Highlights |
Reports for Concerts, Masterclasses, Competitions, Festivals, etc. |
Future events |
New and Updated Sites |
Help Desk, Information needed, Readers CommentsSubmit Your Question, CommentSUBMIT NOW |
Random video 4UWatch the video |
Highlights |
A World of Accordions Museum Features Stas Venglevski Concert - USAby Rob Howard |
Stas Venglevski (accordion) will perform with guest artists Brett Jones (percussion) and Derek Bromme (tuba) from the University of Wisconsin, Superior at a concert entitled "Accordion Blend" at A World of Accordions Museum in Superior on January 23rd, 2022 at 3pm. The concert will be live in-person as well as being streamed online. See poster above for details. |
Foster & Allen March 2022 Concert Tour – Northern Irelandby Christine Johnstone |
Video: The Magic of Foster & Allen. Songs include The Old Rustic Bridge, I'll Never Stop Wanting You, Maggie, The Stone Outside Dan Murphy's Door, The Bluebell Polka, Morning Glory, After All These Years, The Mountains of Mourne, Remember You're Mine and Love Letters in the Sand. Popular Irish duo Foster & Allen (Mick Foster and Tony Allen) will tour Northern Ireland in March this year. The concerts entitled “We’ll Meet Again” are part of a series that will be held in 2022. Following their performance at the Grand Opera House in Belfast on January 11th, further concerts will be held from March 16th in Newry through to March 27th in Portaferry. See poster for details. |
Mie Miki Performs with Hyogo Orchestra Three Concert Series - Japanby Christine Johnstone |
Accordionist Mie Miki performed with the Hyogo Arts and Culture Center Orchestra during their three concert series of performances at the Hyogo Performing Arts Center from January 14th to 16th, 2022. The concerts, directed by HPAC orchestra conductor Yutaka Sado included a performance of "Family Tree" by Toru Takemitsu, with narrator Tamaki Shiratori (who will be 12 years old in a few days). The program also included Maler’s Symphony No. 4 with soprano Ishizawa Seimi. Mie Miki performed “This Road” by Yamada as an encore. |
Anniversary Evening for Andrey Ivanovich Ledenev, Moscow - Russiaby Arseniy Strokovskiy |
The anniversary evening for Andrey Ivanovich Ledenev (Associate Professor, Honored Worker of Culture of Russia and member of the International Informatization Academy) will take place on January 21st, 2022 at 7pm at the Concert Hall of the Moscow State Institute of A.G. Schnittke. The following laureates of international competitions will take part with live and recorded performances: Ekaterina Ledeneva, Marina Ledeneva, Alexei Alekseev, Galina and Alexei Efremenko, Aidar Gainullin, Roman Galiev, Mark Gataullin, Andrei Lukovsky, Andrey Marchenko, Maria Orel, Sergei Osokin, Joseph Purits, Robert Rakhimov, Pavel Ratynsky, Aidar Salakhov, Andrei Shelyganov, Anastasia Shkinderova and Ayazhan Usembayeva. The hosts of the evening are class graduates Olga Valerievna Kulagina and Lyubov Alekseevna Yankina. See poster for details. |
Ryan Corbett Wins £20,000 in Royal Over-Seas League Annual Music Competition - UKby Christine Johnstone |
Ryan Corbett won the 69th Royal Over-Seas League (Rosl) Annual Music Competition Keyboard Prize on 28 September, £5,000 1st prize, plus a sought after place in the Gold Medal Final held on 24 November. Ryan Corbett then won the Rosl 2021 Gold Medal Final and became the first accordionist since 1993 to win this top award and the £15,000 1st prize. Corbett competed against cellist Matthias Balzat, soprano Milly Forrest and flautist Marie Sato at Over-Seas House, with a program including works by Scarlatti, Franck Angelis and Viatcheslav Semionov. Currently studying at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, Corbett is the second accordionist to win in the competition in its 69 year history, following David Preston’s victory in 1993. ‘Ryan connected with the audience and jury alike with his innate ability to communicate through his accordion,’ says Geoff Parkin, artistic director of the Royal Over-Seas League. ‘His sound world, phrasing and musicality mark him out as a very special musician and we look forward to supporting his future career.” |
