The international Sata-Häme Soi Accordion Festival was held in Ikaalinen from June 26th to July 2nd. This year the festival program was visibly more international than ever (park picture). Of the festival’s 1270 performers, (one of the youngest Sami Salonen), 220 came from overseas from 13 different countries. The farthest came from Argentina. An estimated 30,000 people attended the Festival. This year, a record-breaking number of accordion orchestras from all over Finland performed.
The International Accordion Competition called Primus Ikaalinen at the festival, was broadcast on live television on June 30th (finalists picture). The genre of the competition is varietee/entertainment music. Talented musicians with colourful personalities were invited to participate from all over Europe. (Joao Frade and Netta Skog pictures) The competitors have very different musical backgrounds. The International Jury included Jacques Mornet (France), Mario Pietrodarchi (Italy), Raymond Bodell (UK), Henn Rebane (Estonia) and Mika Vayrynen (Finland). The winner of the second Primus Ikaalinen was Dimitri Saussard from France.
The American Accordionists’ Association 2006 Competition and Festival takes place in Buffalo, New York, from July 12th to 16th. The event will be held at the Adam's Mark Hotel, 120 Church Street, Buffalo (Niagara Falls), NY 14202. The festival features competitions, workshops, displays, concerts and much more. Features of this year’s event include:-
• The 2006 Vivian Vivio Stolaruk International Entertainment Competition for Accordionists - First Prize: $10,000.00
• 2006 Polka Band Competition - First Prize: $1,500.00
• Sing and Play - for the Accordionist who also Sings!
• Gary Daverne (New Zealand) Festival Orchestra Conductor
• Artistes include The Busso Trio
• A visit to Niagara Falls including a performance of the AAA Massed Bands
Accordionist Jean Robert Chappelet has released a new CD titled ‘Jazzy’. Active since the early 1980s, Jean Robert Chappelet has a high reputation in France for performing musette, jazz and dance music.
On July 8th the annual international competition ‘Città di Castelfidardo’ for diatonic accordion (organetto) took place in Castefidardo. The winners were:
1st - not assigned
2nd - Michele Mancino
3rd – Salvatore Piromalli
4th – Luigi Cipriano
4th - Andrea Palermo
5th – Andrea Tini
6th – Carlo Tini
Special guest in the evening concert at the theatre were the Ambrogio Sparagna Quintet.
'Accordion Gems by Kevin Friedrich - A Master Collection of Accordions through Time' is slated to be the anchor display at the forthcoming Music Wing, the newest addition to the Dargaville Museum in Dargaville, New Zealand.
On recent visits to his hometown of Dargaville, located 2 hours north of Auckland, New York-based accordionist Kevin Friedrich has been working in collaboration with the Dargaville Museum to establish a permanent accordion display, the only one of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere.
The accordion exhibition will start with 80 plus instruments of various members of the accordion family with the oldest dating to approximately 1830. The collection follows the evolution of the accordion to more recent times, and includes examples of instruments such as the Sheng, Flutina, Melodeon, Concertina, Bandoneon, Diatonic, Button and Piano Accordions and the various hybrid variations that occurred over the years.
In addition to his 60 plus personal instruments, other significant donations have been made to Kevin's 'Accordion Gems' collection from Ernest Deffner Inc. in New York, The Graham Romani Collection from London, United Kingdom, and Titano Accordions and Accordion House in Auckland, New Zealand as well as from individuals from USA, New Zealand, Norway and Europe. It is anticipated that the number of accordions on display will increase in size with further donations of instruments being added as time goes on.
It is very fitting that the Dargaville Museum will house this international collection, as the accordion used to be a major part of this small rural community. Many people are surprised to learn that at one time, the small country town of Dargaville (population 4,000) boasted at least eight accordion orchestras/bands spread over four sizable accordion studios. With such a strong accordion background it is exciting that the Museum has welcomed this important project with open arms, as not only does it bring prestige to the Museum to have this one of a kind display in the Pacific, but it also pays tribute to the rich accordion heritage of the area.
