We have just done our traffic report from last month. It showed that the number of hits to Accordions Worldwide is up from 72,000 hits per week in March 1998 to over 150,000 hits per week in March 1999 - well over 200 % increase. The most popular pages are these Weekly News pages.

This is a very exciting result, and shows that Accordions Worldwide is certainly increasing in popularity!

These figures also show us the huge increase in the numbers of accordionists who are now on the internet. The internet is already making significant and far reaching changes to business and leisure communications and the same for the accordion.

Today, you can promote your accordion concerts and other events all over the world via our Yellow Pages Future Events at no cost. Your power to talk to the people and tell them about your activities is now in your hands. You've never had such an opportunity before.

Anyone who ever said that the accordion "was not popular today", that "nothing was happening", cannot read our Weekly News and the incredible number of accordion related activities that are taking place in every corner of the world. Each week, you can read of the many successes of accordionists.

I would like to thank all those who contribute to the Weekly News by sending us news and information. I would also like to thank our advertisers for their support. I hope that if you need any accordion products, you will firstly support our advertisers who make all these services available to you at no charge. Most of all, thank you to our readers - its exciting that you are visiting Accordions Worldwide in such enormous numbers. We are proud to serve you.

Wayne Knights Webmaster

• Master Class with Zubitsky - Portugal
• Recording Opportunities for Concertina Players - South Africa
• Spring Concert in Cologne - Germany
• Duo Perform at Easter Festival - UK
• Accordionist's Daughter Killed in Car Crash - USA
• Lips in Moscow - Russia
• 9th Nagoya Contest - Japan
• Magical Musical Moments in Texas - USA
• 1999 International Accordion Championships and Festival - Australia
• Smithsonian Festival - USA
• French & Breton Music and Dance Camp - USA
• Folk Music and Dance Festival - Norway
• Orchestra takes Top Honors at Festival - USA
• "Celebrity Interviews"
• Special Guests at Leyland Accordion Club - England
• Birthday Concert in Beijing - China
• Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam performance by Joanna Arnold
• Masterclasses in Alsatia - France
• Sotto Voce Concert - Switzerland
• What I Know About Cats - USA
• Ship and Navigation Museum Performance - Netherlands
• Ruggieri Releases his first CD - Italy
• Showstoppers Performing in Ireland
• Celtic Music Festival - USA
• Squeeze Evening - USA
• Accordion Article

Contributed by Carlos Semedo

Vladimir Zubitsky will hold a Master Class in Castelo Branco, Portugal from May 16th to 18th. Zubitsky will also perform a concert on May 17th at 9.30pm. These events have been organized by the Conservatorio Regional de Castelo Branco. This conservatory has a growing number of accordionists studying with them showing an increasing interest in this instrument.

For further information email: carlossemedo@mail.telepac.pt

Contributed by Sean Minnie

The Traditional Boer Music Club in South Africa provides the opportunity for members to produce recordings of their music to further enhance traditional Boer music. The recordings include experienced concertina players as well as less known members. Recordings from other sources by experienced musicians are also distributed by the club, which has already produced and distributed many recordings.

For further information email: sminnie@mweb.co.za

Contributed by Winfried Haushalter

On May 8th the First Cologne Accordion Orchestra will hold its Traditional Folk Spring concert in Cologne, Nordrhein-Westfalen. Orchestras performing include the Main Orchestra (conducted by Matthias Hennecke), the Youth Orchestra (conducted by Heike Zapf), the Children's Orchestra (conducted by Angelica Grohmann) and the Accordion Youngsters (conducted by Reginald Baeffgen). Guest performers, the "Oberbergisches Akkordeonsextett" have also been invited to play.

The concert program will include "Rhapsodia Andalusia" (A. Goetz), "An fernen Ufern Overture" (H. Zander) and "The Carnival of Venice" (H. Gengler) performed by the Main Orchestra with soloist Bernd Schliffkowitz.

