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Highlights |
Tag Der Harmonika 2021 Rules Now Available – Austriaby Werner Weibert |
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The Rules are now available for the Tag Der Harmonika 2021 (Day of the Accordion) competition, to be held in Perg, Austria from 3rd to 6th June 2021 organised by HVO - Harmonica Verband Osterreichs (Accordion Association of Austria). The competition will include categories for soloists, duos, ensembles and orchestras as well as classes for entertainment music, chamber music and world music. Age group categories are from 6 years up to adults (maximum 32 years). This year there will be a new category for the Diatonic Accordion (Styrian type): the Cyrill Demian Prize for international candidates! Registrations are expected to open in January 2021. Download Rules here: 2020TagHarmonikaRules.pdf For further details email: werner.weibert@harmonikaverband.at |
Updated Information: AccoPremium-2020 Competition Now Online - Belarusby Christine Johnstone |
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![]() Jury members include Vladimir Murza, Alexey Khromov, Sergey Osokin (picture left), Anatoly Taran, Vladislav Pligovka and Vladimir Orlov. The closing date for video recording entries is October 20th, 2020. For further details phone: +375 29 639 55 70 |
Coba 2020 Solo Tour Resumes - Japanby Christine Johnstone |
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Popular accordionist Coba will resume his 2020 Solo tour after having to postpone performances due to Covid-19. The concerts will all be following Covid-19 regulations including the wearing of masks and physical distancing. Concert dates as follows: October 18th: 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture. This concert replaces the April 26th performance and tickets are transferable. Phone: 076-232-2424 October 19th: Nihonbashi Mitsui Hall in Tokyo. This concert replaces the March 7th performance and tickets are transferable. Phone: 0570-02-9999 October 30th: Nagano City Art Museum Recital Hall, Nagano Prefecture. This concert replaces the April 18th performance and tickets are transferable. Phone: 025-229-5000 November 1st: Ashikaga City Hall Small Hall, Ashiri City, Tochigi Prefecture. This concert replaces the June 6th performance and tickets are transferable. Phone: 0570-550-799 November 13th: Harmony Hall Fukui Small Hall, Fukui City, Fukui Prefecture. This concert replaces the April 21st performance and tickets are transferable. Phone: 076-232-2424 November 28th: Aomori New House Wa Lasse Event Hall, Aomori City, Aomori Prefecture. This concert replaces the May 17th performance and tickets are transferable. Phone: 0570-02-9999 Coba has won numerous international competitions and has continued to influence the world's music scene as one of Japan's leading artists. He was Honored by the City of Castelfidardo in 2017. Link to full article: http://www.accordions.com/news.aspx?d=13-Oct-2017&lang=en&s=13589 |
Kevin Friedrich CD Release Party - New Zealandby Christine Johnstone |
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![]() The CD titled “The Journey”, features music by New Zealand composer Gary Daverne who has written pieces specifically for Northland such as “Song of the Far North”, “Gem of the Kaipara”, “Day of Aranga” as well as “The Anzac Trilogy” all which have been featured at Kevin's annual Fundraising concerts at the Dargaville Museum, often with the composer present. For this event, the Museum loaned out the stunning ANZAC mosaic accordion (which Kevin commissioned by mosaic artist Kim Harrison), for his performance of Song of Peace by Gary Daverne. Kevin also presented three other tracks from the CD at the reception. Following the launch, attendees were invited to take part in a Celebration Toast of “The Journey” CD by Harley Jones. Due to current Covid related shipping delays and restrictions, the CDs are available only via Marbecks New Zealand. https://www.marbecks.co.nz/detail/585774/Journey US/Europe distribution begins 1st December when the northern hemisphere stock is available. Full event report at: TheJourneyCDrelease Picture below: Kevin Friedrich, Elena & Lionel Reekie (with the mosaic accordion) who performed "Song of Peace at the reception. |
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Volodymyr Runchak World Premiere Performed by Maksym Hafych - Ukraineby Christine Johnstone |
