Today, a very important new links site with an easy to remember name, www.AccordionLinks.com is opening. This site is dedicated to all bellow instrument sites and has been formed by Webmaster Jeroen Nijhof in co-operation with Accordions Worldwide.

Many readers will know Jeroen Nijhof from his previous enormous links site which he started in 1995. This new site continues the personal comments by Jeroen about the web sites he has visited and listed. Jeroen has put a large amount of work into the structure and design of this new site to make it as easy as possible for you to find valuable bellows related information. We hope it works well for you.

We also want to ask your help, to make AccordionLinks.com as complete a resource as possible, for the accordion world. If you know of any sites that are not listed, please do not hesitate to email Jeroen Nijhof J.H.B.Nijhof@aston.ac.uk

Normally this would be a news item, however I wanted to include it in the Editors Note because I believe, the accordion world owes Jeroen enormous thanks for his years of work, totaling many thousands of hours, which he has donated to making the world of cyberspace that much better for accordionists. His enormous contribution to better communications between accordionists deserves everyone's praise and commendation.

Wayne Knights Webmaster

• National TV Debut for Blind Accordionist - USA
• Spring Concert - Denmark
• Rap and Religious Music - Italy
• Anniversary Concert - Mexico
• "Two Duos Quartet" Tour - UK
• "Celebrity Interviews"
• Accordion Featured at Museum Concert - USA
• Richard Galliano Trio to perform in Switzerland
• Future Musician Practises while others try to Sleep - Italy
• 1999 Australian International Championships
• Student Concert - Austria
• Orchestra joins Forces with Brass Band - England
• Music with Stephan Langenberg - Germany
• Zubitsky Theatre Concert - Portugal
• "Marcel Azzola-Vladislav Zolotarjov" - France
• Bangers & Mash at Celtic Music Festival - Netherlands
• Accordion on Canadian Television
• Concertina Meeting - South Africa
• Kei-Han Accordion Club Concert - Japan
• New England Music Competition and Festival - USA
• Quality Seminar - China
• Antique Accordion Information
• Accordion Article

Contributed by Sara Fuller

Eighteen year old blind accordionist Brent Buswell appeared on the Sally Jesse Raphael Show on the ABC TV network recently, performing "Dance of the Comedians". Show host, Sally has been featuring "Sally's Most Talented Kids" on her program.

Brent is a student at Black River High School in Ludlow and is currently studying with the aim of entering the Berkley College of Music in Boston. He regularly plays as a soloist and with 20 other accordionists in the Nils Lundene Accordion Jamboree band, in clubs and lodges around Massachusetts. His repertoire includes over 400 polkas, marches and classical pieces.

Contributed by Kresten Storgaard

On May 8th Danish Cajun band "KDN" (featuring accordionist Karen Munkholm) will play at the John F. Kennedy Lounge, Hillerød at 1pm. and at Lundtoftegade, Copenhagen at 9pm. The all day event will celebrate Danish spring. Normally JFK is a place for jazz, but in Denmark jazz audiences like cajun and zydeco. "KDN" will perform traditional pieces like "Two Step d´Amedee", "Une autre Chance", Tex Mex tunes like "Que Paso" and Zydeco/cajun classics such as "Flammes d´enfer".

Renzo Ruggieri was recently involved as composer and arranger in an important rap music venture, as he wrote, arranged and performed music on Padre Maurizio's latest CD. Padre Maurizio, also known as Padre Nike, is a well-known Italian preacher who uses music to spread the scriptures. The main melody of the songs on the CD is played by the accordion. The album was well received by the critics and has been featured several times on national TV shows.

Many important guests contributed to this work, including Fiorello (well-known singer and TV presenter), Franco Bracardi (pianist on the "Maurizio Costanzo Show"), Mauro De Federicis (jazz guitarist) and Cristina Casillo (soprano).

