We are receiving emails from many people wanting to find information about antique accordions. With many brands/manufacturers no longer in business, it is hard for readers to find any information. To help them we will list their help requests in our Weekly News and if you know any information (even a small amount) please send them an email.

Wayne Knights Webmaster

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

Finalists have been announced in the "Search for the Hottest Accordionist" competition organized by The Lawrence Welk Resort Center and the American Accordionists' Association. They are:

Terri Conti, New Jersey
Dwayne Dopsie, Louisiana
Phoebe Legere, New York
Tim Padilla, California
Jason Stephen, Missouri

Finalists will be judged according to overall talent, charisma, professionalism and ability to entertain in an accordion showdown on March 25th during Branson Fest, a three-day preview of Branson entertainment held at the Welk Resort Center.

Contributed by Amarillie Ackermann

Accordionist Sergio Zampolli will perform a solo recital on March 12th at the Sandton Art Gallery in Johannesburg. This performance will introduce a broad spectrum of the accordion repertoire, from acoustic accordion to MIDI accordion, and serious to light music.

A variety of questions have been submitted for the Accordions Worldwide first "Celebrity Interview" with Friedrich Lips. Moderator Wallace Liggett, (author of the book "The History of the Accordion In New Zealand") wants to thank people for their questions. The interview will be published on March 2nd.

The next interview is with Prof Walter Maurer, Secretary General of the Confederation Internationale des Accordeonistes, President of the Austrian Accordion Association (HVO), President of the International Accordion Orchestra Society (IAOV), teacher, conductor and member of the Vienesse Accordion Chamber Ensemble. The interview will be published on 16 March and your questions are invited. Email your questions to: Wallace Liggett

Contributed by Hillebrand van der Veen

On Sunday, April 18th the Amsterdam Accordion Club "Forzando" will hold their annual club concert at the "Buurthuis de Rietwijker", Amsterdam Noord. The event will include performances by the four Club orchestras.

The program includes dance music, music by Dutch composers and popular pieces like "Sweet Georgia Brown", South American Rhythms and Rhapsody in Swing.

For further information email: H.J.Veen@net.HCC.nl

The Gary Blair Ceilidh Band had a rather unusual gig last week when they were booked to perform at a Ceilidh in Cardross. Upon arriving at the venue, they found that there had been a power cut. Fortunately there was an ample supply of gas lighting and candles and since the event was for the Scout movement, it seemed only fitting for the concert to proceed although the band had to perform without amplification. They were relieved that the power was restored during the interval! Despite this setback, a wonderful night was had by all.

Contributed by Toru Katou

On March 26th the annual "Mie Miki's Accordion Works 1999" will be held at Casals Hall, Ochanomizu, Tokyo at 7pm. For further information phone Casals Hall Ticket Center: + 81 3-3291-2525

The following day an "Accordion Master Class" will be held by Mie Miki at Voris Hall, Ochanomizu Square, Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo at 3 pm. Young accordionists Tomomi Ota, Waka Shibata, and Janne Raettyae (Finland) will be taking part in the masterclass, in open lesson format. Admission free. For further information phone: + 81 3 3324 3653

Contributed by Li Cong

On February 9th, members of the Shanghai Accordion Association held a meeting at the Meixin Restaurant, Shanghai. The executive committee reported updates on plans for 1999 and welcomed the Chinese Spring Festival.

Over 100 members attended the meeting as well as representatives from the Shanghai Music Society, Shanghai Music Conservatory and Shanghai Art Education Community. Li Cong, (President of the Shanghai Accordion Association) spoke to the meeting about the many positive ways teachers can encourage children to learn and enjoy the accordion.

Didier and Gisèle Médaillon and Danielle Laurens organised a workshop with Frédéric Deschamps from February 16th to 20th. Twenty students spent their school holidays practising their favourite instrument, and applying in practice the pedagogical articles published each month in "Accordéon Magazine".

The last (and by far the most lively) day of the workshop was devoted to stage presentation in competitions and other appearances: stage attitude, bows, etc.

All the students are preparing for the APH competition which will take place at Hayerres, near Biarritz, on April 18th. This event was so successful that another educational workshop with Frédéric Deschamps has been scheduled.

Contributed by Dr Herbert Scheibenreif

Georg Schulz (accordion teacher at the University of Music in Graz) gave a well received recital of contemporary music with Ruth Straub (violoncello) at "Alte Schmiede" in Vienna recently. Their program consisted of pieces by young Austrian composers and internationally known composers such as Gubaidulina, Penderecki and Bargielski.

Georg Schulz plays contemporary music in several ensembles including "Klangforum Wien", "Ensemble of the 20th Century", "Ensemble Kontrapunkte" and the "Austrian Art Ensemble".

The 6th Accordion Seminar in San Sebastián from July 9th to 18th will include concerts, workshops, meetings and lectures. Tutors Claudio Jacomucci (Italy) and Anne Landa (Spain) will hold accordion and contemporary music workshops for students and teachers.

The workshops will cover technical skills with special application to original music (bellows shake, ricochet, vibrato, impulses, glissandos, microtonal techniques, etc.). At the end of the course, students will perform a public concert where participation diplomas will be awarded.

The contemporary music workshop entitled "Practical Approach to Contemporary Music" is expected to be popular. New music is very important to the accordion world and this workshop is aimed at those who wish to investigate new forms of musical expression. It will cover: Pre & Postwar Music, New Ways of Listening - Change in Listener Perception, New Concepts, New Aesthetic Approaches, Notation-Improvisation-Composition with practical exercises, listening and analysis of works.