The official opening is to be conducted at a ribbon cutting reception to be held at the Lighthouse Reception Center (adjoined to the Dargaville Museum) at the conclusion of a grand concert in the Dargaville Town Hall on December 3rd 2006, which will be held by Kevin as a tribute to the 30th anniversary of the passing away of his former teacher Mr. Ben Emmett.
Anyone wishing to donate an instrument(s) to this collection or interested in further information.
‘Wolmer Beltrami’ Award to Rossano Mancini, Verona - Italy
Accordionist and composer Angiari (Verona Italy) Rossano Mancini is the winner of the prestigious ‘Wolmer Beltrami Special Award’ for the best interpretation during the 15th National Accordion Festival –National and European Competition held in Erbezzo (VR) Italy on June 24th and 25th.
Rossano Mancini performed two of his compositions,d ‘Viento’ jazz waltz and ‘City Traffic Tango’. His performance was described as spectacular, combining artistic personality and very original style jazz compositions.
On July 1st accordionist Alexander Shirunov performed at one of the best and the most prestigious concert halls in Russia - the St. Petersburg Grand Philharmonic Hall, for the gala-concert of the international music festival named ‘The White Night of Romantic Music’.
This superb festival of several concerts, featured such famous musicians such as Polina Osetinskaya (piano), Alena Baeva (violin), the legendary Russian ensemble ‘Terem-quartet’, and others. Alexander Shirunov was the first accordionist ever invited to perform at this annual event.
The final concert of the ‘S. Cauteruccio’ Music Academy took place on July 5th in the Salone S. Ciriaco Abate, Buonvicino. A large audience was present in support of these young musicians, where the best performer of a piece from Salvatore Presta was awarded a prize. The jury consisted of Maestri Donato Santoianni, Salvatore Barbuscio and Riccardo Galimi.
In the afternoon Donato Santoianni held a seminar about the History of the Accordion and its entertainment music. A teacher's concert closed the event.
The first International Accordion Festival takes place in Durango from July 14th to 29th, organised by Carlos Guillermo Terrazas Caballero. Concerts and other events take place in several venues, but the principal concert venue is the Ricardo Castro Theater in Durango. The festival includes:-
July 14th – Guatapurí, an accordion group from Colombia, performing Colombian folk music
July 18th - ‘Zur Trio’, from México, featuring accordion, marimba and percussion in concert
July 20th - Alexander Sevastian (Russia) and Fermin Ramirez (México), in concert together for the first time
July 25th - Guy Giuliano (France), Renzo Ruggieri (Italy) and the ensemble Saudade (México) – a concert in the city of Zacatecas
July 26th - Edmar Castañeda and his quartet (New York, USA), - accordion and harp playing Latin Jazz
The Toques do Caramulo music festival takes place from July 14th to August 26th in various towns. The event features different instruments and ensembles, including Luis Fernandes and other accordionists.
On July 15th, accordionist and organist Jon Hammond will be performing as part of an all-day fundraiser and Antique Radio Auction event at studios of KRE Radio to benefit ‘CHRS’ (California Historical Radio Society) at KRE Radio, Berkeley, California. Jon is also soon to be interviewed on the SF Cafe ‘Caffe Trieste’ website. Accordion music is featured every weekend in the cafe program with the family and special guests.
Accordionist Olexiy Suslov performs in concert with organist Izoide vonder Au-Metzger at the Fridenskirche in Jawor, playing works by A.Vivaldi, G. Rossini and N.Paganini. The concert takes place on July 15th, at 6pm.
The Reykjavik Accordion Festival 2006 will be held from July 15th to 16th. The program for this year’s festival includes
Ottar Johansen, from Norway, a student of the late Toralf Tollefsen. Ottar has a large repertoire of accordion classics and swing music. Ottar’s accompanist is the guitarist Ivar Th. Dagenborg, a guitar player and the publisher of ‘Nygammmalt’, the Norwegian accordion magazine, and the biggest magazine of its kind in Scandinavia. Ottar and Ivar will perform at Árbæjarsafn (The Reykjavík Museum), along with some of Iceland’s best accordionists, during the afternoon of July 16th. Later that evening, at 8pm, will give a concert in the Nordic House in Reykjavík.
