The
Confédération
Internationale des Accordéonistes (CIA) will hold its annual
Winter Congress gathering and 119th General Assembly of Delegates
in Skopje, Macedonia from January 18th to 20th 2008. The first ever
CIA function to be held in Macedonia, the event is organized and hosted
by the CIA member, the Association of Accordionists - MACEDONIA "Ljubiteli
na klasicnata muzika" - Skopje under the Presidency
of Zorica Karakutovska (right), who also serves on the CIA Music Committee.
In addition to the various meetings and activities of the CIA Committees,
the event will feature a Macedonian night, where delegates and guests
can enjoy hospitality from their Macedonian hosts.
Concert
performer and renowned teacher Zita Abromaviciute died on December
4th after a long fight with cancer.
Assistant Professor of the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre,
Zita Abromaviciute was born on July 4th 1946 at Siauliai City, Lithuania.
She finished her studies at the Academy in the class of L.Survila,
after which she studied as a postgraduate in the Gnessin Academy in
Moscow, in the class of E. Onegin.
She started to work at the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre
in 1974, after which she became one of the first Lithuanian accordionists
playing professional, original music programs and played many concerts
as an artiste with the Lithuanian Philarmonic all over the Lithuania,
Russia and neighbouring countries.
She has performed and recorded much of her repertoire on the Lithuanian
Radio, and was a member of Lithuanian Accordion Association.
During her long and succesful teaching carrier she discovered her
own method of playing and teaching accordion using relaxation methods
and psychophysiology. Her methodology has been presented in symposiums,
seminars and conferences. She prepared a book, which with the help
of her former students and colleagues, should be published soon.
As a teacher she was very strict yet intelligent and reasonable. The
main point of her method was to create the pure, right and natural
sound, which comes not only from the instrument, but also from the
musican's heart and mind.
Lithuanian accordionists have a lost very important and significant
figure in their lives.
On
the heels of co-hosting the largest international accordion event
in the USA, the CIA 60th Anniversary Coupe
Mondiale, world accordion championships, organized by former AAA
President and current Board of Director Faithe
Deffner, 2008 will mark the milestone 70th Anniversary of the
American Accordionists'
Association.
The first meeting of a group of New York accordionists was called
on March 9th 1938 to determine whether or not an association for accordionists
should be formed. After much discussion and agreement that such a
group should be formed, a motion was made by Sydney Dawson that the
name of the association will be 'The American Accordionists' Association',
which was seconded by Charles Magnante and carried unanimously.
A
motion was made by Anthony Galla-Rini, and seconded by Pietro Frosini,
that the officers of the association were to include President, Vice
President, Secretary-Treasurer and Sergeant-at-Arms. Frosini suggested
that because of Pietro Deiro's stellar reputation, that he be nominated
and elected by acclamation as the first President of the association.
Although nominations do not require a second, Galla-Rini and others
seconded it and Deiro was elected unanimously. Charles
Nunzio, (picture left) the only surviving founding member of the
organization, was elected Vice President.
The AAA will conduct a yearlong celebration including events such
as a concert in New York City in the Spring, and their 70th Anniversary
Competition and Festival, which will take place from August 15th to
19th 2008 at the Holiday Inn/Rosslyn in Arlington, Virginia, in the
Washington DC area. In addition to the usual competition categories
for all ages and styles of music, the 70th Anniversary Festival will
include several Jazz categories as well as the Carrozza Scholarship
Category offering a $3,500.00 first prize.
The
second International Festival 'From Baroque to Jazz' took place in
and around Wroclaw from April 20th until December 5th. This long running
festival, held under the patronage of the Lower Silesia Region Speaker,
included 30 concerts, a series of accordion competitions, and courses
for accordionists. Courses were led by Vladimir
Besfamilnov - (picture left) Professor at the Kiev Musical Academy.
Competitors came from Lithuania, Moldova, Poland, Ukraine and New
Zealand. The Festival Director was Olexiy Suslov.
A concert featuring prominent accordionists Olexiy Suslov, Eneasz
Kubit and Oleksandr Khrustevich, together with the Symphonic Orchestra
'Ricordanza' took place on November 22nd.
