|
The
Dargaville Museum (New Zealand) presents...
'Accordion Gems' by Kevin Friedrich
...A Master Collection
of Accordions through Time...
Aratapu
Library Purchased - June 2006
Dedication of the Accordion Gems Display - 3 December 2006
Aratapu
Library relocated to Harding Park - January 2007
Grand Opening of New Music Wing at the Dargaville Museum - 21
October 2007 at 1:00 PM
Launching of Accordion Gems Exhibit in Display Cabinets - 29
March 2009
|
|
|
Dedication
of 'Accordion Gems' - 3 December 2006 |
|
'Accordion Gems by Kevin Friedrich
- A Master Collection of Accordions through Time' was officially
dedicated at a ribbon cutting reception held at the Lighthouse
Reception Center (adjoined to the Dargaville Museum) at the
conclusion of the grand Gala Celebration Concert in the Dargaville
Town Hall on December 3rd, 2006 which was held by Kevin not
only to celebrate the dedication of the Accordion Gems Exhibition,
but also as a tribute to the 30th anniversary of the passing
away of his former teacher Mr. Ben Emmett.
As the community rallied in true Dargaville style, the Dargaville
Town Hall was filled to capacity for the fundraising concert
entitled "A Moment in Time".
A spectacular success, the concert featured both local artists
as well as guest accordion soloists and orchestras from Auckland
including New Zealand Champion Campbell Hill, Entertainment
Champion Grayson Masefield, the Starlight Duo (Lionel Reekie
and Maurice Jones), the North Shore Accordion Orchestra and
the Musicale Accordion Orchestra. The concert concluded with
the Grand Finale featuring members of a combined New Zealand
Accordion Orchestra accompanying Kevin on the work Gem of the
Kaipara, as well as Now Is the Hour, where Kevin performed in
an 1830's Flutina, joined by the Dargaville Kauri Chorus.
Eight members of the former Ben Emmett Accordion (BEA) Orchestra
formed a reunion group to perform some of their favorite orchestra
pieces from 30 years ago, even reenacting the Tango dances that
Ben and Doreen Emmett loved to do. After conducting the orchestra
in the first few bars of the Tango, Mr. Emmett would put down
his Baton, invite his wife from the group to join him, and then
delight the audience with a Tango dance performance while the
BEA Orchestra continued on. Please see the pictures to enjoy
the wonderful community support of the accordion exhibition
project.
|
First
Half of Gala Concert - A Moment in Time
|
 |
|
The
capacity audience at the Dargaville Town Hall
|
 |
|
Hip
Hop Dance Group (Elevation Dance Company) (2000's)
|
 |
|
Hip
Hop Dance Group (Elevation Dance Company) (2000's)
|
 |
|
Hip
Hop Dance Group (Elevation Dance Company) (2000's)
|
 |
|
Line
Dancers (Kaipara Line Dancers) (1990's)
|
 |
 |
|
Above
left: Phantom Of the Opera (1980's)
Above right: Lara Lee, Kath and Sam Gnalo
|
 |
|
Kauri
Coast Choir (1970's)
|
 |
|
Kauri
Coast Choir (1970's) - Abba Medley
|
 |
 |
|
Rock
and Rollers (1960's/1950's)
|
 |
 |
|
Concert
organizer Heidi Dreyer and friends performing Que Sera
Sera
|
Second
Half of Gala Concert
- A Moment in Time
|
 |
|
Kauri
Chorus - "One Moment In Time"
|
|
|
|
Ben
Emmett's Accordions (BEA) Reunion Orchestra
with a
picture of
Mr. and Mrs. Ben and Doreen Emmett projected on the overhead
screen.
|
|
Song
of India by Rimsky Korsakov & Plasir d'Amour by Padre
G. Martini
La Cumparsita by Matos Rodriguez
|
 |
 |
|
Above
left: Adrienne Wordsworth (Robinson) and Joan Brown (Emmett)
Above right: Lynette Parkinson (Fowlie) and Jacque Bland
(Fischer)
|
 |
 |
|
Above
left: Kevin Friedrich and Fiona Managh (Cocurullo)
Above right: Neryl Semu (Moorhead), Fleur Simpkin (Ritchie)
|
|
|
|
Doron
Semu and Natalie Anderton dancing the Tango
with the Ben Emmett's Accordions (BEA) Reunion Orchestra
(Note: in BEA Orchestra performances, conductor Ben Emmett
would put down his Baton, and invite his wife Doreen to
the stage and they would dance the Tango while the orchestra
played on.)
|
|
|
|
Ben
Emmett's Accordions (BEA) Reunion Orchestra
|
 |
 |
|
Above
left: Campbell Hill (New Zealand Solo Champion): Concerto
- 1st Movement by Vivaldi-Bach
Above right: Grayson Masefield (Entertainment Champion):
Pondichery Tango by Jérôme Richard
|
 |
|
Musicale
Accordion Orchestra
Beatles Magic arranged by Gary Daverne
|
 |
|
New
York, New York by John Kander with special lyrics by the
Reekie family, sung by Lionel Reekie
|
|
|
 |
 |
|
Above
left: Lionel Reekie presenting a copy of the special lyrics
to Kevin Friedrich
Above right: The Starlight Duo - Lionel Reekie and Maurice
Jones
|
|
|
|
North
Shore Accordion Orchestra conducted by Lionel Reekie
Tango Dancers in tribute to Ben and Doreen's love of the
Tango - Stephanie and Tony Poole
|
 |
|
North
Shore Accordion Orchestra conducted by Lionel Reekie
performing:
A Media Luz by Edgardo Donato (featuring Stephanie and
Tony Poole dancing the Tango)
Poet and Peasant Overture by Franz von Suppé
|
 |
|
Above:
Emmett Family members presenting Kevin with an award.
