This week's Accordions Worldwide news is the last for 2005, and will
next be published on January 13th. The team at Accordions Worldwide
wish all our readers, clients and contributors, wherever you may be,
all the very best for Christmas and New Year.
4th International Competition of Bayanists and Accordionists, Moscow
- Russia Contributed
by Herbert
Scheibenreif of Friedrich
Lips Productions
The
4th International Competition of Bayanists and Accordionists took
place from December 11th to 18th in Russia's Gnessin Academy of Music
with great success. The international jury included Chairman - Friedrich
Lips (Russia), Sergey Kolobkov (Russia), Viacheslav
Semionov (Russia), Joan
Sommers (USA), Owen
Murray (Great Britain), Vojin Vasovic (Serbia & Montenegro),
Max Bonnay (France), Mie Miki (Japan), Joseph Macerollo (Canada),
Matti Rantanen (Finland), Pavel Fenyuk (Ukraine), Cao
Xiao-Qing (China) and Claudio
Jacomucci (Italy). Competitors from Russia, Belarus, Ukraine,
Kazakhstan, China, Serbia and France took part in this event, which
included three rounds of close competition with six finalists battling
for first place.
Candidates could select from two concertos: Viacheslav
Semionov
"Freski", Concerto for bayan, chamber orchestra and percussion
E. Podgaits: Concerto for bayan and chamber orchestra.
A variety of concerts was held during the festival (including opening
and closing concerts) with performances by the Orchestra of Bayanists
of the Gnessin Academy of Music (Vladimir Shkurovsky, conductor),
Aidar Gainullin and Yuri
Medianik (both winners of the 3rd Competition for Bayanists and
Accordionists in 2000), Mie Miki (Professor at the University of Music
in Essen, Germany), Claudio
Jacomucci (Italy), Pavel Fenjuk (Ukraine), Joseph Macerollo (Canada),
Stas Venglevski
and John Simkus (USA). America's living jazz legend Art Van Damme
made his debut in Moscow and received a special award for his lifetime
achievements offered by the organizers of the event. The 'Silver Disk'
(for special accomplishments in the accordion and bayan culture fields)
was presented to maestro Sergey Barinov, accordionists Joseph Macerollo,
Joan
Sommers and Mie Miki, producer Massimo Pigini and composer Alexander
Shurbin.
Results:
1st equal: Maria Vlassova (Russia) and Kirill Shtybin (Russia)
2nd: Alexander Selivanov (Russia)
3rd: Evgeny Kotchetov (Russia)
Finalists Sergey Kotkov and Andrey Sheliganov received dipolmas.
Veli Kujala's Concert in the Sibelius-Academy, Helsinki - Finland
Contributed by Veli Kujala
The
Finnish concert accordionist Veli Kujala is currently attaining his
Doctor of Music degree in the Sibelius-Academy. The degree consists
of five public concerts, studies supporting artistic work and thesis.
Veli Kujala's entire concert series features contemporary Finnish
accordion music. His second public concert was held on December 12th
and featured premiere performances of works by Osmo-Tapio Räihälä
(for accordion and string quartet) and Daping Qin (for accordion and
viola), a Chinese composer living in Finland.
The other compositions were duo for accordion and violoncello by Uljas
Pulkkis and solo works by Perttu Haapanen, Pasi Lyytikäinen,
Tapio Tuomela and Olli Virtaperko, whose composition 'Devil's Lungs'
is probably technically the most demanding piece ever written for
accordion.
Finland's leading Swedish speaking newspaper Hufvudstadsbladet wrote:
"The accordion is often an underestimated
instrument in the world of art music. Perhaps it has suffered from
the fact that it looks like the organ's little cousin. What the accordion
needs are virtuosi who are able to use the instrument's complete possibilities
and Kujala is exactly that kind of virtuoso: he doesn't only have
perfect technical abilities but also artistic enthusiasm for experiments."
The concert was recorded by the Finnish National Broadcasting
Company YLE and will be broadcast on December 29th.
From the 1st January 2006 the Suoni
srl company will receive control from Menghini
srl of production, sales and marketing of the prestigious accordion
brands Scandalli, Scandalli
Conservatorio, Paolo Soprani
and Paganini as well as SEM
This
will not change anything for our customers, business contacts and
personnel as already forseen by an agreement on the 1st January 2003
between the Menghini and SEM companies.
1st
International Accordion Festival, Buenos Aires - Argentina
Contributed by Rob
Howard
The
1st International Accordion Festival takes place in Buenos Aires
from April 21st to 26th 2006, and invitations are extended to accordionists
around the world. There will be competitions for solo, duet, trio,
group and orchestra entries, and players of piano, chromatic and
diatonic accordions are equally welcomed.
The various sections will be divided into three broad categories:-
Category A - competitors aged from 12 to 15 years
Category B - competitors should be over 16 years of age
Category C - open age, performing test pieces
Each category has prizes to the total value of US$2,500. The winners
of each category will each receive a statuette called 'The Accordionist',
and Diplomas of Honor will be issued to placed competitors.
