The Hohner Company will celebrate 150 years of manufacturing musical instruments on September 8th and 9th with a 'Big Town Party'. Founded in 1857 by former clockmaker Matthias Hohner, the company began by making harmonicas, later producing a large range of piano and button accordions, and more recently diversifying into the manufacture of other instruments such as guitars, keyboards and pianos.
A comprehensive music program, a display of musical instruments, a market, an attempt at a world record in playing the harmonica, and many more attractions await visitors to Trossingen.
On
the theme of 'The Music Plays in Trossingen', the Hohner
Company – now led by Dr. Horst Braeuning, the city of Trossingen,
the trade association, the Volksbank Trossingen, the promotional community,
the Hirsch brewery and numerous local institutions and clubs celebrate
together with a proper town party.
Performers involved during the celebrations include the 'Feldberger' with Frau Waeber, 'BB & the Blues Shacks, 'Triple Sweet' and Manfred Leuchter, 'Dr. Quincy and the Lemonshakers', 'Blues Delivery', ' Abi Wallenstein & Blues Culture', including Steve Baker,the 'Hohner Akkordeonorchester 1927 e.V.', the ensemble 'Art of Accordion', and the harmonica World Champion, from Trossingen, Kathrin Gass, accompanied by Hans-Guenther Koelz.
A highlight will be the opening of a special exhibition of the harmonica museum in the 'Bau V' in a former Hohner premises. In addition, there will be an open day in the music school and in the Conservatory.
The attempt at breaking the number of players the existing world record for the 'largest harmonica orchestra in the world' takes place on Sunday afternoon, September 9th, 4pm, and as many players as possible are needed. A practice will take place the day before. 1,706 players in Seattle, Washington, USA, set the current record in 2005.
The annual festival ‘Accordions International 2007’, takes place at Haven Holiday Park, Caister, Norfolk, England, from November 1st to 5th. This year’s guest artistes include the trio ‘Accodemia’ - Vladimir Ushakov (Russia), Svetlana Stavitskaya (Latvia) and Sergei Likhachov (Russia), Bernadette Conlon (Australia - picture left), Valentin Osipov (Russia), Giancarlo Caporilli (Italy - picture right), plus UK accordionists Amaryllis, Gary Blair, Norvic Concordia, Bert Santilly, and Romano Viazzani.
Vladimir
Ushakov and Sergei Likhachov were guests at Caister in 1996, as members
of the popular St Petersburg Musette Ensemble. Bernadette
Conlon makes has toured the USA, Canada, China and Europe, and
has won over 100 first places in competitions, including several Australian
and South Pacific Accordion Championship titles to her credit. This
will be her first appearance at a Caister accordion festival.
Organised by Heather Smith (picture right), the festival includes
concerts, weekend orchestras, workshops, master classes, ‘free
& easy’ playing, dancing and a trade show. The first Caister
event was organised in 1986 by the late Malcolm Gee, and his legendary
phrase that the weekend is “a total indulgence in accordions”
remains true to the present time.
On August 18th the 7th National Festival of the Accordion was held,
organised by the Association Marchigiana of San Jorge, Province of
Santa Fe. The winner of the senior advanced championship was Aldo
Taborda, whose success has earned him a trip to Castelfidardo, Italy,
where he will compete at international level in the October 2007 Castelfidardo
International Accordion Competition.
One
of the most promising classical accordion ensembles, Acco Duo, Miran
Vaupotic and Ivana Levak, gave a wonderful concert on August 28th
in the remarkable surroundings of historical Diocletian Palace in
the town of Split.
This was their final concert in a summer tour series. Their program
included classical, contemporary and popular music, including pieces
by Vivaldi, Albinoni, Schnittke, Piazzolla, Novikov, etc.
Acco Duo`s lively program presents an authentic picture of European
chamber music tradition and culture. The interpretations of the two
young musicians from Croatia prove their ability to combine repertoire,
which extends from classical to contemporary and includes own arrangements.
Their goal is to promote the accordion in Croatia as an instrument
with the potential for performing a broad range of serious music.
Recently the Acco Duo has received a special contract from the well-known Prestige Agency in New York, USA.
On
August 25th and 26th the ensemble ‘Bayan Euphoria’, consisting
of Aidar Gainullin and Elena Lutz performed two concerts in Lübeck
at the famous Music Festival of Schleswig-Holstein.
