Family and friends gathered in Corona, California on August 12th, for a service in the memory of the late Anthony Galla-Rini who passed away on July 30th 2006 at the grand age of 102.
Pictures and memorabilia were on display at the funeral service and reception, offering an interesting glimpse into Galla-Rini's long and productive life, one that was dedicated to the accordion.
Anthony Galla-Rini's obituary was included in nearly all major USA newspapers and dozens of other major newspapers, magazines, Radio and online news services around the world.
The service and reception featured music of the maestro including an impromptu reception performance by Jazz legend Frank Marocco. Read the complete report and photographs of the funeral in English………..
In February, the Accordion Orchestra Hof, one of the leading orchestras in Germany, conducted by Günther Zeilinger, released their most recent CD ‘Bellow Madness!’
The CD is an example of extraordinary accordion orchestra music and includes ‘Rondo Capriccioso’ (Zolotariev), ‘Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2’ (Liszt), ‘Spanish Impressions’ (Jacobi) and as well as ‘pop arrangements’ like an ABBA Medley and the famous ‘Lord of the Dance’ (arrangement Gary Daverne). Also included are two quintet formations, with ‘Medidation’ and ‘Aktion’ ( Dobler) and ‘Konzertrondo’ (Chaikon), and a solo piece by Carolin Jeremias (‘Interiéur’, by Franck Angelis).
The CD is produced in cooperation with the Bavarian Broadcasting Company and is now one of the best selling accordion orchestra CDs in Germany and Europe!
Conductor Günther Zeilinger is also the teacher of the young players and in addition the organiser of the many concerts tours worldwide. Today, the Hof Accordion Orchestra is possibly the most toured accordion orchestra in the world, having appeared six times in the USA, twice in Australia, also in New Zealand, Japan, South Africa, China and Mauritius.
Appointments within the British College of Accordionists, Countesthorpe – UK
Contributed by Anna Bodell Charnwood Music
As part of the 70th Anniversary of the BCA (1936-2006), the Chairman of the Governing Council, Colin Cook is delighted to announce the appointment of Raymond Bodell, BSc(Hons), FLCM, AmusTCL, LBCA(TD), ABCA(TD), LBCA, as the new College Principal, and Graham Laurie, ABCA(TD), LBCA, as the new Vice Principal, to lead the College in the forthcoming years.
Both have already given many years of service to the College and are active teachers, examiners and adjudicators both in the United Kingdom and Internationally. (Pictured here at the International festival in Pontarlier, France held in June 2006).
The BCA continues to offer graded examinations from Preliminary to Grade 8 and Diploma awards. A celebration day to mark the 70th anniversary is to be held on the 24th September in Leicester.
According to the Pew Internet & American Life Project, 50 million Americans get news online on any given day. In comparison, only 27 million Americans watch network TV news on a typical evening. The Internet is quickly becoming the preferred news source over television, magazines, and trade publications.
News web sites like Yahoo News, Google News and MSNBC Searchbot, CNN.com, USAToday.com, NYTimes.com are some of the most popular and receive many millíons of visitors every day.
John MacDonald, Australian-based Scots accordionist-entertainer, returned to his native Scotland recently, and during his visit took time out to perform some very special one-man shows. One show was in his hometown Cromarty in the Black Isle in Ross-Shire, North East Scotland, where he appeared on stage in the revamped Victoria Hall.
This was where John started his career way back when he was a young accordionist in his teens. Local residents and visitors from far and wide packed the venue, to welcome back one of their most loved and well-known former residents and entertainers.
During his visit to Scotland, John also took time out to visit long-standing friend Jimmy Shand Junior in Auchtermuchty, Fife, and visit along with Jimmy Jnr, the Sir Jimmy Shand Memorial Statue in the Town Centre. Visitors from all over the world still make a point of visiting the Statue to pay their respects to one of Scotland's finest accordion legends. More next week…
John is well established as a recording artist, and many of his albums have gone "Gold". John MacDonald's latest CD “Years Apart” is available online.
Contributed by Harley Jones, CIA Public Relations Manager
Entrants in the 59th Coupe Mondiale to be held in Asker, Norway 18th to 22nd October 2006, are reminded that the Coupe Mondiale entry closing date is the 25th August. Entries can be made online and the entry fee paid using a credit card.
Delegates and Adjudicators are also reminded to send in their registration/ nomination forms by 25th August 2006.
The event is organized by the CIA member Norske Trekkspilleres Landsforbund (NTL) headed by NTL President and 2006 CIA Honorary Vice President Kjell Olsen (left) and 2006 Coupe Mondiale Organizer Lars Arnevig.
This 59th Coupe Mondiale festival marks the first time that the CIA World Accordion Championships have been held in Norway, and will not only feature the world’s finest young accordionists, but also profile outstanding accordion artistes in both classical and folk music, solo through orchestra, from Norway during the course of the event.
The Coupe Mondiale Bulletin Board has been updated to offer travel information to and from the airports serving Olso, Norway as well as information on the competition venues and other general information.
