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Highlights |
World Accordion Orchestra IX Conducted by Joan Sommers, Coupe Mondiale - Italyby Kevin Friedrich, CIA Ambassador |
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![]() World Accordion Orchestra IX will perform three works on the Gala Concert on September 10, 2017 in Osimo. The first work “Omaggio a Pietro Overture” by Pietro Frosini is a fitting tribute to the early Italian pioneers of the accordion that kick-started the accordion movement in the United States. Both Frosini and Deiro (who wrote the original work that Frosini's piece is based on) were Italian immigrants, while Galla-Rini (who arranged the piece for Accordion Orchestra) was a first generation son of Italian immigrants. All were considered important pioneers in the American accordion movement. The other two Medleys including “La La Land” composed by Justin Hurwitz and "Beauty and the Beast" by Alan Menken feature some of today's most recognized music from Hollywood's Academy Awarding Films. Joan Cochran Sommers was awarded the title of Professor Emerita upon her retirement from the University of Missouri – Kansas City Conservatory of Music (USA), where she established and taught the accordion degree program for forty years. She has arranged innumerable works for the accordion orchestra, often for the UMKC Accordion Orchestra, a large symphonic accordion orchestra, which, under her direction, competed in and won more First Prizes in Virtuoso Accordion Orchestra Competitions than any other American group. Professor Sommers has held positions in many important national and international musical organizations and upon her retirement as CIA Vice President, she was unanimously awarded the status of CIA Honorary Member. For full program notes, information and registration, please visit http://coupemondiale.org/2017/it_worldorchestra.htm |
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New Lips Album "Hymn to Aphrodite" Released - Austriaby Dr Herbert Scheibenreif Manager of Friedrich Lips Productions |
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![]() The album tracks include: 1. "Hymn to Aphrodite" (2013) by Konstantin Yaskov 2-9. "I'm floating on the waves of love" (8 sonnets) by Michael Bronner 10. Tanguango by Astor Piazzolla 11. La Cumparsita by GM Rodríguez The CD album is also available as eTracks mp3 download files for only € 9.50 Sound samples and full information at Catalog: CD028 "Hymn to Aphrodite" This brings to 28 albums now published by the most remarkable Friedrich Lips and available online at: Friedrich Lips |
Unprecedented $100,000 Prize Awarded in Chamber Competition - USAby Kevin Friedrich, CIA Ambassador |
![]() The quartet of Russian Renaissance captivated the audience and jury on Thursday, May 4, inside Hill Auditorium to capture the second M-Prize chamber music competition. At $100,000, it is the largest chamber music prize in the world. In addition to their cash prize, they also will receive important performance opportunities as well as being invited to teach at the school of music, theatre and dance at the University of Michigan during their 2017-18 School year. Aside from the unprecedented prize money, the M-Prize Competition is renowned for the breadth of music that is welcomed as part of the competition. In addition to the traditional winds and strings categories in both senior and junior divisions, the main Category is an open category: a musical catch-all for ensembles that don’t fit cleanly into the more customary instrumental combinations. Coming out firing behind a ferocious interplay between the strings of a balalaika, performed by Ivan Kuznetsov, and domra from Anastasia Zakharova, Russian Renaissance executed their program with speed and precision, garnering loud applause following their 25-minute performance. Russian Renaissance competed for the $100,000 grand prize with Senior Strings division winner, the Argus Quartet and Senior Winds division winner the Donald Sinta Quartet. The ensemble, Russian Renaissance, debuted in October 2015, performing with world-renowned director Emir Kusturica, two-time laureate of the Cannes Film Festival and the No Smoking Orchestra. In Russia, the ensemble has performed in Tchaikovsky Concert Hall and Gnesins' Academy Concert Hall in Moscow; Yota Space concert hub in St. Petersburg; and the Youth Theatre in Rostov-on-Don. In Serbia, they have performed in the National Theatre of Uzice and the Concert Hall of the Russian House in Belgrade. The group describes their style as bringing together tradition and modernity, in unique crossover and fusion styles. The M-Prize competition, hosted by UM's School of Music, Theatre and Dance, received attention during its inaugural running last spring for its format and large cash prize offerings, with the Calidore String Quartet taking home the $100,000 Grand Prize. The International Jury included former New York Philharmonic concertmaster Rodney Friend, Juilliard String Quartet cellist Astrid Schween, Swiss saxophonist Lars Mlekusch, renowned flautist Carol Wincenc, multi-genre cellist Jeffrey Zeigler and Grammy Award-winning soprano Dawn Upshaw. Complimenting the grand prize, three $20,000 prizes are awarded to winners of three different categories of strings, winds and open competition, as well as junior strings and winds categories for ages 18 and under. In addition to the accordion being represented in the winning ensemble, the accordion was also featured in the 3rd place ensemble 'Avido Duo' comprising Alvaro Collao Leon (sax) and Djordje Davidovic (accordion). Djordje was the winner of the CIA Junior Coupe Mondiale in Spoletto, Italy in 2012. Next year's M-Prize 2018 Competition will be held from May 3-6, 2018. For more information and competition guidelines, please visit: http://mprize.umich.edu. |
