Accordions Worldwide has recently opened the new section "Memorials" - an online memorial, which we believe is a good way to remember the world's accordionists. This week we have new names listed at: http://www.accordions.com/memorials/obituaries.shtml. If you would like to list an accordionist whom you love, who has touched you through their music, teaching, conducting etc., please fill in the submit form so other accordionists throughout the world will know of their contribution.

Wayne Knights Webmaster

• Lundeborg Festival - Denmark
• Belsele Concert - Belgium
• Anniversary Concert - Panama
• APH Summer Workshops - France
• Warmbaths Concert - South Africa
• Annual Irish Music Camp - Japan
• Sylvia Pagni Tours Canada
• Accordionists Accepted into Top University - China
• Baylife Features John Gaunt of "Accordions and Keyboards" - USA
• Gypsy and Irish Music Concert - Switzerland
• Accordion Kings Camp and Festival - USA
• Spanish Accordionist Attends International Competitions in Italy
• Soave Performs in San Francisco Bay - USA
• "Hand in Hand" Accordion Hope Project - China
• Kepa Junkera Interview - Belgium
• German Accordionist in Japan
• "Celebrity Interviews"
• German Group Tours USA
• Celebrating 40 Years of Teaching - China
• Ruggieri Performs at "Mediterranean Sounds" - Italy
• "18th Accordion Presentation" - Japan
• Broken Spoke Concert - USA
• Overseas Visitors at 8th meeting in Reichraming - Austria
• Tango Evening - Italy
• Antique Accordion Information
• New Sites

Contributed by Karin Jensen

The Lundeborg Festival will be held from September 3rd to 5th at the "Lundeborg Standcamping" (Lundeborg Beach Camp) in Lundeborg, 15 km north-east of Svendborg.

Performers include well-known folk music band "Lang Linken" (Denmark), Vladimir Ushakov (Russia), "Lillebror" (Norway) and many groups from all over Denmark including Svendborg Harmonikaklub Orchestra, White Wables, Lundeborg Harmonikaklub, Nyborg Harmonikaklub and Nymarkens Harmonikaklub.

Contributed by Dirk Van der Speeten

On September 19th, Belgian accordionist Joeri De Jongh will perform with synthesizers and drum computers at the TKC 't Eynde in Belsele. The concert, which aims to promote the accordion, will include many of Joeri's own compositions.

For further information see Future Events

Contributed by Carlos Burac

On August 15th a concert was held to celebrate the foundation of the City of Panamá. The old "Panama la Vieja" was founded on August 15th, 1521. The concert party was held near the city ruins. Many accordionists performed at the event including "Samy and Sandra Sandoval" (accordion and vocals), Ulipano Vergara and Manuel de Jesus Abrego.

Contributed by Frédéric Deschamps

For the third consecutive year, the APH (Association des Professeurs Hohner - Hohner Teachers' Association) "Summer Workshops" took place in Saint Etienne under the pedagogical direction of Frédéric Deschamps. Over thirty students spent 6 to 10 hours each day practising music in an ideal working environment with short but efficient breaks in the swimming pool and very modern and effective teaching methods.

The students also had the best possible motivation: preparation for autumn International Competitions including the Coupe Mondiale, Trophée Mondial and Castelfidardo. In Castelfidardo 25 students from Frédéric's class will participate in many solo categories.

Among those taking part in the workshop were Hohner artists Jérôme Richard, Frédéric Baldo, Marielle Roy, Mickaël Richard, Arnaud Guimard, Xavier Rollet and Sabrina Rivière (seniors) and Greg Frenard, Camille Privat, Christopher Frontier, Benoït Chabod, Magali Boissier, Vincent Carenzi and Guillaume Lopez (juniors).

As the number of workshop participants increases by an average of 30% per year, two other workshop sessions have been planned: August 20th to 25th in Pontarlier August 30th to September 4th in Doué la Fontaine (with Frédéric Deschamps and Eric Pisani)

On November 5th "Duo 2000" (Sergio Zampolli accordion and Amarillie Ackermann harp) will perform a recital in Warmbaths. Their program will include "The Blue Danube" (Strauss), "Liebestraum" (Liszt), "In a Persian Market" (Ketelbey), "Song for Anna" (Popp) and accordion solo "Medley of French Waltzes".

The duo also perform regular house concerts (sunset-soirees) in Emmarentia, Johannesburg.

