Contributed by Graham Geddes

The Graham Geddes band consider their most exciting engagement was for Princess Anne, who accompanied the "Britannia" on its final sailing around Britain. They had the honour of performing for the royal guest at the Aberdeen University, Scotland. Later this year they will be performing at another royal engagement.

The band play Scottish traditional music and have performed in many countries including Colombia, Bangkok and in Dubai during the Gulf War.

Graham has a recording studio in Aberdeen and is an active composer for accordion, television and thematic music. He released a CD "Lets Meet Again" in 1997.

Contributed by Wayne Knights

Shanghai accordionist Zhou Zing was one of 400 students who recently sat the entrance examination to Shanghai Music College. The college takes only 30 students each year, who must pass accordion, piano, singing, dance, oral, speech and written tests. Zhou Zing (1994 South Pacific Accordion Champion) gained 1st place in every subject and is considering a full time career in music.

Contributed by Vladimir Besfamilnov

The 3rd International Accordion Competition "Cup of Krivbass" was held from April 17th to 22nd in Krivoy Rog, Ukraine for accordionists from Ukraine and abroad and was organised and managed by the Ukrainian Accordion Association, All-Ukrainian Musical Union and Krivoy Rog Musical College.

The "Cup of Krivoy Rog" competition began in 1992 and since this time there have been steady improvements and new ideas. This year a new "variety" category was added.

The jury consisted of Anatoly Avdievsky, Vladimir Besfamilnov, Nikolay Davidov, Victor Timchenko, Victor Vlasov, Viacheslav Voevodin, Vladimir Zubitsky, and others.

Contributed by Christine Adams

The 44th International Sidmouth Festival of Folk Arts (with the theme "Time and Space") will be held from July 31st to August 7th in Sidmouth, Devon with over 600 events in 30 venues. This festival is believed to be the largest of its kind in the UK.

Accordionists from a number of countries will be performing at the festival including Mike Jackson (Australia), Folklor Kurumu (Istanbul), West Dorset Accordion Group, Anam (Celtic group), Dervish (Ireland), The Poozies (traditional Scottish Gaelic band), Zydeco Active and Kathryn Tickell with melodeon player Julian Sutton.

For further information email: sid@mrscasey.nildram.co.uk

Contributed by Holda Paoletti-Kampl

On May 21st at 9 pm the Novitango Quartet will hold a concert at the Ghione Theatre in Rome. The program will include pieces by Astor Piazzolla such as "Ballet Tango", "Pedro y Pedro", "Tristango", "Anxiety", "Fear", "Chiguiline de Bachin", "Los Svenős", "Fuga y Mistero", "Violentango", "Milonga del Angel", "Adios Nonino" and "Libertango".

The quartet (founded in 1995) includes Massimiliano Pitocco (accordion and bandoneon), Dario Flammini, Monica D'Emidio and Cesare Chiacchiaretta. Their first performance was held during a concert lecture on tango organised by Mario Perusso, artistic director of the Mar de Plata Opera. The aim of Novitango is to perform pieces by Astor Piazzolla in their original format.

Contributed by Sam Gentry

On August 15th and 16th, an Accordion Kings Camp will be held at Brushy Creek, Round Rock, Texas, finishing with a festival at Round Rock.

The two-day squeezebox extravaganza will include workshops for button and piano accordions for all levels with tutors including Johnny Degollado, Santiago Jimenez, Walter Mouton, John Ondrusek, Ed and Danny Poullard and Bradley Williams.

The Saturday evening festival will include traditional Creole tunes, cajun music and accordion dances. For further information email: sgentry@austintx.net

Contributed by Etienne Ozorak

In South Africa, when one thinks accordion, one thinks of jazz artist Nico Carstens. Nico recently recorded with "Springbok Nude Girls" and appears regularly at jazz festivals in South Africa. His CD "22 Goue Treffers", gives a glimpse of his music as recorded through the years. His compositions have been used by Acker Bilk, Bert Kaempfert, The Shadows, James Last, Chet Atkins, Floyd Cramer and Geoff Love.

Contributed by Claire Luceno

The Accordion Federation of North America will hold their 1998 Reunion Festival from August 13th to 18th at the Wyndham Hotel, Los Angeles, California, USA. Events include a music competition showcasing the accordion, and a Reunion Banquet.

For further information contact: adwal@earthlink.net

Contributed by Toru Katou

On May 23rd, the "Noboru Emori Accordion Class" will hold an accordion music presentation at Kagaku-gijutsukan (Museum of science and Technology), Chiyoda-Ward, Tokyo. For further information phone Mr Emori: + 81 3-3930-5568

Contributed by Uli Ebner

On May 9th an evening concert with Marlene Adam will be held at 8pm at Kursaal Bonndorf, Baden Württemberg, Germany. Marlene Adam (accordion soloist in Hochrhein) will perform works for over 1 hour.

An accordion festival was held from May 7th to 8th at Les Salons de l'Hexagone, Combourg, France. Guest performers included "Jeunes Espoirs" and Michel Pruvot and his Orchestra, who performed several concerts along with accordionists from the Combourg region.

Contributed by Sandy Bradley

The 19th Annual Musical Instrument Auction will be held at the Seattle Center during the Folklife Festival on May 25th, with an accordion auction at 5pm. There will be a preview of items for sale from May 22nd to 24th at the auction hall with over 6,000 people expected to attend.

