Aleksandar Kolovski Wins EMCY Art for Music Prize, Ohrid – Macedonia
Contributed by Anica Karakutovska
Accordionist Aleksandar Kolovski won the EMCY Art for Music Prize at the 6th International Competition for Young Musicians ‘Ohrid Pearls’, held from June 16th to 20th in Ohrid.
The competition included categories for woodwind, brass instruments and accordion. There were 87 candidates from several European countries: Macedonia, Russia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Ukraine, Croatia, Switzerland and Lithuania.
At the closing concert of first prize winners of all disciplines, a special jury declared Aleksandar Kolovski (Macedonia - first from left), an accordion student of Professor Zorica Karakutovska (second from left), the accordion first prize category winner and also winner of the EMCY Art for Music Prize, a special prize of the European Union of Music Competitions for Youth, for excellent performance. At the closing concert, 17 years old Aleksandar played the 2nd and 3rd movements from Sonata No.1 by Viatcheslav Semionov.
This is the second time that Aleksandar has received this award. The first was two years ago, in 2005. That year, Aleksandar represented the Republic of Macedonia at the EMCY European Concerts in Belgrade and Novi Sad, Serbia.
As a winner of this year’s award, Aleksandar will represent
the Republic of Macedonia at the upcoming European Music Competition
for Youth.
The Life and Works of Vladislav Zolotariev, Hanover – Germany
Contributed by Hermine Kaleta
An international conference to dedicated to the life and works of Vladislav Zolotariev (1942-1975) will be held on the occasion of the late composer’s 65th birthday at the Hanover University for Music and Theater, from October 19th until 20th. Vladislav Zolotariev is recognised as a founder figure of avant garde repertoire for bayan (button accordion).
Leading international Zolotariev-researchers and friends of the composer will report and discuss the present level of understanding and performances of his work. There will also be discussions about arranging the unpublished works of Zolotariev.
The conference will include three concerts, performed by students of Professor Elsbeth Moser, prefaced by introductions to the works. The conference will conclude with a reading of poems written by the composer.
Ed. There is a very fine historical article
online about Zolotariev titled “Two
Posters for One Concert” written by the great artist Friedrich
Lips and dedicated to his friend Zolotariev.
Accordionist Jimmy Cassidy, from Perth, has released a new CD ‘From Mull to the Moon’, a collection of mainly Scottish traditional music plus the ‘Dance of the Comedians’, Grenoble’ and ‘Waltz for a Magpie’.
Jimmy Cassidy has been several times an All Scotland Champion, and his varied career involved a period as Musical Director at the Sydney Opera House in Australia. He has been recording since 1968, and is recognised as a fine arranger.
‘Lines and waves’ is the title of a new 10 minutes composition for 5 accordions, by Peter Machajdik.
Peter Machajdík, originally from Bratislava, Slovakia, has been living in Germany for the past 15 years. He has had an interest in Western avant-garde music for many years, and has been composer in residence at the Schloss Wiepersdorf, Germany, at the Künstlerhäuser Worpswede, Germany, and at the Künstlerhaus Lukas in Ahrenshoop on the German Baltic coast.
Machajdík´s works have been performed in Vienna, Berlin, Rome, Bratislava, Calgary, Sofia, Belgrade, Kracow, as well as at venues in the Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark, Switzerland, Portugal, Italy, and the U.S.A.
Peter Machajdík has lectured on new music, led workshops, and curated festivals of contemporary music. His music has been broadcast many times on radio and TV all over the world.
A short example of the composition can be found here as a pdf file. The 54 page composition is available via e-mail info@machajdik.de
The
oldest guinguette in Paris, ‘La Petit Robinson’, has been
sold. Ginguettes are known as meeting places in France, where all
most well known of the accordion artistes have were performed during
the 20th Century, such as Yvette Horner, André Verchuren...and
many others. Right is a picture of Jean-Louis
Noton and a friend about to enjoy.
The guingettes were places for workers coming together, having fun with their accordions and, drinking a glass of wine. Philippe Blanchi, the former owner has decided to go and live in Quebec, where he bought wine bar.
Before his departure he invited his friends to his house in the Normandie
to empty his wine cellar. Further on the menu: lobster, foie grass
and smoked salmon, accompanied by the best French wine.
For the seventh time the city of Imst (located in Tyrol, near Innsbruck) organized a workshop for musicians and artistes of different styles from July 9th to 13th 2007. Participants had the opportunity to combine some relaxing days with artistic activity.
Bayanist/accordionist Friedrich Lips (from the Gnessin Academy of Music in Moscow) gave solo lessons to participants giving his view of how to solve musical and technical problems, performance on stage, etc. Lips’ next year’s workshop at ‘Kulturlaub’ will take place from July 7th to 11th or July 14th to 18th 2008.
Silvio Scandalli – a life remembered, Camerano - Italy
To commemorate the 30th anniversary of the death of Silvio Scandalli, the City of Camerano has organised an exhibition in his memory. Event organiser, Sandro Strologo, a noted Scandalli historian has provided many fine examples of the works of the great man, once described as “the Stradivari of the accordion”.
