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Next Broadcast 9th May, World Accordion Day (WAD) Confédération Internationale des Accordéonistes (CIA) Showby Harley Jones |
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![]() The 2nd WAD broadcast is Saturday 9th May, starting times: New York – 4 am * Rome – 10 am * Shanghai – 4 pm * Auckland – 8 pm The 9th May broadcast, will again be live on both WAD2020 (via youtube) and FacebookCIA and will feature Coupe Mondiale winners and interviews and performances by CIA member associations. Show hosts are Kevin Friedrich and Grayson Masefield. Further WAD2020 broadcasts will be held on: Saturday 23 May, New York – 2.30 PM * Rome – 8.30 PM * Shanghai – 2.30 AM (May 24) * Auckland – 6.30 AM (May 24) Saturday 6th June, New York – 2.30 PM * Rome – 8.30 PM * Shanghai – 2.30 AM (May 24) * Auckland – 6.30 AM (May 24) |
Report: 9th May World Accordion Day Broadcast – Worldwideby Christine Johnstone |
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![]() An introduction by Xu Xiaonan (China) speaking about his experience at the CIA Coupe Mondiale where he was the first Chinese Coupe Mondiale winner in 2012 in Spoleto, Italy. He then performs his own composition “Breeze in Summer” with pianist Xu Gehui. A performance by Matthias Matzke (Germany) who won the Coupe Mondiale Junior Virtuoso Entertainment class in 2011 and the Digital Accordion class in 2014. Matthias performs Ghost Love Score – Nightwish. An interview with DHV Vice President Georg Hettman who gives information about the DHV such as what the organisation offers, where they operate and members of the organisation. He then presents a performance by the HUMI Accordion band (Poland), 1st place winners of the Mixed Instrumentation Orchestra Youth division at the Innsbruck Festival. Georg Hettman is then joined by CIA Music Committee member Andreas Nebl and the CEO of the Hohner Konservatorium, Bernhard van Almsick who give interesting interviews regarding musical styles and how the school assists students to find their own musical style. This is followed with a video performance by Felix Fritschi. A performance by past Coupe Mondiale winner Valerio Russo, who performs a composition by Renzo Ruggieri. An interesting interview and performance with Vincent van Amsterdam from NOVAM (Netherlands) and performances from their 90th anniversary celebration concert. This is followed by information on the accordion in The Netherlands. Interview and performance with the Royal Danish Academy of Music Professor, Geir Draugsvoll who talks about the Academy, teachers, programs etc. along with various performance videos. Interview and performance with Mikk Langeproon from Eesti Akordioniliit (Estonian Accordion Society) who talks about their society, members and events organised by them. The broadcast finished with the winners of the Coupe Mondiale International Ensemble World Music 2018 - The Pillers (Austria). Plus much more for your enjoyment at: WAD2020 |
Report: 6th May World Accordion Day Broadcast - Worldwideby Christine Johnstone |
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![]() WAD2020 includes: An introduction and performance by 2019 CIA Coupe Mondiale winner Kirill Rusinov A welcome by Grayson Masefield (New Zealand) and Kevin Friedrich (USA) Information and plans for the 2020 73rd CIA Coupe Mondiale hosted by the Accordion Association of Algarve, Portugal from October 5th to 11th, 2020 Information and performances from the Czech Accordion Association – accordionist Milan Rehak likes to entertain by playing something different, performing a fascinating arrangement of “Bach Meets ACDC” Interview with Motion Trio and world premiere of a new work by Motion Trio and the Ratingen Kammerchoir entitled “Helicopter” to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Motion Trio playing together. The CD will be released soon. Performances at 2019 CIA Coupe Mondiale (Shenzhen, China) by winners and concert performers, plus 2019 Shanghai Spring International Accordion Festival and a new composition by Nova Wan were all featured in the China Accordion Association segment. Article below with further information. The final performance is Radu Ratoi playing Dance Macabre by Saint-Saens. Radu is the winner of the 2019 CIA Coupe Mondiale Masters Category 6th May broadcast: WAD2020 |
VI All-Russian Competition "Yugoria 2020", Surgut - Russiaby Arseniy Strokovskiy |
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![]() From April 4th, contestants from all over Russia sent videos of their performances. A total of 59 performers (42 soloists and 15 ensembles) from Moscow, St. Petersburg, the Republic of Bashkortostan, Tatarstan, Krasnodar region, Kemerovo, Archangel, Rostov, Sverdlovsk, Tyumen regions, Yanao and HMAO-Ugra took part in "Yugoria 2020" on the bayan and accordion. Musicians aged from 8 to 23 years competed for two nominations: "Soloists - academic direction" (two rounds) and "Ensembles" (of up to 6 people). Jury members included Viatcheslav Semionov (Chairman), Oleg Sharov, Yuri Shishkin, Ignatievn Aleshin, Leonid Kurakin and Anatoly Yumayev. The Grand Prize was won by 11 year old Dmitry Yergin from Surgut (picture above left). Yugoria is a member of the All-Russia System for selecting performers on the bayan and accordion "Champion of Russia - World Champion." Four soloists and three duets received recommendations to participate in international competitions: Petro Milovanov (Moscow) Nikita Voytenko (Surgut) Dmitry Boroviknikov (St. Petersburg) Rodion Shirokov (Moscow) Duets: Sofia Kavardakova & Ivan Koltonov (Tarko-Sale) "NikStep" Duo: Nikita Voytenko & Stepan Matoshin (Surgut) Accordion Duo: Karolina Desyatkova & Alina Matyushenko (Rostov-on-Don) Full results: 2020Yugoria.pdf |
