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Reports for Concerts, Masterclasses, Competitions, Festivals, etc. |
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Highlights |
Editor’s Noteby Rob Howard |
![]() Our first news shows a wide range of news items, and if you would like to contribute news for this free service, please email: robaccord5@hotmail.com Rob Howard |
17th Internationales Akkordeon Festival 2016, Vienna – Austriaby Harley Jones |
![]() This is the 17th festival with a management team led by Friedl Preisl who again has aimed to balance between proven musical greats and new discoveries. This is one of the largest annual accordion festivals with some 30 concerts/events at 18 different venues. Artists at this month long major international festival include: Otto Lechner and the Ziehharmonische Orchester Wien, CJ Chenier & Red Hot Louisiana Band, Motion Trio, Nebl & Nebl, Dancas Ocultas, Klaus Paier & Asja Valcic and many others. This year, there is a Festival Pass offered for € 99 for five events of your choice. For further information, download the program at: 2016Vienna.pdf |
2016 National Accordion Association Convention, Texas - USAby Rob Howard |
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![]() The 29th Convention includes concerts, organized training sessions, workshops, jam sessions, banquet, parties, dancing, Accordion Band and NAA Accordion Orchestra. The NAA Board is: President Norman Seaton, Vice-President Nick Ballarini, Rebecca Ratliff, Sharon Seaton, Nancy Bernstein, and Laura Niland. The training session topics will include: Know Your Accordion; Musicality; Musical Styles & Ethnic Genres; Music Theory Simplified; Effective Practice & Presentation; Strategies for Working Together with Group Applications; Solo Performance Strategies; Effective Use of Technology in Music; Personal Evaluations & Critiques; Performance. Now on the NAA website is: 2016 Daily Schedule 2016 Workshop Descriptions Hyatt Regency North Dallas Reservation System. A special convention rate is running to 17th February 2016 so view the details online. Full information at: National Accordion Association (NAA) |
2015 Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann, 14 to 22 August 2016, Ennis - Irelandby Harley Jones |
![]() Some super impressive statistics of this huge event that features accordion so much as soloist and in so many groups. Some 350,000 attendees from around the world, over 20,000 musicians, 1,500 dedicated volunteers, 190 competitions, all packed into 8 days. Ennis has twice been home to this huge event and both occasions are regarded as very successful milestones. This will be another huge celebration of traditional Irish music. |
2015 East and South China “Hohner Cup”Accordion Competition - Chinaby Harley Jones |
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![]() More than 600 contestants took part in the solo and group categories with the Awards Concert being held on the 27th December. All the winners were performing plus some guest orchestras. This competition and festival was most successful and helping to promote the development of the accordion. Picture below: judge Crystal Wang, Shen Zhiyao, Chen Le, Peng Ruoxi, Tian Muhang, judge Zhao Yubiao. More pictures at: http://www.accordions.com/china/?nid=35 |
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Accordion-YellowPages.com Free Listing of Accordion Events - Cyberspaceby Harley Jones |
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All concert, competition and festival organizers are reminded to list their Future Events for 2016 in the Accordion-YellowPages.com website. Its free to list and you can do it yourself. You can also change and update your listing yourself as further information becomes available. The Accordion-YellowPages.com Future Events calendar displays at the top right hand side of this Weekly News of accordions.com in all 7 languages and also on the USA News, Diatonic News and Russia News. Huge numbers of readers, about 5,000 visitors per day, view also the Future Events calendar display, so all accordion event organizers are reminded to take full advantage of this free service to keep the accordion community informed. Any internet challenged organizers may email their event details: harleyaccordion@yahoo.com |