Contributed by Serguei Tibets

On April 18th the "Norteños" Accordion Orchestra participated in Cerralvo City Cradle of the State (1582-1999) anniversary celebrations in Nuevo Leon. The Mayor of Guadalupe and Cerralvo attended the event and assisted with the organisation. The orchestra program included polkas such as "Piedrera" and "El Circo", huapangos such as "Guadalajara" and "Carretero", "Cerro de La Silla" (Chotis), waltzes such as "Salvador" and "Fascinación" and "Los XV Años" (Redova).

The "Norteños" Orchestra was founded in 1994 by conductor Serguei Tibets. Members are aged from 10 to 25 years.

Contributed by Jan Lucas

The debut CD from the "Two Duos Quartet", entitled "Half as Happy as We" was released recently. The quartet consists of accordionists Karen Tweed, Andy Cutting, Chris Wood and Ian Carr (guitar and vocals).

The quartet will tour Great Britain from May 18th to 22nd, performing in Bridge Square in Farnham, Manchester, Sheffield and the Norwich Arts Centre, Norwich. For further information email jan@jlucas.demon.co.uk

Our "Celebrity Interview" with "Hottest accordionist" Dwayne Dopsie will be published on April 28th. Please send your questions to Moderator Wallace Liggett by April 24th.

The interview with French accordionist Jérome Richard will be published on May 4th. Please submit your questions by April 28th. Jérome recently released his new CD "Grain de Fantaisie" which is proving very popular.

Contributed by The Classical Free-Reed

Concert accordionist Henry Doktorski will perform with members of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra at the Frick Art Museum, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on May 16th. The concert program will include "Milonga del Angel" (Piazzolla) and "Rosen aus dem Suden" (Strauss) which was originally written for string quintet, piano and harmonium. Doktorski will play the harmonium part on the accordion.

For further information email: free-reed@trfn.clpgh.org

Contributed by Jean-Claude Pouly

The "Stanser Musiktage" Jazz Festival will be held on April 25th in the "Theater an der Muerg", Stans, Central Switzerland. Well-known jazz accordionist Richard Galliano will perform accompanied by Rémi Vigonolo (bass) and Daniel Humair (drums). For further information phone: +41 41 612 05 89

Contributed by Holda Paoletti-Kampl

Renzo Ruggieri has become a very proud dad for the second time. His son who he calls "The greatest musician of all times" was born recently, named Niccolò Ruggieri. Niccolò is already practicing his singing skills during the night!!

Contributed by AATA President Tania Lukic-Marx

This event organized by the Australian Accordion Teachers Association, from Friday 28th May to Sunday 30th May has received a record number of entries for 1999. Entries are from Australia, China, and New Zealand with increased entries in many classes. Also attending and performing are a number of Australia's and New Zealand's most famous accordionists, many with considerable touring experience in North America and Europe.

The venue has been changed to the Polish Club, in Ashfield, close to the rail station and only a few minutes from central Sydney. The event promises to be full of entertainment, fine music, good social times as well as a most exciting weekend.

Contributed by Dr Herbert Scheibenreif

Guest professor Geir Draugsvoll has been teaching the accordion at the Graz-University of Music, Austria since 1995. Geir is a very active classical accordionist who is frequently invited to concert performances on the international scene, often with James Crabb. Last week Geir's students performed at a "Students Concert" in Graz. Their program included works by Reinke, Mossenmark, Bach, Gubaidulina, Buxtehude and Rameau.

Contributed by David Watson

The Kennet Accordion Orchestra (Marlborough), recent winners at the Southern Area and Thames Area Festivals have formed a liaison with a local brass band, "Phoenix Brass" to promote the accordion through joint charity concerts.

A concert was held at Swindon recently conducted by musical director David Watson, who also arranged the music. An enthusiastic audience of nearly 300 people enjoyed their program of popular and classical music, and soloists including orchestra leader Nigel Pasby who performed "Stranger on the Shore".