Victoria International Accordion Festival, British Colombia - Canadaby Rob Howard |
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![]() ![]() Picture left: Jelena Milojevic Pictures right: Michael Bridge, Patricia Bartell. The festival includes concerts, accordion competitions, workshops, free accordion sessions, an accordion museum, accordion history lectures, a dinner dance, trade show, and free open air performances. Workshop leaders include Michael Bridge, Kornel Wolak, Mary Ross Klektau, Jelena Milojevic, Jesse Mea, and Patricia Bartell. The Gala Opening night concert on July 13th features Canadian digital accordion champion Michael Bridge, jazz duo Jesse Mea and R. Bougeoos, the Daniel Lapp trio with accordionist Adrian Dolan, and Pierre Shryer trio JUNO winner teamed up with leading Irish accordionist Dermot Bryne. The dinner and dance night on July 14th features Michael Bridge, the Roma Swing Ensemble (Romania), and the accordion groups Bijou de Bayou and the Ensemble Transatlantico de Folk Chilean. The July 15th concert presents Jelena Milojevic (Croatia), the festival competition winners, and the Double-Double duo, whose mixture of comedy, virtuosity, and musical sensitivity with their all original arrangements of classical showpieces, sensitive jazz ballads and fiery folk music from around the globe provides great entertainment. On July 16th the concert features the Victoria Accordion Club Band, the Victoria Youth Accordion Ensemble, and the locally based Bijoux de Bayou. This year’s Victoria International Accordion Competition will have a solo and one ensemble category, with prizes of over $5000 offered. For further information email: contact@bcaccordion.ca |
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Accordionists Perform at Buckingham Palace, London – UKby Rob Howard |
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Four accordionists – Brandon McPhee (picture above outside Buckingham Palace), Liam Stewart, Wayne Robertson and Tom Orr – plus a large group of other musicians, performed for a private event in Buckingham Palace for Prince Charles, Camilla, and 350 invited guests. The entertainment was coordinated by the Scottish singer Robert Lovie. Brandon McPhee commented that “It was a lovely experience. It was a real honour for me to play, and a memory I will never forget. The palace inside was beautiful and the weather outside was lovely to add to it”. The four players involved have been All Scotland Accordion Champions. |
Reports for Concerts, Masterclasses, Competitions, Festivals, etc. |
You should watch this video: Alexander Poeluev Plus 4 - Russiaby Alexander Poeluev |
![]() The combination of J.S. Bach (Prelude in Cm) and A. Piazzolla (Libertango), performed on one accordion by five musicians was inventive and unique and also a hit with the audience. Performers: Alexander Poeluev, Nikita Seryogin, Mikhail Starodubtsev, Carolina Desyatnikova, Eduard Abrahamyan. Liza Poelueva had the idea to play 1 accordion - 8 hands. She wrote: "We rehearsed this piece firstly in duet at home together with Sasha, trying to find new ways and the possibility of playing with many hands. It was really fun." Liza Poelueva also wrote about ideas. (English transation): "How come the ideas? Ideas, such an interesting thing, someone is after them chasing, someone is looking for them, someone is stealing, and someone is selling. Ideas are something special in the history of mankind, what underlies the evolution, the development of civilization. For people of creative professions, interesting ideas are especially valuable. Ideas was how the idea to play the one accordion by a few performers was created? We just live in the search for new solutions, ideas on how to draw people's attention to a young, complex, but such an interesting instrument - the accordion. The desire to interest young people, to support the accordion, to inspire us to search for new techniques, the performance techniques, has been driving us for many years. Probably, that's why God sends different ideas, and we have to worry a lot to not only prepare an unusual concert number, but also record it and share it with the world." |
John Jones MBE Collects Two More Awards, Cheshire - UKby Rob Howard |
