Mika Väyrynen Awarded Grant from the Arts Council of Finland/Council of Music - Finland
Contributed by Kevin Friedrich

Finnish accordionist Mika Väyrynen has been awarded a prestigious arts grant from the Arts Council of Finland/Council of Music. The Arts Council of Finland/Council of Music is a statutory body in the field of arts that allocates annual grants, state awards and travel grants to renowned musicians and artists.

Highly contested from musicians in all fields, artist grants are the result of a lengthy application process, at the conclusion of which Mika was awarded a monthly grant valid for two years from July 2005 to July 2007, totalling approximately 30,000 Euros. On the concert scene, Mika recently performed on bandoneon at the Gala Concert celebrating Victoria Accordions' 85th Anniversary in Castelfiardo, Italy.

Upon returning to Finland, Mika performed the complete 'Goldberg Variations', by J. S. Bach, in Tampere, and now will travel to Sweden to present his final concert performance of this monumental work. The concert will take place at The Royal Academy of Music in Stockholm on the 13th November, followed by a master class on the 14th November. Both activities are being presented as part of the Accordion Festival of Stockholm.
 

Dermot O'Brien Concert Dates - USA
Contributed by Rob Howard

New York-based Irish accordion entertainer Dermot O'Brien has several concert tour dates in late November and early December, at which he will be promoting his new CD 'Christmas' - a selection of seasonal songs and tunes. In mid December, he will travel to Ireland for a tour that takes in Christmas and New Year, dates and venues to be announced.

For further information email dermotob@aol.com

November
27th - Helen Hayes Theater, Nyack, Rockland, New York. 'Farewell to America' - a variety concert that also features other Irish musicians, singers and dancers.

December (all concerts with singer Deirdre Reilly, The Nashville Showband plus Champion Irish Dancers).
4th - Gaelic American Club, Fairfield, Connecticut
5th - Log Cabin Banquet and Meeting House, Holyoke, Massachusetts
6th - The Emerald Restaurant, Philadelphia
7th - Buckley's, Brooklyn, New York
8th - Pat Troy's Ireland's Own Restaurant, Old Town, Alexandria, Virginia.
 

Jazz Accordion Workshop, Adelaide - Australia

A jazz accordion workshop will be held at 7 pm on10th November, at Payneham Community Facilities, Trinity Room, corner of O.G. Road and Turner Street, Felixstow. Jazz accordionist and composer, Peter Piccini will conduct the session. The event is organised by Ron Pearce Music who advise that: "All accordion enthusiasts are welcome, including players and non-players, professionals, amateurs and students. Bring your accordion, manuscript paper and pencil".

For further information email rpmusic@chariot.net.au
 

Music China, Shanghai - China
Contributed by Holda Paoletti-Kampl
The Music China event in Shanghai involved large scale participation from Italian organisations such as Ancona Promuove/Regione Marche, and Italian accordion-midi and reeds manufacturers Ballone Burini, Bugari Armando, Cagnoni, Menghini, Music Tech, Excelsior and Pigini.

The 'Cutting Of the Ribbon' ceremony was carried out by representatives of the Italian Delegation, including Benjamino Bugiolacchi (together with the managers of the exhibitions Anhaim/Frankfurt/Shanghai and the mayor of the Chinese City).




The Orchestra was accompanied by the accordionists Giorgio Dellarole, Jean Marc Fabiano, Mirco Patarini, Mario Stefano Pietrodarchi






One of the main events was the 'Marche Region In Concert' at the Shanghai Concert Hall with the International Orchestra of Italy, directed by Anthony Cipriani.and was an outstanding success
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In the presence of teachers and students Benjamino Bugiolacchi gave a lecture at the Shanghai Conservatory about the history of the Italian accordion, and Mirco Patarini gave a short performance. In the press room of the Shanghai Fair, Benjamino Bugiolacchi held a conference titled: 'Together for the Future of the Accordion', which was integrated into the official events programme of Music China.

World Premiere Australia

Oz Opera, a branch of Opera Australia and Orchestra Victoria, presented the world premiere of a new opera 'Midnite', by Marchellino, during the recent International Arts Festival. The Arts Festival is held annually in Melbourne and is a showcase of world talents from the performing arts. Midnite is scored for seven instruments, including accordion. The accordion part was performed by Elizabeth Jones.
 

Death of Mr Jiang Gui - China
Contributed by Lian Jones of Accordion House

Mr Jiang Gui He, the Vice President of Chinese Accordion Association and a highly respected accordionist, passed away on 17th Oct 2004. He was 71 years old. The Shanghai Accordion Association has sent out the notice to the public, and Jiang's funeral service was held at Yongle Hall of Shanghai Longhua Funeral Home on Monday 25th Oct. Many people came and showed their final respects.

Jiang was born in 1933, and joined Chinese Liberation Army in 1948 at age of 15, playing in the army band for a long time. He was winner at 7th International Youth Festival Music Competition in Vienna, Austria. He became involved with local Shanghai accordion activities and national events at the end of the 1970s. He worked closely with various accordion friends and set up the Shanghai Accordion Association, becoming the 1st elected president of the Association. He was also the president for three terms for eight years (1988 to 1996), until his health declined in 1996, causing his resignation.

Many of Jiang's students have won international and national accordion competitions. His CD 'Accordion Music' is still the favorite of many teachers and students. Jiang's other recording 'Accordion Tuition by Mr Jiang' has inspired a lot of accordion enthusiasts.

He will be well remembered by all of us. May he rest in peace!
 

New & Updated Sites

www.castiglioneaccordions.com - Castiglione Accordion & Distributing Co. owned by John Castiglione offers the largest selection of accordions in the United States. Established in 1932, Castiglione Accordions is a one-stop source for anything having to do with accordions, including all aspects of sales and service including buy, sell (new and used), trade and repairs with over 600 hundred accordions in stock at any time!

www.accordions.com/duo - Paris-Moscou duo Roman Jbanov and Domi Emorine site update with 2004 tours pictures and their latest concert dates.

www.fisitalia.com - Fisitalia Accordions' site update, with restyle of and updated models.

www.accordions.com/assistance - Assistance Point is a new initiative to assist accordion business people doing business in Castelfidardo. The Director is Avv Giovanni Ballone Burini, a lawyer living and working in Castelfidardo, practising commercial law and fluent in English and Italian.

www.accordions.com/dragan - Dragan Vasiljevic, from Serbia and winner of numerous international competitions, has been educated at Kragujevac Conservatory (Serbia) with Professors Radomir Tomic and Vojin Vasovic, the International Accordion School of Larodde (France) with Jacques Mornet, and is presently completing his studies with Professor Angel Luis Castaño at the Superior Conservatory of Music in Zaragoza, Spain.