The finale "Highland Cathedral" was arranged for accordion and brass by David Watson from a manuscript presented to Phoenix Brass after their performance with "The Band of Her Majesty's Royal Marines". The audience was so impressed they demanded an encore, so the orchestra performed the Theme from the film "Dances with Wolves".

Contributed by Uli Ebner

On April 22nd Stephan Langenberg performed at the "Schauspielhaus Bochum" in Germany. Stephan is a composer, coordinator, and interpreter, who is originally from Cologne. His concert program features a musical journey around the world, from Brazil to Paris on the accordion and bandoneon. His musical interpretations sometimes sound very personal, authentic and sometimes jazzy. Stephan performed with a guitarist and two percussionists. Their program included Choro, Bossa, Salsa, Tango and Musette pieces. Stephan has recently released his CD "Carpe Diem".

On May 12th Vladimir Zubitsky will perform at the "Maria Matos" Theatre, Lisbon at 8pm. His program will include "Passacaglia" (J.S.Bach), "Violin Concerto" (Tchaikovsky), "Rossiniana" and "Omaggio ad Astor Piazzolla". Following this, Vladimir will give a Master Class from May 13th to 15th at the Instituto de Musica Vitorino Matono. For further information phone: +351 1 814-96-99

Contributed by Jean Marc Fabiano

The "Marcel Azzola-Vladislav Zolotarjov" competition will be held on May 22nd and 23rd in Aubagne, France. For further information phone: +33 442 701436

Contributed by Peter Janssen

On April 24th Dutch Irish Folk group "Bangers & Mash" will be the opening act at the 4th Craic Celtic Music Festival in De Meern, near Utrecht. The group will perform for one hour beginning at 3pm. Their program will include "Come Up The Stairs", "The Star Of The County Down" and "The Ferryman" as well as ballads and their own compositions. Festival organizers expect over 500 people to attend the event.

"Bangers & Mash" members include Peter Janssen (accordion, mandolin, guitar and vocals), Sjanneke van Herpen (violin), Jeroen Stam (guitar and vocals) and Lowie van Herpen (vocals, guitar, flute and blues harp. They released their first CD "Dirty Dishes" in 1997 and had a very successful tour to Ireland last year.

For further information email: p.w.janssen@gironet.nl

Contributed by Oliver Dutt

US band "Six Pence and None the Richer" performed for 20 minutes on the "Comedy Network" episode on April 14th with accordionist Phil Madeira. Weltmeister Accordions provided the group with an instrument for the show.

Contributed by Sean Minnie

On May 8th the Pretoria Branch will hold their Annual General Meeting at the Acacia Town Hall, Pretoria. The club features traditional Boer Music functions and dances with concertina performances by members and guests.

For further information phone Tom Adams: + 27 12 651 3700

Contributed by Toru Katou

On May 16th the Kei-Han Accordion Club will hold their concert at the Yamazaki Culture Hall, Shinmachi-town 45-3, Neyagawa, Kyoto, at 1.30pm. For further information phone Mr Abo: + 81 720-35-2390

Contributed by Roger Latulippe

The New England Music Competition and Festival was held from April 9th to 11th in Newton, Massachusetts. Solo and group competitions were held for accordion, drums, guitar, keyboard, piano and voice. Competitors were aged from 6 to 22.

Contributed by Li Cong

The Shanghai accordion factory held a seminar from April 11th to 13th in Hangzhou. During the seminar, businessmen from Shanghai, Zhejiang Province and Jiangsu Province and accordion teachers discussed how to improve the level of Baile accordion making and quality as well as ways to widen the market for Baile.

In China, Baile Accordions in Shanghai and Yingwu Accordions in Tianjing are the main accordion manufacturers and for many years, these two accordion factories have dominated the Chinese accordion market.

Li Cong, President of the Shanghai Accordion Association and Wang Jia Xiang, Chairman of the Zhejiang Accordion Association attended the seminar.

Peter Janssen would like some information on his "Marinucci" accordion. If you can help please email: p.w.janssen@gironet.nl