Grayson Masefield Performing Concerto 'Aconcagua' with Orquesta Sinfónica de Chileby Harley Jones |
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![]() Coupe Mondiale and Trophée Mondial winner Grayson Masefield performs three concerts with the Orquesta Sinfónica de Chile conducted by Francois Lopez-Ferrer as part of their third January program of their summer festival. The concert theme is scenery and impressions and Grayson will be playing Piazzolla's Concerto 'Aconcagua' named after Chile's highest mountain in the Andes. Two concerts are in Santiago on 28th and 29th January and one concert in Frutillar on February 1st. Masefield eTracks mp3 album available at: Grayson Masefield |
Reports for Concerts, Masterclasses, Competitions, Festivals, etc. |
27th International Festival & VI International Competition, Moscow - Russiaby Harley Jones |
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![]() A full report including results, photos and videos are online at: 2015Moscow |
Brandon McPhee CD ‘Scottish Champion’, Scotland – UKby Harley Jones |
![]() Tracks: Edwin Flaws of Wyre, Miss Elspeth Campbell/Brandon McPhee of Castletown, The Stone Outside Dan Murphy’s Door/If You Ever Go To Ireland/Shoe The Donkey/Doonaree, Tekeli/The Devil In Dublin/The Reel of May/Nora Crionna, Anne’s Reel/The Apple Tree/Peerie Hoose Ahint The Burn/The Plough and the Stars, Shannon's Smile, Bill Black of Stanley/Arlene Bowrie/Jim Money, Petter Pratt’s Polka/Jimmy O The Bus Polka, The Cuckoo Waltz, The Thief of Lochaber/Alan MacPherson of Moss Park/Paddy’s Leather Breeches/The Curlew, Miss Rowan Davies, The 79th’s Farewell to Gibralter/Captain Norman Orr Ewing, The Osstkaa Waltz, Happy Hours, Bengullion/Macleod of Mull, John Crawford's Waltz, John Carmichael’s Farewell to Scotland/Ian Powries Farewell to Scotland, The Dark Island, McGuire’s Welcome to Fermanagh/Billy McGuire’s Reel/Wing Commander Donald Mackenzie’s Reel/Roberta’s Reel For further information email: jiml@musicinscotland.com |
Accordionist and Keyboardist Jon Hammond Busy Showtime - USAby Rita Davidson Barnea |
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Picture above: Jon Hammond Funk Group, Jon far right. Video above: Jon Hammond Shedding With Myself on Excelsior Accordion. Like my friend Dick Contino the great accordionist star once told me: "When I break out the accordion it's like saying hello to an old friend!" Here I'm playing blues with my accordion - I have electronics on this instrument, but what you hear here is the pure sound of the high quality steel reeds. Jon Hammond is a highly accomplished keyboard musician and accordionist. He is very generous with sharing his talents. He said, "The dates that I do in hospitals and assisted living facilities are not open to the public - for those dates I just go in and play music for my people who can not go out and the only people who can bring cameras in there are family. So I tend not to publicize any of my work in that sector. I did a tour earlier this year of senior centers in the ethnic areas of San Francisco that was strictly solo accordion. It was supported by the musicians union and we had a lot of fun." His accordions CD's are available at: Jon Hammond Jon will be featured at the NAMM night stage at the Sheraton Park Hotel on Thursday, 21st January 9:00 to 9:40 pm. It will be his 30th NAMM show! Location: NAMM Sheraton Acoustic Stage. In 1981 Jon formed BackBeat Productions. Assisted by Lori Friedman, the innovative TV show "The Jon Hammond Show" became a Manhattan Cable TV favorite. The weekly show is now in it's 28th year and has influenced the broadcasts of David Letterman and others. Billboard Magazine hailed Jon's show as "The Alternative to MTV". The Jon Hammond Show can be seen worldwide at various times streaming from www.mnn.org and on channels 56 and 108 in Manhattan. Jon is the host of daily CBS radio program "Jon Hammond's Afternoon Slide" on KYCY 1550 AM. |
