Contributed by Faithe Deffner, President of the American Accordionists' Association

The Lawrence Welk Resort Center in Branson, Missouri and the American Accordionists' Association have joined forces to "Search for the Hottest Accordionist."

The national contest is designed to spark America's interest in the accordion and may even reveal the accordionist of the millennium. Contestants will be judged according to overall talent, charisma, professionalism and ability to entertain. A panel of judges will review the entries and select five talented players to heat things up in an accordion showdown on March 25th, 1999 during "Branson Fest", a three-day preview of Branson entertainment held at the Welk Resort Center.

All videotape entries must reach The Welk Resort Center no later than February 10th, 1999. For a complete listing of prizes, judges, and contest rules go to: www.accordions.com/welk

Contributed by Winfried Haushalter

The 1st Cologne Accordion Orchestra held its annual concert on November 29th in the High School of Music concert hall, Cologne to an audience of over 1000 people. The orchestra played a varied program including "The William Tell Overture" (Rossini) together with pianist Professor Hans Walter Berg and "Triade" for piano and accordion orchestra (Ernst Fischer).

The entire event was an overwhelming success for the 1st Cologne Accordion Orchestra with the enthusiastic audience giving standing ovations.

Contributed by Rehan Yarmaoglu

Istanbul accordionist and teacher Professor Edward Aris has a collection of over 40 accordions, bandoneons, fisarmonicas, concertinas, melotyrols and melodeons. Some of these instruments have their own unique history such as an instrument from the second world war that has a bullet wound on the coupling and many others over 100 years old. Edward would like to see the instruments exhibited in a museum.

In addition to the accordion Edward plays 27 other instruments and has actively promoted the accordion in Turkey.

For further information email: rehan@turk.net

Contributed by Jean-Claude Pouly

Accordionist and vocalist Clara Moreau will perform at the "Atelier Hinterruti" Horgen, Zurich on Sunday December 13th at 6 pm. Clara plays and sings a variety of traditional French pieces by Edith Piaf, Léo Ferré, Louis Arragon, Mouloudji, Boris Vian Jacques Dutronc and many more.

For further information phone: +41 1 725 88 54.

Contributed by Holda Paoletti-Kampl

A short film by Stefano Odoardi "Into Our First World", produced and directed by Andres Kalman and Dasarts, was premiered on November 27th in Amsterdam. The film was inspired by T.S. Eliot's "Four Quartets", and Accordionist Anne Landa appears in it while playing on stage with a percussionist.

The Aberdeen Press and Journal featured a recent article about accordionist John Bone who is the new Scottish senior open champion. John (from Inverallochy) won the title recently after he played to a capacity audience at the City Hall in Perth. Competing against 22 others, John played marches, a strathspey and reels.

In 1983, John won the Scottish Fiddle and Accordion Club championship at Musselburgh, near Edinburgh. Just prior to the championships John performed at the Doric Festival at Inverurie, then took part in a special concert featuring Scottish artists at Haddo House in front of Prince Edward of England.

Contributed by Li Cong

The education committee of Qingdao recently organised a festival for primary and middle school students. Students from Jiaozhou and four nearby cities attended the event. Many accordionists competed in the instrument competition which was won by the "Prelude of Spring Festival" ensemble, directed by Ding Xu Dong.

Ding Xu Dong is a member of the Chinese Accordion Association and a teacher at Jiao Zhou Normal school in Shan Dong Province. In October he held an accordion concert in Jiao Zhou which was recorded by the local radio station.

Contributed by Kevin Friedrich

On November 30th, the Kansas City Klezmer Consort returned home after concluding a highly successful seven-concert tour of Japan with performances in Tokyo, Chiba, Iwaki, Numazu, Tanashi, and Tachikawa. The four-member group comprising Eric Tishkoff (clarinet), Kayo Hasekawa (violin), Juha Silfverberg (accordion) and Gay Lee Ludwig Bonney (double bass) performed its unique blend of klezmer, classical, and folk music, which was enthusiastically received by the Japanese audiences.

While in Japan, Juha had the pleasure of meeting several accordionists including the President of the Tashikawa accordion organisation Keiko Okawa.

Now back in the United States, the group will begin working on their first CD recording.