Video: Martynas Levickis Performs for 20,000 Plus Audience - Germanyby Martynas Levickis |
Martynas Levickis writes on 31 December 2021. "20 000 plus people listening to my performance with Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra led by Maestro Andrés Orozco-Estrada and I am sharing my love with every single one of them. Next year I hope brings "the normal world" back??" Martynas Levickis is performing: Václav Trojan (1907-1983) - "Fairy-Tales" for Accordion and Orchestra (1959) 2:28 1st mvt, Let us Dance into the Fairy Tales 5:26 2nd mvt, The Sleep Princess 9:24 7th mvt, The Acrobatic Fairy Tale |
Reports for Concerts, Masterclasses, Competitions, Festivals, etc. |
CIA Winter Congress 2022 in February is Delayed - Swedenby Kimmo Mattila Secretary General, Confédération Internationale des Accordéonistes (CIA) |
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Confédération Internationale des Accordéonistes (CIA) Winter Congress 2022 planned to be held in Kungsbacka, Sweden from February 25th to 27th is delayed and will now be held online at a later date. Due to Covid restrictions it is not possible to organise a public event with live music in February in Sweden. The date of the online Winter Congress will be announced soon. |
Ian Watson, Bundesakkordeonorchester Guest Conductor - Germanyby Christine Johnstone |
Composer and conductor Ian Watson (UK - picture right) has begun 2022 as guest conductor of the German National Accordion Orchestra “Bundesakkordeonorchester” (BuAkkO) The orchestra will rehearse at the historic music school in Schlitz (picture below) before their first 2022 performance at the Nuremberg State Museum of Art and Design in Nuremberg on February 20th at 11.15am. Their program includes world premieres of new works by Ian Watson and Stefan Hippe as well film music by John Williams as follows: • Simple London Symphony - Stefan Hippe (World Premiere) • On Aldeburgh Beach - Ian Watson (World Premiere) • Symphony 10, Movement 2 - Dmitri Shostakovich (arr. Ian Watson) • Selection from E.T. - John Williams (arr. Joan C. Sommers) • Black Mountain - Ian Watson • Selection from Enigma Variations - Edward Elgar (arr. Stefan Hippe) • Star Wars – Main Title - John Williams (arr. Ian Watson) • Spoonful of sugar - Sherman and Sherman (arr. Ian Watson) For details email: info@nmn.de |
Video: TV Coverage on the Houston Accordion Orchestra Retreat - USAby Christine Johnstone |
Video: Lauren Kelly from KPRC 2 Television interviewed Stas Venglevski while he was rehearsing with the Houston Accordion Orchestra this week. The Accordion Orchestra Camp hosted their 4th retreat in Kemah this week, where over 30 accordionists from all parts of the US gather in Houston to perform under the directorship of Stas. Two Live Concerts were held last weekend featuring the Accordion Orchestra at the Gloria Dei Lutheran Church and St. Matthew Lutheran Church. |
Timbre Russian Accordion Group Concert in Moscow – Russiaby Christine Johnstone |
Video: Performance of Piazzolla at the Bayan and Bayanists Festival in Moscow, December 2021. The Timbre Russian Accordion Group held their first 2022 concert at the Sanatorium "Marfinsky" in Moscow, Russia on January 15th, 2022, organised by the Moscow Region Philarmonic. The group performed a variety of pieces with vocalist Yulia Zhuravleva including “Moscow Quadrille” (Temnov), “How were you?” (Dunaevskiy) and “I will go outside” (Russian Song) as well as works by Sviridiv, Rokhlin, Minkov, Listov, Soliviov-Sedoy, Polonskiy and Kanaev. The group includes accordionists Pavel Zaitsev, Viacheslav Stoma, Kirill Rusinov, Maksim Tkachev and Viacheslav Kuzminskiy (Art Director). Pavel Zaitsev is also a partner of the pigini-excelsior.ru business importing Italian accordions to Russia. |
Ever Popular Accordion Cruise Now In May - Finlandby Harley Jones |