Besides music from different movies, they also performed music by Aidar Gainullin himself, composer, winner of international accordion competitions, winner of the national film-prize ‘NIKA’ – the Russian Oscar! - in the category of ‘Best film music’.
The annual Carrefour Mondial de l'Accordéon takes place in Montmagny, Quebec, from August 30th to September 3rd, presenting five days of continuous accordion festivities. The festival, founded in 1989, features guest artistes from many parts of the world.
Accordionists performing include Alan Madec, Emmanuel Pariselle, Christian Maes, Sylvie Pullès, Jean-François Éthier Ruben Rodrigues, Carine Vigni, Gwénaël Micault and Ludovic Bulcourt, Sergiu Popa and Jessica Gal, Suzie Lemay and Denis Pépin, concertina player Robert Harbron, Eleonora Tomassetti, Rodolphe Raffalli Quartet, Ludovic Beier, Robert Brabec, Sergiu Popa, Gwénaël Micault, Ludovic Burlcourt, Angélique Gicquel, Raynald Ouellet, Carine Vigni, Claude Sauvage, Juan Jose Estigarribia, Roger Gendron, and Ruben Rodriguez.
Russian accordionist and teacher Friedrich Lips (picture left) makes the following appearances:
September 21st and 22nd – Piazzolla concerts in Stockholm, Sweden
September 25th to October 3rd - tour in Siberia, Russia October 8th and 9th – workshop, with Claudio Jacomucci (picture right) in Castelfidado, Italy
October 11th to 14th - adjudicator at the International Competition in Castelfidardo
October 19th - concert performances with the Eurythmics in Bonn, Germany
October 21st and 22nd - concerts with ‘Piazzolla-Studio’ in Kursk, Russia
October 23rd - concert ‘In memoriam of S.M. Kolobkov’ in Moscow
November 3rd - concert with ‘Piazzolla-Studio’ in St.Petersburg
November 30th - concert in Hamburg, Germany
December 5th – Piazzolla: ‘Aconcagua’, concert at the Bayan Festival in Moscow
December 5th to 9th – ‘Bayan and Bayanists Festival’ in Moscow
The Washington Metropolitan Accordion Society presents accordionist Mary Tokarski, from Connecticut, on September 16th in concert, followed by a hands-on workshop titled "getting your fingers to work." Her workshops are always filled with great, helpful hints, and always a lot of fun, and visitors are advised to bring their accordions!
In addition to the concert and workshop, Mary Tokarski will be available on Saturday, September 15th, and Sunday morning, September 16th, for master classes. Mary can help design a warm-up program for you, she can assist in correcting posture problems as well as problems with technique (and she's wonderful at diagnosing what you're doing that's causing pain while playing!). Bring along sheet music you are working on for some helpful hints. This is a great opportunity to work with one of the finest accordionists one on one!
The First Cologne-Akkordoen Orchestra 1935 will perform ‘Swingin' Classics’, a concert of Big Band swing classics on Friday August 31st, 8pm, in the Cologne Philharmonic Hall. The program is meant to demonstrate the versatility of the accordion, and includes guest spots featuring: Willy Ketzer Trio (featuring Willy Ketzer, Germany’s number one Big Band drummer), the Cologne dialect group ‘Viererbande’, with Fuhrmann, Kulik, Hoot and Haaser (vocals, guitar, mandolin, accordion), Kathrin Gass (solo harmonica), and Hans-Günther Kölz (solo jazz accordion).
A day of musical activities titled ‘Big Squeeze Day!’ takes place on September 29th at Queen Elizabeth's Community College, Crediton, Devon EX17 3LU. Organised by the Devon Squeezebox Foundation, there are workshops, followed by an evening concert. The tutors include Paul Hutchinson – piano accordion, John Kirkpatrick – melodeon (picture left), and Roger Edwards – Anglo concertina, John Dipper – English concertina, Mick Bramich – Anglo concertina, Rob Say – English concertina.
Le Grand Soufflet is a large-scale arts festival, taking place from October 10th to 19th in venues in Brittany, and includes jazz, rock, electronic music and world music, song, movies, theater, and contemporary dance. The accordion features prominently across all aspects of this festival, and can be seen and heard in more than 40 venues.