Workshops will be held in Spanish, Basque, Italian, English and French.
Enrolments must be received by June 15th. For further information email: accoland@tin.it

Contributed by Kresten Storgaard

On February 27th, Danish KDN Cajun Band (with accordionist Karen Munkholm) will perform at the Bal de Mardi Gras. This event will take place at the Town Theater, Nivaa, North Sealand, Denmark.

For further information email: krs@sbi.dk

Contributed by Holda Paoletti-Kampl

Jazz accordionist Renzo Ruggieri recently gave a concert for the Music and Culture Association at the "Villa Comunale" concert hall, Roseto degli Abruzzi. His program included a series of "Guided Improvisations" (a special technique that aims to create musical atmospheres, soon to be featured on CD) followed by works of Fancelli, Piazzolla, and Kosma performed in tonal jazz style. The full house concert was well received by the local media who gave ample press coverage of the event.

Ruggieri will take part in the Frankfurt Fair (Germany) in March, performing at the Piermaria, Orla and Logic System stands.

Iowa accordionist Jim Wangemann is now in his sixtieth year playing the squeezebox and loving it! Jim plays on a regular basis at the Austrian Restaurant "Cafe Salzburg" in Altoona, on Friday and Saturday nights. Jim has also performed at international food nights on Wednesdays including Italian and French evenings and was recently featured in a television commercial for the restaurant.

Contributed by Paul Asher

"M_C_cajun" an accordion driven cajun/zydeco band from Derby have played monthly at the Crown Inn, Heather (near Coalville) for the past year. The group (consisting of accordion, violin, guitars, rubboard and percussion) has been described as the 'Best Kept Music Secret in the Area'. But word is now out, as last Friday a record number of people crammed into the Crown Inn English village pub, to listen and dance to this lively and entertaining local band.

The group perform tunes including "Flammes D'Enfer" and "Cherokee Waltz". Popular zydeco tunes include "Jolie Catin", "I Hear You Knocking" and a Zydeco version of Creedence Clearwater's "Bad Moon Rising".

M_C_Cajun have a full concert schedule. For further information email: m_c_cajun@hotmail.com

Contributed by Peter Stanchev

The Accordion Magic Newspaper included an article recently on Bulgarian Accordionist Vladimir Minchev. From January 4th to 9th Vladimir played with the Philharmonic Orchestra (conducted by Harold Farberman) in Russe, Bulgaria. They recorded "Symphony No 6" (Irwin Bazelon) on CD.

Six months ago, Vladimir graduated from the Music School, Russe, tutored by Alexander Vassilev.

Contributed by Li Cong

Well known accordionist Yang Yi recently took part in the traditional Chinese Spring Festival Music & Dance program. He performed "The Night of Midsummer" which is a special dance that describes the active part of life in army barracks. The music was composed by Liu Gang Bao.

The USA Music Makars Trio (Meadville, Pennsylvania) will tour Scotland in June. The trio, which features accordion, violin and piano were chosen to accompany a group of Scottish country dancers on tour. They will perform in Scottish townships including Borthwick Castle, Stirling-Pitlochry, Blair Castle, Castle Menzies, Tulloch Castle, Aberdeen and a final concert at the Edinburgh Assembly Hall on June 12th. The trio released their second recording last year.

For further information email: etozorak@toolcity.net

Contributed by Kevin Friedrich

The annual American Accordion Musicological Society Competition and Festival will be held from March 5th to 7th, at the Holiday Inn, King of Prussia, PA. The weekend will feature a special Cajun Concert on Friday evening, workshops, competitions, mass band, awards concert and accordion displays.

Among the long list of guests are Lenny Feldman, Monsigneur Kloskowski, Dr. Robert McMahon, Henry Doktorski, Joanna Arnold, Bobby Ray, Ron Onda, Joe Soprani and Carmen Carrozza.

For further information, please phone publicity chairman, Joanna Arnold: + 1 609 854-6628

Contributed by David Batty

The Leyland Accordion Club's first meeting for 1999 opened with a performance of "Whispering Hope". Following this, guest performer Jan Zukowski played a popular program which included "Trieste Overture" (Deiro), "Preludio" (Volpi) and "Air on a G String" (Bach). Jan has been rebooked to play for the club again in March 2000.

Club members also performed pieces by Jimmy Shand as a tribute to his recent Knighthood, including "Francis Wright Waltz" and "Bluebell Polka".

Accordions Worldwide currently have a Survey on line which has been designed to help identify readers requirements and ideas with the aim of providing an improved service to accordionists around the world. All survey answers will remain anonymous.

The survey will run for one month with a CD prize for ten random winners. This is your opportunity to submit ideas for improvements to Accordions Worldwide and to let us know what is of importance to you!

Accordionists are busy running workshops, masterclasses and seminars in France. On February 12th & 19thAndre Thepaz held accordion workshops in Chambery, Rhone-Alpes.

On March 7th a workshop will be held in Ploemeur, Breagne, with Pascal Mursic. For further information phone: +33 2 9786-3208

A series of accordion concerts entitled the "Gogol & Max" concerts have been running in Germany during February. Concerts have been held in Laumgen, Staufener Fastnacht and Heidelberg.

Future concerts will be held in Hannover and Heppenheim. For further information see Future events.

Contributed by Jim Wangemann

Accordionist Duane Pichelman from Des Moines, Iowa has performed at the "Bavarian Haus" Restaurant consistently for the last twenty five years. This has got to be a testament to the popularity of accordion in ethnic restaurants. Duane will celebrate 50 years in the music business next month.

Paul Miller has an antique accordion with the brand name "Ruatta & Crucianelli" made in Italy possibly in the late 1800's. If you can help him with information please email: judmille@wyoming.com

www.accordions.com/blouin Marlene Blouin is a French Musette Accordionist. You can listen to sample tracks on her site.

www.accordions.com/pianello Information on the International Music Competition at Pianello Val Tidone.