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Maksym Hafych will perform the world premiere of a new work by composer & conductor Volodymyr Runchak at the Small Hall of the National Music Academy of Ukraine on October 20th at 6pm. The piece is entitled “Chinese Diptych No 2” for accordion. |
Reports for Concerts, Masterclasses, Competitions, Festivals, etc. |
Gorka Hermosa Performs "Urretxutik Mundura" Composition on Basque TV - Spainby Christine Johnstone |
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![]() The piece was written in the first few months of this year and was premiered on September 12th as a tribute to musician Jose Maria Iparragirre (1820-1881), in the Trinity Square of Donostia to celebrate the 200th anniversary of his birth. In recent months, Gorka Hermosa has presented his new CD "Blanchard Strings" on TVE1 Telediario, TVE Channel 24H, RNE1 (Pepa Fernández and the Critical Eye), Radio Euskadi, Catalunya Música, Euskadi Irratia, as well as in newspapers Diario Vasco, El Norte de Castilla, Diario Montañés, Gara, Berria, and Deia. |
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30th Anniversary of Music Artists Concert, Prague – Czech Republicby Christine Johnstone |
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![]() The 30th Anniversary of the Music Artists Association concert was held in the Bohusalava Martinu Hall of the Academy of Music in Prague, Czech Republic on October 6th. Accordionist Marcela Kysová Halmová (picture left), Director of the Ostrava Creative Center presented two world premieres by Ostrava composers. The first was Jan Grossmann's Melodram "Ugly girls" for reciter and accordion, followed by Dance Preludes for clarinet (with Zbigniew Kaleta) and accordion by Irena Szurmanová. Marcela also joined with an ensemble to perform the composition “Sketches” by Ostrava composer Milan Báchorek, founder of the Ostrava Creative Center. The performance was well received by both the audience and music critics. Performances were also given by Martin Kasík, the orchestra of the Castle Guard of the Czech Republic and other ensembles. |
XV International Folklore Festival "Griežynė", Vilnius - Lithuaniaby Christine Johnstone |
The XV International Folklore Festival "Griežyne" was held in Vilnius, Lithuania last month. A variety of accordionists performed at the event. Video above shows some excerpts from the festival concerts. |
Sean McComiskey Mini Online Concert for Milwaukee Irish Fest - USAby Christine Johnstone |
![]() The trio played a variety of traditional Irish music in this second episode of CelticMKE Aoibhneas Sessions. |
Video: Jamie Maschler and Gabe Hall-Rodrigues at Museum of Making Music, California - USAby Christine Johnstone |
Creosote Duo which comprises of Jamie Maschler and Gabe Hall-Rodrigues, give demonstrations and interviews plus discuss the dynamic range and ability of the accordion in this video. The duo are both seasoned musicians, performing, arranging and composing on the accordion. They enjoy creating original and Brazilian music inspired arrangements with a unique and endearing twist and are planning to record their first full length album by the end of 2020. |
Video: Accordion and Saxophone - "Cinque Miniature" – Germanyby Christine Johnstone |
Enjoy the combination of accordion and saxophone with this originally written composition for these two instruments by Andrea Sordano. Performers are Vanja Cirkovic (accordion) and Jan Fehrenbach (saxophone). |
Future events |
Classical Art Stars Concert, Yanao - Russiaby Ivan Dyma, SaxAkkord Duo |
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On October 17th, at 6 pm the "Stars of Classical Art: 90th Anniversary of Yanao" concert will be held at the "Oilman" Leisure Center in Yanao District. This is a new project for former graduates of the schools of arts of the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Region. Students of leading music universities of Russia and Russian musicians Nikolai Sivchuk (bayan), Ram Urasin (piano), Boris Andrianov (cello) and Ksenia Dronov (soprano) will perform in the concert program. Nikolai Sivchuk (bayan) is a soloist of the Moscow Philharmonic, a lecturer, virtuoso performer, concert musician, and the winner of numerous international and Russian awards, including the most prestigious in the field of bayan and accordion executive art - the World Cup. Boris Andrianov (cello) is an honored Russian artist, soloist of the Moscow Philharmonic, and a teacher of the Moscow Conservatory by I. Tchaikovsky. Ksenia Dronova (soprano) is a soloist of the Cultural and Business Center, winner of international competitions, participant of international festivals in Russia and Germany. Their program will feature works by Bach, Handel, Rachmaninoff, Tchaikovsky, Shostakovich and other composers. For details phone: 8 (34922) 3-85-56 |
