Highlights |
Reports for Concerts, Masterclasses, Competitions, Festivals, etc. |
Future events |
New and Updated Sites |
CD Reviews |
Help Desk, Information needed, Readers CommentsSubmit Your Question, CommentSUBMIT NOW |
Random video 4UWatch the video |
Highlights |
2019 Events at A World of Accordions Museum, Wisconsin - USAby Rita Davidson Barnea |
Please mark these dates on your 2019 calendar for A World of Accordions Museum in Superior, WI (Wisconsin): May 4th - World Accordion Day: Joan Sommers, Stas Venglevski, Mary Tokarski, Betty Jo Simon, Murl Allen Sanders, (UMKC) Community Accordion Chamber group. May 5th - Willard Palmer Festival: Dee Langley, Aydar Salahof, Stas Venglevski, Mike Middleton, Paul Vargason, ACM Band World Accordion Music Further artists are pending and will be announced in future articles. The MC for the events will be Kevin Friedrich. Additionally there will be a CIA site video, major donor recognition, and more. Dr. Helmi Harrington (pictured left) founded A World of Accordions Museum and Harrington Arts Center. She also founded, established the curriculum for, and teaches Accordion-concertina Repair and Technicians’ School in Duluth, MN. Helmi Harrington has been recognized in various Who’s Who listings, through regional awards, and awarded the Confédération Internationale des Accordéonistes (CIA) Honored Friend of the Accordion in 2006. Scheduled opening hours are: Saturday, Sunday and Monday from 10am until 2pm. Other times are possible by appointment. Picture below: 2018 World Accordion Day For further information email: accordion@sprynet.com |
Val Tidone International Music Competitions - Italyby Christine Johnstone |
The 22nd Val Tidone International Music Competitions will take place from June 7th to 16th in the Val Tidone. This year’s event will include six international music competitions for a variety of instruments including the accordion, solo and group and categories such as classical and contemporary, pop, rock, world and Jazz. The international jury will include accordionists such as Teodoro Anzellotti, Radzap Shaykhutdinov, Jacques Mornet (picture lower right, Vojin Vasovic, Ricardas and Raimondas Sviackevicius (picture right). Artistic Director is Livio Bollani (picture lower left). Download competition rules: 2019ValTidone.pdf |
PIF Classical Category Composition - Italyby Holda Paoletti-Kampl |
In order to encourage the creation of new accordion repertoire, composers are invited to compose a work for Accordion & Orchestra, freely inspired by the theme of the 2019 PIF Festival:“Once upon a time… the accordion”. Instrumentation: Accordion, Violins I, Violins II, Violas, Cellos, Double Basses, Flute I-II, Oboe I-II, Bb Clarinet I-II, Bassoons I-II, F Horn I-II, Bb Trumpet I-II, Trombone, Percussion 1 (2 Timpani, C Glockenspiel), Percussion 2 (Suspended Cymbal, Snare, Tambourine). Other competition requirements are: - The composition must never have been performed in public, under penalty of exclusion from the competition. - The composer must remember that the winning piece will be performed by the candidates admitted to the 3rd round of the PIF Premio classical competition category (2019). The total duration shall be minimum 5 to maximum 8 minutes. The composition must contain at least one “soloist” part for accordion. The soloists will perform “only one rehearsal” with the orchestra before the final performance. Free registration. Composers are invited to enter online on the PIF site. For further information email: info@pifcastelfidardo.it |
Vilnius 2019 Konkursas Accordion Competition - Lithuaniaby Christine Johnstone |
The Vilnius 2019 Konkursas Accordion Competition will be held from 21st to 23rd March in Vilnius organised by the Lithuanian Accordion Association. This national event will include 12 categories for soloists, ensembles and orchestras, with international competitors and Jury members from Finland, Denmark, Italy, China, Slovakia, Germany, Portugal, Estonia, Poland, Russia, Ukraine, Austria, Serbia, Latvia, Montenegro, Croatia, Belarus, Czech Republic, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Lithuania. Click here for competition rules: 2019VilniusRules.pdf For further information contact the competition Artistic Director Raimondas Sviackevicius email: konkursas@laas.lt |
