The people of Germany, its associations and German accordion businesses have contributed greatly to the development of the accordion. From educational material, new music, instrument design, efforts to improve the popularity of the accordion, development of accordion orchestras, our accordion world owes much to the German speaking people of Europe.

This week, I want to feature a man who has succeeded in promoting accordion to enormous numbers of people (30,000 accordion pupils currently) during a time of general decline. He has made our instrument fun and educational to masses of enthusiastic young people.

His life has been devoted to work, his success a tribute to enormous skills and a huge work capacity, yet he has combined fun, education and business in a way that is an inspiration and deserves our greatest admiration. Even more interesting, most of the accordion world will not even know who I am talking about? The Answer.

Wayne Knights Webmaster

• Accordions Worldwide Office Manager Performs with Pavarotti - New Zealand
• International Accordion Festival - UK
• Coupe Jeunesse - Slovakia
• Jacomucci plays Donatoni in Rome - Italy
• Rudolf-Wuerthner Music Awards - Germany
• Accordion and Harp Duo - South Africa
• Successful Accordion Weekend - Netherlands
• Louisiana Rock and Reel - USA
• New Fisorchestra Liberina performs for UNICEF - Italy
• BBC Special - Scotland
• Christmas Conjunto Concert - Japan
• Contet Performs with Dance Music Duo - France
• Orchestra Christmas Concert - Germany
• Pauline Oliveros Performs - USA
• Avebury Village Annual Concert - UK
• Pieksämäki Accordion Club Gathering - Finland
• Annual Holiday Bash - USA
• "Solan" Tour England, Denmark and Holland
• Accordionist Accepted - New Zealand
• Philly Pops - USA
• New Sites
• Antique Accordion Information

Contributed by Christine Adams

Accordions Worldwide Office Manager Tatiana Lanchtchikova performed with Pavarotti on November 20th at Auckland's Ericsson Stadium. Over 20,000 "ecstatic" people attended this prestigious event (Pavarotti's first visit to New Zealand) including New Zealand Prime Minister Jenny Shipley, Opposition leader Helen Clark and yachting personality Sir Peter Blake. Tatiana performed the solo accordion part in the evening finale piece "Non Ti Scordar Di Me" (Don't forget Me) arranged by Henry Mancini, accompanied by the Auckland Philharmonic Orchestra.

Contributed by Thomas Duncan

The International Accordion Festival "Millennium All Star Show" will be held at Pontin's Holiday Club, Lytham. St. Annes, Blackpool from March 16th to 20th 2000. The festival will feature "Young Accordion Players" awards on March 19th which will include trophies and monetary awards for players under 16 years. There will also be a like competition for 17 to 21 year olds as well as a variety of entertainment.

The Wyre Accordion Festival (which is normally held at Easteris) will be held in conjunction with the International Festival. See Future events for details.

Contributed by Professor Tibor Rácz

The Coupe Jeunesse International youth competition for 13 to 15 year old children will be held from June 9th to 11th 2000 in Bratislava, Slovakia. This competition, which is organized by the Methodical Centre of Accordion at Bratislava State Conservatory will feature four categories for both piano and button accordionists and will be part of the International Accordion festival in Bratislava (from June 9th to 14th).

A new style of judging is planned for the competition and will include two juries: one professional and one amateur. The competition aims to promote winners in the media and give them future performance possibilities. For further information email: consbrat@netax.sk

Contributed by Holda Paoletti-Kampl

On November 10th, Claudio Jacomucci performed "Feria IV", a solo piece by Italian composer Franco Donatoni at the National Gallery of Modern Art in Rome. The event was presented by visual artist Lucia Romualdi, which included a huge light display.

Contributed by Winfried Haushalter

The First Cologne Accordion Orchestra performed to a large audience at the Dr-Ernst-Hohner Concert House in Trossingen for the Rudolf-Wuerthner Music Award celebrations on October 30th. The concert included the premiere performance of "Music of the Night" from Andrew Lloyd Webber's "Phantom of the Opera", arranged by orchestra conductor Matthias Hennecke. Their program ended with "The Final Countdown". This performance was broadcast by the German National Television Station ZDF on November 14th in a special concert program on the accordion.