As the Covid-19 situation has deteriorated sharply throughout Finland, the Accordion Cruise by Suomen Harmonikkaliitto (SHL - Finland Accordion Association) planned for the end of January 2022 for over 2,000 accordion enthusiasts, will be postponed to May 2022. The SHL and Tallink jointly decided to postpone the cruise. New Date: Mother's Day weekend, May 7th to 8th, 2022. Organisers do not want to cancel the cruise. Currently the epidemic situation is difficult and therefore a postponement is necessary. It is not possible to be sure that the restrictions on gatherings and other things will end and that the corona passport will be valid in the coming weeks. The SHL will contact all customers who have made a reservation and agree to transfer their reservations until May. If the customer wishes to cancel the cruise booking, the cruise fee will be refunded in full. The SHL apologizes for the inconvenience of the date change and welcomes everyone to the Accordion Cruise for the spring vibe of May. The Finnish Accordion Association is a national music organization whose mission is to promote the hobby and status of accordion playing. Both individuals and associations are welcome to join, regardless of age or playing skills. For further information email: toimisto@harmonikkaliitto.fi |
Zoe Tiganouria Performs in Unique Theatre Production – Greeceby Christine Johnstone |
Zoe Tiganouria (composer and accordionist) is currently playing in 6 unique weekly performances at the Theater of the Day in Greece. The theatrical production of "Karaiskakis: The Misunderstood Hero" by Giannis Kostaras directed by Manos Antoniou began on January 5th, 2022. Zoe Music has released the music to this successful historical drama on CD. For details email: info@zoe-music.net |
Video: “Swing of France” Performing Jazz Musette - Franceby Holda Paoletti-Kampl |
Video: “Swing of France” which includes accordionist Erwan Mellec performing Jazz Musette pieces from their first album “La Contre-Attaque Du Jazz Musette Vol 1”. 1. La Flambée Montalbanaise (Gus Viseur) 2. Balajo (Jo Privat) - 2.50 3. Mystérieuse (Jo Privat) - 5.20 4. Modern'Valse (Jo Privat) - 8.20 5. Soir de dispute (Gus Viseur) - 11.00 6. Papillons Noirs (Jo Privat) - 13.15 7. La Sorcière (Maurice Vittenet) - 16.00 8. Passion (Tony Murena) - 19.25 The group have just released their second album "La Contre-Attaque Du Jazz Musette Vol 2". For details email: contact@swingoffrance.com |
Future events |
Lionel Suarez Auditorium Concert - Franceby Christine Johnstone |
Video: Lionel Suarez performing La Cambiada. Accordionist Lionel Suarez will perform a concert at the 25th season of Concerts de l'Auditorium in Villefranche-sur-Saône, France on January 22nd, 2022 at 7pm. The Concerts de l'Auditorium present a musical program that includes a wide range of musical expression such as lyrical, instrumental and orchestral ensembles. For details email: billetterie@concertsauditorium.fr |
Royal Academy of Music Accordion Master Class – UKby Christine Johnstone |
The Royal Academy of Music will hold an Accordion Master Class at the Angela Burgess Recital Hall in London, England on January 27th, 2022 at 3pm. The tutor will be contemporary music specialist Alfred Melichar (picture left), professor of accordion at the Anton Bruckner University in Linz, Austria. The masterclass is “highly recommended for teachers and students seeking to broaden their knowledge of this important part of the accordion repertoire”. For details phone: +44 (0) 20 7873 7373 |
Alex Meixner Performs with Terry Cavanagh & The Alpine Express in Texas - USAby Christine Johnstone |
Alex Meixner will perform with Terry Cavanagh & The Alpine Express at a special live event on January 27th, 2022 from 6pm at Krause’s Café & Biergarten in New Braunfels, Texas. The Alex Meixner Band will perform at this venue throughout 2022, including at Maifest and Oktoberfest later this year. Tickets for the January event are now sold out, but weather permitting, additional tickets will be available at the door. |
Festival Eclat Neue Musik, Stuttgart - Germanyby Christine Johnstone |
The 2022 Festival Eclat Neue Musik will be held in the Stuttgart Theatre, Stuttgart, Germany from February 1st to 6th. The program will include an accordion performance on February 3rd at 8pm by Teodoro Anzellotti (accordion - picture left), Peter Veale (oboe) and Ensemble Musikfabrik. They will play “Eight ways to Breathe” by Benjamin Scheuer for clarinet, accordion and ensemble. For details email: musik@mdjstuttgart.de |
