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Online: 13th Italia Award Accordion Competition - Italyby Christine Johnstone |
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![]() ![]() The event will take place from May 20th to June 5th, 2022. Art director Renzo Ruggieri (picture left) and President Claudio Azzaro (picture right) advise that candidates from all over the world and with instruments of any brand will be able to take part. Download competition rules in English and Italian: 2022ItaliaRules.pdf |
2022 Accordeonfestival Hoger Streven – Belgiumby Christine Johnstone |
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The Accordion Association Hoger Streven will host an accordion music evening with performances by Belgian accordionists on April 9th, 2022 at Zaal Lux Kapellen in Essen, Antwerp, Belgium. The audience will be treated to a variety of Balkan music, Klezmer, French chanson, jazz, Argentine tango, classical music and own compositions by Ivan and Mike Smeulders, Gwen Cresens, Tuur Florizoone, Rony Verbiest and Sara Salvérius. For details email: festival2011@hoger-streven.be |
Pietro Adragna Wows the Judges at "Italia’s Got Talent" - Italyby Christine Johnstone |
![]() Accordionist Pietro Adragna (Sicily, Italy) wowed the judges and the audience with his Italia’s Got Talent TV performance on February 23rd, 2022. The judges were excited by his playing and awarded him four “YES”. The TV show was broadcast on SKY in Italy. You will see that the name of the the accordion is covered. The accordion is manufactured by the Mengascini accordion factory in Italy who also sponsor Pietro Adragna. The Mengascini name is covered with tape by the TV station to prevent free advertising. |
CNIMA April 2022 Accordion Courses – Franceby Christine Johnstone |
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![]() ![]() • April 11th to 15th, 2022: Accordion Accompaniment Course with Aurélien Noël (picture above left). Aurélien has accompanied variety artists such as Eddy Mitchel, Céline Dion and Roberto Alagan and will teach you how to accompany soloists on the accordion. • April 18th to 22nd, 2022: Diatonic Accordion Course with Alain Pennec (picture above right). A key figure in Celtic music, Alain Pennec offers you technical (fingering & ornamentation), harmonic and rhythmic work. • April 18th to 22nd, 2022: Musette & Swing Accordion Course with Eric Bouvelle. International competition winner, Eric Bouvelle offers an immersion in the musette and swing with work on the repertoire, arrangements and composition. • April 25th to 29th, 2022: Accordion Course with Franck Angelis, composer of today's accordion, Franck leads a workshop around his works. For further details email: cnima@orange.fr |
Joe Cerrito Performs with the Venice Symphony Orchestra - USAby Joan Grauman Morse, AAA Historian |
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![]() On February 4th and 5th, 2022 the orchestra presented three spectacular sell-out “A Night at the Oscars” concerts. The conductor of the Venice Symphony, Troy Quinn, is known for his “energetic and riveting, yet sensitive conducting”, and also for his diversity. He is equally at home with pop, opera, Broadway and classical music. For this concert, Maestro Quinn chose Oscar-winning scores and created a mesmerizing evening of great selections by John Williams, Elmer Bernstein, Henry Mancini and others. For a few of these pieces, such as “Concerning Hobbits” from Howard Shore’s Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, and “Love Theme” from The Godfather by Nino Rota, Quinn wanted to bring in an accordion. Accordionist Joe Cerrito was chosen. Pianist Dick Hyman (who resides in Venice), expressed this choice well, “Of course they chose Joe. He’s the man!” The accordion, and Joe’s skillful playing, added just the right touch to the selections. The orchestra enjoyed sharing the stage with Joe and he with them. Joe will be celebrating his 89th birthday next month and is still very active, playing in restaurants, at festivals and private parties in and around Sarasota, Florida and Providence, Rhode Island. Please visit my 2016 article on Joe on the AAA website. http://www.ameraccord.com/articles/CerritoJoe.htm |
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Reports for Concerts, Masterclasses, Competitions, Festivals, etc. |
2022 Musikmesse Cancelled - Germanyby Christine Johnstone |
![]() ![]() However, they are already planning to re-establish the audience format Musikmesse Plaza and Musikmesse Festival for a later year. Further details will be announced in the future. |
16th Annual Big Squeeze – USAby Christine Johnstone |