The festival organiser is Jónatan Karlsson. For further information email: jonatank@internet.is
Musicians, including several accordionists, from the Fosbrook Folk Education Trust are holding their summer term concert at Chadkirk Chapel, Stockport, at 7pm on July 22nd. The Fosbrooks are taught and organised by accordionist Liza Austin Strange MBE.
The Fosbrooks perform the traditional music of the British Isles and beyond to accompany their unique clog dancing routines, featuring some very talented soloists and ensembles. Their members play accordions, fiddles, flutes, and other instruments. They step dance as well as jigs, reels and hornpipes, play haunting airs, and also perform some particularly tricky simultaneous dancing and playing. This concert is the opening night of the annual Chadkirk Festival.
Accordionist Anne Landa presents on August the project ‘Loving Mozart’, directed by Manolo Gómez and the theatre company TESS. ‘Loving Mozart’ is based on Mozart´s compositions and adapted by Anne Landa for solo accordion. The premiére will be presented at Miramar Palace, San Sebastián, on 24th August.
Mr. Peppino Principe was born in Monte Sant'Angeloon the 5 september 1927. In the prestigious school of the Michele father and since childhood he filled Foggia's little roads with notes on the accoridon. Although its extraordinary talent has endured him far away from his hometown he has always maintained a strong feeling with Monte Sant'Angelo thanks to his frequent visits, beyond constant enriching his music with typical elements of of his original region.
The local administration has decided to dedicate to his great Maestro an entire manifestation in two events:
Trophy of the Accordion: a competition for the diffusion of the accordion and the music of the Mr. Peppino Principe;
Festival of the Accordion: accordionists and guests of international great will present their music in evening concerts to Monte Sant'Angelo the hometown of its Maestro. President of the jury with be one of the greatest exponent of the accordion: Mr. Gervasio Marcosignori who will also be in concert on the 10th of August. The artistic direction is under control of the jazzist Renzo Ruggieri that has been very close to the Maestro since he was a child. Ruggieri will be in concert on the 11th of August with his prestigious Trio.
Help Required
“I am trying to find out some history of my accordion, if you can help please let me know. My father bought the accordion new about 50 years ago, brand name Stanelle (picture)".
Accordionists and Teachers Guild, International (ATG) site has been updated to include a review of their 2006 festival and basic information on the upcoming 2007 Coupe Mondiale to be held in Washington DC in conjunction with the American Accordionists Association (AAA).
Gary Dahl site has been updated to include pdf samples of many of his outstanding arrangements available from the website.
American Accordionists' Association (AAA) site has been updated to include full festival schedule and basic information on the upcoming 2007 Coupe Mondiale to be held in Washington DC in conjunction with the Accordionists and Teachers Guild, International (ATG).
Site updated to include information on the 'Accordion Gems by Kevin Friedrich - A Master Collection of Accordions Through Time' exhibition that is being established at the Dargaville Museum, New Zealand and offically opened on December 3rd 2006. Information includes contact information for those who might be interested in donating an instrument to this display, the only one of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere.
French contemporary artist Pascal Contet - with up-dated concert dates.
Spanish accordionist and Alexander technique teacher Anne Landa.
A new site selling a CD titled "International Music" with sound samples. Music performed by Pearl Fawcett-Adriano of England. Purchase online.
A new site selling a CD titled "Musette Parisienne" with sound samples. Music performed by Pearl Fawcett-Adriano of England. Purchase online.
Site update for the Confederation Mondiale de L'Accordeon - CMA site update with winners since 1951 plus information, rules and test music for the 56th Trophée Mondial de l'Accordéon in October 2006.
Sata-Häme Soi Accordion Festival
AAA
Jean Robert Chappelet New CD, Grignon - France
On July 8th the annual international competition ‘
'Accordion Gems by 
‘Wolmer Beltrami’ Award to Rossano Mancini, Verona - Italy
Alexander Shirunov
Final Concert of the Music Academy ‘S. Cauteruccio’, Buonvicino - Italy 
Toques do Caramulo, d’Orfeu – Portugal
KRE Radio Concert, California – USA
Olexiy Suslov Accordion with Organ Concert, Jawor - Germany
The Reykjavik Accordion Festival 2006, Reykjavik – Iceland
‘Loving Mozart’, San Sebastián - Spain
Help Required