For further information email: haushalter@khm.de

Contributed by Jan Lucas

Accordionist Karen Tweed and Ian Carr (guitar and vocals) are currently touring the UK until May 2nd. The duo performed at the Edinburgh Folk Festival on April 1st and 2nd, then at the Gosport Easter Festival at April 3rd.

During the tour they will perform concerts in London, Colchester, Aberystwyth, Shropshire, Lincs, Burgh-le-Marsh and Morton.

For further information see Future Events

Rosalinda Jimenez Esquivel, daughter of well known accordionist Flaco Jimenez was killed on April 5th in a car accident in San Antonio. Rosalinda was married with two daughters aged 6 months and 8 years old.

Winner of five Grammy awards, Flaco Jimenez has just returned from a European tour. On April 22nd he will be honored with the El Premio Billboard at the "Billboard Latin Music Awards and Conference" in Miami.

USA accordionist Gary Dahl plans to write and dedicate two songs in his upcoming new book, to Flaco and the memory of his daughter. The book titled "Learn to play Tejano/Conjunto Accordion" will include a CD recording and is due for release in late 2000.

Contributed by Dr Herbert Scheibenreif

Friedrich Lips' recently formed Piazzolla Quintet is now called now "Piazzolla - Studio". The quintet consists of Wladislaw Igolinskij (violin), Kirill Rodin (cello), Friedrich Lips (bayan), Swatoslaw Lips (piano) and Mark Pekarskij (percussion). They are invited to perform concerts in many countries, recently playing in Moscow and Jekaterinburg in the Ural.

Their successful concert in Japan was recorded on CD "Tango Piazzollata" and was also available on the internet. This CD has now been released in Russia.

Contributed by Toru Katou

On May 3rd one of the largest accordion events in Japan the "9th All Japan Accordion Contest" will be held at the Nagoya Citizen House Middle Hall, Naka ward, Nagoya at 10 am. This event is organized by the Nippon Accordion Shinkou Kyoukai, an association founded by Japanese accordionists in order to increase the accordion population of Japan.

For further information phone Yamamoto Music Instruments Shop: + 81 052-251-2859

Contributed by Kevin Friedrich

The Texas Accordion Association held its annual National Convention in Plano, Texas, from April 9th to 11th.

Presented in a very relaxed and often humorous atmosphere, attendees were treated to a wide variety of accordion activities ranging from the Vaudeville show to workshops, dealers displays, Midi and reedless accordions, Jam Sessions and concerts. For those who wanted a more active role, there was some excellent hands-on in the Festival Orchestras directed by Arlene Boddicker and Louis Tilley. These orchestras presented both classical numbers and lighter pieces including a program dedicated to the memory of Frank Yankovich.

Among the highlights was an impromptu session at the Saturday evening concert by a trio comprising four time world champion Peter Soave, Chicago Accordion Club President John Simpkus, and outstanding MIDI artist Nick Ballarini. These three highly talented performers, with varied backgrounds, fed off each others musicality and improvisational skills in what can only be described as a rare "magic musical moment". Peter Soave continued to demonstrate his amazing musicality and versatility by performing a set of works on the bandoneon as well as virtuoso performances on his bayan.

The convention attracted hundreds of people from across the country and as far afield as England.

Contributed by Tania Lukic-Marx

The 1999 Australian Accordion Championships and Festival will be held from May 28th to 30th at the Polish Club, Ashfield, Sydney, New South Wales.

The event will include a "Gala Concert" on the 28th, contestants from China, New Zealand and Australia as well as a Testimonial Dinner honoring accordionist John McDonald.

Competition categories include International Championship, Australian Championship, Standard, Qualified, Appraisal and Festival. Each performance category includes a selection of classes. The closing date for entries to reach the Competitions Secretary is April 30th, 1999.

For further information email: tlukic@jigsaw.net.au

The Smithsonian Festival of Folklife, held in "The Mall" in Washington DC, will feature New Hampshire this year. The festival will run from June 23rd to 27th and June 30th to July 4th.