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Entries are now open for the 16th Annual Big Squeeze youth accordion competition, which will be held in person and online during April 2022 organised by Texas Folklife. The competition will include Cajun, zydeco and polka categories for 25 years and under and Conjunto categories for 21 years and under. The event will also include a series of virtual discussions with members of Texas’ accordion community about the future of the Big Squeeze. Competition entries will close on March 31st 2022. Conjunto Semi-Finals will be held live at the Museum of South Texas History in Edinburg on April 23rd, 2022. Finals will be held at the Bullock Texas State History Museum in Austin, Texas on May 14th, 2022. For further information email: bigsqueeze@texasfolklife.org |
AAA Composers’ Commissioning Committee Information - USAby Dr. Robert Young McMahan |
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![]() 1. Information about the 2022 Elsie Bennett Composition Competition for Aspiring Composers is now online. Information, Awards, Regulations and Entry Form at: 2022Bennett.pdf 2. The AAA Composers’ Commissioning History has been updated and expanded. 3. The Composers Guide for Accordion has been updated and is a free download to assist all accordionists to work with composers. Download at: http://www.ameraccord.com/commissions/ComposersGuide.pdf 4. The historical and analytical series of articles about the AAA commissioned works was originally appearing every year from 1997 through 2019 in the AAA Festival Journal. These Journal articles are now all available to download at: http://www.ameraccord.com/aaacommissions2.php 5. The articles are also being expanded with additional musical examples and historic photographs and then added to the AAA website in html format. |
Video: Global Accordion Music Festival Akkordeon Akut 2021 – Uwe Steger & soloists of the Central German Chamber Orchestra "The New Four Seasons"by Holda Paoletti-Kampl |
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Video: Concert recording at the Global Accordion Music Festival Akkordeon Akut 2021 on October 16th 2021 at Pushkin House. Accordionist Uwe Steger & soloists of the Central German Chamber Orchestra perform "The New Four Seasons". “With his classical background, Uwe presents a program with soloists of the Mitteldeustchen Kammerorchester under the direction of Andreas Hartmann, which revolves around the seasons composed especially for him by Rene Möckel.” “A cross-genre firework of virtuosity and emotionality paired with cinematic elements.” |
Accordionist Nathan Koci Performs on New 3 CD Set - USAby Christine Johnstone |
![]() The music was featured live at an event commemorating the liberation of Auschwitz at The Sheen Center in NewYork City in early 2020, and was also featured recently on the Met Museum’s weekly Balcony Bar series. CD tracks intimately fuse sounds of Jewish spiritual and Klezmer music along with classical influences, middle-eastern rhythms, jazz improvisation, and tinges of Americana. The three volume set is available on the Adhyaropa Records label. |
Future events |
“Alpaca Social Club” Arts on Tour – New Zealandby Christine Johnstone |
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![]() Video: Alpaca Social Club performing "Abduls Camel Ride" The “Alpaca Social Club” duo of accordionist Craig Denham and Jon Sanders (bouzouki) will tour New Zealand with cousin Alice (vocals and banjolele) this month as part of the Arts on Tour Event. The group enjoy performing a mix of folk, Arabic, Celtic, funk, soul and Gypsy jazz music. Their tour, which began on March 2nd, will include concerts at 30 venues in the North and South Islands. Dates are: North Island March 4th: The Black Room in Thames March 5th: Katikati Folk Club, Katikati Arts Junction March 6th: Opotiki Senior Citizens Hall, Opotiki March 8th: St Barnabas Church, Rotorua March 9th: 4th Wall Theatre, New Plymouth March 10th: Whanganui Repertory Theatre, Whanganui South Island March 12th: Picton Little Theatre, Picton March 13th: Reefton Club, Inangahua Community Arts Council March 14th: The Laboratory, Lincoln March 15th: The Lodge Theatre, Geraldine March 16th: Albury Hall, Fairlie March 17th: Oamaru Opera House, Oamaru March 18th: Cromwell Tarras Community Church March 19th: Arrowtown Athenaeum Hall March 20th: Eastern Southland Gallery, Gore March 21st: Franz Josef Glacier (TBC) March 22nd: Old Lodge Theatre, Hokitika March 23rd: Barrytown Hall, Barrytown March 24th: Kaiapoi, Christchurch March 26th: Balcairn Hall, Balcairn, Christchurch March 27th: The Mayfair Arts & Culture Centre, Kaikoura March 29th: Denniston Dog, Westport March 30th: The Mussel Inn, Onekaka March 31st: The Boathouse, Nelson For further details phone: 021 982 306 |
Gorka Hermosa Concerts in Madrid – Spainby Christine Johnstone |
![]() ![]() Gorka wrote the soundtrack of the work and each of the stories that it consists of. Concert dates as follows: • March 6th and 7th, 2022: Circle of Fine Arts in Madrid • March 11th and 12th, 2022: La Cabrera in Madrid • March 13th, 2022: Majadahonda in Madrid For details email: gorka@gorkahermosa.com |
