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XXXI International Festival "Bayan and Bayanists", Moscow - Russiaby Dr Herbert Scheibenreif Manager of Friedrich Lips Productions |
![]() 2019 Schedule of Concerts - posters of each concert and program booklet at: 2019Moscow 11th December - Opening Concert 70th anniversary of Efrem Podgaits Concert for domra and orchestra and Concert No. 2 “Vivavoce” for bayan and orchestra will be performed by Ekaterina Mochalova and Aidar Salakhov, accompanied by the Russian Soul Orchestra of the Gnesins Russian Academy of Music, Artistic Director and Conductor - Vladimir Shkurovsky. The second part will present unique harmonics from different parts of the world. Compositions by Bach, Chopin, Gagliano, Piazzolla, Williams and other composers can be heard arranged for accordion, Indian harmonica, English concertina, German harmonica, African mbiri, bandoneon, Chinese shen, and button accordion. Soloists Pyotr Tkachenko and Sergey Soimenov will be supported by the State Academic Russian Folk Ensemble "Russia" named after Lyudmila Zykina, Artistic Director and Conductor - Dmitry Dmitrienko. 12th December Stravinsky, M. Mussorgsky and A. Na-Yun-Kin. The soloist is Yuri Kononov, a laureate of international competitions, a representative of the Siberian schools. Compositions by A. Vivaldi, I. Albeniz, S. Prokofiev will be performed by the Krasnoyarsk duet composed by Nikita Syrchin and Vladimir Anikin. 70th anniversary of Evgeny Derbenko Pavel Ukhanov, Anton Lukyanovsky, Pavel Fomin, Nikita Tabaev and the Russian Folk Instruments Orchestra “Melodies of Russia” of the Stupino Philharmonic, Artistic Director and Conductor Aleksey Sysoev will perform works by Evgeny Derbenko. 13th December Yuri Shishkin will perform works by J. Rossini, Yu. Zarembsky, Viatcheslav Semionov, G. Gontarenko, V. Vlasov, J. Bizet, A. Marquez. The silver medalist of the World Cup in the Digital Accordion category Stanislav Malyshev takes part in the concert. 14th December Composer and accordionist Artyom Nizhnik will perform transcriptions of the works of J.S. Bach, O. Messian, S. Rachmaninov, Franck Angelis, as well as the works of J. Bizet - F. Bonet and his own works. In the second part of the concert, two world premieres will take place: Symphony “Apocalypse of the 20th Century” for accordion, chamber orchestra and percussion by modern Magadan composer Alexander Nagaev, soloist Mikhail Burlakov; and Concert piece for viola, accordion and chamber orchestra of the famous Moscow composer and accordion player Roman Galiev. Soloists: Michiru Soeda (viola, Germany-Japan) and Arseniy Strokovskiy (accordion, picture lower right). The performers will be the Moscow Chamber Orchestra Seasons, Artistic Director and Conductor Vladislav Bulakhov 15th December - Closing of the Festival Peter Soave (bandoneon, USA-France) will perform works of A. Piazzolla accompanied by the Gnesins Chamber Orchestra of the RAM (conductor Andrei Rein); Renzo Ruggieri (Italy - picture above right) will perform jazz compositions and own works together with the jazz trio of Daniel Adiyants. View posters, program booklet and a full report after the event at: 2019Moscow |
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CIA Winter Congress, February 28th to March 1st 2020 in Prague – Czech Republicby Kevin Friedrich, CIA Ambassador |
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![]() The Congress is being hosted by CIA Voting Member The Prague Conservatory of Music, Jirí Lukeš - Director. Schedule download at: 2020WinterCongress.pdf To receive the special CIA hotel rate, please make your booking before 15 February 2020. Online registrations at: http://www.accordions.com/cia/cia_winter_congress.php |
Efrem Podgaits 70th Anniversary Concert - Russiaby Dr Herbert Scheibenreif Manager of Friedrich Lips Productions |
