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Highlights |
Exactly 100 Entries from 27 Countries for 2017 Coupe Mondiale - Italyby Harley Jones |
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![]() ![]() There are exactly 100 contestants registered from 27 different nations worldwide for the seven different categories of competition, including 20 entries in each of the classic solo categories, so all attending will be in for a treat of competitive performances. President Raymond Bodell added: “During the 2017 Coupe Mondiale, there will be exciting and unique concerts, the "World Accordion Orchestra IX" and the CIA Delegates will hold their 138th General Assembly in which a variety of international business will be discussed including the election of a new CIA President. For those who are unable to attend the 2017 Coupe Mondiale, they can view the extensive Daily Reports, pictures and information and video of each competitor, including the final Prize Winners Concert on Saturday 10th September, all at Coupe Mondiale. On behalf of the CIA, I look forward to welcoming the International Jury members and Delegates from throughout the world and wish all the contestants well in the final weeks of their preparation." Full details at: Coupe Mondiale |
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Two Successful Guiness Records in the Last Month - Austria, Chinaby Harley Jones |
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![]() The previous record was 31 hours and 25 minutes by Finnish accordionist Anssi Laitinen in 2010. Sponsored and filmed by Red Bull, Cory began on Friday morning August 4th and finished the following day, playing an accordion loaned by Scandalli, who also were sponsors of this event. Pesaturo’s performance took place in the full window of the Optik Neuroth storefront in Graz, Austria, and was amplified outside for all to hear. “I had to push through,” he said. "It was hard as hell, but I knew I had to do it." The other Guiness Record involving accordion was on the 24th July, when exactly 2,260 accordionists in Shenzhen, China, formed an enormous ensemble under dual conductors, Prof. Li Cong (President, China Accordion Assoc.) and Tong Jianhua (President, Shenzhen Accordion Assoc.) to set a new Guiness Record for accordion ensemble. Full report at: 2017 Shenzhen Congratulations to all for the successful promotion of accordion. |
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42nd “Citta di Castelfidardo” International Accordion Competitions and Festival - Italyby Harley Jones |
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The 42nd “Citta di Castelfidardo” International Accordion Competitions and Festival from 10th to 17th September has released its competitions and concert schedule for 13th to 17th September. 2017Concorso The 2017 Castelfidardo Premio e Concorso Internazionale di Fisarmonica is organised by the Castelfidardo Municipal Administration, the Castelfidardo Pro Loco headed by Ruben Cittadini and event Artistic Director Christian Riganelli. There are many well known accordionists performing as soloists or with their groups including (date order): Danilo Di Paolonicola, Alessandro Gaudio, Marc Berthoumieux, Massimiliano Pitocco, Dario Flammini, Antonio De Luca, Damiano Ragnini. Daily Reports of pictures, video and competition results will be on accordions.com at: 2017Concorso |
Fleadh Cheoil, Ennis – Irish Republicby Rob Howard |
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![]() The Fleadh Cheoil is a huge competitive festival of Irish music, song and dance, with approximately 10,000 competitors and performers, including sections involving large numbers of accordionists, melodeon, concertina and harmonica players, as well as many ceili bands, accordion and marching bands. In addition to the competitions, the Fleadh Cheoil includes concerts, dances, lectures, workshops, sessions, and tuition classes for all ages and abilities in piano accordion, diatonic button accordion, Anglo concertina, and many other instruments used in Irish traditional music. Up to 400,000 visitors are expected to attend during the nine day event. Accordion-based performers involved include Sharon Shannon, Andrew McNamara, Danny O’Mahony, Mary McNamara, The Mairtin O’Connor Trio, Noel Hill, Chris & Francis Droney, Donal Murphy, Liam O’Brien, the Kilfenora Ceili Band, Stockton’s Wing, and many more. For further information email: info@fleadhcheoil.ie |