The accordion contest consisted of five categories, and the Jury Chairman
was Bogdan Dowlasz, Professor at the Lodz Musical Academy. Results.
Accordionist
Tom Alexander is internationally known as one half of the vocal/instrumental
duo the Alexander Brothers. Tom, however, was once an All Scotland
Champion, and sometimes performs and records as an accordion soloist.
His latest solo CD, 'Bits and Pieces' is a mixture of Scottish tunes
and accordion specialities - all performed and recorded to a high
standard on a Hohner
Gola.
In July 2005 Tom and Jack were invited to Holyrood Palace where they
were awarded the MBE by Her Majesty The Queen for services to Entertainment".
The 20 tracks include 'El Relicario', 'Isle of My Heart', 'The Flowers
of Edinburgh', 'Petite Waltz', 'Skye At Last', 'Lady of Spain', 'The
Dark Island', 'Whistling Rufus', 'Eilean Gorm Mhuile', 'Dance of the
Hours', 'Tom's Medley', 'Tristesse', 'March, Strathspey & Reel',
'Piper's Waltz', 'Jealousy', 'Farewell to Kintail', 'The Furrow's
End', 'The Oil Rigger', 'Highland Cathedral', and 'Under the Double
Eagle'.
For further information email: info@concordemusic.com
The
2008 National
Accordion Association Convention takes place at the Richardson
Hotel, Dallas, from March 13th to 15th. Plans are well underway, and
presenters and performers are invited to apply by December 15th. The
Convention covers a very wide spectrum of national and international
accordion styles.
This year, at the 2007 convention, accordionists of all ages and levels
were enriched by dozens of workshops including basic playing techniques,
teaching techniques, Scottish style performing, diatonic basics, registration
selection, bass patterns, bass enhancement, motivation, emergency
repairs, MIDI, Slovenian style playing, Polka dancing, and even rock
and roll music performing!
Picture
right - President Norman Seaton. Several concerts were staged during
the Texas event. Thursday's concert included the Ron Pivovar Quartet,
and the AOK trio. Friday evening's concert theme was 'Polka Night',
and The Alaska Polka Chips, followed by Cleveland's Fred Ziwich rocked
the house.
Even the non-dancers couldn't manage to remain in their seats! Saturday's
concert featured international diatonic champion Miha Debevec from
Slovenia, Scottish player Mark Kenneth, Chicago's jazz king John Simkus,
Brent Buswell, Tex-Mex player Joel Guzman, Dee Langley with Orkestar
Bez Ime, former world champion Don Lipovac, MIDI expert Gordon Kohl,
and the 2007 NAA accordion orchestra directed by Dan Orza.
The
television station BBC Three marks Christmas 2007 with a nativity
play performed live and in public on the streets of Liverpool. This
major event will be the springboard for Liverpool's year as European
Capital of Culture 2008.
Liverpool Nativity tells the story of the first Christmas through
the music of Liverpool. Characters in the drama and the Royal Liverpool
Philharmonic Orchestra orchestra, featuring accordionist Mark Bousie,
with fresh musical arrangements will perform the familiar songs.
The hour-long production opens with the iconic image of a star that
shines high in the sky above Liverpool and culminates with the nativity
scene brought to life as thousands of voices sing the lyrics of the
city's great pop legacy.
BBC spokesman Adam Kemp says: "We are excited to bring such an
ambitious live event to the streets of Liverpool.
"People
should expect a magnificent spectacle, a singalong, and above all
a genuinely moving experience. We're hoping to give Merseyside its
most memorable Christmas ever!"
The broadcast times are:-
Sunday December 16th, 8pm - BBC3 (live performance)
Sunday December 16th, 11pm - BBC3
Sunday December 23rd, 10.45pm - BBC1
Tuesday December 25th, 7pm - BBC3
In February and March 2008, Austrian theatre director Christian Winkler
will be presenting a new and exciting show in collaboration with venues
in Austria and London. The production incorporates elements of musical
theatre, and requires an accordion player. The accordionist will need
to have a high technical ability, or be an excellent improviser.
Rehearsals will begin in London but will be completed in a renovated
Austrian castle, which is now a modern theatre complex (with accommodation
and rehearsal spaces). The show opens in a major theatre in Graz,
Austria on February 27th.