![]() ![]() Performers were the Radio Orpheus Symphony Orchestra under its conductor Sergey Kondrashev with soloists Friedrich Lips (bayan - picture right) and Alexander Buzlov (cello). “Double Mirror” was written in 2016 at the request of Friedrich Lips. The epigraph to the composition are the following lines from George Eliot’s novel "The Middlemarch": “Like a double mirror, The soul will give birth to rows of beautiful reflections, Forward prolonging them and back.” The award "Pure Sound" for the best audio recording of a work of Russian academic music in the category "Concerto for Solo Instrument and Orchestra", was awarded to the recording of Efrem Podgaits' concerto "Double Mirror" for bayan, cello and symphony orchestra received the award. The recording took place in Moscow’s famous Tchaikovsky Hall on October 4th, 2018, soloist Friedrich Lips. Pure Sound Certificate below |
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Rob Howard Releases Accordion Anthology 2, Stockport – UKby Christine Johnstone |
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![]() The biographies include Sharon Shannon, Harry Hussey, Yvette Horner, Dermot O’Brien, Owen Murray, Jonny Kerry, George Syrett, Douglas Ward, and Charlie Watkins. There are autobiographical contributions from Gary Blair, Gina Brannelli, Julie Best, Jean Corrighan, Mario Conway, Dave Cormack, Brian Forrest, Jean Hanger, Roy Hendrie, Karen Street, Karen Tweed, Seamus O’Sullivan, Nigel Pasby, Bert Santilly, Gordon Shand, Robert Whitehead, and Rob Howard. ‘Accordion Anthology 2’ is a near A4 sized high quality hardback, and has 375 colour photographs. A great holiday gift for accordion lovers! For further information and online ordering of “Accordion Anthology 2” at: robaccord08 |
Teachers - Win a Trip to New Zealand, 5 Weeks to Entry Closing - New Zealandby Harley Jones |
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![]() The New Zealand Accordion Association (NZAA) announces the 2020 International Video Competition & Promotion of Accordion Music by famous New Zealand composer Gary Daverne. This is a free online "Video Competition for Accordionists of all ages and nationalities" with a 1st prize of two round trip air tickets to New Zealand to the 2020 South Pacific Accordion Championships, 30-31 May 2020, Auckland, New Zealand. Accommodation for 3 nights included plus some additional other concert/holiday possibilities. Contestants must send a .mp4 video recording of one (or more) work/s composed by Gary Daverne who has a wide repertoire of compositions for accordion including: - solo; - accordion duet or accordion with another instrument; - accordion trio/ensemble or accordion with string ensemble; - accordion orchestra; - accordion soloist with accordion orchestra or accordion soloist with string orchestra or accordion soloist with symphony orchestra. The accordion music is available for any contestant free of charge upon request. The international jury will be: Gary Daverne, Kevin Friedrich, Grayson Masefield, Stephanie Poole. Entries online close 5th January 2020. Full information at: http://www.accordion.co.nz/2020/VideoDaverneCompetition.htm |
Reports for Concerts, Masterclasses, Competitions, Festivals, etc. |
Accordion Masterclass with Semion Schmelkov – Austriaby Dr Herbert Scheibenreif Manager of Friedrich Lips Productions |
![]() Picture left: Semion Shmelkov & Prof. Grzegorz Stopa In cooperation with the Gnesin Music Academy Moscow (Russia), the Music and Art Private University of Vienna organized a master class which included a lecture and final concert by Russian lecturer Semion Shmelkov from November 26th to 28th. Semion Shmelkov (Kemerovo) graduated from the Glinka State Conservatory in Novosibirsk with Prof. Alexander Krupin and then studied bayan at the Russian Gnesin Music Academy in Moscow in the class of Prof. Friedrich Lips. He currently teaches at the Gnesin Music Academy. His lecture on the "Russian Bayan School of Friedrich Lips", not only covered the life and work of his revered teacher, but also showed video recordings of former students of the great bayanist, in order to promote and prove his musical diversity in education. Lips has made an outstanding contribution through his 80 world premieres of new works as well as his pedagogical and musicological works, including countless recordings. During the masterclass, Semion dealt with questions about transcriptions and interpretations of classical and contemporary works. The focus was always on the optimal sound, how the respective work can best be made to sound on the accordion. The development of the instrument as well as various playing methods by means of bellows and finger articulation