Duo 2000, which includes Sergio Zampolli (accordion) and Amarillie Ackermann (harp) will perform two "house concerts" in Emmarentia, Johannesburg on December 4th and 5th. Their program will include "Ebb Tide" (Robert Maxwell), "The Monastery Garden" (Albert Ketelbey) and works by Khatchaturian, Liszt and Mendelssohn. For further information email: duo2000@global.co.za

Contributed by Gert-Jan Kamphorst

A "Weekend van de doorslaande ton" (weekend of the free reed) was held from November 26th to 28th in De Glind, Central Netherlands organized by the Stichting Volksmuziek Nederland (Foundation for Folkmusic in The Netherlands).

The event included workshops, informal playing and an 'Open Podium' where participants and tutors gave performances. A final concert was given by all groups on Sunday afternoon with short presentations of what was accomplished.

Tutors included Karin Geelen (accordion), Wim Wakker (concertina), Willem Schot (melodeon), Arnold Klein(melodeon), Ad Kwakernaat (melodeon), Greet Wuyts (Belgium - melodeon), Wim Dictus (melodeon), Anneke Goudkuil (melodeon) and Wim Claeys (Belgium - melodeon).

Contributed by Beth Potier

An accordion driven public television special will air on PBS across the USA in December. Cajun band "BeauSoleil" will join with traditional French music band "La Bottine Souriante" (Canada) for a "rocking exploration of French musical roots" entitled "Louisiana Rock and Reel". The program will feature traditional Cajun waltzes, blues songs, ballads and rock 'n' roll pieces performed at La Festival Internationale in Lafayette, Louisiana, in April this year. Pieces include La Bottine Souriante's renditions of "Le Reel du forgeron," "Le Lanlire," "A travers la vitre," "Le Rap a Ti Petang" and "Ouverture." Beausoleil will perform "In Search of Acadie," "Until the Night," "Cajunization Blues," "Zairco Boogie," "Song of Tommy," "Poison Love" and "My Grandfathers' Land."

Contributed by Holda Paoletti-Kampl

On December 4th, the New Fisorchestra Liberina, conducted by Pasquale De Marco will perform together with other artists in honor of the 10th Anniversary of the International Convention of Childrens rights / UNICEF. The concert will take place at 10am at the Salone "Macchine Utensili" at Alife, Caserta.

Contributed by Gary Blair

BBC Scotland featured a "behind the scenes special" with accordionist Phil Cunningham and Ally Bain (violin) on November 30th (St. Andrews night in Scotland). The program followed the musicians behind the scenes during a recent tour and included "plenty of action on the stage".

On December 24th Japanese accordionist Kenji El Gato Y "Conjunto J" (formerly Los Gatos) will play at Kokkyo No Minami (South Of the Border) in Kitaku, Osaka. His program will include popular pieces such as "Flor De Dalia", "Monterrey Polka" and "Ayer Sali De La Carcel". For further information email: kenji.katsube@tsubakimoto.co.jp

French accordionist Pascal Contet will perform with the dance music duo including Eric Lamoureux in Limoges on December 7th. Three days later Contet will participate in the Mass and Violin Concerto (Bernard Cavanna) at the "Salle des Fêtes", Genevilliers. The following day he will play at a tribute to composer Klaus Huber, with the Trio Allers-Retours, which also includes violin and cello on December 11th. Their program will include pieces by Cavanna, Ravel and an improvised interlude by Contet. For details see Future Events

Contributed by Hans-Cornelius Petersen

The Diemelspatzen Accordion Orchestra will give its annual Christmas concert on December 19th in the Korbach Town Hall, Korbach, Hessen. This free concert will include a performance by the Kids Orchestra who will play "Hansi und sein Zauberfahrrad" (Hansi and his magic bicycle) and "TV Hits" by Wolfgang Kahl. This will be followed by the Diemelspatzen Accordion Orchestra performing church and Christmas music and works such as "Oregon" (Jacob de Haan) and "Starlight Express" (arranged by H.G. Koelz).