Artistes involved include: Jérôme Soulas and Gong Gong, Wendy Mc Neill, Aldo Granato, Free Bidou, Syrano, Monsieur Accordéon, Maria Dolores y los Crucificados, Les Epis Noirs, Les D’moiselles, La Balle Rouge, La Dragonne de la rue Voitichka, Eva Le Saux and Camille Privat, Kepa Junkera, Haïdouti Orkestar, Thierry Titi Robin trio, Erik Marchand quartet, Transilvania, Gaby Kerdoncuff Trio, Trans@t, Swing Gadje, Dominique Cravic & Les Primitifs du Futur, The Honey Men, Sergent Pépère, Jean Corti, Denis Croisonnier, Meriadec Gouriou, Alain Trévarin & Didier Squiban, Yannig Noguet and Ronan Robert, Erwan Hamon and Janick Martin, Gérard Blanchard, Adèle, Jamait, Les Becs bien zen, and Gadjo.
The first examinations for fiddle and accordion will take place as part of the RSAMD Fèis, October 22nd to 28th 2007, at RSAMD premises, 100 Renfrew Street, Glasgow G2 3DB.
The exam programme provides:
· an escalator for young, aspiring traditional musicians who wish to widen their scope of opportunities;
· a basis for professional development among traditional Scottish music educators and non-specialist teachers looking to gain further experience of traditional Scottish music;
· a firmer establishment of traditional music tuition in Scotland’s
educational curricula; and
· parity of esteem with the classical idiom.
Scottish Traditional Music Graded Exams will consist of syllabuses for fiddle, accordion and Scottish harp, Grades 1-5.
The deadline for entries for the October 2007 session for fiddle and accordion is Monday September 24th 2007.
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The 
On
the theme of 'The Music Plays in Trossingen', the 
The annual festival ‘Accordions International 2007’, takes place at Haven Holiday Park, Caister, Norfolk, England, from November 1st to 5th. This year’s guest artistes include the trio ‘Accodemia’ - Vladimir Ushakov (Russia), Svetlana Stavitskaya (Latvia) and Sergei Likhachov (Russia), 
Vladimir
Ushakov and Sergei Likhachov were guests at Caister in 1996, as members
of the popular St Petersburg Musette Ensemble. 
Aldo
Taborda Wins National Contest - Argentina
One
of the most promising classical accordion ensembles, Acco Duo, Miran
Vaupotic and Ivana Levak, gave a wonderful concert on August 28th
in the remarkable surroundings of historical Diocletian Palace in
the town of Split. 
Acco Duo`s lively program presents an authentic picture of European
chamber music tradition and culture. The interpretations of the two
young musicians from Croatia prove their ability to combine repertoire,
which extends from classical to contemporary and includes own arrangements.
Their goal is to promote the accordion in Croatia as an instrument
with the potential for performing a broad range of serious music.
On
August 25th and 26th the ensemble ‘Bayan Euphoria’, consisting
of Aidar Gainullin and Elena Lutz performed two concerts in Lübeck
at the famous Music Festival of Schleswig-Holstein.
The annual Carrefour Mondial de l'Accordéon takes place in Montmagny, Quebec, from August 30th to September 3rd, presenting five days of continuous accordion festivities. The festival, founded in 1989, features guest artistes from many parts of the world.
Russian accordionist and teacher 
October 8th and 9th – workshop, with 
The Washington Metropolitan Accordion Society presents accordionist 
The First Cologne-Akkordoen Orchestra 1935 will perform ‘Swingin' Classics’, a concert of Big Band swing classics on Friday August 31st, 8pm, in the Cologne Philharmonic Hall. The program is meant to demonstrate the versatility of the accordion, and includes guest spots featuring: Willy Ketzer Trio (featuring Willy Ketzer, Germany’s number one Big Band drummer), the Cologne dialect group ‘Viererbande’, with Fuhrmann, Kulik, Hoot and Haaser (vocals, guitar, mandolin, accordion), Kathrin Gass (solo harmonica), and Hans-Günther Kölz (solo jazz accordion).
‘Big Squeeze Day!’, Devon – UK
Le Grand Soufflet is a large-scale arts festival, taking place from October 10th to 19th in venues in Brittany, and includes jazz, rock, electronic music and world music, song, movies, theater, and contemporary dance. The accordion features prominently across all aspects of this festival, and can be seen and heard in more than 40 venues.
The first examinations for fiddle and accordion will take place as part of the RSAMD Fèis, October 22nd to 28th 2007, at RSAMD premises, 100 Renfrew Street, Glasgow G2 3DB.