Contributed by Holda Paoletti-Kampl

Renzo Ruggieri recently took part in double-bass player Marcello Sebastiani's "Alice Project" which was aimed at creating an evocative blend of jazz. The concert took place in Massa Carrara on November 15th with other well-known musicians such as English saxophone player Geoff Warren, harpist Antonella Angelozzi, and drummer Alfredo Laviano.

Contributed by Dr Herbert Scheibenreif

November was a busy month for Austrian accordionists with many performances including concert accordionist Wolfgang Dimetrik who performed a solo recital at the Johann-Joseph-Fux Conservatory in Graz. This concert included works by S. Gubaidulina (De Profundis) and J.S. Bach (Goldberg-Variations, BWV 988).

The Accordion-Orchestra "Accordeana" from Graz held its annual autumn concert with the "Männerchor Hatzendorf" and "Die Steirer" mens choirs. The "Viennese Chamber Ensemble" and the "Accordion Orchestra of Favoriten" also had their annual concerts in November.

Austrian jazz accordionist Klaus Paier toured Austria and Germany during October and November performing over 25 concerts.

Accordionist Peter Di Bono will be performing throughout the Christmas holidays at the Fairmont Hotel, San Francisco. The concerts will take place in The Crown Room, on the top floor of the Hotel which commands spectacular views of the Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco Bay, and the infamous Alcatraz Prison Island.

On Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Years Eve and New Years Day Peter and violinist Harriet Newhart will be playing diner's requests tableside.

At the beginning of 1998 klezmer accordionist Jon Stein received a grant from South West Arts to research the Klezmer revival in the U.K. The grant has enabled him to spend this year interviewing musicians around the country and given him the opportunity to study at Oxford in the summer with accordionist Alan Bern from the American klezmer group "Brave Old World".

In addition Jon is currently preparing material for a CD of klezmer and jazz material.

Contributed by Kimmo Mattila

On March 7th and 8th, 1999 the Great Accordion Cruise from Turku to Stockholm and back will take place, organised by the Finnish Accordion Association and the Sata-Hame Accordion Festival. One of the world's biggest car ferries "Silja Europa" has been booked for this unique event. Over 2,500 accordionists and friends are expected to participate in 23 hours of music, dance and exhibitions. During the cruise the semifinals of "The Golden and Silver Accordion" competition will be held, with the grand final broadcast live on television on July 3rd.

Over 1,300 bookings have already been received with international guests welcome to attend.

For further information email: akordia@saunalahti.fi

Contributed by Mick Tems

The Model House Craft and Design Centre in Llantrisant, South Wales will host a Celtic Music Instruments exhibition from September 1st to October 3rd, 1999. Instrument makers from all over the Celtic world will be invited to attend the event. A series of concerts will run alongside the exhibition and demonstrations.

Traditional Celtic instruments will be displayed along with more modern instruments such as the concertina and accordion. Interested accordion makers and repairers are encouraged to take part in either the whole event or one of the five, weekend exhibitions.

For further information email: mari.arts@argonet.co.uk

Contributed by Holda Paoletti-Kampl

Italian composer Domenico De Simone has recently adapted his piano composition "ICS" for the accordion with the assistance of accordionist Cesare Chiacchiaretta, who revised the piece and set the fingering. If you are interested in receiving a free laser-printed copy of this piece please email: primotema@webzone.it

Contributed by Faithe Deffner, President of the American Accordionists' Association

The American Accordionists' Association invites all bellows-driven people to squeeze on down to Nashville for the 1999 Accordion Festival and Competition scheduled from July 7th to 11th at the Loews Vanderbilt Plaza Hotel.

Events will include many favourite activities including concerts and workshops, a giant accordion band to play en masse on the steps of the Nashville Capitol building followed by the traditional city sightseeing tour, the "Battle of the Bands" (all featuring an accordion) in a Cabaret Night setting, the Endless Performance Ballroom, the Club Pub, the Accordion Summit Meeting, plus other activities and concert artists will be announced.

A tentative schedule will be available at the beginning of 1999.