Results: 2020 Texas Folklife Big Squeeze - USAby Christine Johnstone |
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Video above: Performances and results of the online Big Squeeze competition. The annual Texas Folklife Big Squeeze finals were held online on May 1st. The event included performances by 2019 Big Squeeze champions, Elijah Clements, Chloe Johnson, Perla Hernandez and Eduardo Garza. The 2020 finalists are listed on the poster below. Results of the 2020 Big Squeeze youth accordion contest are: Cajun Champion - Bridget Roberts, 24 (Bridge City) Polka Genre Champion - Isaak Wolfshohl, 18 (Seguin) Conjunto 17 & Under Genre Champion - Jorge Ramirez, 17 (Roma) Conjunto 18-21 “Anthony Ortiz, Jr Prize” Champion - Jose Angel Torres, 19 (Roma) |
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Reports for Concerts, Masterclasses, Competitions, Festivals, etc. |
Nova Wan Composition Wind Chimes Dedicated to World Accordion Day, Shanghai - Chinaby Harley Jones |
Video: Wind Chimes composed by Nova Wan is dedicated to World Accordion Day. Above is a segment from the WAD2020 broadcast about this new composition. Interviewed for the China segment of the WAD2020 broadcast (pictured above) were: Prof. Li Cong, President Accordion Association of Chinese Musicians Association (CAA) and China member of the CIA. Crystal Wang, President Shanghai Musicians Association Accordion Committee (SMAAC) Nova Wan, composer and Deputy Secretary General SMAAC Included in the interview was information about the 2019 Coupe Mondiale hosted in Shenzhen China and the amazing 2019 Shanghai Spring International Accordion Festival reported at: 2019Shanghai |
"Happy Birthday" World Accordion Day - North Macedoniaby Christine Johnstone |
Video: Macedonian Accordionists & Friends celebrate World Accordion Day 2020 with a video wishing everyone a very Happy Birthday. Thank you to the CIA member. Republic of North Macedonia, Ljubiteli na Klasicnata Muzika in Skopje led by President: Zorica Karakutovska, picture above. |
Concertino Accordion Band World Accordion Day Video - Moldovaby Christine Johnstone |
![]() The group includes Eugene Negruta, Misha Grossu, Roman Balatel, Sergio Paramonov, Sergiu Mirzac, Gheorghe Rosca, Irina Caraghenov, Sergio Belevak, Vitalie Negruta and Max Cazacov. Concertino Band is a group of professional musicians promoting accordion in all genres of music! We hope you enjoy their WAD video. |
Accordionist Tom Pixton Records Sound Track of Fun Short Filmby Rita Davidson Barnea, Editor USA Accordion News |
![]() Accordionist Tom Pixton (picture left) has recorded the sound track for a short film, “Six Feet”. The film is humorous while delivering a message about social distancing”. Filmmaker Christopher Harting came up with a concept for a comical video about social distancing. Filmed at The Pinehills in Plymouth, Mass and edited in his North Plymouth Christopher Harting Studio, the short film “Six Feet” offers a chance to laugh while underscoring the seriousness of maintaining a safe distance in the age of coronavirus. Accordionist Tom Pixton is one of Boston’s most active International, Balkan and Scottish folk dance musicians. |
Romano Viazzani Ensemble Covid 19 Lockdown Video “Tango Italiano”by Christine Johnstone |
![]() The group released the video to thank their friends and musician colleagues in Italy amd have dedicated it to all those people in Italy who had the idea of getting through the isolation at home by making music together as a family, by belting out arias from their windows, or by playing musical instruments, many of them accordions, from their balconies. They hope you enjoy this video. |
Cancelled: Stowe Tango Music Festival Bandoneon International Competition – USAby Christine Johnstone |
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![]() ![]() Organisers Hector Del Curto and Jisoo Ok are already working on meaningful virtual ways the STMF community can come together and enjoy music and each other. The medium may be different, but they can and will still share the essence of the Stowe experience. If you have a 2020 festival pass, you can take one of the following options: ** Donate the value of your credit as a tax-deductible contribution. Your generous support during this difficult time helps the festival to remain strong and keep providing tango music and education. ** Use your credit towards the 2021 Festival Pass. ** Request a full refund to your original method of payment by June 1st. After June 1st, your 2020 pass will be converted to a credit toward the 2021 Festival Pass. For details email: stowetangomusicfestival@gmail.com |