Radu Ratoi “Martisor 2022” Solo Accordion Recital - Moldovaby Christine Johnstone |
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Radu Ratoi will give a solo recital as part of the “Martisor 2022” Festival on March 7th at 6pm. The concert will be held at the Sala cu Orga (Organ Hall) in Chisinau, Moldova. His program will include works by Bach and Liszt, as well as a new premiere for the accordion by composer Ghenadie Ciobanu. Radu will also feature pieces from his new CD “Greatest Organ Works”. |
Coba Broadcast Live on Twilight Radio - Japanby Christine Johnstone |
![]() He will feature as a guest on the monthly show. |
Vardos Trio Perform at Windfire Music Festival - Australiaby Christine Johnstone |
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Vardos Trio, which includes accordionist Sophia Chapman will entertain at the Windfire Music Festival, Wesley Church, Geelong, Australia on March 12th, 2022 at 3pm. Their program entitled “From Myth to Masterpiece” will “explore the folk traditions behind classical Eastern European composers Chopin, Liszt, Bartok and Tchaikovsky. The group will also perform their own compositions and some classics in Romany Gypsy style. For details email: vardos@hotmail.com |
“The Fureys” Perform March Concerts in Irelandby Christine Johnstone |
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Video: “The Fureys” performing "When You Were Sweet Sixteen" from their double CD "30 Years On". Popular five piece band “The Fureys” will perform concerts in Ireland this month as follows: • March 18th: Concert at the Marketplace Theatre in Armagh. Phone: 028 3752 1821 • March 19th: Concert at Vicar Street in Dublin. Phone: 87 257 9019 “The Fureys” have been entertaining audiences worldwide for 40 years and have released numerous CD's. |
Victor Prieto Concerts & Masterclasses - USAby Christine Johnstone |
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Victor Prieto will hold a series of concerts and masterclasses in San Antonio, Texas, USA from March 22nd to 28th, 2022. On March 23rd he will perform at the Charline McCombs Empire Theatre in San Antonio, Texas with Aaron Prado (piano) and jazz singer Magos Herrera. Their program will include Spanish, Mexican and Latin music in a modern and latin jazz style. For details email: info@victorprieto.net |
Hexham Folk Music Weekend - Englandby Christine Johnstone |
![]() ![]() The event will include a variety of workshops which will be held at Core Music and the Hexham Community Centre, both in Gilesgate. Accordion tutors are David Oliver (ceilidh band - picture left) and Ian Lowthian (picture right). For details email: malcolm1mckinnell@gmail.com |
29th International Harmonika Meeting - Austriaby Christine Johnstone |
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The 29th International Harmonika Meeting will be held in the Hartl Saal, Gasthof Hartl in Neuhaus, Austria on Easter Monday, April 18th, 2022 from 11am. All interested parties are cordially invited to visit the Hartl on Easter Monday and harmonica friends are welcome to register to play on the Hartl stage. For details email: info@hartl-wirt.at |
New and Updated Sites |
CNIMA USA Teaching Tour, May & June 2022 - USAby Christine Johnstone |
![]() The CNIMA (Centre National et International de Musique et d'Accordéon) is a French based accordion school founded by famous accordion tutor Jacques Mornet and award-winning accordionist, Nathalie Boucheix (pictured left), who will conduct a CNIMA Teaching Tour in the USA this coming Spring 2022. The tour will include masterclasses, workshops and demonstrations and is open to all ages, all levels, all styles and is suited for piano and button accordions. Tour dates as follows: • May 25th from 2pm to 5pm: Accordion Masterclass at South Oxford Place (BK) in New York City • May 30th at 2pm to June 3rd at 12.30pm: Four day Accordion Workshop at Alliance Française in New Orleans • June 5th from 2pm to 5pm: Accordion Masterclass at Petosa Accordion Shop in Seattle • June 9th at 7pm: Accordion demonstration at Alliance Française in Los Angeles Jacques Mornet has taught worldwide and is the recipient of the Gus Viseur Prize and the Russian Gnessin Academy Silver Disc and in 2003 was awarded the CIA Merit Award. Mornet's technique lies in approaching the accordion as a wind instrument rather than a keyboard instrument. The proper use of the bellows combined with the appropriate touch of the keys creates outstanding results that transforms one's playing and frees musicality. CNIMA students have enjoyed multiple successes, including having won a record 126 awards at international competitions. The school has trained several generations of finest French accordionists including Alain Musichini, Domi Emorine, Félicien Brut, Vincent LHermet and Christine Rossi to name a few. Further information at: https://www.cnima.com/en/usa |
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