Edward Giffney Pre-Concert Foyer Performance, London - UKby Harley Jones |
![]() Edward Giffney (accordion) Program: Weber/Liszt/Giffney Invitation to the Dance Piazzolla Oblivion Rachmaninov Italian Polka Kholminov Nocturne Method Medley de Valse Makkonen Tango Toccata Traditional Variations on a Ukranian Theme New Zealand 22 year old multi-instrumentalist Eddie Giffney recently received his Masters of Music with First Class Honours, majoring in Performance Piano at the University of Auckland. This year, he began further piano studies at the Royal College of Music, London with Ashley Wass, supported by a Cosmina & Douglas Liversidge Award. In addition to the piano and the harpsichord, Eddie has had considerable international accordion success, including gaining 3rd place in the Coupe Mondiale Junior Virtuoso Entertainment category and twice winning the South Pacific Accordion Championships. Eddie learns piano accordion from Stephanie Poole and Owen Murray. |
Video: Buckwheat Zydeco "Put It In the Pocket" - Buckwheat's World #32by Harley Jones |
Video published on Jan 4, 2016. Buckwheat says thanks to all the trick shot featured in the video edited by Jpan Goldsmith. Check out the upcoming performance dates of the ever popular Buckwheat Zydeco: 17 Jan New York NY Highline Ballroom (with Marcia Ball) February: 5th Panama City FL PCB Mardi Gras and Music Festival 6th Birmingham AL Workplay Theater 9th Milwaukee WI Potawatomi Bingo Casino Northern Light Theater 11th Duluth MN Red Herring Lounge 12th Minneapolis MN Dakota Jazz Club & Restaurant 13th Ames IA Maintenance Shop Memorial Union Iowa St. Univ. 14th Red Wing MN Sheldon Theatre 17th Chicago IL City Winery 18th Ann Arbor MI The Ark 19th Lakewood OH Mahall’s 20 Lanes 20th Louisville KY KCD Theater 23rd Cincinnati OH Taft Theatre 24th Nashville TN City Winery 26th Kalamazoo MI Bells Eccentric Cafe 27th Buffalo NY Buffalo Iron Works 28th Pittsburgh PA Club Cafe 29th Wilmington DE World Cafe Live at The Queen |
Report about XXIII International Competition "Arrasate Hiria" - Spainby Oksana Kutulya |
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![]() Download the 56 page 2015 program: 2015AHiria.pdf Report at: 2015XXIII |
Video: Janne Valkeajoki, 2015 "Arrasate Hiria" Winner - Finlandby Harley Jones |
Two videos published Dec 11, 2015 by Janne Valkeajoki. Video 1: Rameau: L'entretien des Muses (from "Pieces de Clavecin") Video 2: Uroš Rojko (1954-): Whose Song (1991-1992), for accordion. Janne Valkeajoki (Finland) won 1st place at the XXIII International Competition "Arrasate Hiria" held in early December 2015 in Spain. |
Victor Prieto and Chris Cheek perform "Memories" live at The Red Room - USAby Harley Jones |
Berklee College of Music is featuring this video of Victor Prieto and Chris Cheek perform "Memories" live at The Red Room @ Cafe as part of The Checkout - Live at Berklee. You want to pursue a Degree in Jazz accordion?...now is the moment. |
Video: Duet ''LiubAnya" Those Were The Days - Russiaby Harley Jones |
A nice arrangement of the famous song 'Those Were the Days' which was a huge hit for Mary Hopkins. Performed by Duet ''LiubAnya", published on Mar 30, 2015. http://www.liubanya.com English lyrics were put to the Russian romance song "Dorogoi dlinnoyu" ("By the long road"), composed by Boris Fomin (1900–1948) with words by the poet Konstantin Podrevskii. It deals with reminiscence about youth and romantic idealism. |
14 Years Ago: December 2001 – The Show Must Go On…by Harley Jones |