Cancelled: Ian's Music Weekends but Online Events Planned - UKby Rob Howard |
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![]() May 16th and 17th: Composition weekends for mixed instruments – cancelled but check below for further information June 13th and 14th: Gypsy Jazz and Blues weekend for accordion - cancelled August 8th and 9th: Hillbilly weekend for mixed instruments – cancelled Announcements will be made later re weekends organised from September 2020 onwards. Good news: Ian has plans to run the May 16th and 17th composition weekend online - attendees will need a device with a camera and speakers. Firstly Ian will deliver a lesson then send everyone some notes and give you some time to go away to compose. Then we'll meet up again a bit later, perhaps individually and he will give further advice. He will notate all the tunes on his music software and then play them all for you. There are many ways to compose tunes, so he expects there will be a few different lessons and tunes over the weekend. Last year attendees had 22 new tunes between them. For details email: ianlowthian@yahoo.co.uk |
Cancelled: 30th Annual Cotati Accordion Festival, California – USAby Christine Johnstone |
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![]() “It is with a heart that is feeling so much empathy for all the people involved in our great community event that we have to announce the cancellation of the 2020 Cotati Accordion Festival…..We understand that the community is going to be safer without mass gatherings this summer. We stand by the difficult decisions that the Board of Supervisors have made, and have decided to wait until 2021 for the 30th annual Cotati Accordion Festival.” |
Accordion 101: How an Accordion Works with Ted Lange and Mollie Bby Rita Davidson Barnea, Editor USA Accordion News |
![]() Mollie B is the host of the "Mollie B Polka Party" on RFD-TV (airing 2 hours every week) and a member of the International Polka Association Hall Of Fame. Ted & Mollie host the Mollie B Polka Party Radio Show on both on Rural Radio, Channel 147, (Sundays, 11:00am to 1:00pm EST) and kneiradio.com (Sundays, 8:00-10:00pm EST). Mollie B & Ted also lead the award-winning band SqueezeBox. The band has become one of the most popular and well-known bands specializing in live folk dance music and entertaining stage shows. Currently based in NW Ohio, their performances span multiple genres with a repertoire of over 800 songs, and solid vocals in English, Polish, German and Czech. Squeezebox is known for their ability to play "something for everyone", and easily adapts to any venue, ranging from town festivals, polka festivals, ethnic festivals including Polish, Czech, and German festivals and Oktoberfests, to weddings, anniversary parties, church festivals, state and county fairs and music festivals. Recently, they appeared in the Warner Brothers film "The Mule," starring Clint Eastwood. Clint Eastwood is a big fan of Mollie B and Ted Lange. He watches their show every week. Mollie and Ted usually perform over 120 engagements a year in over 18 states a year, including an annual Caribbean Cruise. |
Mary Mancini & Mario Tacca Daily Hymns - USAby Christine Johnstone |
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Lockdown Videos of Music by Gorka Hermosa - Italyby Christine Johnstone |
![]() ![]() Directed and edited by Carlo Maria Todini, the video was taken at the 99-seat theatre in Mercogliano, Italy with dancers Pierpaolo Calandro & Emilia Argenziano. |
Gold Award Performance, Introduction and Toccata by Gary Daverne - Russiaby Harley Jones |
![]() Introduction and Toccata, composed by New Zealand composer, Gary Daverne, performed by Russian accordionist, Sergey Danilkevich, Sergey Danilkevich, was born June 8, 1999.in the small town of Ivanovo, Republic of Belarus, Russia. |
Future events |
50th Anniversary of Reykjavik Arts Festival Going Ahead in New Format – Icelandby Christine Johnstone |
![]() It should come as no surprise that the worldwide epidemic of Covid-19 has now interfered with these plans and it is clear that the people of Reykjavik will not be ready for a city-wide festival in June, even if the worst of the epidemic might be behind us at that time. The festival is devoted to both its audiences and artists and wants to find a way to materialise the programming without compromising anybody’s safety. So the Reykjavik Arts Festival has now made an agreement with all of its artists, partner institutions and venues to launch the full programme of the festival, in spite of the situation. The programme will be accessible from the festival’s website in full, including descriptions of the events and exhibitions, full credit lists and venues. Reykjavik Arts Festival will deliver its programme – even if it takes a full year to do so. In due course, when it is judged safe by the authorities and when the artists and audiences are ready to attend events, one by one will get a date and a time. The theme for this year’s festival is “Worlds”, which feels highly fitting at these strange times we live in. For further details email: edda@artfest.is |
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