For further information email: duo2000@global.co.za

Contributed by Toru Katou

The "6th Annual Irish Traditional Music Camp" will be held at the Gulliver Youth Travel Village, Takashima, Shiga Prefecture on August 29th and 30th. Many Irish melodeon and concertina enthusiasts are expected to attend the event which will include concerts, "pub sessions" and workshops. For further information email Mr Maekawa: CZR14340@niftyserve.ne.jp

Contributed by Holda Paoletti-Kampl

From September 1st to 10th Sylvia Pagni will perform during the final days of the Carrefour Mondial dell'Accordéon, an international meeting of accordionists held in Montmagny (Canada). In addition Sylvia will be interviewed during a show broadcast by a local Italian radio station. The tour will close with a concert in Montreal's theatre where the audience will have the opportunity of talking to the artist near the Excelsior stand and of listening to a few short pieces from her latest CD.

Contributed by Li Cong

Shanghai accordionist Mao Rui Ying (former champion of Australian and New Zealand international accordion competitions) and Wang Xiao (Dan Dong, Liao Ning Province) have both been admitted to the prestigious Qing Hua University.

In February, they sat the special Qing Hua University's art student's exam. Their accordion skills helped them gain top placings from over 1,000 students. This gave them valuable points towards the University entrance qualifications. Their success will give encouragement to other Chinese accordionists.

Contributed by Kevin Friedrich

A recent summer edition of "The Tampa Tribune" featured a two page interview with John Gaunt, owner of Accordions and Keyboards in Clearwater, Florida.

The article explained that on many of his playing engagements, John was approached by people asking where they could buy an accordion, so in 1984 he opened his business and now enjoys a roaring trade, with hundreds of instruments in stock. The interviewer was treated to a variety of demonstrations, and was surprised at the variety of sounds the accordion was able to produce.

During his years at the helm of Accordions and Keyboards, John has played, bought, refurbished and sold just about every kind of accordion made. Visitors to Florida are invited to drop in. www.accordionsandkeyboards.com

Contributed by Jean-Claude Pouly

Duo "Sevdah Sorelle" which includes Olga Tucek (accordion) and Andrea Zuzak (violin) will perform at Moods Jazz Restaurant in Zurich on August 31st. Their program will include Balkan,Yiddish, Gypsy and Irish Music.

For further information email: moods@access.ch

The "Accordion Kings Camp and Festival" will be held on August 28th and 29th in Round Rock, Texas. The event will include workshops, dancing and organized jam sessions. Tutors include Valerio Longoria (conjunto), Steve Riley (cajun), Lawrence Ardoin (creole), Mark Halata (Czech Polka), Debra Peters (Roots and Rock), Sandy Sanchez (conjunto) and Mike Maddux (roots).

Entertainers include "Valerio Longoria y su Conjunto" (San Antonio) and "Steve Riley and the Mamou Playboys". For further information phone: + 1 512 441-Y'ALL (9255)

Spanish accordionist Angel Luis Castaño has been invited to the October International Competitions in Castelfidardo and Lanciano (Italy) as a member of the Jury. He will also play concerts at these events. His program will include Spanish and international pieces.

For further information email: acasta5@almez.pntic.mec.es

Contributed by Robert Berta

Well known accordionist Peter Soave will perform at the Verdi Club, San Francisco on September 7th organized by the SF Bay Area Accordion Club (BAAC). Peter will play a wide variety of music on the piano accordion, bayan and bandoneon including classics, jazz and tango pieces.

Over 150 people are expected to attend the event. For further information email: RKB4@pge.com

Contributed by Li Cong

Jiang Jie (Principal of Beijing Accordion & Piano School) presented 6 accordions to the mountain villages in Gui Zhou Province earlier this year to give the children there the opportunity to learn the accordion. He invited Gui Zhou accordionists Tao Rang, Ying Qi and Hang Shu Ling to arrange the daily accordion teaching program. This is all part of Jiang Jie's "Hand in hand" Accordion Hope Project and he visits the Province regularly to assist with the project.

When Jiang Jie attended the accordion examinations in Qing Hai Province in July, he presented a further 10 accordions to the Qing Hai area as part of his project. He has also sponsored an 8 year old Tibetan girl from the Qing Hai Lake area, so she can attend the Beijing Accordion & Piano School. He will sponsor her living, schooling and accordion tuition expenses to assist her goal to become an accordion teacher.

