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Highlights |
AATA Australian International Championships Daily Reports - Australiaby Tania Lukic-Marx |
The AATA Australian Accordion Teachers Assoc. International Championships Daily Reports are online at: Australian International Championships |
Roland Open V-Accordion Competition, Somerset – UKby Rob Howard |
The UK Roland V-Accordion Competition takes place at St Audries Bay Holiday Centre, Somerset, England, on September 6th and 7th. There are four sections: Beginner, Elementary, Intermediate and Advanced, which are open to all ages. All entries are to be played on a V Accordion and instruments will be available on the day for use in the competition by those who do not have their own V Accordion. Each section has a choice of test pieces from which one must be selected. In addition the contestant is to play an own choice piece of appropriate standard, maximum of 5 minutes duration. Cash prizes and trophies will be given to the winner of each section, and the winners will also be invited to play in the ‘Winners Concert’ on the Sunday evening. Entry forms will be available online shortly, or can be obtained now from organisers John and Jackie Romero. The Test Pieces are: Beginners Section 1) ‘Echoes of Paris’ - Sue Coppard 2) ‘A cloche pieds’ - Maryline Menweg Elementary Section 1) ‘Square Dance Polka’ - Keith Harling 2) ‘Sicilia mia Bella!’ - Sue Coppard Intermediate Section 1) ‘L’enfant Demon’ - Claude Thomain 2) ‘The Maigret Theme’ - Ron Grainer (arr. Trevani) 3) ‘Libertango’ - Astor Piazolla Advanced Section 1) ‘I Got Rhythm’ - George Gershwin (arr. Jack Emblow) 2) ‘Monsieur Roudoudou’ - Claude Thomain 3) ‘Hora Staccato’ – Dinicu The weekend also includes demonstrations of Roland Virtual Accordions by Romano Viazzani and Karen Street. The week that follows, September 8th to 13th, is St. Audries Accordion Teaching Week, a festival featuring guests Pearl Fawcett-Adriano, Gary Blair, Harry Hussey, George Syrett, Gennaro Fiondella, Rosemary Wright, and John Romero. For further information email: jr@carillonstudios.co.uk |
New Music Store Opens in Palazzo Paolo Soprani, Castelfidardo - Italyby Holda Paoletti-Kampl |
The official opening of Castelfidardo Musica's new shop took place on Saturday May 31st. The ribbon was cut by Mr. Moreno Giannattasio, the town’s Culture Minister. The well-attended event saw performances by accordionists Mirco Patarini and Danilo Di Paolonicola, as well as by other instrumentalists. In addition to selling a wide range of accordions and other instruments, the shop’s owner, Massimo Mazzantini, will continue to exhibit the world’s biggest accordion, made by Mr Giancarlo Franchanella - which has been a popular exhibit for some years already. |
Roland U.S. Corporation's First Ever Virtual Accordion Festival, Los Angles – USAby Ron Lankford |
Los Angeles - Music Giant Roland U.S. Corporation has put its considerable resources behind development of a line of virtual accordions in its campaign to bring the accordion back into the mainstream of American music. Recognizing that the International resurgence of the accordion's popularity has taken off with American audiences as well, Roland is catching the eye of the American public by supporting a search for America's finest Accordionists by holding its first annual U.S. National Competition. One lucky participant will win a trip to Rome, Italy to perform in the International Accordion Festival to be held on November 7th and 8th 2008. In addition to the Rome trip, the U.S. First prize winner will receive their choice of the world renowned Roland FR-7 or FR-7b V-Accordion. Participants 18 and older will perform in the Senior Soloist Division (the only division open to those in the U.S.) for a chance to win 5000 Euros. Select lucky finalists who have their 5 minute solo audition tapes selected will be flown along with the guest of their choice to the Saturday September 20th competition to be held at Roland's U.S. Media Center in Los Angeles. In addition each of these finalists will receive loans of Roland’s FR-7 or FR7b on which to perform their 5-minute solos in whatever genre of music they excel. Amateur and/or professional players have an equal chance of winning and are both invited to send their 5-minute video tapes to Roland using their own stand alone. Accordions of any type (no special effects, audio files, mp3s, or etc, will be allowed). Interested parties should contact Roland US for details and entry forms at their web site www.rolandus.com/v-accordion. |