Two New Hampshire accordionists have been invited to participate, Gary Sredzienski and Sylvia Miskoe. Gary will play Polish music and Sylvia's program of New England contra, Scottish and Quebecois music will be confirmed in May.

For further information email: smiskoe@aol.com

Contributed by Alan & Susan Keith

A French & Breton Music and Dance Camp will be held from June 21st to 27th in Mendocino, California. Workshops will be held by John Paul and Benoit Mager (diatonic accordion) and Gary Breitbard (chromatic accordion).

For further information email: keiths@innetix.com

Contributed by Sonja Midtlien

On April 24th a traditional folk music and dance festival "Gammeldansfestivalen 1999" will be held at Arnestad School, Asker, Oslo. This is one of many cultural festivals held during April in Asker, for people who like to dance and listen to traditional Norwegian music.

Norwegian group "Klonken" which includes three melodeons, accordion, guitar and tuba will perform at the festival. Their program will include popular Norwegian pieces such as "Majavalsen", "Mazurka fra Ottadalen" and "I bryllupsgaarden"

For further information email: smidtlie@online.no

Contributed by Kevin Friedrich

The 37th New England Music Competition and Festival, sponsored by the Accordion Teachers Association of Massachusetts was held at the Boston Newton Marriott Hotel from April 9th to 11th. Over 1200 contestants took part in solo, duet, ensemble and band competitions. The highest entries were in the accordion competition divisions followed by piano, guitar, keyboard, voice and drums.

Over $3,000 in scholarships were awarded to first place winners in the open competition divisions. Co-chairmen of the event were Roger Latulippe and Peggy Falcetti. An awards dinner was held on Saturday evening with over 500 people in attendance. The first place winner in the accordion championship was Renee Rondeau of the Miguel School of Music, Lowell, Massachusetts. She received A trophy and US$100.00 cash award. The Senior orchestra first place trophy and cash award of US$500.00 went to the Springfield Accordion Orchestra, under the direction of Michael Falcetti of the Falcetti Music Center. A US$500. 00 music scholarship was awarded to Joy Grooms of the Rosita Lee Music Center, Hudson, New Hampshire. Joy has been accepted at the University of Missouri, Kansas City, where she will study accordion with Joan Sommers, while majoring in Music Therapy.

The Beniamino Bugiolacchi interview is now online. The interview with "Hottest accordionist" Dwayne Dopsie will be published on April 28th. Please send your questions to Moderator Wallace Liggett by April 24th.

Our next "Celebrity Interview" with French accordionist Jérome Richard, who recently released his new CD "Grain de Fantaisie", will be published on May 4th. Please submit your questions by April 28th.

In 1997 (at the age of 17) Jérome won the Coupe Mondiale Virtuoso section in Reinach, Switzerland In 1998 he won the World Cup, the International Klingenthal Competition, the World Trophy and the International Castelfidardo Competition as well as other prizes at national level.

Contributed by David Batty

The Leyland Accordion Club meeting on May 12th will feature special guests Walter Perrie (Scotland) and Tom Cowing. Walter Perrie is an honorary member of the club because of his work for the accordion. The concert will be recorded and a 45 minute section will appear on the Leyland Accordion Club Website shortly afterwards.

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

Contributed by Li Cong

The Beijing Accordion Association have planned a concert to coincide with the Beijing International Accordion Festival to celebrate Chinese accordion artists Zhang Zi Qiang and Li Yu Qiu. This year they will celebrate their 70th birthdays.

Zhang Zi Qiang has performed in over 20 countries in Europe, Asia, and Africa. He is a member of the Chinese General Politics Ensemble and in 1979 began teaching the accordion at the Chinese Revolution Army Art Conservatory. In the same year he was a visiting professor at the Beijing Normal University and Chinese Music Conservatory. He was the first chairman of the China Accordion Society. His book "Accordion Playing Skill" has now sold over one million copies.

Li Yu Qiu has been a professional composer for many years. He composed "Chang Zheng Zu Ge" in 1965 and many of his works are known national wide, like "Yi Hu Shui". From 1980 his compositions changed direction to accordion and choir pieces. "Tian Nu San Hua", "Sonata" and others are favorites of many Chinese accordionists.

