Highlights |
Reports for Concerts, Masterclasses, Competitions, Festivals, etc. |
Future events |
Links to Previous News Still Current |
New and Updated Sites |
Help Desk, Information needed, Readers CommentsSubmit Your Question, CommentSUBMIT NOW |
Random video 4UWatch the video |
Highlights |
2022 75th Coupe Mondiale, Zofingen - Switzerlandby Harley Jones |
Plans are well underway for the 2022 75th Coupe Mondiale being held in Zofingen, Switzerland. The event will be hosted by the CIA member accordeon.ch from 4-9 October 2022. Entry closing date is 31 August 2022 and General Competition Rules page: 2022CM-Rules. View 14 pages of information: 2022CM-Presentation.pdf Poster download: 2022CM-poster.pdf accordeon.ch led by Yvonne Glur (President) and Ruedi Marty (CIA Vice-President) provide the schedule information: Friday, 23 September to Sunday 25th September All Weekend: "Switzerland is listening to Accordion" featuring 100 Concerts all over Switzerland. Saturday, 24 September 11:00 - 12:30 RTS - Live from Zofingen - Le Kiosque à Musique Saturday 1 October RTS - Live from Zofingen - Le Kiosque à Musique Wednesday, 5 October 19:00 - 21:00 Opening Ceremony Concert featuring: Jodlerklub Edelweiss Zofingen, Zuger Alphornbläser-Vereinigung, Musikgesellschaft Zofingen and others. Switzerland Greets the World with Yodeling and Alphorn Sounds. Tickets: https://www.coupemondiale.ch/opening-ceremony/ Thursday, 6 October International Competitions (schedule to be finalised after entries close 31 August) Tickets: https://www.coupemondiale.ch/competition/ Friday, 7 October International Competitions Tickets: https://www.coupemondiale.ch/competition/ Saturday, 8 October International Competitions Tickets: https://www.coupemondiale.ch/competition/ 19:00 Misa Tango. Akkordeon Brittnau is a young and dynamic orchestra with around 60 musicians in various formations led by 2 professionals, Yvonne Glur and Julien Tudisco. The SOLAND Choir is a professional concert choir from Switzerland. MisaTango was created 25 years ago by the Argentine composer Martín Palmeri and is a choral mass to tango sounds. Currently, the Misatango would be one of the most performed vocal works in Europe (more than 3000 times per year). Tickets: https://www.coupemondiale.ch/gala-night/ 20:00 Coupe Mondiale 75th Anniversary 21:30 The Blue Project. The Blue Project is a national accordion orchestra performing in the Stadtsaal in Zofingen. Over 60 participants from 14 cantons take part. Conductor: Lionel Chapuis, CH. Tickets: https://www.coupemondiale.ch/gala-night/ Sunday, 9 October International Competitions 17:00 - 19:00 Final Results 19:00 Coupe Mondiale Winners Concert |
8th International Accordion "Peace Festival" - Germanyby Dr Herbert Scheibenreif Manager of Friedrich Lips Productions |
Video: 2021 "Berlin Celebrates Piazzolla" festival dedicated to Astor Piazzolla. The association Pantonale e.V. www.pantonale.com has made a name for itself in accordion circles and through its annually organized festivals, which have attracted a lot of attention internationally. After the festival "Berlin Celebrates Piazzolla", Pantonale decided this year to organize a "Peace Festival" in the Berlin Philharmonic and at the Brandenburger Gate. Artists from Ukraine and Russia will come to this festival, as well as musicians from Italy, Colombia, Austria and Germany are expected. Highly regarded accordionists Yuri Shishkin, Eduard Akhanov, Volodymyr Kashuta and guitarist Vitaliy Shal will perform at the opening concert in the Trinitatis Church Berlin Charlottenburg. The "Kollektiv Duo" Raphael Brunner, (accordion) and Juan Carlos Diaz, (flute - Austria and Colombia) are currently inspiring the world music scene and will perform their own compositions. The "Quinteto Respiro" from France, winner of the Piazzolla Music Competition 2021, will present their new program "Pictures at an Exhibition" (Modest Mussorgsky, arr. Gustavo Beytelmann). All week long, concerts at the Peace Festival will be heard in Steglitz Park, in churches and schools. The concert programs will also include works by Ukrainian composer Viktor Vlasov, Georg Gershwin and Alexander Tsfasman, a string quintet and a jazz trio will provide the musical framework for the concerts. Concert dates are: • September 10th at 6pm: Opening concert in the Trinitatis Church Berlin Charlottenburg • September 17th at 7pm: Chamber Music Hall of the Berlin Philharmonic • September 18th at 5pm: Brandenburg Gate With this festival we want to send a sign of peace into the world! |
Accordion Orchestras Perform at “Film and Fantasy” Concert – Englandby Christine Johnstone |
The London Accordion Orchestra and the German National Accordion Orchestra (both conducted by Ian Watson) will perform a concert entitled “Film and Fantasy” on October 1st, 2022 from 5pm to 7pm. The concert will be held at the Jerwood Hall, LSO St Luke's in London, England (picture below). Their program will include: London Accordion Orchestra • Adolf Götz - Intercity • Ian Watson - Flight • Marco Galvani - Vermillion • Ian Watson - The Legend of King Arthur (world premiere) German National Accordion Orchestra (Bundesakkordeonorchester, Nürnberg) • John Williams - Star Wars • Stefan Hippe - Simple London Symphony (UK premiere) • Edward Elgar - Enigma Variations Nos 1,4,7,8 & 9 • Dmitri Shostakovich - Second Movement from Symphony No 10 • Ian Watson - Third movement from 'Black Mountain' • Ian Watson - On Aldeburgh Beach (UK premiere) • John Williams - Selections from E.T. For details email: mail@londonao.co.uk |
27th International Accordion Festival Hoogezand-Sappemeer - Netherlandsby Christine Johnstone |
The 27th International Accordion Festival Hoogezand-Sappemeer will be held at the Kielzog Theater in Hoogezand, Netherlands on October 9th, 2022 at 1pm, presented by Adri Kruijer. The event is dedicated to Amsterdam music from a bygone era with hits by Tante Leen, Johnny Jordaan, Willy Alberti, Johnny Meijer and many others. Performers include the Rembrandt Duo with Eddy Hoorenman and Huub Eikenboom, Piet Schmidt and Gert Wantenaar who will be accompanied by Klaas Kreuijer (drums) and Joris Bijleveld (double bass). See poster for details |
Winner Announced, AAA 2022 Elsie M. Bennett Composition Competition - USAby Harley Jones |
Neil Thornock, of Provo, Utah, (picture right) won the American Accordionists' Association (AAA) Elsie Bennett Composition Competition this year with his lovely, haunting accordion solo, Moon-k'ssed Conifers. Neil Thornock has composed for a variety of forces including orchestral, electronic, chamber, and solo work. Much of his music is written for his own idiosyncratic keyboard technique on organ, piano, carillon, accordion, and other instruments. In 2019 he premiered his three-hour work Planetarium for organ and electronics. Currently, Thornock is professor of composition and theory at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. He and his wife Tammy are the parents of seven children. Neil Thornock writes: "I composed Moon-kiss'd Conifers to showcase the stunning and very reverberant acoustic of the central atrium in the Harris Fine Arts Center at Brigham Young University, a building which will be demolished in the beginning of 2023. The slowly shifting harmonies and supple melodies give space for the resonance to shine through. The result is nocturnal and perhaps a bit liturgical." View video of Moon-kiss'd Conifers and further information about the work at: http://www.ameraccord.com/bennett.php |
2022 Festival Avsenik – Sloveniaby Christine Johnstone |