For all Coupe Mondiale information, please visit website.
Clarinet and Accordion Duet, Barranquilla – Columbia
On August 19th the Nuevo Mundo Duet, Francisco Javier Rivera - clarinet, and Lácides Romero – accordion, will perform in concert at the ‘Amira de La Rosa’ Theater, in Barranquilla City, at 6.30pm.
They will play works such as Variations on "Ah vous dirais-je maman" (Mozart), Variations on the ‘Carnival of Venice’ (Paul Jeanjean), ‘Apanei-te Cavaquinho’, and ’Escorregando’ (Ernesto Nazareth (Brazil), ‘Emma’ (Habanera – Carmen, by Bizet). The performance is part of the ‘Didactic Concerts’ program of the Bogota Philarmonic Orchestra.
Auckland accordionist Indira Moala has sung her way into the top 10 in the New Zealand ‘Idol’ singing competition this week. A television interview with Indira included clips of her playing the piano accordion with her sister in the New Zealand Accordion Championships and Festival held annually in Auckland.
The judges praised Indira for the expression in her voice, an art perfected from her accordion background as the accordion is such a versatile instrument and can be performed with a great variety of expression also.
The Bellvue Quartet, featuring jazz accordionist Shane Brogan, is in concert at Cafe Camino, St. Mary's Cathedral, York Place, Edinburgh, starting at 7.30pm, August 24th. Admission is free.
A celebration of W.A. Mozart titled ‘Loving Mozart’, featuring Anne Landa - solo accordion and a lecture by Teatro Estudio director Manolo Gómez takes place on August 24th, at 7pm. The venue is the Palacio de Miramor, San Sebastian.
The 16th Annual Cotati Accordion Festival held in La Plaza Park, Cotati, California, takes place on August 26th and August 27th, from 9.45am both days.
Headlining both days will be Dick Contino, with Rosie Ledet and the Zydeco Playboys on Saturday and Joel Guzman on Sunday. Other performers involved include Ginny Mac, Sammy Thomas the Golden State Accordion Club. For an itemised program of both days see the USA News.
The 2006 Fleadh Cheoil takes place in Letterkenny, Donegal, from August 25th to 27th. This large-scale traditional music, dance and arts festival involves sections for diatonic and piano accordions, Continental chromatic accordions, melodeons and concertinas. There are also competitions for many other instruments, singers, dancers and ceili bands.
The Autumn Accordion and Folk Week takes place at the St Audrie's Bay Holiday Centre, in Somerset, England, from September 2nd to 9th, led by accordion teacher John Leslie (right).
This venue has been a regular and very popular base for accordion festivals for many years, and the next event also involves accordionist Harry Hussey.
"Piazolla-studio" Tango by Friedrich
Lips (accordion), Sviatoslav Lips (piano), Vladislav Igolinsky (violin), Kirill Rodin (cello) and Mark Pekarsky (percussion).
MusicForAccordion.com has made a major update of the site to improve navigation and make it easier to find accordion music and accordion recordings you are looking for.
The latest CD by Akkordeonorchester Hof 'Bellow Madness' is available online. Purchase with credit card.
Gary Dahl - accordionist as well as a composer, arranger, recording artist and music educator, release 1 new work for accordion available for purchase online. 'Moon River'. Samples of this music are available on the site. The music is in eSheet format, able to be emailed to your computer. Purchase with credit card.
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Funeral Service in Memory of Anthony Galla-Rini, California – USA (18th January 1904 to 30th July 2006)
Contributed by Anna Bodell Charnwood Music
Both have already given many years of service to the College and are active teachers, examiners and adjudicators both in the United Kingdom and Internationally. (Pictured here at the International festival in Pontarlier, France held in June 2006).
This was where John started his career way back when he was a young accordionist in his teens. Local residents and visitors from far and wide packed the venue, to welcome back one of their most loved and well-known former residents and entertainers.
The event is organized by the CIA member Norske Trekkspilleres Landsforbund (NTL) headed by NTL President and 2006 CIA Honorary Vice President Kjell Olsen (left) and 2006 Coupe Mondiale Organizer Lars Arnevig.
This 59th Coupe Mondiale festival marks the first time that the CIA World Accordion Championships have been held in Norway, and will not only feature the world’s finest young accordionists, but also profile outstanding accordion artistes in both classical and folk music, solo through orchestra, from Norway during the course of the event.
Clarinet and Accordion Duet, Barranquilla – Columbia
The 16th Annual Cotati Accordion Festival held in La Plaza Park, Cotati, California, takes place on August 26th and August 27th, from 9.45am both days.
The 2006 Fleadh Cheoil takes place in Letterkenny, Donegal, from August 25th to 27th. This large-scale traditional music, dance and arts festival involves sections for diatonic and piano accordions, Continental chromatic accordions, melodeons and concertinas. There are also competitions for many other instruments, singers, dancers and ceili bands.
Autumn Accordion and Folk Week, Somerset - UK