Contributed by Kevin Friedrich

On April 24th, at 8pm, accordionist Joanna Arnold will perform Alan Hovhanness's Fantasy for Accordion, Speaker and Orchestra entitled "Rubaiuat of Omar Khayyam" with the Kennett Square Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of Mary Green.

Kennett Square, Pennsylvania is the smallest community in the United States to support a fully professional Symphony Orchestra.

For Ticket information please phone: + 1 610 444-6363

Contributed by Frédéric Deschamps

Pascal Remcheck (APH teacher in Colmar) organised a masterclass on April 2nd and 3rd held by Frédéric Deschamps. Pascal's students put into practice the contents of the pedagogical articles which are published each month in the French magazine "Accordéon Magazine".

On April 5th and 6th Philippe Rey (APH teacher in Altkirch, Sundgau-Alsace region) also hosted a masterclass with Frédéric. Philippe's students are currently preparing for the Merxheim APH competition on April 24th and 25th. An additional orchestral masterclass was organised on Monday evening, in order to prepare participants for the first recording by the J.A.S. This month's pedagogical article in "Accordéon Magazine" is devoted to these teaching activities.

Contributed by Roland Ramseyer

The SottoVoce-Ensemble is a group of young people aged from 16 to 26 years old who want to increase the popularity of the accordion by performing new and unknown music styles. Group leader Joerg Gurtner is known in Switzerland as an accordionist and composer. The ensemble recently performed a well received concert in Lausen. Their program included Hungarian Dances No 5 & 6 (Brahms), Ballet-Tango (Astor Piazzolla), La féte hongroise (Doelf Kessler - Boogie-Woogie-pianist) and Variations of a Russian folk-song (Rudolf Wuerthner).

Contributed by Kevin Friedrich

Professional dancer, athlete and accordionist David Dorfman recently performed in Fayetteville and Conway Arkansas in a show entitled "The Athletes Project."

The six-member David Dorfman Dance company utilizes local athletes for each of its productions of "The Athletes Project", so while the shows are shaped around the same theme, each performance with the local cast members offers a different experience. The group rehearses daily with the local athletes-turned-dancers who become part of the company for the duration of the show. Many of the performances don't conform to traditional dance routines, and Dorfman is pictured here playing the accordion during a solo work entitled "What I Know About Cats."

Dorfman has performed "The Athletes Project" with 15 different groups across the country as well as in France.

Contributed by Wim Tuinman

Henny Tuinman is one of two accordionists that perform with the "Windsterke 13" choir in Zuidlaren. The choir is part of the ISSA (International Seasong Association) and recently performed in the Ship and Navigation Museum.

Their next concert will be on April 18th at 2pm. The group perform at over 30 events each year including concerts in the north of the Netherlands and Cuxhaven, Hamburg, and Gelsenkirchen (Germany).

For further information email: tuinman@xs4all.nl

Jazz accordionist Renzo Ruggieri has just released his first CD entitled "Improvvisazioni guidate" ("Guided Improvisations"). The album aims to create "moods" through the development of predetermined units. The following is a selection of comments by well-known figures from the worlds of accordion and jazz: "Total improvisation for the accordion at such high a technical level and acute sensibility is practically unheard of" (Paolo Di Sabatino) "An extraordinary performance by a jazz musician who is always up-to-date" (Massimiliano Pitocco) "His elegant stylistic sobriety and original creativity make Renzo a truly new musician." (Cesare Chiacchiaretta). "This is the first solo accordion album featuring total improvisation" (Roberto Lucanero). "... this CD is a musical gem" (Luciano Biondini)."This album is a cornerstone, or rather a starting point from which to discover new musical horizons" (Roseto Oggi Magazine). "An excellent contribution to the accordion world" (Peter Soave). "... a universe made of non-rules, pure sounds and most of all sincere immediate creativity" (Paolo Picchio).

For further information email: vogliadarte@lycosmail.com