Reports for Concerts, Masterclasses, Competitions, Festivals, etc. |
Auditions: Haute Ecole de Musique de Lausanne (Lausanne University of Music) - Switzerlandby Stéphane Chapuis |
The entrance exam of the accordion class at Haute Ecole de Musique de Lausanne (Lausanne University of Music, Switzerland) will take place the 30th of April, 2019. The application deadline is 1st of March 2019. If you are interested in studying at HEMU to obtain: - Bachelor's degree - Master's degree in concert interpretation - Master's degree in pedagogics - Master of soloist you can contact me directly and I will be able to reply to all your questions and to provide any information concerning our university. Contact : Stéphane Chapuis The HEMU accordion class 2018-2019 is composed by: - Shiyi Zhang (China) Master of concert 2 - Anja Jagodic (Serbia) Master of concert 2 - Valentin Claivoz (Switzerland) Master of concert 1 - Augustinas Rakauskas (Lithuania) Master in pedagogics 2 - Lauréne Dif (France) Master in pedagogics 2 - Laure-Lyne Richard (France) Master in pedagogics 1 - Jean-Baptiste Baudin (France) Bachelor 3 The HEMU’s Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees are accredited by the Swiss Confederation and the ‘Musique et arts de la scène’ division of the University of Applied Sciences Western Switzerland (HES -SO), Switzerland’s largest professional training network. Studies at the HEMU lead to Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees, which in turn lead to a professional career. Additional continuing education courses for advanced students are also offered. For further information (in French and English): 2019HEMU.pdf |
Video: Phileas Rogue Performs Theme from "Black Sails"by Harley Jones |
Main Theme from the original STARZ TV show "Black Sails". This composition by Bear McCreary, arranged for accordion and performed by Phileas Rogue. |
Yllas National Park Concert – Finlandby Christine Johnstone |
Concert accordionist and composer, Veikko Ahvenainen and his wife Carina Nordlund performed a variety of duets at the Yllas National Park in Ylläs recently. Their program included a Shostakovich Valse, Trish Trash Polka (Johann Strauss), Finlandia Hymn (Sibelius), Finnish tangoes and polkas, plus Veikko Ahvenainen’s own compositions. During his career, Veikko has played in numerous famous concert halls and theatres. He began his concert performances as a soloist in the 1950´s and has played about 5,000 concerts round the world. He is well known in the USA, England, Japan, China, throughout Europe and Scandinavia. Since 1955 he has recorded over 1,000 pieces and has written hundreds of compositions and arrangements for the accordion, including orchestral works for symphony and numerous books for the accordion. For details on future concerts email: veikko.ahvenainen@nic.fi |
Video: Sergey Petrov Performs Sambaleiro - Russiaby Christine Johnstone |
Enjoy the Sambaleiro dance music performance by composer Sergey Petrov. Published 09 January 2019 |
Future events |
“The Eight Seasons” Concert - South Africaby Christine Johnstone |
“The Eight Seasons” concert - Vivaldi vs Piazzolla will be held at the Oude Libertas Amphitheatre in Stellenbosch on January 27th. “The Eight Seasons” is a compilation of Antonio Vivaldi’s Four Seasons Concertos (Le Quattro Stagioni) for violin & string orchestra, together with Astor Piazzolla’s Four Seasons of Buenos Aires (Cuatro Estaciones Porteñas). These would be normally played with a solo violin & string orchestra which is the original intention of Vivaldi, but not of Piazzolla. Piazzolla’s original version was for his Tango Quinteto. Instead the performers will be the Cape Town Tango Ensemble which includes Stanislav Angelov (bandoneon and accordion), Petrus De Beer (violin), Albert Combrink (piano) and Charles Lazar (double bass) who will play Piazzolla’s Four Seasons version for a Tango Quartet, combined with an arrangement of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons played by the World Café Trio which includes Stanislav Angelov (accordion), Petrus de Beer (violin) and Schalk Joubert (bass guitar). For concert details email: info@ctconcerts.co.za |
