Highlights |
Reports for Concerts, Masterclasses, Competitions, Festivals, etc. |
Future events |
CD Reviews |
Help Desk, Information needed, Readers CommentsSubmit Your Question, CommentSUBMIT NOW |
Random video 4UWatch the video |
Highlights |
Save the Dates, 14th World Music Festival 2022, Innsbruck - Austriaby Harley Jones |
![]() |
![]() This event has become a "must attend", in the calendars of many accordion lovers and is organised by the DHV (Deutscher Harmonika-Verband e.V.) of Germany. Enjoy competitions with categories for accordion, harmonica and Styrian harmonica in addition to a variety of concerts and a grandiose final Prize giving, to finish this unique festival, held every three years. Several thousand participants and visitors have a great time at this excellently organised event. Mark your calendar now for the 14th World Music Festival, 26-29 May 2022 in Innsbruck, Austria |
Online 2nd FIA 2020 International Festival - Chileby Christine Johnstone |
![]() |
![]() ![]() The Online 2nd FIA 2020 International Festival will be held from November 9th to 15th in Chile. This free event will include masterclasses, interviews and concerts. Masterclasses will be given by Frédéric Deschamps (France - advanced technique masterclass), Ignacio Porra (Argentina - Chamamé techniques), Sebastián Bravo (Chile) and Seba Malo (Chile - structure of the accordion). Concerts performers include Joaquín Muñoz Donoso (Chile - picture above left), Ignacio Porra (Argentina) Ernesto Calderón Dondero (Chile), Kristinka Vrba (Croatia - picture above right), Ensamble Transatlántico de Folk Chileno (Chile), El Barco Mágico (Chile), Pájaros Kiltros Duo (consisting of accordionist Millaray Parra & violinist Saruy Concha), Zárate Quarteto (Chile), Del Recoveco (Chile), Las Chinas Cholas (Chile - picture below), Aldo Taborda (Argentina), Juan Carlos Berrios Arancibia (Chile), Duo Fernando Salinas (accordion) and Mireia Pla (cello – Spain), Mirko Ianucci (Italy), Magic Klezmer (Chile), Los Chamánes de la Patagonia (Punta Arenas), Piececitos (Chile), Artem Malkhasyan (Russia), Ignacio Hernandez (Chile), Júlia Masnicová (Slovakia) and Jelena Milojevic (Canada). Interviews will be given by Chango Spasiuk (Argentina), Salino Jélvez (Chile), Millaray Parra (Chile), Cesar Pavon (Argentina), Petar Maric (Serbia), Daniel Sánchez Uribe (Chile), Romina Concha Madrid (Chile), Nerea Rodríguez-Acordeón (Spain), Martina Trost (Argentina) and Pietro Roffi (Italy). The event is sponsored by Music Paper, Clases de Acordeon.cl, Cafe Neighborhood and Scandalli Accordions. The event will close with a performance by the National Orchestra of accordions of Chile, ONACH directed by Joaquín Muñoz Donoso. For details email: fundacionentrefuelles@gmail.com |
![]() |
6th International Accordion Days in Prague Online Concert - Czech Republicby Christine Johnstone |
![]() |
![]() Instead, they prepared an online concert for your enjoyment. See video above. Trio Vibrafonissimo, which includes Ladislav Horák (accordion, picture right), Radek Krampl (vibraphone) and Vít Švec (double bass) perform a varied program as follows: Radek Krampl: Thirty Dosen Gorka Hermosa: Galliano en Santiago and Tango pour Ludwig Astor Piazzolla: Close your eyes and listen, Libertango and Summit Josef Vejvoda: Celebration (Birth, Childhood, Maturing, Adulthood) Chick Corea: Spain Radek Krampl: Annamaria Josef Vejvoda: Serenade for Jane Richard Galliano: New York Tango |
Video: TV Broadcast, Styrian Harmonica Competition, Lannach – Austriaby Christine Johnstone |
![]() |
![]() Five young finalists appeared in front of the jury and an audience to present their compulsory and freestyle pieces. After a very close competition the winners were announced as follows: 1st place: Johannes Grabner (picture left) 2nd place: Christina Schneeberger Johannes performed the test piece “Der geht eini” and his freestyle piece “In the Beautiful Apple Country”. Enjoy the video. |
XXIII International Accordion Festival Vilnius 2020 – Lithuaniaby Christine Johnstone |
![]() |