The 2022 Festival Avsenik will be held in Begunje, Slovenia from August 26th to 28th, 2022 following the cancellation of the 2021 event due to Covid-19. The festival is one of the biggest events of the year held in Begunje na Gorenjskem, Slovenia and will feature three musical evenings and more than 20 local and foreign national entertainment bands. For details email: avsenik@avsenik.com Picture below: Festival program |
Reports for Concerts, Masterclasses, Competitions, Festivals, etc. |
XXIV Kokkola Winter Accordion Festival - Finlandby Raimo Vertainen, Kokkola Accordion Festival Director |
The XXIV Kokkola Winter Accordion Festival was held in Kokkola and Pietarsaari, Finland from May 17th to 28th, 2022. The events included a variety of music concerts for all ages from children through to seniors. Guardia Nueva conducted by Raimo Vertainen gave a jubilee concert entitled “Multifaceted Diamond – Guardia Nueva 20 years” which featured soloists Jarkko Ahola, Arja Koriseva, Teemu Roivainen and Jepa Lambert performing pieces specially arranged for the orchestra but in its classic style. The concert also included fresh arrangements of Finnish music, tangos and world music. Event pictures are online at: http://www.accordions.com/kokkola/2022/index.htm |
Gorka Hermosa Performs for Audience of 2,000 – Spainby Christine Johnstone |
Gorka Hermosa (picture right) performed his work “Gernika” as a soloist with the Et Incarnatus Orchestra under the script and direction of Jon Maia in front of about 2,000 people in Amaiur, Navarra Spain last week. The event was held in the ruins of the mythical castle of Amaiur and broadcast by ETB (Basque TV). |
Whitby Folk Week Festival - Englandby Christine Johnstone |
The Whitby Folk Week Festival will be held in Whitby, Scarborough, North Yorkshire, England from August 20th to 26th August 2022. The event will include a variety of concerts, workshops, ceilidhs, dances, sessions, talks, presentations, interviews and a children’s festival. Accordion performers include Alistair Anderson (concertina), Benamini Swift (melodeon - picture right), Brian Peters (concertina), Dan Quinn, John Kirkpatrick (picture above left), Johnny Handle & Chris Hendry, Ken Watson, Maclaine Colston & Saul Rose, Mat Green & Andy Turner, Matt Quinn, Melrose Quartet (with Richard Arrowsmith on melodeon), Mossy Christian, Pete Shepheard & Arthur Watson, Roisin Ban, Sarah Matthews & Doug Eunson, Spare Parts Concertina Band, Steve Turner (concertina), Vic Shepherd & John Bowden and Will Duke. |
Wiesław Ochwat at VI Summer Art Workshops - Polandby Christine Johnstone |
Accordionist Wieslaw Ochwat is currently holding a workshop in Niepolomice, Poland as part of the VI Summer Art Manufacture Workshops organised by Malopolska Manufaktura Sztuki. Event partners are City and municipality of Niepolomice, Royal Castle in Niepolomice, Malopolskie Sound and Word Center, and the First grade Music School in Nowa Huta Branch in Niepolomice. The event includes a variety of instrument workshops held from August 16th to 21st, 2022. |
Video: Accordionist Nika Kushnir and the Tel Aviv Klezmer Ensemble - Israelby Christine Johnstone |
Video: Accordionist Nika Kushnir and the Tel Aviv Klezmer Ensemble August 2022 performance at the Talpiot Market in Djerba, Haifa, Israel. The ensemble includes with Neru Albukrek (violin), Gonen Vizel (clarinet), Victor Azus (double bass) and Itay Dayan (percussion). |
Future events |
Datastico Orchestra Performs at Surksche Music Festival – Germanyby Christine Johnstone |
The Surksche Music Festival will be held at the Gräftenhof in Recklinghausen Suderwich, Germany on August 20th, 2022 from 4pm. The Datastico Orchestra (picture left) will entertain at the event from 4.30pm to 5.45pm with some of their repertoire highlights. For details email kontakt@datastico.de |
31st Annual Cotati Accordion Festival – USAby AWW |