Jazz at the Goldenhill Workingmens Club – UKby Christine Johnstone |
The North Staffs Accordion Club will host their Post Christmas Jazz event at Goldenhill Workingmens Club in Stoke on Trent on January 22nd at 7.30pm. This concert will feature Glasgow jazz accordionist Harry Hussey and local traditional jazz band Lily's Weepers. Entry fee includes a glass of sherry, mince pie and Christmas cake! For ticket details phone Steve on 01782 787935 or email: stevehg0@gmail.com |
University of Music and Performing Arts Concert in Germany and Vienna Museum Concert in Austriaby Christine Johnstone |
Accordion students of Krassimir Sterev will perform at the Reaktorhalle, University of Music and Performing Arts in Munich on January 23rd at 8pm. This concert will include 4 world premier pieces by Dorothea Hofmann, Sarah Nemtsov, Ventzislav Dikov and Maximilian Zimmermann. Accordion performers include Maria Dafka, Aleksandar Popovic, Marko Trivunovic, Georgios Lolas and Djordje Njedic. On January 27th, Krassimir Sterev (picture right) will perform 2 x solo works at the Vienna Museum in Vienna, Austria. The first piece by Rebecca Saunders is “Flesh”. It has just been announced that Rebecca has been awarded the Siemens Stiftung Prize for 2019, one of the most important prizes in Europe for this composition. The second piece is “Play on Words” by Greek composer Michalis Lapidakis. For further details on these concerts email: krassimir.sterev@gmail.com |
Argentinian Accordionist Visits USAby Christine Johnstone |
Argentinian accordionist Ezequiel Tatich will perform in Miami and New York from January 14th to 27th. Ezequiel, who is known as ‘El Gringo del Acordeon’, is one of Argentina’s most popular young accordionists, entertaining the public in and near Buenos Aires. |
2019 Australian International Accordion Championships and Festival – Australiaby Christine Johnstone |
The 2019 Australian International Accordion Championships and Festival will be held on June 8th and 9th at Club Marconi in Bossley Park, Sydney organised by the AATA led by their President Tania Lukic-Marx (picture right). 2019 guest performers are the "Modern Trio Band" (picture left) from Poland featuring accordionist Elwira Sliwkiewicz-Cisak. Their program will include Bulgarian Suite (Siemionov), Czardas and the world premiere of a composition specially written for them by Volodymir Runchak. The weekend concludes with the AATA Gala Concert at the Marconi Club. The closing date for entries is 1st May 2019. Rules and regulations at: www.aata.org.au For further information email: tats64@gmail.com |
ArtAccA Europa Concert – Germanyby Christine Johnstone |
The ArtAccA 40 piece accordion orchestra (conducted by Tobias Dalhof) will perform their ArtAccA Europa concert at the Theater Marl on February 10th. The concert is dedicated to the creation of Europe and will include songs from different European countries. The aim is to show the different genres that can be played on the accordion. Works include 1812 Overture (Tchaikovsky), Finlandia (Sibelius), Live and Let Die from the James Bond film (McCartney) plus many others. For details email: karten@artacca.de |
Poblado Accordion Tour - Spainby Christine Johnstone |
Basque accordionist and composer Gorka Hermosa will take part in a Poblado Tour from January 26th to April 13th. Tour details are: 26 January: Barañain (Bertso Eguna) 15 February: Zumaia (Aita Maria Aretoa) 21 February: Bilbao (Kafe Antzokia) 23 February: Azpeitia (San Agustin KG) 12 April: Durango (Plateruenea) 13 April: Pamplona (Civibox) For details email: gorka@gorkahermosa.com |
Accordions: Expanding Voices in the USA Exhibition - USAby Christine Johnstone |
The Museum of Making Music’s special exhibition, “Accordions: Expanding Voices in the USA,” will run until August 31st, 2019 in Carlsbad, CA. The event will include an accordion exhibition concert series which will begin on February 21st with a performance by Banda Magda. The group is led by Greek-born composer, orchestrator, singer, and accordionist Magda Giannikou. They play a variety of samba to French chanson, from Greek folk tunes to Colombian cumbia and Afro-Peruvian lando, and combine South American rhythms with jazz improvisation, cinematic arranging, audience participation, mid-century classics, and world “chansons” sung in 6 languages. Banda Magda has toured in more than 22 countries and on five continents. For details email: museum@museumofmakingmusic.org |