A
change of presidency of the Consortium Music Marches Accordions took
place during their assembly of associates on the 18th November. Beniamino
Bugiolacchi handed over the leadership with a majority of votes to
Paolo
Picchio.
With this
new assignment Paolo Picchio, is called to use his long experience
in international accordion work, being the Artistic Director of the
prestigious "Città
di Castelfidardo" annual competitons since 1992, accordion
teacher, laureate and still active as a musicologist. Through this
work he has become well known for his worldwide relations.
Our best
wishes to Paolo Picchio for success with this important new international
responsibility from all the staff of Accordions Worldwide.
The
4th European Festival of Accordion Orchestras, Prague - Czech Republic
Contributed by Rob
Howard
The
Czech Accordion Association and the concert and travel agency Club
Tours Agentur Prague are together organising the 4th European Accordion
Festival of Accordion Orchestras, in Prague. This international event
takes place from April 20th to 23rd 2006. Applications to compete
must be received by January 15th 2006.
The festival takes place in the impressive hall of the Vinohrady National
House and in other halls in the city of Prague. All non-professional
accordion orchestras may participate. Accordion orchestras and friends
from all over the world are welcome to this great international music
show.
The categories include:-
I) Junior Accordion Orchestras, under the age 16 years
2) Classical Music, no age limits, at least 10 accordions.
3) Light Music, no age limits, 12 or more players.
The
Borsini company
announces for 2006/2007 the introduction of a new line of accordions
on the international market with the unique characteristics of special
dimensions, which will allow an accordionist to transport their
instruments easily in the cabins of passenger aeroplanes. Further
details of this innovation will soon be revealed.
The Paris-Moscow
Duo, Domi Emorine and Roman Jbanov, never stop travelling to
different regions, bringing their special mix of French and Russian
music. The Duo can send any audience on a personal voyage without
them moving from their seats.
Since September, they have made appearances in France:
- Doué la Fontaine (region Pays de la Loire) for celebrate
the 10th festival organised by Jean-Luc AMIARD and 'Association
musicale du sud saumurois';
- La Bourboule (region Auvergne) for the opening concert of World
Trophy of the Accordion;
- Meyzieu (region Rhône Alpes ) for the annual festival organised
by accordionist Stephanie Rodriguez;
- Saint Pol sur mer (region Nord-Pas de Calais ) for the big concert
with a participation of different accordions orchestras and Quartet
of Domi Emorine (guitar, bass guitar and drums) organised by Roland
VERMET; -
Marcheprime (region Aquitaine) for the master class and concert
organised by Regine PISIAUX and 'Association Crescendo'.
- After this, they went on to represent France and Russia in Morges
(Switzerland) in the Boullard's Music Shop, then to Denmark and
Norway, for some different style concerts. In Denmark many of the
concerts took place in churches, and in Norway they played a three-day
festival organized in a Hotel.
After
10 days abroad, they returned in France to perform a concert to
the conservatoire of Reims, and to Aix les Bains to play for the
local Accordion Society. They then went to Isle, near Limoges, to
play for the birthday of 'L'Avenir musical du Limousin', organised
by François Phillippe. In December, they travelled to Ortuella
in the Spanish Basque country (close to Bilbao) for 2 concerts:
one for the adults, the other for 250 children aged between 8 and
12 years.
It
was an incredible experience, because after being exposed to the
instrument all the children left grinning from ear to ear.
These concerts were the initiative of the concert performer Patricia
Fernandez and the cultural services of Ortuella. The initiative
of these concerts was taken by the performer Patricia Fernandez.
Jon
Hammond Goes Behind Bars!, San Francisco - USA Contributed
by Rob
Howard
Accordionist,
organist and broadcaster Jon Hammond writes as follows:-
"Yesterday I played an interesting
solo accordion job in the morning, in the secure Psychiatric Ward
at Laguna Honda Hospital. In the evening I played with my trio in
2 separate 'Pods' of San Francisco County Jail No 8 in the women's
facility.
Both musicians on my trio are long-time friends of mine - Marc Baum
(tenor sax) and I attended Kindergarten together in 1958 and Jon Otis
(drums) went to high school with us in Berkeley, California, and it
had been 35 years since the last time we played together. The response
of the women was incredible. This was my 5th consecutive year to play
the Prison Christmas show. So it was not a boring day! Tonight I'll
be back over at Laguna Honda Hospital to play for about 75 patients
in the main building".
Lagunak
Quintet Concert, Alava - Spain On
December 23rd, at 8.30pm, the Lagunak accordion quintet will perform
a concert in the Fundación Caja Vital. Admission is free. The
program includes 'Adeste Fidelis', 'Irish Suite' (Matyas
Seiber), 'Kitolis', 'Miniature', 'Golden Samarkanda' (Víctor
Gutiérrez), 'By a Head' (Carlos Gardel), 'The Fictitious Patriarch',
and 'The Wedding of Luis Alonso'.
The Lagunak accordion quintet, from the Basque Region, perform compositions
in many styles and also some own compositions. They formed in 2001,
and were previously members of the Lagunak Accordion Orchestra.
