RJ
December 21 - with the St. Petersburg Orchestra in Russia.

For further information, email bandoneonbinelli@yahoo.com.ar
 

St Audries Bay's Summer Accordion Week - UK

The St Audries Bay's Summer Accordion Week which was held on from 17th to 24th July has proven to be extremely popular each year with this years camp fully booked and sold out well beforehand. There were plenty of opportunities to play accordions at all times with organized workshops, orchestras, groups, free & easy sessions and performances in the bar by the Accordionist Entertains and the Harry Hussey Trio.

The main event of the week, the Friday gala/orchestras evening was a tribute to the late UK accordionist Peter Boorman (Memorials Site) who passed away on 7th July. Included was a performance by the John Leslie Accordion Group, who played John's special orchestration of Ave Maria. The gala evening included a fundraising performance to raise a some money to start a "Prostate Cancer" Fund in memory of Boorman.

For further information, email mrandle@staudriesbay.demon.co.uk
 

Marco Ambrosio Concerts - France

Marco Ambrosio, who graduated in classical accordion at the State Conservatory of Lyon (France) in 1994, now teaches in the Civico Istituto Musicale "F. A. Cuneo" of Ciriè (TO). Marco Ambrosio has two exciting performances this year. On 3rd to 10th August he will perform in the Cathegory Sperimental Theater at Siena. The performance is a theatre work titled "Faust e la mano bianca" with the company "Oltre il Ponte Teatro". This work won the "Gianduja di Pezza 2004", a prestigious international prize.

On 20th November, he will perform at the Salassa Canavese with the wind orchestra "Filarmonica Salassese". Works to be presented include pieces by Shostakovitch ("Jazz Suite No. 2"), Piazzolla ("Chiquilin de Bachin") and F. Francia ("Black and White").
 

The 4th Pakefield International Accordion Festival - UK

The 4th Pakefield International Accordion Festival will be held on 24th to 28th September. Dubbed "The Friendly Festival", the event will take place within Pontins superb holiday complex near Lowestoft.

There will be performances by Charlie Watkins, Gary Blair, Alexander Dmitriev, Vitaly Dmitriev, Giancarlo Caporilli, Norvic Concordia, Stockport Accordion Orchestra, Johnny Coleclough, Bert Santilly and John Nixon.

Orchestral Workshops include; Intermediate with Brian Jenkins, Elementary with Peter Whiteley, Beginners with Bert Santilly, Big Band Swing with John Nixon, Scottish with Gary Blair, Vintage with Heather Smith, Buskers with Johnny Coleclough and Jazz with Bert Santilly. There will also be dancing lessons, daily 'Free & Easy' sessions, auction of accordions and accordion accessories and trade stands by WEM and the Accordion Shop. Masterclasses with international artists are still being arranged.

For further information, email accordionfriends@aol.com
 

Victor Romanko Concerts - Russia, Germany, Switzerland
Contributed by Holda Paoletti-Kampl

Popular award winning Russian Bayan artist and professor at the Ural Conservatory of Jekaterinburg, Victor Romanko has just released his list of performances for the coming months. Victor was recently awarded the highest accolade for Russian artists, an award titled the "People's Artist of Russia " on June 11th, by the Russian president, Vladimir Putin.

Romanko will perform in Switzerland on:
5th September at the Winterthur, "Church Rosenberg"
10th September at 8pm in "Brüttisellen, Aula of the secondary level school "Bruggwiesen"
11th September at 7pm in Hettlingen, church
24th September at 8.15pm in Effretikon
26th September in Dietlikon, church.

For more information, log onto http://www.jb-music.de/romanko.htm or email Jutta.Menn@t-online.de
 

Sidmouth International Festival - UK

The Sidmouth International Festival will be held from 30th July to 6th August celebrating its Golden Jubilee year in Sidmouth.

Artists scheduled to perform at the festival include:
Waterson Family Special, Danu, Kepa Junkera Band Banditaliana featuring Riccardo Tesi, Roy Bailey & Tony Benn, John Tams & Barry Coope, Chris Smither Coope, Boyes & Simpson, Sid Kipper, Song Links 2, The Fagans, Black Umfolosi 5, Johnny Dickinson, Angus Lyon & Ruaridh Campbell, The Johnson Girls, Sara Grey, Kieron Means, Dan Milner & Bob Conroy and Jarlath Henderson the winner of the BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Awards 2003.

For further information, email info@sidmouthfestival.com
 

Paris-Moscow Busy Summer Schedule - France
Contributed by Holda Paoletti-Kampl

The Paris-Moscow Duo of Domi Emorine and Roman Jbanov have a busy schedule of concerts in summer after completing a series of performances at the 9th International Accordion Festival "Dolomiti" from 22nd to 25th July.

"Dolomiti" included concerts in various different towns each night and was organized by various city halls and the filhamornic association president Alberto Lucherini with artistic director Ernest Bellus. Artists who were part of the festival included the orchestra "Fisorchestra G. Rossini" directed by Ernesto Bellus which performed "La cambiale di Matriomonio (Ouverture) from Rossini and Melodia in la minore from Piazzolla and Karneval de Derbienko. Performances on the diatonic accordion were presented by Riccardo Tesi who performed his own compositions and Penombre, Macenonia and Tevakh.

The Paris-Moscow Duo represented France and Russia with music and a special piece composed for the duo by Franck Angelis titled "Paris-Moscou". Mario Stefan Pietrodarchi performed classical music by Scarlatti, Rossini and music by Galliano and Piazzolla. To end the series of concerts, the Kragujevac Music School Accordion Orchestra directed by Pedrac Kostovic (from Serbia and Montenegro) performed Bach, suite "aus holbergs zeit" by Grieg and a concert for domra and orchestra (1st movement) by Budashkin.

The Paris-Moscow Duo's next concerts are:
17th to 18th August - Master-class à Akranes (Islande)
19th August - Concert à Akranes ( Islande )
20th August - Concert à Saudarkrokur ( Islande)
21st August - Concert à Bolungarvik ( Islande)
22nd August - Concert à Isafjordur ( Islande )
22nd to 23rd August - Master-class à Isafjordur (Islande)
   

Quote of the Week

Teaching Quote of the Week Edited by Willoughby Walshe

"In order to accent notes within the composition, emphasize them with tenuto-holding them a little longer than prescribed in the music."

Find out More…The Art of Bayan Playing or Playing the Accordion Artistically by Friedrich Lips.
   

CD Review


A new CD by Chango Spasiuk titled "The Charme of Chamamé". Review done by Musicologist, Paolo Picchio.




 

New & Updated Sites

www.accordions.com/atg - news and updated information from the ATG festival in Milwaukee.
www.accordions.com/interviews - a new celebrity interview of Coupe Mondiale winner, Russian accordionist Pavel Mangasarian.
www.accordions.com/finland - with a story about the Zoltán Orosz Duo's performance at the Sata-Hame Soi Accordion Festival in Finland last month.