It is very interesting for us to know who our readers are and the things they are interested in. This enables us to provide the best possible service and to make Accordions Worldwide as interesting and fun as possible for everyone. For that reason, we have posted a survey on Accordions Worldwide for you to submit to. You can tell us about any ideas you have and things you would like to see in the future.

Wayne Knights Webmaster

Accordions Worldwide will be starting interviews with famous accordionists and accordion personalities and we are giving everyone a unique opportunity to "personally interview" the great personalities of our art. These interviews will be kept permanently on site to form a unique part of the history of the accordion.

You are invited to email your questions to: wallace@accordions.com

The first Interview will be the famous Russian concert artist and teacher Friedrich Lips. Please email your questions before February 24th for publication on March 2nd.

The second interview will be with 95 year old Anthony Galla-Rini. Please email your questions by March 10th for publication on March 16th.

The Moderator Wallace Liggett is a well known New Zealand accordionist and author of the book "The History of the Accordion In New Zealand".

All interviews can be viewed at: http://www.accordions.com/interviews

Contributed by Graham Geddes

Hogmonay Millennium fever has hit Scotland. Large amounts of money are already being offered for bands to play Hogmonay in Scotland. "Hogmonay" is the Scottish name given to New Years Eve. The fee for a professional Scottish band ranges from 2000 pounds upwards with some being offered as high as 4000 pounds including "The Graham Geddes Band" (with accordionist Graham).

This year the band will record a CD with the Royal Scot's Guard's in a joint venture mixing "Pipes and Drums with a Scottish dance band"

For further information email: Gizasong@aol.com

Contributed by Neil Wayne

On May 20th Dr Brian Bowers will give a lecture on Sir Charles Wheatstone at the Institute of Physics (South Western Branch), Stroud, Gloucestershire. Dr Bowers is a biographer of Wheatstone and is currently a Senior Research Fellow in the Science Museum.

He intends to pursue the question of a new edition of his Wheatstone book in the near future. For further information email: b.bowers@nmsi.ac.uk

Contributed by Winfried Haushalter

The 1st Cologne Accordion Orchestra performed two 3½ hour surprise concerts to honour Heinz Gengler at his 85th birthday in his Swabian hometown of Reutlingen. The first concert took place on January 23rd in Goenningen. The second was held the following day with the "Marienkameradschaft Ebingen" Shanty Choir. Heinz Gengler was thrilled when he arrived at the Reutlingen train station and was welcomed by the choir who have been close friends for many years.

The concert audience of over 1000 people included many well known members of the accordion movement, including Ernst Pfister (DHV German Harmonica Club) and Günther Hecht. Among the special guests were a number of vice presidents, conductors, composers, and arrangers from Baden Würtemberg. Former members of the Cologne Orchestra traveled in order to attend the anniversary celebration.

The concert program included "William Tell Overture" (Rossini), Tritsch-Tratsch Polka (Strauss), Waltz No 2 (Shostakovitch) and several "Heinz Gengler Highlights" that were especially arranged by Matthias Hennecke (orchestra leader) to honour the conductor at his anniversary. Heinz Gengler also took the baton and conducted some of his famous musical pieces. The concert finale included the choir and orchestra performing "Dankeschoen und Aufwiederseh'n."

Contributed by Lynda Griffith

The Accordion Concertina Music Ensemble will perform concerts on February 20th in Fergus Falls, Minnesota, and on the 21st in Staples, Minnesota. Romantic, classical and contemporary music will be performed. A variety of unique and historic accordion family instruments will be used during the concerts, including piano accordion, button chromatic accordion, French musette accordions, button diatonic accordion, English concertinas, Chemnitz style concertina and more!

Members of Accordion Concertina Music Ensemble include Helmi Harrington, Ph.D. (Director), Carolyn Carver, Lynda Griffith, Gary Harvell, Tony Lutzkanov (Bulgaria) and guest performer Hanni Strahl.

Contributed by Li Cong

The 1st Beijing Cup accordion competition was held in the Chao Yang Culture Hall, Beijing from February 2nd to 5th. Over 480 accordionists from Beijing, Haerbin, Xian, Kunming, Xizang and provinces all over China competed in the event. President of the Jury was accordionist Yang Wentao, and the competition organizer was Wang Xiaoping. Cen Shihuan, (Chairman of the Beijing Accordion Association) planned the whole event.