The 31st Annual Cotati Accordion Festival gets underway this weekend, August 20th and 21st, 2022 in La Plaza Park, Downtown Cotati, California, USA. Music at the festival will range from Conjunto, folk, jazz, Irish, Venezuelan, rock, classical, zydeco, western & more. The event will include a Jam Tent, a Zydeco Dance Party, a Student Stage, the Ray's Deli Stage, and two main stages, along with over 60 vendors including crafts, accordions, food, wine and beer. Headline artists include Alex Meixner, Cory Pesaturo, Ginny Mac, Mad Maggies, Motordude Zydeco, Matthias Matzke (Germany), Sergei and Maria Teleshev, Sam Reider and Jorge Glem (picture left), the Free Reeds featuring Rob Curto and Corey Purcell and much more. All proceeds go to local nonprofit youth organizations, funding their music programs and outdoor education. For details email: info@cotatifest.com |
Louise Jallu Quartet at "Parfum de Jazz" Festival - Franceby Christine Johnstone |
Video: Louise Jallu Quartet performing “Oblivion” by Piazzolla. The Louise Jallu Quartet (picture right) will perform at the Parfum de Jazz Festival in Buis-les-Baronnies, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France on August 20th, 2022 at 9pm. The quartet includes Louise Jallu (bandoneon), Marielle De Rocca Serra (violin), Axel Nouveau (piano) and Arthur Henn (double bass). For details email: louise.jallu@free.fr |
Marta Cubas Hondal August Concerts - Spainby Christine Johnstone |
Accordionist Marta Cubas Hondal (picture above) will perform two concerts next week as follows: • August 22nd: Accordion recital at the San Sebastián Musical Fortnight in San Sebastian, Spain, with works by Hosokawa, Scarlatti, Zorn, Narváez, Gerenabarrena, Cabezón and Albéniz. • August 25th: Threesome Links Trio (picture left) of Marta Cubas Hondal (accordion), Cristina Cubas Hondal (violin) and Alejandro Dominguez Aparicio (piano) will perform works mainly by Astor Piazzolla at the Hermitage of San Martin in Laredo, Cantabria. For details email: marta@cubashondal.com |
45th Anniversary Harmonika Müller GmbH Festival - Austriaby Christine Johnstone |
Harmonika Müller GmbH will celebrate their 45th anniversary with a festival and in house exhibition in Bad Sankt Leonhard, Lavanttal, Austria from August 24th to 28th, 2022. The event will include product promotions, presentation of the 360-degree 3D configurator, production tours, music, food and drink. See poster below for details. |
“Bohemian Nights” Duo Entertain at Wyreena Music Cafe – Australiaby Heather Masefield |
“Bohemian Nights” will entertain at the Wyreena Music Café in Croydon, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia on August 26th, 2022 from 7.30pm. The duo, which features Ernie Gruner (violin, mandolin & vocals) and Phil Carroll (accordion & vocals) play a variety of Gypsy, Klezmer, Turkish, French, Italian, Russian, jazz and tango music which range from soulful to wild. For details email: wyreena@maroondah.vic.gov.au |
Coba Entertains at 2022 Niigata Cultural Festival – Japanby Christine Johnstone |
Popular accordion entertainer, Coba will perform at the 2022 Niigata Cultural Festival, Joetsu Bunka Kaikan Large Hall in Joetsu City, Niigata Prefecture, Japan on August 28th, 2022 at 1.30pm. The theme of this year’s event is "With the Life" - culture and the arts imply that they are close to daily life and are a major presence that becomes the vitality of people. Free admission. For details phone: 025-385-7432 Download performer information in Japanese language here: 2022Coba.pdf |
Renzo Ruggieri Masterclass & Seminars - Italyby Christine Johnstone |
Renzo Ruggieri will take part in a Masterclass & Seminar in Campli, Teramo, Abruzzi, Italy from August 28th to 31st, 2022, organised by the Braga Conservatory. The event will include four days “of total immersion in music” for all instruments. Renzo Ruggieri will hold a Jazz Accordion masterclass and seminars which will cover “Stage Fright” and “Developing Creativity” during the event. For details email: polygonon2018@yahoo.com |