Contributed by Joeri de Jongh, Editor of Accordo Magazine

The "First Anniversary" September issue of the Belgian accordion magazine "Accordo" will feature an interview with popular melodeon player Kepa Junkera. Junkera (Spain) performed recently at the Folk Festival in Dranouter, Belgium to several thousand people.

Contributed by Toru Katou

On August 30th German accordionist Stefan Hussong will present an "open lesson" at the Yotsuya Ward Public Hall, Yotsuya Ward, Tokyo at 1 p.m. For further information phone: + 81 3-3324-3653

The "Celebrity Interview" with famous accordion personality and business director Faithe Deffner is now on line.

The "Celebrity Interview" with Vladimir Zubitsky, Russian composer, teacher and artist is now on line in German, Italian and English languages.

Contributed by Pascal Schubbe

Popular German polka group "The Shanes" (also referred to as "The Motorhead" of folk music) will tour the United States in October for the second time this year. During their first visit the band performed in Austin and Fort Worth. This time they will play at the October Fest in Houston on October 15th and 16th. They will also perform other concerts in Austin, Texas with their new accordionist Andy Diewald.

For further information email: contact@shanes.de

Contributed by Li Cong

A concert was held recently in the Haerbing Concert Hall to celebrate Sun De Lun's (Chinese accordion artist, Chairman of Hei Long Jiang Province Accordion Association, Vice President of the Chinese Accordion Society and Professor of Haerbing Normal University) 40 year accordion teaching career. The concert program included performances by students of Sun De Lun, who also conducted his orchestra. They received a standing ovation for their performance.

Sun De Lun is one of the first accordion teaching specialists in Haerbing and one of the accordion course founders in Northeast China. During his career he has trained hundreds of accordionists, some of whom have become Professors and specialists in the Chinese accordion world.

During the concert, nationwide messages of congratulations were sent to Sun De Lun. The audience of over 1,000 people included Jiang Jie (President of the Beijing Accordion Association), Li Cong (President of the Shang Hai Accordion Association), Sun Jia Sheng (President of Liao Ning Accordion Association) and Zhao Shi Yu (Manager of the Shang Hai Accordion Factory).

Jazz musician Renzo Ruggieri recently played at the "Mediterranean Sounds" Jazz Festival in Atri (Italy) organized by the "In Medias Res" Cultural Association. The event featured many well-known Italian jazz musicians such as Paolo Fresu and the "Orchestra Contemporanea".

Ruggieri's concert took place in the city theatre and featured the "Solo Accordion Project" (with pieces from his latest CD) and the "RR Quartett" with special guest Geoff Warren (England). The well received concert showed the dynamics and contrast between the accordion and the flute.

Contributed by Toru Katou

On August 29th the Hideo Katahara Music Class will hold their "18th Accordion Presentation" at Hamamatsu Piano Co. Building, Naka Ward, Hiroshima. For further information on this concert phone Hideo Katahara: + 81 082-842-0285

On August 24th an "Accordion Roundup" was held at the Broken Spoke, Austin, Texas. The event began with a jam session followed by a performance by "Debra Peters and the Love Saints" who played country and roots music.

Contributed by Wim Tuinman

For the last five years we have traveled from Holland to Reichraming for the July accordion festival where we meet musicians from all over Europe. The event includes an impromptu pub evening, an evening concert in the Reichraming Chapel and a full day's program of performances. After playing, all musicians receive a souvenir of the event.

Performers included "The Neumühler Ziach Dirndl", Roman and Manuel Nawrot (Saulgau), a group from Gaishorn, and many Dutch musicians such as Rik Cornelissen (1997 European champion), Henny Tuinman, the "Reichraming Quartet" and Wietse Veenstra with his group.

A lot of people stayed a few days after the festival to participate in more impromptu gatherings and music evenings. Next year's event will be held on July 30th, 2000.

On September 3rd the "Tango e altre storie" quartet (which includes accordionist Beppe Turletti) will play in Peveragno (near Cuneo) in an evening dedicated to tango enthusiasts. The concert will begin at 9pm in the city's main square.

For further information email: igitur@libero.it

Udi Hershkovich would like some information on a Hohner accordion that has been in his family for over 60 years and must be at least 80 years old. The instrument is in good condition although it has not been played for the past 50 years. If you can help with information or an evaluation please email: udih@xacct.com

http://www.fisitalia.com Information on Fisitalia accordion models