There will be 3-4 rehearsals in January, and a few rehearsals in early
February, organised to suit everyone's time commitments. There will
be a two-week period in Austria (one week rehearsal, one week performance)
with accommodation and flights included.
Dates for the London performances are yet to be confirmed, but are
set to be March/April.
Jazz accordionist Victor Prieto has a schedule of concert dates, as
follows:
December 8th, 11am - with the Pablo Aslan Trio, La Guardia Community
College, Queens, New York
12th, 8pm - solo concert in Brooklyn, NY
18th, 9pm - with Beat Kastl at Sweet Rhythm, NY
19th, 8pm - solo concert at Olea, Brooklyn, NY
January 10th, 8pm - solo concert at Olea, Brooklyn, NY
17th, 8pm - Trio Iberico with Alexis Cuadrado and Brad Shepik, BND
La Lanterna, NY
23rd, 9.30pm - Victor Prieto Trio at Smalls, NY
February 29th, 9pm - Victor Prieto Trio at La Lanterna, NY
The second 'Olimpo Musicale' International Competition takes place
at the Cultural Centre, Prienai, Lithuania, from June 3rd to 7th 2008.
The closing ceremony of the competition will take place at the Cultural
Centre concert hall on June 8th.
The competition is open for players who were born on or after January
1st 1991.
The Grand Prix will be awarded for the absolute winners in each category.
Diplomas and valuable prizes will be handed to Grand Prix winners
and their teachers. Diplomas and valuable prizes will be handed to
the 1st, 2nd and 3rd prize winners. Diplomas and valuable prizes will
be handed to the teachers of the laureates - for their highest professional
skills (at the discretion of the Jury). Diplomas and prizes will be
handed to other highly evaluated participants of the Competition.
A certificate and a gift will be handed to all the participants. Their
teachers and accompanists will receive certificates.
The third 'Olimpo Musicale' International Competition will be held
in 2011.
Franco Cambareri - accordionist, composer, producer, releases 2
new works for accordion available for purchase online. 'Gigolino',
'La
Giostra', . 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.
Peter Piccini - accordionist, composer, arranger, performer, release
1 new work for accordion available for purchase online. 'Feelin
Blue'. Samples of these 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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The
Presidency
of Zorica Karakutovska (right), who also serves on the CIA Music Committee.
Concert
performer and renowned teacher Zita Abromaviciute died on December
4th after a long fight with cancer.
On
the heels of co-hosting the largest international accordion event
in the USA, the CIA 60th Anniversary 
A
motion was made by Anthony Galla-Rini, and seconded by Pietro Frosini,
that the officers of the association were to include President, Vice
President, Secretary-Treasurer and Sergeant-at-Arms. Frosini suggested
that because of Pietro Deiro's stellar reputation, that he be nominated
and elected by acclamation as the first President of the association.
Although nominations do not require a second, Galla-Rini and others
seconded it and Deiro was elected unanimously. 
The
second International Festival 'From Baroque to Jazz' took place in
and around Wroclaw from April 20th until December 5th. This long running
festival, held under the patronage of the Lower Silesia Region Speaker,
included 30 concerts, a series of accordion competitions, and courses
for accordionists. Courses were led by 
Accordionist
Tom Alexander is internationally known as one half of the vocal/instrumental
duo the Alexander Brothers. Tom, however, was once an All Scotland
Champion, and sometimes performs and records as an accordion soloist.
His latest solo CD, 'Bits and Pieces' is a mixture of Scottish tunes
and accordion specialities - all performed and recorded to a high
standard on a 
The
2008 
Picture
right - President Norman Seaton. Several concerts were staged during
the Texas event. Thursday's concert included the Ron Pivovar Quartet,
and the AOK trio. Friday evening's concert theme was 'Polka Night',
and The Alaska Polka Chips, followed by Cleveland's Fred Ziwich rocked
the house.
The
television station BBC Three marks Christmas 2007 with a nativity
play performed live and in public on the streets of Liverpool. This
major event will be the springboard for Liverpool's year as European
Capital of Culture 2008.
Diatonic
accordionist and folk singer John Kirkpatrick is touring with his
Christmas show 'Carolling & Crumpets', as follows:-