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![]() The other award is the Paul Harris Fellowship, inferred by Ray Kramer, President of the Rotary Club of Macclesfield for the commitment that John has shown over the last 27 years in raising funds for many local organisations. Having taken early retirement from his job as a structural engineer, John decided to put his skills as an accordionist to good use, starting in 1991 by raising money for the MAST Appeal at Macclesfield Hospital. The Paul Harris award was established 60 years ago in 1957 in honour of the Founder of Rotary, so as to express appreciation and recognition of an outstanding commitment to Rotary or to the Community. Other recipients of this award include Mother Teresa, US President Jimmy Carter, Astronaut James Lovell, UN Secretary-General Javier Perez de Cuellar, and the American actress and singer Pearl Bailey. New Zealand composer, arranger and conductor Gary Daverne has also received this prestigious award. John is somewhat bemused by comparisons with Mother Teresa! |
Video: Martynas and the Mikroorkéstraby Harley Jones |
Martynas Levickis director, accordion with the Mikroorkéstra performing Vivaldi The Four Seasons (highlights). Published on Apr 15, 2017. |
Gary Blair Jr Success @ Leavenworth, Receives Great Publicity – USA, Scotlandby Rob Howard |
![]() His success was reported prominently in the newspaper upon his arrival back home. Download a readable size version of the newspaper article at: 2017Express.jpg |
Release of eSheet Music by Ivano Battiston - Italyby Harley Jones |
![]() Catalog: battiston101 Libertango Ivano Battiston has also released his own composition 'Postcards' for accordion and sax (soprano and baritone). The video above is by Simone Brusoni (sax) and Antonio Zappavigna (accordion). Catalog: battiston102 'Postcards' |
Future events |
‘Amigos do Acordeon das Rias Baixas’ Concerts – Spain, Portugalby Rob Howard |
The 10-members ensemble ‘Amigos do Acordeon das Rias Baixas’, from Galicia, Spain, performs in July and August, as follows: July 7th, 8pm – Barreiros Vigo, Spain July 15th - Frerigresia do castelo, Maya, Portugal July 22nd - Auditorium Agora, La Coruña, Spain August 3rd and 5th – afternoons, Forcadela Tomiño, Galicia, Spain August 29th, 11pm – Baiona, Galicia, Spain |
Angus Accordion & Fiddle Festival, Scotland – UKby Rob Howard |
![]() The festival includes concerts, dances and pub sessions. Accordionists performing include Wayne Robertson, Marian Anderson, Gavin Piper, Steven Carcary, Iain Anderson, Scott Gordon, and Stuart Cameron. |
Christophe Lampidecchia and Sarah Quintana Concert, Marseille – Franceby Rob Howard |
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Auckland Accordion Symphonietta (AAS) Concert - New Zealandby Heather Masefield |
![]() Guest Performers are: Rhapsody in Blue by George Gershwin - Soloist Alexandra Reekie Rhapsody for Accordion and Orchestra by Gary Daverne - Soloist Campbell Bettridge New Zealand Accordion Championships winners: Ave Accordeon Ensemble Owen Fan Angela Chen For further information email: ghia@ihug.co.nz |
Catskills Irish Arts Week, New York – USAby Rob Howard |
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The annual Catskills Irish Arts Week takes place from July 9th to 16th. This large scale event includes concerts, ceilis, workshops, sessions, lectures, etc. Many Irish traditional musicians are involved, and the free reed instruments are well represented by Billy McComiskey, Dan Gurney, Patty Furlong, and Colm Ganon - diatonic button accordion, Mirella Murray -piano accordion, Don Meade –harmonica, and Caitlin Nic Gabhann, Doug Barr, and Brenda Castles – concertina. |
‘Accordion Get-to-gether’, Enderby - Canadaby Rob Howard |
![]() Bring your accordion, lawn chairs or blankets and join in with dancing on the grass, singing, or just enjoying the sounds of accordions. Monday, 2pm-5pm and 7pm-9pm - Meet & Greet, Casual Jamming Tuesday, 1pm-5pm and 7pm-9pm - Individual Performances Wednesday - Music 1pm-4pm and Music 7pm-9pm Thursday Music - 2pm to 4pm; Dance at Enderby Legion, 7pm-11pm $10 a person For further information email: jnyl@telus.net |
‘Musicality Course - Tango Music, Cape Town – South Africaby Rob Howard |
![]() The course will consist of 3 sessions, held on July 10th, 19th and 22nd: The first 2 sessions will be a combination of listening to several Tangos and explanations of what we should listen for, mixed with dancing exercises. The third session will be with the full CT Tango Ensemble. It will start with a workshop for the participants in the course only, and it will continue with a full on Milonga with live music by CT Tango Ensemble and DJ Wikus Engelbrecht. The Milonga on the 22nd is open to all. Session 1 - Monday July 10th, 6.30-8pm at 1001 Mutual Heights (The Old Mutual Building) 14 Darling Street, Cape Town Session 2 - Wednesday July 19th, 6.30-8pm, 1001 Mutual Heights (The Old Mutual Building) 14 Darling St, Cape Town Session 3 + Milonga - Saturday July 22nd, 6.30-7.30pm (course only), 8-11.30pm Milonga for All Venue: Alliance Française, 155 Loop St, Cape Town Stanislav Angelov was born and educated in Bulgaria, and he studied Accordion since the age of 7. He came to South Africa in 1992 after graduating from the Conservatory in Bulgaria (Academy of Music & Dance Art in Plovdiv) with his main instrument being the Classical Accordion. In 2001 he formed the highly acclaimed Cape Town Tango Ensemble, and he has lived in Buenos Aires for several months, taking Bandoneon lessons from Ricardo Fiorio and Hugo Satore. The CT Tango Ensemble, led by accordionist Stanislav Angelov, performs at the Baxter Theatre, Main Rd, Rondebosch, Cape Town on July 23rd and on August 19th. For further information email: music@goodmusic.co.za |