A prizegiving concert was held on the final day with class winners entertaining the audience of over 500 people. Cups and certificates were presented by Shi Lemeng, Gu Chunyu, Zhang ZiQiang, Ren Shirong and Zhang Guoping.

The 3 day festival will include competitive and non-competitive events for adults and children as well as workshops, demonstrations, displays, and accordion and music-related items for sale.

For further information phone Joanna Arnold or Stanley Darrow at: +1 609 854-6628 or + 1 609 589-8308

On February 4th, accordionist Mika Väyrynen performed Piazzolla´s "Concerto" and "Tres Tangos" with the Kuopio Symphony Orchestra (conducted by Atso Almila). The audience of over 500 people enjoyed the concert so much they demanded an encore.

Mika is also a member of the quartet "Tango For Four" which will perform a live concert on Finnish television on Saturday February 13th. Following this, they will perform in Kanneltalo, Helsinki on the 18th.

Contributed by Hilly Edwards

A concertina band weekend was held at the Henry Box School, Witney, Oxfordshire on January 23rd and 24th. Over 30 players took part in the event led by Dave Townsend and Jenny Cox which included music of early 20th Century Northern Concertina bands, new arrangements, marches, minuets and lively tangos.

Throughout the weekend the music was professionally recorded by Doc Rowe, and edited highlights will be sent to all participants. The event was enjoyable, professionally run and a good opportunity to make new friends in the concertina world.

The weekend concluded with a variety concert in aid of the British Red Cross. Dave Townsend and Jenny Cox played solo pieces and guest performers were the "Yorkshire Concertina Band" and the "Push Button Band".

Professor Patrizia Miceliis presided over the final accordion and keyboard exams at the CDMI in Mottola, near Taranto. The young candidates gave solo and ensemble performances to an enthusiastic audience. The event included guest performances by Renzo Ruggieri (on MIDI accordion) and Pino Di Modugno.

Contributed by Accordéon Magazine

Klingenthal is rapidly approaching (May 7th to 13th) and the Hohner musicians' team between two TV appearances is already hard at work preparing. Group members led by Frédéric Deschamps divide their time between practicing for International Competitions and relaxing with Pascal Sevran, the "benefactor of the French accordion", and star host of a national TV program of French songs. This show is one of the few to promote accordionists, who are given the opportunity to present the results of their work.

On February 6th and 7th (as well as February 21st and 22nd) the Hohner team (Jérôme Richard, Frédéric Baldo, Marielle Roy, Arnaud Guimard, Vincent Peirani, Vincent Carenzi, Xavier Rollet, Mickael Richard, Alexandre Leauthaud and Benoit Chabod) met under the direction of their teacher Frédéric Deschamps to prepare for Klingenthal.

Contributed by Oliver Dutt and Christine Adams

1500 firms showed every imaginable musical instrument and accessory to thousands of visitors who attended NAMM '99 in Los Angeles. The trade show is sponsored by the National Association of Musical Merchants and ran from January 28th to 31st.

Accordions were included in national displays from Italy and the Orient, and from Germany, the Hohner display and the Weltmeister display. Players and retailers from many parts of the world attended the event.

Contributed by Holda Paoletti-Kampl

The "Rodrigues" Trio (with accordionist Simone Zanchini) recently gave a series of concerts in North Africa. The tour was organized by the "Istituto Italiano di Cultura di Tunisi" (Italian Cultural Institute of Tunisia) and the concerts took place in the most important theatres in northern Tunisia. The performers were acclaimed both by the public and critics for their original mix of different musical styles, a unique blend that marks the trio as one of the most innovative groups in Italian jazz.

Contributed by Henny and Wim Tuinman

On May 29th accordionists will celebrate the 10th anniversary of their Zuidlaren club with a special day of performances. Over 125 musicians are expected to play at the concert, which is scheduled to start at 10am and continue until midnight. Performers include "Harmonika Freunde" (Oldenburg, Germany), "Alpenländische Volksmusik" (Duisburg), Wilhelm Rocker (Esens), folk music groups and a variety of soloists.