Contributed by Valarie Morris

Accordionist Pauline Oliveros will perform two concerts this week. The first is at the Meridian Gallery, San Francisco on December 3rd, where she will play solo items and duets with vocalist Una Nakamura and dulcimer player Dan Joseph. The group will also present a new ensemble piece. For further details on this concert phone: + 1 415 398 7229. Pauline's second concert will be held on December 4th. For further details email: wendyburch@aol.com

Contributed by David Watson

The Kennet Accordion Orchestra will perform their annual Christmas concert at the Avebury Village Hall on December 6th to an expected capacity audience. Their program will include "White Christmas", "The Snowman" and Christmas carols.

The following day the orchestra will combine with the Phoenix Brass band to play at Marlborough's Victorian Evening in the Town Hall to over 5,000 people. This event takes over the entire main street and is organized to raise money for local charities. The Kennet orchestra will perform pieces especially arranged for this event including "The American Dream", "Away in a Manger", Christmas carols and a unique arrangement of "Highland Cathedral".

Contributed by Esko Könönen

The Pieksämäki Accordion Club will hold their "Little Christmas" gathering for club members on December 4th in Pieksämäki, Eastern Finland. This event will include performances of international Christmas songs such as "White Christmas", "Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer", "So this is Christmas" and "Jingle Bells" as well as traditional Finnish songs.

Contributed by Valarie Morris

The San Francisco Bay Area Accordion Club will hold their "Annual Holiday Bash" on December 7th at the Verdi Club, San Francisco. The event will include a variety of entertainers including the Accordion Chamber Ensemble and the BAAC Fun Band. For further information email: valarie@skyblueproductions.com

Shetland group "Solan" which includes Frances Wilkins (concertina), Richard Chaff (guitar and vocals) and Chris Henderson (violin) will tour England, Denmark and Holland from December 1st to 20th. The group play traditional and contemporary songs as well as tunes from Shetland, Scotland, Ireland and North America including "Planxty Irwin", "Hut on Staffan Island" and "Tommy's Tarbukas".

The group released their debut album "Northern Shore" on November 28th to coincide with their tour. The CD includes "Handsome Molly", "The Lace Shawl" and "The Lancashire Lads". For further information email: SOLAN@cds-studio.shetland.co.uk

Contributed by Heather Masefield

Auckland accordionist Kathryn Fletcher has been accepted for a two year Performance Study degree as part of her Bachelor of Music degree by the University of Auckland School of Music. This is the first time an accordionist has been accepted at a New Zealand University. Kathryn is also a member of the North Shore Musicale Accordion Orchestra.

Accordionist Joe Soprani performed with Peter Nero and The Philly Pops at the Academy of Music in Philadelphia with well known soprano Evelyn de L Rosa on November 30th. This concert will be repeated on December 5th and 6th. For further information email: sopranimusic@webtv.net

www.accordions.com/gruber Information on Harmonicas and Accordions produced by the SEM/Castelfidardo Company.

www.master-production.com Updated information on Master MIDI equipment

www.accordions.com/df Site about Dieter Fröhlich and the Musikschule Fröhlich

Sandy Guiste would like some information on a Dom. Pontarelli Italian Accordion MFR with an address in Chicago, Illinois marked on it. If you can help please email: sguiste@csonline.net

Mark Vallevand would like some information on an accordion that is either a Hohner Erica or Double Ray accordion. The instrument had the words "Hohner," "Steel Reeds," and "Made in Germany" marked on it. Mark believes the color matches the Double Ray rather than the Erica, but he would like to know how to confirm this and determine the age of the instrument. If you can help please email: markus@rsvl.unisys.com

Bill Clark has a small Hohner Mignon accordion, which may be a student or youth model. He would like some information on the age of the instrument. Please email: BAD2NE@aol.com

Dawn Neel has a Settimio Soprani piano accordion, which is in mint condition and in its original case. Accompanying literature indicates that it was made in Italy in the late 1940's. If you can help with the value of this accordion please email: jneel1@rochester.rr.com