result in enormous possibilities, which must be used in the design of a work in a targeted manner. In the works of Bach, Denissow, Lundquist, Ishi, de Falla, Strauss and Majkusiak, among others, there was a lot of material for discussions in search of the optimal sound. The students had been well prepared for the final concert by their teacher Prof. Grzegorz Stopa, but were also able to incorporate these new ideas into their performances. Semion performed samples of his repertoire such as "No comment" (Merab Gagnidze), "Four Pieces for Accordion" (by his composer-wife Olga Tchistokina), "Aria" (Heitor Villa-Lobos) and "Military March" (Franz Schubert). Overall, the event was very positive and one can already look forward to future cooperation between the Vienna MUK and the Moscow Gnesin Academy. Pictures below: Semion Shmelkov, Sophie Herzog, Krzysztof Bratasz. |
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Prime Time Tejano Award Show Honors Flaco Jimenez and Max Baca – USAby Christine Johnstone |
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A Prime Time Tejano Award Show and Dance honoring “Los Texmaniacs” members, Flaco Jimenez and Max Baca took place at the H & H Ballroom in Austin, Texas on December 1st. Leonardo "Flaco" Jiménez is a Norteño, Tex Mex and Tejano music accordionist and singer from San Antonio, Texas. Max Baca founded Grammy Award winners, "Los Texmaniacs" who play a mix of Tex-Mex, World, Roots, Texas/Rock-n-Roll, Conjunto, Country and traditional music. Entertainment was provided by a number of artists including accordionist David Farias. |
Brandon McPhee Brand New Christmas Songby Christine Johnstone |
Christmas is just around the corner and Brandon McPhee has just released a Christmas Promotional Single for 2019. It’s an original song written by Les Thompson from Cash Returns in Ireland. Enjoy. |
Future events |
“Skerryvore” Winter with Friends Tour – Scotlandby Christine Johnstone |
![]() Popular band “Skerryvore” began their “Winter with Friends Tour” with a sell-out concert at the Darvel Music Festival in Darvel on November 30th. The band (which includes brothers Daniel on accordion and Martin Gillespie on pipes, whistles and accordion) will be recording their tour concerts live in preparation for their new live album to be released in 2020. Skerryvore are a multi-award winning Scottish band creating a ‘trad-rock’ fusion that has seen them perform in over 25 countries worldwide. They have twice been awarded “Live Act of the Year” at the Trad Music Awards. Tour dates are: December 6th: The Ironworks in Inverness December 13th: Stramash Live Music Bar in Edinburgh December 14th: Victoria Halls in Selkirk December 20th: Mclaren Hall in Killin December 21st: Forfar Reid Hall in Forfar December 28th: The Queen’s Hall in Dunoon December 29th: Albert Halls in Stirling December 30th: Howden Park Centre in Livingston December 31st: Hogmany Live at Tivoli Theatre in Aberdeen January 1st, 2020: Skye Gathering Hall in Portree January 2nd: The Nevis Centre in Fort William For tour details email: info@skerryvore.com |
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Victor Prieto Performances and Master Classes in San Antonio, Texas – USAby Christine Johnstone |
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Victor Prieto will begin a December 2019 series of performances and master classes in San Antonio, Texas on December 6th with the Thalea String Quartet. Concerts will be held on December 6th at Impresario, at Musica Viva on December 7th and at San Fernando Cathedral on December 8th. Outreach programs and masterclasses as follows: December 9th: Price Elementary at 8.30am. Phone: (210) 977-7225 Hutchins Elementary at 9.50am. Phone: (210) 977-7200 Southwest Elementary at 1.30pm. Phone: (210) 622-4420 Heartis Assisted Living & Memory Care at 4pm. December 10th: Benavidez Elementary at 8.20am. Phone (210) 977-7175 Kindred Elementary at 9.40am. Phone: (210) 977-7575 Athens Elementary at 11.30am. Phone: (210) 977-7055 SST Discovery at 1.30pm December 11th: Palo Alto Elementary at 8.30am. Phone: (210) 977-7125 Five Palms Elementary at 10am. Phone: (210) 645-3850 Kriewald Road Elementary at 1.30pm. Phone: (210) 645-7550 For details email: info@victorprieto.net |