![]() Snow Storm Threatens Concert – Italy Contributed by Holda Paoletti-Kampl The "Fisarmonica-Orchestra" conducted by Paolo Picchio gave two very successful concerts on December 23rd in Castelfidardo and on the 29th in Cingoli. The Castelfidardo performance was unfortunately preceded by an impressive snow storm which threatened to keep the audience from reaching the venue at the Auditorium San Francesco, but the bitter cold did not stop the hundred or so enthusiasts who cheered the group on. The Cingoli concert also drew a crowd and the prestigious venue, the "Verdi" Hall of the Municipal Palace, impressed both performers and audience with its ultra-modern lighting system and its brilliant acoustics. |
Future events |
Christine Schmid & Andy Lang Concert, Badenweiler - Germanyby Rob Howard |
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On Saturday January 9th, 8.15pm, accordionist Christine Schmid and Celtic harpist Andy Lang perform in concert at Pauluskirche Badenweiler, Germany. |
Tiger Lillies 'Dark Cabaret' to the Sydney Festival 2016 - Australiaby Harley Jones |
![]() In Australia? "We're a cabaret band!" says Martyn Jacques, for 30 years the Tiger Lillies' leader and principal songwriter. Returning to Australia for the first time since 2010, the band's new show, The Very Worst of The Tiger Lillies, draws on three decades and more than 30 albums of richly idiosyncratic, influential and downright dirty work. "We're often packaged as 'dark cabaret'," Jacques says with a sigh. The Very Worst of the Tiger Lillies is at the Sydney Festival's Famous Spiegeltent, Hyde Park North, until January 17. |
Jovan Rnjak @ Dorset Accordion Club, England – UKby Rob Howard |
![]() For further information email: sammiepeckover@gmail.com |
Marko Kassl Diary Dates – Germanyby Rob Howard |
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Picture above: Trio Beck. Austrian accordionist Marko Kassl has the following forthcoming dates in January and February: January 10th, 7.30pm – program Gefangen, Theater Munster, Neubrückenstr. 63, D-48143 Münster, Germany January 26th, 7.30pm – program Gefangen, Theater Munster, Neubrückenstr. 63, D-48143 Münster January 28th, 11am and 1.30pm – program: Compagnie Irene K: Die Blume und der Baum, Cesar-Franck-Athenaum, Parkstr. 32, B-4720 Kelmis January 31st, 3pm – program: Trio Beck/Imhorst/Kassl, Schones Wochenende: An Bord, Schiff MS Stadt Düsseldorf - Anleger Rheinterrassen February 7th, 7pm - program Gefangen, Theater Munster, Neubrückenstr. 63, D-48143 Münster February 12th, 7.30pm - program: Ensemble Stationen NRW, Klangzeitfestival Munster 2016, Musikhochschule, Ludgeriplatz 1, D-48151 Münster February 19th, 7.30pm – program: Ensemble Tangosphere "Ein Stück Himmel", Kloster Kamp, Abteiplatz 13, D-47475 Kamp-Lintfort February 21st, 5pm – program: Ensemble Tangosphere "Ein Stück Himmel", Kulturzentrum Hof Junger, Wellbraucksweg 2-4, D-46244 Bottrop-Kirchhellen February 26th, 7.30pm – Ensemble Tangosphere "Ein Stück Himmel", Kulturzentrum Bottrop, Blumenstr. 12-14, D-46236 Bottrop February 27th, 7.30pm - program: Ensemble Tangoshpere "Ein Stück Himmel", Deelenhaus Paderborn, Krämerstr. 8-10, D-33098 Paderborn February 28th, 5pm - program: Ensemble Tangoshpere "Ein Stück Himmel", Deelenhaus Paderborn, Krämerstr. 8-10, D-33098 Paderborn For further information email: info@marko-kassl.de |
Orquesta de Tango Concert, Santiago – Chileby Rob Howard |
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The Orquesta de Tango, featuring bandoneon players Daniel Lewin and Francisco Martinez, performs on Sunday January 10th, 8pm, at the Campus Oriente PUC, Av Jaime Guzman, Errazuriz 3300, Santiago, Chile. The program includes a mixture of traditional tangos such as El Choclo and La Cumparsita and contemporary tangos such as Libertango and Milonga del Angel. |
Richard Noel Concert, Sydney – Australiaby Rob Howard |
![]() If anyone is interested in meeting Richard prior to the concert, he will be at the Sydney Rowing Club between 4.30 and 6.30pm. The Sydney Rowing Club is located at 613 Great North Road, Abbotsford and is just 2 minutes’ drive from the All Hallows Church Hall. For further information email: grans@bigpond.com |