Ksenija Sidorova Lights Up Lincoln Center, NY - USAby Frank Busso, Jr., Director of Ernest Deffner, Inc., USA Distributor for Pigini |
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![]() The Mostly Mozart Festival is a weeks-long classical music festival that takes place in New York City every summer. Ms. Sidorova’s performance was branded as the first accordion soloist recital in the history of the 51-year-old festival. Her program featured the following selections: · Scherzo-Toccata (Londonov) · Variations on “Ah vous dirai-je, maman,” K. 265 (Mozart) · Autumnal Sceneries (Kusyakov) · Barcarolle, Op. 10, No. 3 (Rachmaninoff) · Revelation (Voitenko) · Tanti Anni Prima (Piazzolla) · Sentido Unico (Piazzolla) · S.V.P. (Piazzolla) Most of the arrangements were by Ksenija Sidorova. The audience in the sold-out venue was charmed by Ms. Sidorova’s artistry, technical capabilities, showmanship, and congeniality. She masterfully explained the capabilities of the accordion as a classical music solo instrument to a crowd filled predominantly by classical music enthusiasts with minimal accordion experience. Some of her upcoming festival performances include the Jurmala Festival in Latvia, the Rheingau Musikfestival in Germany, the Baltic Sea Festival in Sweden, and the MITO Festival in Italy. Ksenija Sidorova will return to New York City in 2018 for a concert series at famed Carnegie Hall. |
Reports for Concerts, Masterclasses, Competitions, Festivals, etc. |
Video: Now Released, Duet Paganiniana Music by Ivano Battiston - Italyby Harley Jones |
Catalog: battiston104 Paganiniana is a series of variations on Nicolò Paganini's Capriccio for violin number 24 and is written as a duet for two accordions. Paganini's theme does not appear at the beginning of the song but at the center! The video above is Paganiniana for two accordions played by duo dissonAnce (Roberto Caberlotto e Gilberto Meneghin) in Perugia, University for Foreigners, Italy. Published July 2009. Ivano Battiston recently released Catalog: battiston101 Libertango composed by Astor Piazzollo, arranged by Ivano Battiston for solo accordion. Catalog: battiston102 Postcards composed by Ivano Battiston for sax (both soprano and baritone) and accordion. |
Karen Tweed CD ‘Midsummer May Monday’, Roscommon – Irish Republicby Rob Howard |
![]() Karen Tweed won five All Ireland titles on the piano accordion and melodica in the 1970s and 80s, and has since featured on a large number of recordings. Tracks: Planxty Parr (Karen Tweed)/Dickeystown Hop (Francis Ward)/Ruane The Man (Thomas McElvogue); Helen Turner’s Textet (K. Tweed); Amicum AMICUM (Timo Alakotila)/Valke (Elina Sipilä); Lovely Lorraine (K. Tweed)/Rosa Kvint (Mattias Pérez); Tangue Purple (T. Alakotila); Pilvi and Eskos Brudvals (Roger Tallroth)/The Diamond (Billy McComiskey)/Manuka Cottage (K. Tweed); Snowflake (K. Tweed); Roots (Juuret) (T. Alakotila); Terry’s Tango Painting (K. Tweed)/Rannala (Vesa Tuomi); MNÁ NA hÉireann (Séan Ó Riada)/Richie Dwyer’s (A Minor) (Richard Dwyer)/Trip to Galway (Noel Sweeney)/Col Sig of the 2-2-6 (Eilidh Shaw); Prolapsus (T. Alakotila); Jill Walden’s Meringues (K. Tweed)/Black and White (K. Tweed); 13 – Ta Da Tweedie (K. Tweed). Between Monday to Friday August 14th and 18th Karen Tweed will be teaching accordion at the Bath Folk Festival Summer School in Somerset. From August 18th to 20th Karen Tweed and Timo Alakotila will be performing at the folk festival KAUKAS EloFolk. For further information email: info@karentweed.com |
Video: Gustavo Almeida at Closing Concert 2017 Shenzhen Festival - Chinaby Harley Jones |
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Gustavo Almeida, winner of the Entertainment Knockout Competition performing at the recent Shenzhen Closing Ceremony and Awards Concert. Video of all this concert is online at: 2017 Shenzhen (27 July). |
Santa Maria Accordion Band Invited to Treviso - Italyby Marthese Busuttil Cassar |