Every player will receive a souvenir, which is a small sculpture of men wearing accordions, engraved with the date. Over 800 people are expected to attend the event. For further information email: tuinman@xs4all.nl

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

Myron Floren sends his greetings to his many friends and thanks them for their prayers, cards and good wishes during his illness. His recuperation is progressing well and he plans to be back to his music making by the end of May. At that time, Myron's concessions to his past illness will be to use a back strap for his accordion and cut back to a few less than the 150 concerts a year which he has been scheduling in recent years. It may be hard to do so, but audiences can help a little by asking for fewer encores.

Contributed by Li Cong

The 2nd International Chinese Art Meeting was held in Bangkok recently. This event was held for Chinese people around the world.

Accordionist Chang Baoyu (Qiqihaer) won the Gold Music Prize with his performance of his own composition "Running by the Neng River". He was invited to read his composition thesis before performing the music.

Contributed by David Batty

On February 17th an accordion recital will take place at Leeds College of Music featuring Nigel Waterhouse (accordion) and Stephen Shulman (violin). The concert will feature a medley of music including Eastern European folk, contemporary music and classical styles including works by Piazzolla, Messiaen and Saraste.

For tickets and further information phone: + 44 113 222 3400

Contributed by Vladimir Ushakov

An evening devoted to accordion orchestra founder Pavel Smirnov was held on February 4th in St. Petersburg. Pavel Smirnov was the founder and conductor of an accordion orchestra in Leningrad (now St. Petersburg) during the Second World War. The orchestra helped lift people's spirits during this terrible period.

After the war the orchestra gained popularity in the former Soviet Union and overseas with concert tours in over 60 countries. Nowadays, Youry Smirnov is the orchestra director and Vladimir Smirnov the conductor. Both are sons of Pavel Smirnov.

The evening began with a memorial story by Vladimir Smirnov about his father, with several fragments from a documented film. This was followed by a concert program with junior and senior groups of the orchestra performing several compositions by Vladimir Smirnov. The evening finished with the orchestra performing "Bogatyrskie Vorota" by Musorgsky to an excited audience of over 400.

Concertina duo Chris Timson and Anne Gregson will tour the USA from May 5th to 24th. They will perform in New Bedford, Boston, Amherst, Springfield and Worcester (Massachusetts), Washington, and Annapolis and Pittsburgh (Pennsylvania).

The duo play a variety of concertinas for song accompaniment and instrumental pieces. Their program includes "Peaceful Harbour" (from their CD), "All In Harmony", Anne's own compositions, plus an instrumental "Groovin' With Mr Lachenal".

For further information email: chris@harbour.demon.co.uk

Contributed by Holda Paoletti-Kampl

Jean-Marc Fabiano, accordion professor at the Marseille Conservatory, organized a MIDI workshop for his students held by Jean-Louis Noton. Students were given the opportunity to learn all the latest musical computing techniques, programming for accordion with free bass, as well as the use of a computer in composing and editing scores.

This first-time experiment in the Conservatory was a success and proved that computer-enhanced music can exist side by side with classical music.

Contributed by Peter Stanchev

The first issue of a new magazine "Akordeonna magia" (Accordion Magic) was released in December 1998 in Plovdiv, Bulgaria. The 20 page magazine will be released monthly and is believed to be the first of its kind in Bulgaria.

The accordion is a very popular instrument in Bulgaria, taught in Musical Academies since 1968. At present it is part of the curriculum in 2 Musical Academies, 6 Universities, High Schools and Music schools. "Akordeonna magia" caters for accordionists in Bulgaria and all over the world.

For further information email: biomagia@plov.omega.bg

Contributed by David Batty

The Leyland Accordion Club's December meeting was held in cold conditions as the heating system had broken down. Local accordionists did their best to warm up the crowd with a variety of popular pieces which included Christmas Carols and old favorites. New players are also encouraged to perform for the first time at these events. This year the club has a different "look" with new carpet, dance floor and new seating.

www.accordions.com/castagnari Castagnari is one of the oldest and most prestigious Accordion factories in Recanati, Italy.

www.accordions.com/konstantin Konstantin Ischenko is the 1998 winner of the Coupe Mondiale