SqueezinArt to Offer Discounts of Up to 75% at 2017 AAA Festival - USAby Dan & Joan Grauman |
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The 2017 American Accordionists' Association (AAA) Festival, which takes place in Princeton, New Jersey, July 12-16, will feature outstanding concerts, workshops and much more. There will also be multiple vendors displaying their wares, including SqueezinArt, which features a variety of gifts for accordionists and lovers of the accordion. SqueezinArt will be offering some of their products at prices that are reduced up to 75%. While we’re only in July, it is never too early to stock up on gifts for Christmas. This will be a great opportunity to do that. See you in Princeton! Picture below: Joan Grauman at a SqueezinArt display. |
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2017 AAA Festival Exhibitors - USAby Rita Davidson Barnea |
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2017 AAA Festival Exhibitors List and venue hours information. |
Titano Display at AAA Competitions & Festival - USAby Frank Busso Jnr. |
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Titano Accordions will be on display in the Ocean & Cumberland Rooms at the American Accordionists' Association (AAA) Competition and Festival is being held in Princeton, New Jersey from 12 -16 July at the Westin Hotel, Princeton, New Jersey (NJ). Display times are: Wednesday 12 July, 5 pm to 9 pm Thursday 13 July, 9 am to 11:30 am and 1 pm to 3:30 pm Friday 14 July, 9am to 3:30 pm Saturday 15 July, 9 am to 11:30 am and 1 pm to 3:30 pm |
Nick Ariondo celebrates Bastille Day, California – USAby Harley Jones |
![]() Nick Ariondo, a recipient of many awards, is recognized as a concert artist and composer of international prominence. His performances and compositions contribute immeasurably to raising the status of the accordion through the promotion and presentation of chamber concerts, solo recitals, and orchestra appearances. For further information email: accomusic@nickariondo.com |
‘1001 Noites de Acordeao’ Concert, São Miguel – Portugalby Rob Howard |
![]() This concert features Peter Maric (Serbia), winner of the 2010 CIA Coupe Mondiale, Rodrigo Maurício, Francisco Sabóia, Jorge Alves, João Tomas and Michel. |
Karen Street and Karen Tweed ‘Time to Sing’ Events, Birmingham, Burton-on-Trent – UKby Rob Howard |
![]() They have produced a book of sing-along tunes, which will be available at and for these events. The Classic Kyiv Duo, on tour from the Ukraine, will perform on both dates. Burton-on-Trent. There will be a collection on the day for and Alzheimer’s Society and families still suffering from the Chernobyl disaster For further information email: karen@karenstreet.com |
New and Updated Sites |
Baffetti Accordions "Know the People" Interview, Castelfidardo - Italyby Holda Paoletti-Kampl |
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"Know the People" Interview: with: Genuino Baffetti (picture left) Cinzia Baffetti (picture middle) Milena Baffetti (picture right) of Baffetti Accordions Editor: Holda Paoletti-Kampl "Know the People" interview about the people who have made this small city in Italy so famous around the world for their quality accordion products. Interview at: 2017Baffetti |
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Updated Site: Franco Cambareri Two New Compositions Released - Australiaby Franco Cambareri |
![]() cfranco226 - Guitar Romanca Guitar Romantica is a Pleasant Sweet Samba. Sound sample .mp3 file and sheet music sample online. cfranco227 - For Little Chiara For Little Chiara is a sweet melody written for my new grand daughter. Sound sample .mp3 file and sheet music sample online. These works are eSheet (pdf file, able to be emailed to you) and can be purchased online with secure server credit card. |
Updated Site: Prof. Vladimir Besfamilnov Passed Away, 14th May 2017by Harley Jones |
![]() http://www.accordions.com/news.aspx?d=19-May-2017&lang=en#art13105 Read about the life of this great educator and musician at: Vladimir Besfamilnov This site has has been updated and will be updated further. Besfamilnov is sadly missed and our deepest condolences to the family. |
Updated Information: Osvaldo (AKA Ossie) Mazzei (1913 - 2017), Brisbane - Australiaby Heather Masefield |
![]() http://www.accordions.com/news.aspx?d=14-Apr-2017&lang=en&s=12957 Thank you to Leo Mazzei and family for the video. |
Updated Site: Grayson Masefield, New Pictures, Qualifications and Text - Switzerlandby Heather Masefield |
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