![]() ![]() Future concerts as follows: November 7th: Tutto a Dio Duo (picture above left) at Vilnius Church of the Virgin Mary Raminth. Free. November 10th: Duo "Tautas" at Energy and Technical Museum. Free. November 19th: More Air at Vilnius Church of the Virgin Mary Raminth. Free. November 20th: Evelina Sašenko with accordion jazz master Nerijum Bakula and an instrumental group from Poland with the impressive French program "Parisian Life" at The Concert hall of Catherine Church. The festival closing will include two concerts on November 22nd. The first will be held at the St. Concert hall of Catherine Church in Vilnius at 5pm with "ImproDialogs", which includes Andrius Balachovich (accordion) and Vytautas Labutis (saxophone). The duo will perform French music, chanson, musette, Django and jazz pieces. The second concert will be held in the same venue at 7pm with a performance by 4Tango – Fellini and Nino Rota – Music for films. Players are Kristina Žebrauskaite (accordion), Felix Zakrevski (piano), Donatas Bagurskas (double bass) and Andrius Rekašius (vibrafon). For details email: info(@)akordeonofestivalis.lt |
Reports for Concerts, Masterclasses, Competitions, Festivals, etc. |
Akkordeonale 2021 Accordion Festival in Dortmund - Germanyby Christine Johnstone |
![]() |
![]() The Akkordeonale 2021 event will be held at the Domicil Jazz & Blues Club in Dortmund, Germany on April 29th, 2021. Organisers have made changes to ensure the 2021 event goes ahead and is Corona-compatible! Almost all musicians for the original 2021 lineup were from abroad and it is by no means certain that they will be allowed to enter next April, so organisers have put together a new programme with musicians who all live in Germany. Cathrin Pfeifer who performs pieces from various regions around the world, incorporating complex rhythms and jazzy arrangements and improvisations. She fascinates her audience with her very own unusual way of getting sounds out of the accordion. Alex de Almeida, accordionist, composer and producer from Southern Brazil has found his new home in Karlsruhe. His compositions are an explosive cocktail of different musical genres, such as the Brazilian folk music forró, rock and jazz. He is passionate about the fusion of different rhythms. Serbian Jordan Djevic combines Balkan traditions with classical influences, jazz and evergreens. His music is his religion, his way of playing resembles a ritual that makes him stand out. Servais Haanen (Germany/Netherlands and organizer of the Akkordeonale, picture right), composes and arranges the festival’s ensemble pieces and guides the audience through the programme. For a long time now, he has been working on pushing the boundaries of what his accordion can do, integrating elements of New Music, minimalistic structures and other unusual and exceptional sounds. The programme from 2020 has been moved to 2022, and the musicians from 2021 are now coming in 2023. Tickets that have already been purchased will of course remain valid or will be refunded at the respective ticket office. For details email: info@domicil-dortmund.de |
Royal Academy of Music Online Auditions, London – Englandby Owen Murray |
![]() The RAM launched their first-ever Virtual Open Days in September 2020. This gave prospective students the opportunity to go online and meet the tutors and take a tour of the venues including the Susie Sainsbury Theatre, Dukes Hall and Angela Burgess Recital Hall. For further information phone: +44 (0)20 7873 7373 |
Zoe Tiganouria New CD Release – Greeceby Christine Johnstone |
![]() |
![]() Two songs, "Tha taxidevo" and "Fos pou trehei" are composed by Zoe, with lyrics by the late Elias Katsoulis and Vartoui Vartanian and convey a message of optimism, necessary in these times. |
Cancelled: Akkordeonorchester Ennepetal 60th Anniversary Concert - Germanyby Christine Johnstone |
![]() ![]() Under the direction of Holger Kunz they planned to present the musical history of their orchestra along with invited guest performers. Tickets will remain valid for their next concert in 2021, or can be returned to members for a refund or the amount of money can be donated. For details email: ao-ennepetal@gmx.de |
Bachtopus Accordion Ensemble performs "Hymn" by Denise Koncelik - USAby Christine Johnstone |