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![]() The Santa Maria Accordion Band was invited by the Fisorchestra Armonia of Treviso, Italy to perform thee concerts on the occasion of the 25 years of the Rassegna Internazionale di Fisorchestra. Santa Maria Accordion Band is also celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. The band was given an official welcome by the Mayor of Treviso at Palazzo Rinaldi. The concerts took place at Villa Napoleon, at the prestigious Teatro Comunale 'Mario del Monaco' and at Marcon. It was a beautiful and unique experience for both bands in sharing our musical talents and friendship. Picture left: Conductors: Marthese Busuttil Cassar and Mirko Satto The Santa Maria Accordion Band, under the direction of Mro. Marthese Busuttil Cassar, performed in the first part of the concert while the Fisorchestra Armonia, under the direction of Mirko Satto, performed the second part. For the grand finale, the two bands played together the Radetzky March. The first part of this march was directed by Mro Marthese Busuttil Cassar while the second part was under the direction of Mro Mirko Satto. Picture below: Mayoral Welcome |
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Video: Xu Xiaonan at Closing Concert 2017 Shenzhen Festival - Chinaby Harley Jones |
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Xu Xiaonan, winner of international competitions including the 2012 Coupe Mondiale and the 2015 Gold Bell Award in China, performing at the recent Shenzhen Closing Ceremony and Awards Concert. He performs his own composition, "The Jasmine Cappriccio". Video of all this concert is online at: 2017 Shenzhen (27 July). |
Trifilio Tango Trio at Washington Metropolitan Accordion Society (WMAS) - USAby Dan Grauman |
![]() The Trio, consisting of Devree Lewis (cello) and Argentinians Emmanuel Trifilio (bandoneon), and Cristian Perez (Guitar) performed some of Emmanuel Trifilio’s original compositions, such as Milongacha, Una Noche en la Habana and La Holy Milonga, as well as “old standards”, such as Libertango. The Washington based Trifilio Tango Trio got several standing ovations and sold out of the CDs that they brought with them, something that rarely happens. The size of the audience was a pleasant surprise, especially for a beautiful summer afternoon. For further information or to make a booking Phone: 424-235-5673 or email: trifiliotango@gmail.com |
Video: Young Duet Winners, Closing Concert 2017 Shenzhen Festival - Chinaby Harley Jones |
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These two young duet winners performing at the recent Shenzhen Closing Ceremony and Awards Concert. Video of all this concert is online at: 2017 Shenzhen (27 July). |
Video: Wang Dantong Junior Virtuoso Knockout winner, (17 years under) - Chinaby Harley Jones |
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Wang Dantong Junior Virtuoso Knockout winner, (17 years under) performing at the recent Shenzhen Closing Ceremony and Awards Concert. Video of all this concert is online at: 2017 Shenzhen (27 July). |
Future events |
VIII Festival Internacional - Portugalby Rob Howard |
![]() For further information email: geral@rodrigomauricio.com |
Roman Jbanov and Marie-Noelle Cros Concert, Auvergne – Franceby Rob Howard |
![]() Ukrainian-born Roman Jbanov achievements include Grand Prize Beloborodov in Tula (Russia), Scholarship of the President of the Russian Republic, and in 1997 winning the CMA Trophée Mondial. |
Iain McPhail @ Glasgow Accordion Fiddle Club, Scotland – UKby Rob Howard |
![]() The recently formed Glasgow Accordion Fiddle Club has announced its programme for the 2017/2018 season, as seen on the poster. For further information email: info@gaafc.com |
World Café performs Vivaldi’s ‘Four Seasons’, Western Cape – South Africaby Rob Howard |
![]() The members of World Café are Stanislav Angelov – accordion, Petrus de Beer – violin, and Schalk Joubert - double bass. Stanislav Angelov studied the accordion in his native Bulgaria, and received a degree in accordion in 1991, after which he taught at the ‘Constantine Preslavsky’ University, Shumen. In 1992 he moved to Cape Town, South Africa, where he performs, records and teaches. For further information email: music@goodmusic.co.za |
Marco Lo Russo performs ‘Ave Maria’ for Pope Francis, Krakow – Polandby Rob Howard |
![]() For this performance Marco Lo Russo will be accompanied by Sicilian pianist Giulio Vinci and soprano Martina Mannozzi in a concert titled ‘Sacra Armonia’. Their programme will also include classical music by JS Bach, Caccini, Marcello, Vivaldi, Rossini, Satie, Pergolesi, and compositions by the contemporary composers Nicola Piovani (with whom Marco Lo Russo has a long professional collaboration), Ennio Morricone, and Luis Bacalov. |