Accordion Masterclass with Alfred Melichar – Englandby Christine Johnstone |
Accordionist Alfred Melichar (Professor of accordion at Bruckner University in Linz, Austria) will give a masterclass to Academy accordion students on January 24th from 10am to 1pm at the Concert Room of the Royal Academy of Music, London. The masterclass will include a talk about accordion development in Austria and is free of charge. For details phone: +44 (0)20 7873 7373 |
New and Updated Sites |
2019 South Pacific Accordion Championships & Festival Prospectus – New Zealandby Heather Masefield |
The Prospectus (Rules and Regulations) for the 2019 South Pacific Accordion Championships & Festival, to be held in Auckland on Saturday 1st June and Sunday 2nd June 2019, are now available at: 2019 NZ Prospectus The rules for the international categories closely follow the rules of the Coupe Mondiale. The South Pacific international concert music category has exactly the same rules as the Coupe Mondiale Masters category and the South Pacific entertainment category has exactly the same rules as the Coupe Mondiale Virtuoso Entertainment category. Similarly Junior (under 18 years) South Pacific entertainment category. The South Pacific Junior solo concert category has the same rules as the first round of the Coupe Mondiale Junior category. Entry closing date is 14th April 2019. NZAA President Sonja Palinich writes: “The NZAA will be celebrating the 10th Anniversary since hosting the 2009 Coupe Mondiale in New Zealand and we are delighted to once again have the use of the Raye Freedman Arts Centre (picture below). This outstanding modern venue is ideally suited to our requirements with excellent acoustics, lighting and full facilities all under one roof.” Past events reports at: South Pacific Daily Reports |
Gary Daverne New Releases of Rhapsody for Accordion and Orchestraby Harley Jones |
Gary Daverne New Releases include the Rhapsody for Accordion and Orchestra I orchestra parts and score fully typeset and the piano accompaniment. This work was commissioned by New Zealand accordionist, Harley Jones, for performance in New York, August 1988, but was premiered in Auckland in 1987 with the Auckland Symphony Orchestra conducted by the composer. In the first two years, the work received 36 performances worldwide and was recorded by the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra with Harley Jones as soloist. Harley was soloist with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra on a C.D. of symphony orchestra works composed by Gary Daverne, recorded in 1992 that was released internationally by EMI. Harley Jones also performed "Rhapsody" at the AAA International Piano Accordion Competition and Festival in New York (August 1988) and at the Prize Giving of the 1990 Coupe Mondiale held in Trossingen Germany. ED00031A_D Rhapsody for Accordion and Symphony Orchestra, Score ED00031B_D Rhapsody for Accordion and Symphony Orchestra, Parts ED00031C_D Rhapsody for Accordion and Orchestra, Solo Accordion Part ED00031D_D Rhapsody for Accordion and Orchestra, Piano Accompaniment ED00031E_D Rhapsody for Accordion and Accordion Orchestra, Parts ED00031F_D Rhapsody for Accordion and Accordion Orchestra, Score |
CD Reviews |
CD Review: Hymn to Aphrodite CD by Friedrich Lipsby Joan C. Sommers |
CD Reviews Index for the Review of Hymn to Aphrodite CD by Friedrich Lips. Review by Joan Cochran Sommers. Recent years Lips CD's: CD028 Hymn to Aphrodite CD CD027 Fachwerk | Kapote CD CD026 Night Flowers CD CD025 Lips Concerto CD CD024 Under The Sign of Scorpio CD CD023 Cocktail "Rio Rita" CD & eTracks mp3 album CD022 Viva Voce CD & eTracks mp3 album CD021 ecLipse CD & eTracks mp3 album CD020 ¡Buenos Dias, Astor! CD & eTracks mp3 album |
Help Desk, Information needed, Readers CommentsSubmit Your Question, CommentSUBMIT NOW |