pictured are Ben and Doreen's two daughters Linda (left)
and Joan (with microphone)
and Joan's two children Isabella and Benjamin
|
 |
|
The
New Zealand Accordion Orchestra conducted by Gary Daverne
comprising North Shore Accordion Orchestra & Friends
Gem of the Kaipara by Gary Daverne
Kevin Friedrich - Accordion/Flutina Soloist
|
 |
 |
|
Above
left: Kevin Friedrich being congratulated by Gary Daverne
Above right: Kevin Friedrich performing on an 1835 Flutina
|
 |
|
The
New Zealand Accordion Orchestra conducted by Gary Daverne
|
 |
|
The
Grand Finale - The New Zealand Accordion Orchestra and
Kauri Chorus conducted by Gary Daverne
comprising the North Shore Accordion Orchestra & Friends
(42 players, plus percussion)
BEA Reunion Ensemble, the Kauri Chorus and Audience
Christmas Medley and Now is the Hour
|
|
At the conclusion
of the concert, musicians, guests and dignitaries traveled to
the Dargaville Museum for a formal reception and Ribbon Cutting
Ceremony where Kevin officially dedicated and opened his accordion
exhibition entitled "Accordion Gems, A Master Collection
of Accordions Through Time".
Kevin invited the three daughters of the three dedicatees, Joan
Brown, daughter of Ben Emmett, Fiona Managh, daughter of Jenny
Cocurullo and Heather Masefield, daughter of Allan Jones to join
him in cutting the ribbon, signifying the official dedication
and opening of the exhibition and exciting journey ahead in the
efforts to preserve and enjoy the rich and colorful history of
the accordion. |
| Setting
up and Dedication |
| In preparation
for the dedication of the Accordion Gems display, the instruments
were taken from their storage facility, while waiting for the
Music Wing to be refurbished, to be readied for the public viewing
in the Lighthouse Function Centre. |
|
some
of the instruments and materials from the Accordion Gems Collection
|
| Dedication
of the Accordion Gems Exhibition |
| Following the
Gala Concert in the Dargaville Town Hall, guests were invited
to the Lighthouse Function Centre, attached to the Dargaville
Museum to join the Dedication Ceremony of the Accordion Gems Display. |
|
Program:
- 4:30
PM - Reception
- Viewing
of Instruments and Champagne Reception
- Welcome
and Speech by Kevin Friedrich
- Greetings
and Congratulatory Messages
- Ribbon
Cutting by Kevin Friedrich, Fiona Cocurullo (Managh),
Joan Emmett (Brown) & Heather Jones (Masefield)
- Afternoon
Tea Ceremony
- Music
by the Starlight Duo Lionel Reekie and Maurice Jones,
Ben Emmett's Accordions Reunion Group
- Open
Jam Session
|
 |
 |
|
Guests
viewing some of the Accordion Gems display
|
 |
 |
|
Above
left: Speech by Margaret Tier
Above right: Speech by Amber Masefield on behalf of the
CIA
|
|
|
|
Above:
Emmett Family members presenting making a presentation
to the Dargaville Museum
pictured are Ben and Doreen's two daughters Linda (left)
and Joan (with microphone)
and Joan's two children Benjamin and Isabella and Margaret
Tier
|
 |
 |
|
Above
left: Anne Marie Panzic on behalf of the New Zealand Accordion
Association
Above right: Speech by Heather Masefield
|
|
|
|
Ribbon
Cutting Ceremony with Fiona Cocurullo (Managh), Heather
Jones (Masefield) and Joan Emmett (Brown)
the daughters of the three Honorees of the display Jenny
Cocurullo, Allan Jones and Ben Emmett
|
 |
 |
|
Above
left: The Starlight Duo (Lionel Reekie and Maurice Jones
Above right: The Starlight Duo joined by Kevin Friedrich
performing on a Frosini styled chromatic accordion
|
|
|
|
Members
of the Ben Emmett Accordions Reunion Orchestra performing
on vintage instruments
|
 |
|
Members
of the Ben Emmett Accordions Reunion Orchestra
pictured with with vintage instruments from the Accordion
Gems collection
|
 |
 |
|
Above
left: Kevin Friedrich with Keith Davidson (former member
of the BEA Accordions)
and Gary Burnett, the original manager of the Lighthouse
Function Center
Above right: Fiona Cocurullo (Managh) with Kevin's sister
Kathy Macdonald and mother Val Friedrich
|
 |
|
Fiona
Cocurullo (Managh), Ron Halliday, Merv Hilliam (Museum
Committee members) and Kevin Friedrich
at the conclusion of the Reception and Dedication Ceremony
|
|
| School
Shows and Visits |
|
As part of the Dedication celebration,
the Museum conducted an Open House for one week, where all the
schools from the area could visit the collection and not only
learn the history of the accordion, but also have some hands
on experience.
|
|
|
| Xmas
Parade |
|
To cap off the week-long celebration,
the Dargaville Museum took part in the annual Dargaville Xmas
Parade with a musical offering, highlighting the new Accordion
Gems exhibition.
|
|
|
 |
 |
|
Kevin
Friedrich performing during the Dargaville Xmas Parade
|
|
| Coming
Home |
|
As part of the celebration of the
opening of the Accordion Gems display, the plaques honoring
the memory of Ben and Doreen Emmett were transferred from an
Auckland Cemetery where Doreen had been living close to at the
time of her passing, back to their home town of Dargaville,
and are now part of the Mt. Wesley Cemetery, located just over
the hill not only from the Dargaville Museum, but also their
original homestead at 18 Park Road, where they operated their
Music Studio from.
|
|
|