The Bachtopus ensemble is happy to release their first commission from their 2020 Composers Commissioning Fund, and the timing could not be better because it was perfect for Halloween. “Hymn” was composed for the ensemble by Denise Koncelik, DMA, who said part of her inspiration came from a short story by Edgar Allan Poe titled “Morella.” The Gothic horror story tells the tale of Morella, a woman who dies during childbirth. The father cannot bear to name the child until her tenth birthday. Her resemblance to Morella is so uncanny that the father decides to baptize her to drive away the evil spirits within. During the ritual, the priest asks for the daughter’s name. When the father responds “Morella,” the daughter cries out “I’m here!” and then dies. The father returns to his wife’s tomb to find nothing inside. In Poe’s short story, “Hymn” is a poem written by Morella to the Virgin Mary and sung to her husband. The Bachtopus ensemble, which includes accordionists Robert Duncan, Peter Flint, Denise Koncelik, Mayumi Miyaoka and Jeanne Velonis perform a mix of music by contemporary composers and Johann Sebastian Bach. Their 2020 Composer Commissioning Fund is sponsored, in part, by the Greater New York Arts Development Fund of the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, administered by Brooklyn Arts Council (BAC). For further details email: robertoduncan@gmail.com |
![]() |
VIII International Video Competition "Friedrich Lips Cup", Yemanzhelinsk - Russiaby Arseniy Strokovskiy |
![]() |
The 2020 VIII International Competition "Friedrich Lips Cup" for bayanists and accordionists was held from October 29th to November 3rd in Yemanzhelinsk, Russia. Due to Covid-19 restrictions, competitors sent in their videos, where jury members worked remotely. Each participant was required to send in one track, (without pauses or editing) of three works in a row with face and hands clearly visible. The Friedrich Lips Cup is held every three years and participants usually perform their programs in Chelyabinsk (where the main part of the competition is held) and younger players under 12 years old perform in Yemanzhelinsk. The results of the Friedrich Lips 2020 Cup will be announced on November 3rd. Diplomas to the best bayanists-accordionists will be sent in the mail and winners will be entitled to a cash prize. |
Theo Redepenning Wins Accordion Scholarship – New Zealandby Christine Johnstone |
![]() Since that time, Theo has entertained at many community concerts, variety concerts, jam sessions and recitals as well as street busking in Rangiora, and Christchurch. He is also a member of the Christchurch Accordion Orchestra. Having received the CAA's scholarship, he is looking forward to competing at the annual New Zealand Accordion Association South Pacific Championships which will be held in Auckland again next year. |
Future events |
First All-Russian Children's and Youth Performing Arts Competition named after J.I. Andreenko, Elektrostal - Russiaby Arseniy Strokovskiy |
This year, due to the current situation and the recommendations of the Ministry of Culture of the Moscow Region, the First All-Russian Children's and Youth Performing Arts Competition named after J.I. Andreenko in Elektrostal will be held remotely from November 27th to 29th, 2020. Videos must be taken on a static camera (without signs of mounting and gluing frames), with a resolution of at least 720 pixels. Video taken on the phone in an upright position (narrow-format video) is not permitted. Competition results will be announced online and be available to view until the end of December, 2020. To participate, contestants have until November 15th to submit a link to their video. Videos must be sent to: dmsh_andreenko@mail.ru Download competition rules in Russian language at: 2020ElektrostalRules.pdf |
Alicia Jo Straka Live Online Show – USAby Christine Johnstone |
![]() Alicia will hold an online live show on November 25th at 7pm MDT. For details email: aliciajostraka@gmail.com |
Accordeana-Graz Autumn Concert, Graz – Austriaby Christine Johnstone |
![]() |
The Accordeana-Graz orchestra will give their Autumn Concert at Styria Farm in Graz, Austria on December 5th, 2020 from 7.30pm to 9.30pm. The orchestra, conducted by Alexey Pivovarskiy play a program of original compositions and arrangements that range from light entertainment to jazz and contemporary works. For details email: office@accordeana.at |
Ian's Online Christmas Weekend - UKby Rob Howard |
![]() |
Ian Lowthian will run his Online Xmas Weekend on December 5th and 6th, 2020. The weekend will feature mainly Christmas music with some popular music from 2020 as well. The weekend will feature the accordion with mixed instruments added too. For details email: ianlowthian@yahoo.co.uk |
CD Reviews |
CD Review: Quodlibet CD by Friedrich Lipsby Joan C. Sommers |
![]() |
Help Desk, Information needed, Readers CommentsSubmit Your Question, CommentSUBMIT NOW |