Reports for Concerts, Masterclasses, Competitions, Festivals, etc. |
Alexander Korbakov at Stockport Accordion Club, England - UKby Rob Howard |
Alexander Korbakov, from St Petersburg, Russia, has become a welcome visitor to accordion clubs and festivals in the UK, winning over audiences with his presentation, personality and playing technique. His latest tour included concerts in accordion clubs, churches, and also in some primary schools, where he has introduced the accordion to schoolchildren with spellbinding and spectacular performances. At Stockport Accordion Club, on June 11th, Alexander Korbakov enthralled his audience with a truly wonderful performance. His first half was essentially a classical programme, which began with a very fluid interpretation of ‘Prelude and Fugue in G minor’, by JS Bach. Alexander quickly relaxed into his performance and, aided by very good acoustics, followed with ‘Winter’ - Vivaldi, ‘Ave Maria – G. Caccini, ‘Rondo a la Turka’ – Mozart, ‘The Barber of Seville’ – Rossini, and ‘Sabre Dance’ – Kachaturian. The second half saw Alexander Korbakov playing mainly Russian folk tunes, including ‘Casatchok’, ‘Kalinka’, etc, plus the contrasting ‘Fiddle Faddle’ – Leroy Anderson, and two splendid impromptu duets with leading concertina player John Nixon: ‘A Man and a Woman’ and ‘Besame Mucho’. His performance displayed an abundance of musicality, and at the concert’s end, Alexander received a standing ovation and an unprecedented three encores. He commented that English audiences are his most appreciative. Alexander Korbakov’s remaining tour dates include: 14th, 8pm – Soar Valley Accordion Club, Rothley Village Hall, Leicestershire 18th, 7.30pm – Horningsea Church, Cambridge 19th, 7.30pm – Harlow Accordion Club, Links Social Club, Essex 20th, 7pm – Guildford Accordion Club, Village Hall, Ripley, Surrey For further information email: robaccord5@hotmail.com |
Future events |
Bach Concerts with Mirjana Petercol - Germanyby Holda Paoletti-Kampl |
Next Saturday, June 14th, 6pm, in the Evang.-Ref. Gemeinde Am Marktplatz, Neu-Isenburg, and on Sunday, June 15th, 6 pm, in the Johannis-Kirche der Ev.Kirchengemeinde Bornheim, Turmstr.21, Frankfurt, bayan soloist Mirjana Petercol will peform together with the Kammerorchester Neu-Isenburg, under the Direction of Peter Halmi, the ‘A-Dur Konzert BWV 1055’, by J.S.Bach. This harpsichord concert is very likely to a concerto for oboe d'amore in A Major, most popular in the 18th Century. The 3-piece Concerto, with his ‘modern’ periodic structure of the 1st part, the swinging ‘Sicilino’, and the inspired tirades and expressive melodies of the last in the French dance is a refreshingly and subtle work of the great master. Other works by Gossec FJ, F. Ferkas and A. Scarlatti, will complete this concert. For further information email: MirjanaPetercol@gmx.de |
ZUM – ‘Gypsy Tango Inferno’, Bristol – UKby Rob Howard |
ZUM, featuring accordionist Eddie Hession, perform their ‘Gypsy Tango Inferno’ on Saturday June 14th, 7.30pm, at St. George's, Great George Street, off Park Street, Bristol BS1 5RR. |
Marco Lo Russo Concerts - Italyby Holda Paoletti-Kampl |
Accordionist Marco Lo Russo performs as follows: June 14th, 9pm - Pozza di Maranello, Modena 18th, 10pm - Circolo Ufficiale delle Forze Armate Italiane, Rome 19th, 9pm - Casalecchio di Reno, Bologna 21st, 11am - Gammarad, Minerbio, Bologna 25th, 9.30pm - Parco della Pace, collina Flamming, Rome 27th, 28th, 29th, 9.30pm - Faro di Ischia, Naples For further information email: mailto:fisa@marcolorusso.com |
Paris Jazz Festival, Paris – Franceby Rob Howard |
The annual Paris Jazz Festival takes place during June and July at the Parc Floral de Paris, Route du Champ de Manoeuvre, 75012 Paris. Concerts involving free reed instrument players are: June 21st, 1.30pm – the Armenian Folk Quintet, featuring accordionist Gevorg Manukyan June 28th, 3pm – harmonica player Son of Dave For further information email: parisjazzfestival2008@looproductions.com |