Contributed by Holda Paoletti-Kampl

On November 27th Claudio Jacomucci and Anne Landa performed a concert entitled "Quincena Musical", which is one of a series in Durango, Bilbao, in the Basque Country. Their program included music by Berio, Donatoni, De Pablo, Pagliarani, Ruiz and Stravinsky, as well as the first performance by Anne Landa of the accordion transcription (authorised by the author) of a piece by Dutch composer Louis Andriessen. The Duo plan to perform more premieres of pieces by Dutch composers over the next few months.

The following week, the duo appeared as guest members of the jury at an International Accordion Competition in Torrelavega, which had over 300 entries. They performed their arrangement of "Adios Nonino" by Astor Piazzolla at the competition finale.

Contributed by Kevin Friedrich

The UMKC Accordion Orchestra under the direction of Joan C. Sommers were featured during two sell-out performances of the annual American Family Christmas Concert.

In addition to their featured numbers, the orchestra also served as the pit orchestra for the choirs and soloists under the direction of the concert founder and director Dr. Eph Ely. Providing excellent exposure for the accordion with both the audience and the hundreds of fellow musicians, the UMKC Accordion Orchestra is featured every year at this popular Kansas City event.

The orchestra is currently preparing for an international concert tour to Italy during the last part of June, 1999.

Contributed by Accordeon Magazine

From 26th to 30th December, a masterclass will be held in Mouthe with Frederic Deschamps and Eric Pisani. Frederic's last masterclass, which was held on November 15th covered musical interpretations, technical accordion construction and stage preparation. This event was so successful that places for the December class are expected to fill quickly.

For further information phone: +33 1-53790434

Contributed by Kevin Friedrich

Accordionist Dee Langley and her group Skweezergrabbit performed on December 5th at the Minnesota Philharmonic Orchestra's Winter Holiday Concert and Sing-Along in Minneapolis. Prior to this concert, Dee performed on December 2nd at a concert with Joanna Arnold and Helmi Harrington in Duluth, Minnesota.

Contributed by Toru Katou

On December 12th "Exile Mini Concerts" will be held in Higashi Osaka City in Osaka at 1pm and 3pm. Accordionist Norimichi Nagasaka will perform a number of different accordion styles.

On December 25th Norimichi Nagasaka will perform with piper Tesshin Kaneko at a "Christmas Chapel Concert" at the Toyo Hotel, Osaka.

Contributed by David Batty

The Leyland Accordion Club November club night featured guest artist Steve Roxton who performed a varied program of Scottish medleys and other popular pieces to over 90 people. Fifty minutes of his accordion performance was recorded for interested people to listen to. The Leyland Club believes this is the first time an English accordion club has broadcast its concert over the Internet and they intend to record more nights in future if the demand is there.

For further information email: accordion@sectorsoftware.demon.co.uk

The Nelson Mail newspaper included a recent article about one of New Zealand's most successful country bands "The Warratahs", who are featured regularly on TV in New Zealand. The group is currently touring New Zealand with accordionist Alan Norman and well known New Zealand poet Sam Hunt. The Warratahs "Best of" album has been released to coincide with the tour.

The group has released four previous albums including the platinum selling album "Only Game in Town" and made numerous tours of New Zealand, Australia, the Pacific and Southeast Asia.

On November 28th and 29th a seminar was held at the "Glasbena Matica" Music School in Trieste by Ukrainian accordionist and composer Vladimir Zubitsky. Vladimir has performed popular concerts in Trieste for many years where a number of musicians use the Russian accordion system. The seminar included a wide range of participants from children to teachers.

Vladimir will perform a number of concerts prior to Christmas with the "Family Quartet Zubitsky" on December 11th in Pesaro and "Duo Zubitsky" on the 12th in Sermide.

The Times of Acadiana, USA recently included an article on the life of zydeco accordionist Geno Delafose which was adapted from the book "The Kingdom of Zydeco" written by Michael Tisserand. The article covers Geno's home life and childhood as the son of well known accordionist John Delafose.

Geno's current band "French Rockin Boogie" regularly tour giving popular zydeco concerts and dances. When he is relaxing from tours, Geno plays at local church halls and clubs and performs at a free annual dance he provides at his farm in Eunice, which attracts fans from all over the USA.

www.accordions.com/spb_orchestra. The St Petersburg Concert Orchestra from Russia, under the direction of Michael Arzumanov.

www.accordions.com/fisorchestra. "Fisorchestra Italiana" under the direction of Vincenzo Mininno.