For further information email: Sandy@potluck.com

Contributed by Wu Jie

From May 9th to 12th, the 3rd Xingxing Festival will be held by the Xingxing Music School, Chengdu, which has over 200 students. During the festival, there will be a one hour accordion concert by an orchestra of 20 students, who will also perform solo items. All the performers are students of Mr Yao Jun.

The 4th annual Kinnersley Spring Festival will be held from May 22nd to 26th at the Tudor Kinnersley Castle, Welsh Borders near Leominster/Herford.

The festival will include accordion workshops and performances by Finality Jack (accordion, violin and bouzouki) and Stéphane Delicq (French accordionist and composer).

Contributed by Paul Rogers

"Those Darn Accordions" performed in Hollywood for Drew Carey recently at his annual cast party for hundreds of people. "Drew and his crew were blown away, especially when Clyde performed "Fire". Drew got up on stage and sang along with "Beer Barrel". Truly a night to remember" said TDA.

Contributed by Kevin Friedrich

Mika Vayrynen has just finished recording his 6th CD entitled 'Pictures at an Exhibition, and will produce his 7th CD in February 1999. Mika recently received his Doctoral degree from the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki. For his degree he performed in concert, a total of 45 works (about 7˝ hours of music) and presented his thesis entitled "Technical Principles of Accordion Playing".

During his busy upcoming concert schedule, he will perform at the 'Lahti International Organ Festival' and give several master-classes at the 1998 Coupe Mondiale in Holland.

Contributed by Dr Herbert Scheibenreif

The "Centre Acanthes" will be held in Villeneuve-lez-Avignon from July 13th to 26th and is dedicated to composers, instrumentalists, teachers and students who wish to develop their knowledge in theory and practice through the works of Sofia Gubaidulina and others. Sofia Gubauidulina will be present with teachers of her choice, to enable students to become better acquainted with the musical styles that have enlivened Russian artistic life throughout this century. A course for classical accordion will be held by Elsbeth Moser, who will also speak about works by Hosokawa, Lorentzen, Jokinen, Denisov, Kagel and Ganzer.

For further information phone: +33 4-90256133

Contributed by Martin Frey

The Club "Vereinigte Handharmonikaspieler Küttigen" celebrated it's 60th birthday on May 2nd with a concert at the Turnhalle, Küttigen. After a dinner, club members presented a varied program including "La Traviata", "Valse No. 2", "Memory" (from the musical "Cats") marches and swing numbers. Following the concert the duo "Miranda" played dance music.

Contributed by Rod Stradling

On May 2nd, the "English Country Dance Band" performed traditional English barndance music for four hours at Haddenham, Berks. The dance band includes Rod Stradling (melodeon) Martin Brinsford (mouthorgan and drums) Paul Burgess and Flos Headford (violins) and Jane Burgess (caller and violin).

(Rod has been a major supporter of the revival in traditional English music and influencing melodeon styles over the last twenty years). For further information email: rod@mustrad.u-net.com

Contributed by Christine Adams

Works by Argentinean composer, Astor Piazzolla were featured in a daily New Zealand Radio program "Composers of the Week" from April 26th to May 1st. Included were many of his tangos and other works performed on the accordion.

Contributed by Jeanne Widman

Musikfest '98 will be held on May 23rd and 24th at Vasa Park, Budd Lake, New Jersey, USA and will include performances by the Scandinavian Accordion Club (SAC) of New York.

Musikfest first began in 1994 as a commemoration to the life and talent of Scandinavian accordionist, Walter A. Eriksson and is dedicated to celebrating and preserving Scandinavian Music in America.

For further information email: jwdragspel@aol.com

Contributed by James Fitchett

The Doune & Dunblane 'Fling' folk festival will take place from May 29th to 31st with plenty of opportunities for squeezebox sessions. There will be a variety of events including a Ceilidh on Friday night (29th) and informal sessions in pubs and bars in the Dunblane area.

For further information email: j.a.fitchett@stir.ac.uk

Contributed by Wu Jie

On May 10th at 7:30pm at the Jiangnan Children's Theatre, Chengdu, a puppet show will be held featuring over 100 marionettes. As part of the show, 20 marionettes will play in an orchestra that includes an accordionist. The musicians will play a Chinese folk song "Jasmine".

Contributed by Shiela Haigh

Popular duo the Homelanders are currently on a tour of New Zealand. On April 23rd, members of the Pakuranga Accordionaires Orchestra attended a concert in Auckland. Duo members John Morgan (accordion) and Keith Phillips (guitar and vocals) performed a variety of Scottish and Irish pieces to a capacity crowd, encouraging the audience to participate, which they did with great enthusiasm.

The Homelanders plan to return to New Zealand in the year 2000.

Dear Sir,

I am not an accordion enthusiast and therefore did not realise how many thousands of hits my ad to sell an old accordion would receive. Needless to say, it is sold, and I am still getting calls. It was a Titano; contact person Mike Martin. Please remove my name from the for sale (USA) section. Thank you for your kindness.

Mike Martin

Hi Mike,

Thanks for using our free service, I'm glad the advert worked well for you. The advert will be removed next week, when we update our English site.