Black Rolandertjes Duo Matinee Concert - Netherlandsby Christine Johnstone |
The Black Rolandertjes Duo will perform in a Matinee at The Park City Wiener concert in Landgraaf, Limburg, Netherlands on September 4th, 2022 from 2pm to 7pm. The duo includes accordionists Jos Van Deursen and Hanne Vandermaesen. See poster for details. |
Seattle Accordion Social - USAby Christine Johnstone |
The next Seattle Accordion Social will be held at St Mark’s Lutheran Church in Seattle, Washington, USA on September 4th, 2022 from 1.30pm. Guest performers include Lenny Luzzi, Charlie Brown, Jakob Bean and Sherrie Stinson & Regina Mansfield duo. |
37th Froger-Ferron Prize Festival - Franceby Christine Johnstone |
Video: Information on the 37th Froger-Ferron Prize Festival. The 37th Froger-Ferron Prize Festival will be held in Parcé, Fougères, Brittany, France on September 10th and 11th, 2022, organised by the AFAP (Association de Formation et d'Animation Populaire). The aim of the event is to promote and bring to life the music, tales, songs and traditional dances of Brittany and will feature a variety of traditional music, competitions, meetings, dancing, and an accordion exhibition. Every year several hundred diatonic accordionists come together to compete in a solo or duo competition or simply take part in this great gathering of traditional music and dance. The competition includes three categories: A: child up to 15 years old B: 16 to 49 years old C: 50 years and over For details email: afap.fougeres@gmail.com |
Canterbury Accordion Association Jam Session - New Zealandby Jeanette Perry |
The Canterbury Accordion Association will hold their next Jam Session on September 11th, 2022, at 3pm at St Stephens Church in Christchurch. Organisers welcome all instruments and music will be provided. Entry is free of charge. See poster for details. |
Links to Previous News Still Current |
List of Linksby AWW |
2022 Coupe Mondiale, October 04 - 09, Switzerland News Link | |
PIF Castelfidardo 2022 Information | |
Accordion Reed Production Article Link | |
Chronology of Production of Italian Accordions Article Link | |
2022 Dr William Schimmel’s Accordion Seminars, July 29-31, NY News Link | |
Serenellini Know the People Interview News Link | |
2022 AAA Recent publications, USA News Link and Article | |
2021 Coupe Mondiale Report and Video of all contestants Report Link |
New and Updated Sites |
Grayson Masefield Performs with the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra – New Zealandby Harley Jones |
The Christchurch Symphony Orchestra (CSO) invited Grayson Masefield to join them for an interesting project earlier this year for a performance on Saturday 30th July. Azul by Golijov, was originally commissioned for Yo-Yo Ma and ‘hyper-accordion’, was to be performed by the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra, in one of the 10 best acoustically designed Town Halls in the world - the new Christchurch Town Hall. The cellist from London, Matthew Barley, and Auckland accordionist Grayson Masefield, were joined by 2 local percussionists to form an obligato group. The score also called for a non-traditional seating arrangement of the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra to surround them. Chief Conductor Benjamin Northey was delighted at the success of the sound the work created. The audience really appreciated the contemporary piece, giving the 30 minute work the longest and loudest applause of the evening. Radio New Zealand recorded the performance, with this link to be available shortly. The New Zealand Accordion Association President, Treasurer, and Secretary attended along with members of the Canterbury Accordion Association. CSO interview with Grayson Masefield: CSO-GraysonInterview.pdf |
Help Desk, Information needed, Readers CommentsSubmit Your Question, CommentSUBMIT NOW |