Sergej Tchirkov Concerts and Workshop – Switzerlandby Rob Howard |
![]() ![]() The program will include works by Perotinus, Schubert and others arranged for voices and accordion as well as Martin Schlumpf's piece for accordion solo entitled ‘Push and Pull’ (2013) which has just been released by NEOS Munich on ‘The Five Points’ CD. The performances will be held as follows: Thursday January 14th, 7.30pm - Druckerei Baden Friday January 15th, 7.30pm - Münster, Bern Saturday January 16th, 7.30pm - Elisabethenkirche, Basel On January 18th Tchirkov will conduct a workshop for composition students at the Zürich University of Arts. Born in St.Petersburg Sergej Tchirkov currently works as performer, lecturer and Assistant Artistic Director of the Center for Contemporary Music at Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory. For further information email Ann Katrin Cooper: info@schlumpfplus.ch |
Roman Jbanov Concert, Auvergne – Franceby Rob Howard |
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Hannah James & Tuulikki Bartosik Concert, Derbyshire – UKby Rob Howard |
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1st Festival d’Accordeon de Chapelle-lez-Herlaimont – Belgiumby Rob Howard |
![]() For further information email: ticket.hellandmprod@hotmail.com |
Nejc Pacnik Concert, Velenje - Sloveniaby Rob Howard |
![]() For further information email: nejcpacnik@gmail.com |
Russian Winter Ball 2016, London – UKby Rob Howard |
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The Viennese Fever Orchestra, led by accordionist Igor Outkine, will be performing at the Russian Winter Ball on Sunday January 17th, 7pm until 2am, at the Grand Connaught Rooms, Covent Garden, London WC2B 5DA. The invitation is to dance to beautiful and elegant waltzes and polkas by Strauss, and there will also be foxtrots, quicksteps and rhumbas through to Russian tango and gypsy music. Tickets are still available. For further information email: igor.outkine@yahoo.com |
New and Updated Sites |
Dmitriev 'The Mosaic' Album, Newly Available as eTracks Album - Russiaby Harley Jones |
![]() Check out the 21 tracks of this album with so many popular pieces used around the world at concerts including: Moldavian Dance, La Valse A Margaux, Russian Cowboy, 3 Little Pigs, The Entertainer, Oblivion, French Visit, La Cumparsita, Sakkijarven Polkka, Falling Leaves, Flich-Flack, Boogie by Magnante, Steps by Viktor Vlasov. Catalog: adm105eT |
New Arrangment by Renzo Ruggieri, Variations on Säkkijärven Polka - Italyby Harley Jones |
![]() ![]() Säkkijärven Polka, also called the "Karelian-Finnish Polka," is a well-known folk tune from Finland, popular with Finnish accordionists. As the title Variations on Säkkijärven Polka suggests, this is an arrangement with variations and was created to be used in international competitions in "virtuoso" style. The work also fits well for concerts where the performer wants to display brilliant melodic repertoire. This arrangement is featured on the Carnevale CD and eTracks mp3 album of Viivi Maria Saarenkylä Catalog: viivi01 Viivi Maria Saarenkylä played this work and won 1st in Castelfidardo 2014 and many podium finishes at international competitions in 2014 and 2015 including 2nd place at the 2015 Coupe Mondiale. Other Virtuoso arrangements by Renzo Ruggieri (only €10 each) rrenzo501 - Song For S.B (Solo) rrenzo502 - Volo Degli Angeli (Solo) rrenzo503 - Tango Italiano (Solo) rrenzo504 - Carnevale (Solo) rrenzo505 - Roma Tango Solo rrenzo506 - Cinema (for 4 parts and drums, electronic accordion) rrenzo507 - Variations on Säkkijärven Polka |
Updated Site: Rhapsody, New Zealand Music for Accordion and Symphony Orchestra CDby Harley Jones |
![]() ![]() Newly available individual mp3 tracks purchases. Accordion soloists: Kevin Friedrich, Mary Tokarski, Stephanie Poole and Bernadette Conlon are featured with symphony orchestra. |
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