Lydie Auvray Concerts – Austria, Germanyby Rob Howard |
![]() Friday August 18th, 8pm – solo, Theresien-Dom, Austria Saturday August 19th, 8pm – solo, Nordstrand, northern Germany Lydie Auvray, from Normandy, is a French accordionist, composer and singer. She lives in Cologne, Germany, and has performed with many musicians and has recorded at least 20 albums. In 2003 she published her autobiography, ‘Jubiläum’. For further information email: lydieauvray@netcologne.de |
Craven Accordion Orchestra and Orchester Musika Akkordia Concert, Skipton - UKby Rob Howard |
![]() The Craven Accordion Orchestra was formed in 1995 by local accordion teacher Harry Hinchcliffe. Through the years the CAO has performed in regional and national NAO festivals, radio broadcasts, concerts, and as support artists to many visiting international accordionists. Successes include British Accordion Club Band Champions for a record seven times. For further information email: hincho1@hotmail.com |
‘Gala d’Accordeon Dansant’, Vouleme – Franceby Rob Howard |
![]() Vouleme is situated in the Vienne, Poitou-Charentes region (part of the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region), in the west of France at 54 km from Poitiers, the department capital. Vouleme is 345 km from Paris. |
Cotati Accordion Festival, California – USAby Rob Howard |
![]() The guest list includes: AlpenBand California, Amy Jo Sawyer, Big Lou's Dance Party, Cory Pesaturo, En Canto and Jamie Maschler, Future Accordion Stars 2017, Gail Campanella, Ginny Mac (Texas), Gordon Kohl, Jim Gilman, La Familia Peña-Govea, Lizeth Olivo, Ljubinka Kulisic - Serbia, Mark St. Mary, MotorDude Zydeco, Oddjob Ensemble, Royal Jelly Jive, Squeezy Peezy, T-Luke and the Tight Suits, The Golden State Accordion Club Band, The Great Morgani, The Mad Maggies, and there will be a free accordion jazz 101 workshop led by Paul Betken. The Cotati Accordion Festival is a non-profit organization established in 1991 to promote the love of the accordion and to support local youth service organizations, which have benefitted from contributions of over $320,000. For further information email: cotatiaccordionstudentstage@yahoo.com |
New and Updated Sites |
New Music: Gary Dahl Has Over 200 Individual Arrangements and 10 eBooks - USAby Gary Dahl |
![]() Gary began this mammoth arranging journey when he realised from his students and fellow accordionists, that there was a strong demand for arrangements of different styles and genre. Gary was one of the early pioneers, in 2002, of marketing accordion arrangements using the internet, and from that time, Gary has been steadily publishing new arrangements that have proved to be very popular with accordionists in all parts of the world. This week, there are two new releases: Catalog: DH0260 - Sweetheart of Sigma Chi composed by Vernor, lead sheet arrangement by Dahl Catalog: DH0261 - Tarantella Napoletana composed by Crisculo, arranged by Dahl Congratulations to Gary Dahl on reaching the milestone of over 200 individual arrangements online plus the 10 eBooks. View all at: Gary Dahl |
Bugari-evo New Colors Release, Castelfidardo - Italyby Marco Cinaglia |
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Marco Cinaglia of Bugari-evo released information about two new Bugari-evo color models with new grille design. Larger pictures of the new models are at: 2017Evo.jpg |
New Site: Ignacio Hernández, Conservatorio Nacional de Acordeón - Chileby Harley Jones |
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![]() Internationally, his participation with the Prague Philharmonic Orchestra of the Czech Republic and in the Soundtrack of the Film "Salty", of Antonio Banderas. New website at: Ignacio Hernández |
Video: Music Released, Ples Composed by Ivano Battiston - Italyby Harley Jones |
![]() The video above is Ivano Battiston performing Ples at the 40th PIF International Castelfidardo Festival, published on Sep 25, 2015. Ivano Battiston recently released Catalog: battiston101 Libertango composed by Astor Piazzollo, arranged by Ivano Battiston for solo accordion. Catalog: battiston102 Postcards composed by Ivano Battiston for sax (both soprano and baritone) and accordion. |
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