A display of new Scandalli
accordions has been provided by the SUONI
company. The exhibition was opened officially on 14th July by
the Mayor of Camerano and Gervasio Marcosignori, Italy’s most
famous accordionist and great friend of Silvio Scandalli. A concert
by the Fisorchestra di Castelfidardo was also performed. The exhibition
runs until July 28th in Piazza Roma, Camerano.
Massimo Signorini will hold master classes in Florence from July 19th to 23rd.
Massimo Signorini graduated in 2002 with full marks, alternating his diploma studies with lessons from internationally famous teachers such as Stefan Hussong, Hugo Noth, Salvatore di Gesualdo, Joseph Macerollo, Teodoro Anzellotti, Fernando Suarez Paz, Hugo Aisemberg, Richard Galliano and Ivano Battiston.
He has since been awarded a diploma in Jazz and Jazz arrangement, studying under Mauro Grossi at the Pietro Mascagni institute for Music in Livorno. Currently he is Professor of Accordion at the Music Institute ‘P. Mascagni’ in Livorno and holds master classes in Italy, U.S.A and Denmark.
He performs in concerts both as a soloist and in chamber music ensembles, as well as in orchestral groups in a variety of musical genres (classical, contemporary, Baroque, jazz, Balkan, rock and tango) at venues of national and international. Massimo Signorini has recorded for ETS (Pisa) and for Ut Orpheus (Bologna).
Maestro
Salvatore Cauteruccio will hold a master class at Oriolomusica, Oriolo,
from July 23rd to 26th, including a solo-concert.
On July 26th you can see and hear him with the Jazztango Quartet (a.sirufo,a.mango,e.campagna)
during the Festival Etno Jazz SUONI di Castrovillari (Cs).
The First Cologne-Akkordoen Orchestra 1935 will present a concert of Big Band swing classics on Friday August 31st in the Cologne Philharmonic Hall. The program will demonstrate the versatility of the accordion, and includes guest spots featuring: Hans-Günther Kölz (solo jazz accordionist), Kathrin Gass (solo harmonica), Willy Ketzer Trio (featuring Germany’s number one Big Band drummer), the Cologne dialect group ‘Viererbande’, with Fuhrmann, Kulik, Hoot and Haaser (vocals, guitar, mandolin, accordion).
Dr. William Schimmel, moderator/curator presents: ’Hogus/Bogus - a weekend of questionable, useless and far fetched information’ on July 27th to 29th at The Tenri Cultural Institute of New York, 43A West 13th St, between 5 and 6 Ave.
Master classes take place at 3pm, and concerts at 7pm. For the complete program and concert info visit the website of the American Accordionists' Association.
The annual Pineto Jazz Accordion Festival takes place from July 20th to 22nd. Artistes involved include the Luciano Biondini Group, Renato Borghetti (Brazil), the Sergio Caputo Quintet, Renzo Ruggieri, and the Dixieland Brass Band.
MusicForAccordion.com site releases 4 new music of 'Sonatine',
‘Scene De Bal’, ''Nola', 'The Blue Danube'. Samples of the music are
available online. The music is in eSheet format, able to be emailed to
your computer. Purchase with credit card.
Yehuda Oppenheimer update 2 arrangements of 'Fuer Adina', and
‘Accordion Mon Amour’. Samples of the music are available online. The
music is in eSheet format, able to be emailed to your computer.
Purchase with credit card.
English
Deutsch
Français
Italiano 
Español
Chinese 
Russian 
Accordionist Aleksandar Kolovski won the EMCY Art for Music Prize at the 6th International Competition for Young Musicians ‘Ohrid Pearls’, held from June 16th to 20th in Ohrid.
An international conference to dedicated to the life and works of Vladislav Zolotariev (1942-1975) will be held on the occasion of the late composer’s 65th birthday at the Hanover University for Music and Theater, from October 19th until 20th. Vladislav Zolotariev is recognised as a founder figure of avant garde repertoire for bayan (button accordion).
Accordionist Jimmy Cassidy, from Perth, has released a new CD ‘From Mull to the Moon’, a collection of mainly Scottish traditional music plus the ‘Dance of the Comedians’, Grenoble’ and ‘Waltz for a Magpie’.
‘
The
oldest guinguette in Paris, ‘La Petit Robinson’, has been
sold. Ginguettes are known as meeting places in France, where all
most well known of the accordion artistes have were performed during
the 20th Century, such as Yvette Horner, André Verchuren...and
many others. Right is a picture of 
Enter Kelly Love Chappelet!, Grignon - France
For the seventh time the city of Imst (located in Tyrol, near Innsbruck) organized a workshop for musicians and artistes of different styles from July 9th to 13th 2007. Participants had the opportunity to combine some relaxing days with artistic activity.
To commemorate the 30th anniversary of the death of Silvio Scandalli, the City of Camerano has organised an exhibition in his memory. Event organiser, Sandro Strologo, a noted 
Massimo Signorini
Maestro
Salvatore Cauteruccio will hold a master class at Oriolomusica, Oriolo,
from July 23rd to 26th, including a solo-concert. 
Dr. 
Pineto Jazz Accordion Festival, Pineto - Italy
New Article: Gary Blair’s American Tour - USA