Louise Jallu Performs at Festival Jazzèbre 2020 – Franceby Christine Johnstone |
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The 32nd annual Festival Jazzèbre 2020 (organised by Strass) began on September 25th and will run until October 18th, 2020 at the "Maison Jazzèbre" in Perpignan, France and features over 30 concerts from a variety of artists. On October 17th, Louise Jallu (bandoneon) will entertain with a solo concert. She enjoys performing modern tango music and is currently preparing a new album to celebrate the centenary of the birth of Astor Piazzolla. The CD will be released in January 2021 at the Philharmonie de Paris. For details email: louise.jallu@free.fr |
Zoe Tiganouria Regular Live Music Entertainment - Greeceby Christine Johnstone |
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Zoe Tiganouria, composer, accordion soloist and performer from the Island of Samothrace in Greece, will begin regular weekly live performances at the renovated Polyspace Aition from October 24th. She will be accompanied by two up-and-coming performers, Lambros Vassiliou and Anna Katsoulis, together with Stelios Generalis on percussion. Their program will include a variety of favourite Greek folksongs, own compositions and popular tango melodies. These concerts will adhere to Covid-19 special regulations. Reservations are required. Phone: 213 025 6666 |
“Twin Lakes Trio” Entertain at Milwaukee Accordion Club - USAby Christine Johnstone |
![]() The trio consists of concertina player Jon Dietz, (who was inducted by the World Concertina Congress into the Concertina Hall Of Fame this year – picture left), his son Zack Dietz (drums & tuba), and Jason Anschutz (bass guitar & vocals). For details email: skylinerguy@gmail.com |
Canterbury Accordion Association Variety Concert - New Zealandby Christine Johnstone |
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![]() Guest performers include the Christchurch Accordion Orchestra (picture left) conducted by David Thorne and the Christchurch School of Music Junior Symphony Orchestra conducted by Anne Robinson plus other guest entertainers. For details phone: 027 210 4600 |
"Music with Mary Accordion Academy" Virtual Event - USAby Rita Davidson Barnea, Editor USA Accordion News |
![]() As a concert accordionist Mary Tokarski has performed nationally and internationally with many musical groups. She has produced 8 CD's and regularly travels presenting workshops and master classes. The guest artist will be Guy Klucevsek. Registrations close on November 6th, 2020 and includes 4 workshops, One on One lesson with Mary and Final Concert. For further information email: mary.tokarski@comcast.net |
New and Updated Sites |
Updated Site: NAA 34th Annual Accordion Convention, Texas - USAby Christine Johnstone |
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The National Accordion Association (NAA) will hold their 34th annual National Accordion Convention at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Richardson, Texas from March 17th to 20th, 2021. President Norman Seaton has confirmed the event will retain the 2020 convention them “From Classic to Folk - the World of the Accordion”. Convention and Hotel Registrations will open November 1st, 2020. For details see: NAA |
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AAA Historian Joan Grauman Contributes Articles on Accordion Personalitiesby Rita Davidson Barnea, Editor USA Accordion News |
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![]() This month, articles on the lives of Frank Marocco, Manny Bobenrieth and Lou Coppola were added, plus two other articles including videos on Lou Coppola, bringing the current total to 23 of Joan’s articles in the AAA website at: Archival Information |
CD Reviews |
CD Review: Quodlibet CD by Friedrich Lipsby Joan C. Sommers |
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