Bilbao
Symphonic Accordion Orchestra Concerts, Bilbao - Spain
The
Bilbao Symphonic Accordion Orchestra perform Christmas concerts:-
December 22nd - Auditorium of the University del Pais Vasco (Leios
Campus)
December 30th - Teatro Social Antzoki de Basauri (Bizkaia)
The orchestra has just issued its 8th CD, titled 'De Norte a Sur',
on the record Label RTVE Musica
Following
the success of her first tour of the US and Canada, visually impaired
Australian accordionist, Bernadette
Conlon is thrilled to be able to accept invitations for a proposed
tour in June and July 2006. Already, Bernadette has been asked to
be part of the Las
Vegas International Accordion Convention and the Leavenworth International
Accordion Convention, bringing her formidable combination of great
technique, quick wit and a huge repertoire, from which requests can
be plucked, to the US.
The tour arrangements are in their infancy, and Bernadette hopes to
be able to include some other cities, festivals and/or concerts to
her schedule, which she hopes will take in the West Coast. A report
on her concert at Salt
Lake City 2005 is on line.
Accordionist
Zoltan Orosz
studied at the Bela Bartok Conservatory and the Franz Liszt Music
College in Budapest, then made his name internationally at the Klingenthal
competition in Germany. He now pursues a career performing as a solo
accordionist, and with various other musicians including his own orchestra.
Listed below are Zoltan's performances at the beginning of 2006:-
1st January
1st, at 4pm, the Zoltan Orosz Orchestra will perform at Helyszín,
Szekszárd2nd
January 2nd, at 7pm, 'A New Year Message' - Zoltan Orosz performs
as a guest at the New Year Concert of the Pannon Philharmonic Orchestra
- Helyszín: Pécs - National Theatre of Pécs
13th January
13th, 7pm, 'I love Paris - French Chansons' - Zoltan Orosz Orchestra
featuring Attila Bardoczy at Helyszí, Budapest
20th January
20th, 7pm - Zoltan Orosz Orchestra at Helyszín, Szombathely
Francesco
Palazzo wins the Compsosition Award "Frank Evangelisti"
Rome - Italy
The
Italian fisarmonicista Francesco
Palazzo has won the eighth edition of the International Competition
of Composition "Frank Evangelisti", by the "New Consonanza"
of Rome, with the composition: "Perpetual Movement- Studio per
Concerto for Classical Accordion" .
This years edition of the competition has been dedicated to the accordion
"bajan". The jury was composed by: Azio Corghi, president;
Bernard Cavanna (France), Pascal
Contet (France), Kind Ada, Fausto Sebastiani, Mika
Vayrynen(Finlandia), Vladimir
Zubitsky(Russia). The regulations previewed two categories: accordion
solo and accordion with chamber music, from trio to quintet.
22 works were performed in the category "soloist" and 18
in category "chamber music". All works have been introduced
anonymously and 3 pieces of each category were been selected to be
performed the evening of 10 th December in the Auditorium of the Saint
Conservatory Cecilia of Rome in the presence of the jury and public.
Two works were awarded: "Perpetual Movement" of Francesco
Palazzo in the cat. Solo Accordion and "Clouds Gang III"
of Salvatore Piras, cat. Accordion and chamber music.
Help
Required
Dino
Minnucci, from Tasmania, would like to know if anyone has a midi file
of 'Jolly Cabellero' (composed by Pietro Frosini) or know where one
could be obtained.
MusicForAccordion
is publishing a new music of 'Cristina'.
Samples of the music are available online. The music is in eSheet
format, able to be emailed to your computer. Purchase with credit
card.
A new site selling
a DVD titled '50th
Years Anniversary - Concert At Coupe Mondiale - London 26-10-2001'
with sound samples. Music performed by Alexander
Dmitriev. Purchase online.
A new site selling a CD titled 'Abandon'
with sound samples. Music performed by Bernadette
Conlon. Purchase online.
A new site selling a CD titled 'Like
A Water Buffalo' with sound samples. Music performed by Friedrich
Lips, Mie Miki, Elsbeth Moser, Matti Rantanen. Purchase online.
Editor's
Note:
The
Finnish concert accordionist Veli Kujala is currently attaining his
Doctor of Music degree in the Sibelius-Academy. The degree consists
of five public concerts, studies supporting artistic work and thesis.
Veli Kujala's entire concert series features contemporary Finnish
accordion music. His second public concert was held on December 12th
and featured premiere performances of works by Osmo-Tapio Räihälä
(for accordion and string quartet) and Daping Qin (for accordion and
viola), a Chinese composer living in Finland. 
A
change of presidency of the Consortium Music Marches Accordions took
place during their assembly of associates on the 18th November. Beniamino
Bugiolacchi handed over the leadership with a majority of votes to
The 
-
Marcheprime (region Aquitaine) for the master class and concert
organised by Regine PISIAUX and 'Association Crescendo'.
It
was an incredible experience, because after being exposed to the
instrument all the children left grinning from ear to ear. 
Accordionist,
organist and broadcaster Jon Hammond writes as follows:-
Following
the success of her first tour of the US and Canada, visually impaired
Australian accordionist, 
Accordionist
The
Italian fisarmonicista 