‘Accordions By The Sea Festival’, Victoria BC – Canadaby Rob Howard |
The annual ‘Accordions By The Sea Festival’ takes place from June 27th to 29th at the Victoria Edelweiss Club, 108 Niagara Street, Victoria, British Colombia. The guest artistes include Mario Pedone (picture left), Barbara Ann Martindale, Irv Lang, Marc Wald, Reis Vink, Lou DiMaggio, and the Victoria Accordion Club Band. The festival’s workshops include: ‘Dressing up a song’ and ‘Music software’ - Mario Pedone; ‘Introduction to Accordion’ and ‘Advanced accordion technique’ - Lou DiMaggio; ‘Preparing for Competition & Concerts’ and ‘Memorizing music’ – Barbara Ann Martindale. For further information email: dgharley@shaw.ca |
Martin Lubenov Quartet Concerts – France, Spain, Italy, Austriaby Holda Paoletti-Kampl |
Vienna-based Bulgarian jazz accordionist Martin Lubenov and his quartet have announced some concert dates. At the Rio Loco Festival in Toulouse, France, Martin Lubenov will share the stage with French accordion legend Richard Galliano. Concert dates: June 19th – Rio Loco Festival, Toulouse, France July 23rd – Festival Castillo Ainsa, Spain August 15th – Mundus Festival, Castelnovo ne’ Monti, Italy October 4th – Kulturhaus Greith, St. Ulrich im Greith, Austria December 15th – Porgy & Bess, Vienna, Austria |
Renato Borghetti in Europeby Holda Paoletti-Kampl |
Brazilian accordionist Renato Borghetti continues his extended European tour, with the following dates: August 12th – Piazza, Izola, SIovenia 14th – Amthof, Feldkirchen, Austria 16th - Piazza, Borghetto, Italy 17th – Piazza, Vigolo Vattaro, Italy 20th - Civitella Folk Festival, Civitella Alfedena, Italy 21st – Andar Per Music Festival, Clusone, Italy 22nd – Sentieri Acoustic Festival, San Marcello Pistoiese, Italy November 7th – Festival Accordeoes do Mundo, Torres Vedras, Portugal |
Zamballarana Concerts – Austria, Italy, Slovenia, Hungaryby Holda Paoletti-Kampl |
Zamballarana, from the French island of Corsica, are a vocal/instrumental band featuring accordion. Last year they made a big impression at the Viennese Accordion Festival, and are now back on tour, as follows: June 28th - Musikfest, Waidhofen/Thaya, Austria July 2nd - Bergamo, Italy 3rd – Piazza, Koper/Capodistria, Siovenia 4th - Schulschluss Open Air, St. Jakob im Rosental/Sentjakob v Rozu, Austria August 5th - Linzergassenfest, Salzburg, Austria 31st – Strassenspektakel, Straden, Austria (TBC) September 2nd – Happy Art Festival, Nyiregyhaza, Hungary 4th – Cinema Paradiso, St. Pölten, Austria |
Tango Negro Trio Concerts – Italy, Slovenia, Bosniaby Holda Paoletti-Kampl |
Tango Negro Trio appear as follows: July 14th – Itinerari Folk Festival, Trento, Italy August 5th – World Music Festival, Mostar, Bosnia 10th - Piazza, Izola, SIovenia |
Concert/Bal Cajun, Paris – Franceby Rob Howard |
The Blue Bayou, an authentic Louisiana restaurant situated at 111 rue St Maur, 75011 Paris, is to hold a Cajun concert and dance, 9pm until 11pm, on Tuesday July 1st. From 6pm until 8pm, there will be tuition in Cajun dancing. For further information email: bluebayou3@wanadoo.fr |
New and Updated Sites |
Angel Luis Castano release 1 new CDby Angel Luis Castano |
A new site selling a CD titled "Encore!!", catalog:alcastano404, with sound samples. Music performed by Angel Luis Castano. Purchase online. |
Angel Luis Castano release 1 new CDby Angel Luis Castano |
A new site selling a CD titled "Perspectivas - Violonchelo y Acordeón Clásico", catalogo:alcastano405, with sound samples. Music performed by Angel Luis Castano. Purchase online. |
Angel Luis Castano release 1 new CDby Angel Luis Castano |
A new site selling a CD titled "Dúo D'Accord - Music For Two Accordions", catalog:alcastano406, with sound samples. Music performed by Angel Luis Castano. Purchase online. |
CD Reviews |
W A Mozartby Alessandro Mugnoz |
CD Reviews Index for the Review of "W A Mozart" by Alessandro Mugnoz. Performer is Anne Landa. |
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