Accordionist Semir Sammy Hasic Duo Concert - Sloveniaby Christine Johnstone |
Video: Semir Sammy Hasic (accordion) and Natalija Stanisavljevic (violin). Accordionist Semir Sammy Hasic will perform a concert in duo with Natalija Stanisavljevic on violin at the Caffe Galeria Piran in Piran, Slovenia on December 7th at 9pm. Hasic’s extensive repertoire includes compositions and accordion interpretations ranging from Bach, Mozart and Brahms to jazz. For details email: semir.sammy.hasic@gmail.com |
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Fiorindo Martinati Performs 10th Anniversary Concert - Franceby Christine Johnstone |
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Accordionist Fiorindo Martinati will perform at the 10th anniversary of the Club Carpentier Accordion at the Dugny-sur-Meuse Hall in Dugny-sur-Meuse, France on December 15th. The concert will also be a tribute to Francis Carpentier who passed away 10 years ago. The event promises live musette music and dancing. For reservations phone: 06.35.50.17.76 |
Candlelight Christmas Concert with Mario Tacca & Mary Mancini in New York – USAby Rita Davidson Barnea, Editor USA Accordion News |
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![]() The event will include entertainment by Mario on accordion, Mary on vocals, the Victor Lionti String Quartet and the Assumption Youth Spirit Singers. They will perform your favourite Christmas Hymns and Carols, as well as pieces by Bach, Vivaldi, Handel and Mozart. Light refreshments will be served after the concert in the St. Joseph Hall. For more information contact the Assumption Rectory at 914-737-2071 |
Pascal Contet Duo Concert in Paris - Franceby Holda Paoletti-Kampl |
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Accordionist Pascal Contet will perform a concert with Joëlle Léandre (double bass) at the Galerie Gimpel & Muller in Paris on December 15th at 6pm. This concert will celebrate 25 years together as a duo. Pascal Contet has composed approximately 300 new works and is recipient of numerous awards and the laureate of many foundations for his work as a soloist, chamber musician, and for his recordings. He has collaborated with a wide variety of artists in diverse fields of expertise, from theater to electronic music, to create new and innovative music and mixed media productions. For concert details phone: 06 09 68 96 98 |
Alex Meixner Band Performs at Christmas Party in Florida - USAby Christine Johnstone |
![]() The event will include high energy Christmas and German favorites, a visit from Santa plus some great food. For details email: info@alexmeixner.com |
Romano Viazzani Performs at Christmas Show in Chelsea - Englandby Christine Johnstone |
![]() The show will include seasonal treats, comedy and song with new and exciting jazz arrangements by vocalist Joanna Strand, Romano on accordion along with John Bailey (piano), Jason Reeve (drums), Alec Dankworth (double bass) and guest vocalists Rebecca Cooper and Lily Mansfield. For booking information phone: 020 7439 4962 |
Christmas Day Performance in Krefeld - Germanyby Christine Johnstone |
![]() ![]() The event will feature “Der Räuber Hotzenplotz” (The Robber Hotzenplotz) which is based on a character in a series of books by children’s author Otfried Preußler. A film was also made about the characters. Additional performances will be held at the same venue as follows: December 10th at 10am and 11.45am December 12th at 10am and 11.45am December 13th at 10.30am December 19th at 10.30am For details email: info@marko-kassl.de |
New and Updated Sites |
Renzo Ruggieri Releases Il Tuo Sguardo Sheet Music - Italyby Harley Jones |
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![]() ![]() The Renzo Ruggieri composition ll Tuo Sguardo in now released, Catalog: rrenzo521 The (solo) sheet music, .pdf format has improvisations at the level of the album arrangement. The music is difficult to perform but, thanks to a very effective melody, lends itself to both concert situations and international competitions. Catalog: rrenzo518 Valentango (solo) sheet music .pdf format. "Valentango" is a composition taken from the show 'Valentino è Tango!' dedicated to the myth of Rudolph Valentino and the history of tango. |
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