Ghenadie Rotari Solo Recital in Vienna - Austriaby Christine Johnstone |
Ghenadie Rotari will give a solo recital at Alte Schmiede in Vienna, Austria on February 4th, 2022. His program will include works by Matthew Shlomowitz, Katharina Roth, Trevor Baca, Philipp Christoph Mayer, Diana Rotaru, Tobias Leibetseder, and Gabriele Vanoni plus world premieres of works written especially for him. For details email: g.rotari@yahoo.com |
Accordion Orchestra Day in Cambridge – Englandby Rob Howard |
The Cambridge Accordion Club will hold their Accordion Orchestra Day at the Stapleford Granary in Stapleford, Cambridge on March 6th, 2022 from 10am to 4pm. The event will include lots of fun playing pieces arranged by Nigel Pasby and is for accordionists of all levels. See poster for details. |
New and Updated Sites |
2022 Coupe Mondiale Rules and Regulations Released, Zofingen - Switzerlandby Kevin Friedrich, CIA Ambassador |
The 75th Coupe Mondiale will be held from 04 - 09 October 2022 in Zofingen, Switzerland, hosted by the CIA member accordeon.ch led by President: Yvonne Glur (President) and Switzerland CIA delegate Ruedi Marty. CIA President Mirco Patarini and CIA Secretary General Kimmo Mattila warmly invite accordion competitors, teachers and supporters to attend the 2022 Coupe Mondiale which will feature concerts and competitions as follows: • 75th Coupe Mondiale • Masters Coupe Mondiale • Junior Coupe Mondiale • International Competition for Virtuoso Entertainment Music • Junior International Competition for Virtuoso Entertainment Music • Chamber Music - Classical • Chamber Music - World Music 2022 rules and regulations at: Coupe Mondiale View hotel information and pictures of the concert venues at: Coupe Mondiale Download printable event poster at: 2022CM-poster.pdf The on-line entry system will open in Spring and the entry closing date is 31 August 2022. You will find a complete Report of the 2021 Coupe Mondiale at: 2021 Video Homepage & Video Timetable at: 2021CM-Video 2021 Daily Reports, pictures, results at: 2021CM-Report |
33rd International “Bayan and Bayanists” Festival, Moscow – Russiaby Dr Herbert Scheibenreif Manager of Friedrich Lips Productions |
Videos of five major festival concerts and the Silver Disc awards are reported in detail at 2021Moscow and there are now many pictures of the international 33rd International “Bayan and Bayanists” Festival, Moscow. Concerts included: • December 17th: 75th Anniversary Celebration of Viatcheslav Semionov, People’s Artist of Russia • December 18th: 70th Anniversary Celebration of Alexander Dmitriev • December 19th: Astor Piazzolla – 100! Celebrations Full report at: 2021Moscow |
2022 CNIMA Workshops - Franceby Christine Johnstone |
The CNIMA directed by Nathalie Boucheix will run accordion workshops for all ages, levels and styles during January and February 2022. The workshops will cover developing accordion technique, the hold of the instrument, balancing of the bellows, sound support, various touches and musicality etc. Dates as follows: • January 24th to 28th: Adult workshop which covers additional training on specific problems adults can encounter with tutors Nathalie Boucheix and Jacques Mornet (picture left). • February 14th to 19th: workshop for all ages and levels with Nathalie Boucheix and Jacques Mornet. • February 21st to 26th: workshop for all ages and levels with Nathalie Boucheix and Jacques Mornet. For further details email: cnima@orange.fr |
80th Anniversary ATG: July 20-24 in the Chicago Area - USAby Rita Davidson Barnea, Editor USA Accordion News |
The long awaited Accordionists & Teachers Guild, International (ATG) festival celebration is happening next summer! Join the ATG from July 20th to 24th, 2022 in the Chicago area as the ATG’s 80th anniversary is celebrated. Reserve your seat for the 80-piece ATG Festival Orchestra! This special orchestra is in honor of the ATG's 80th anniversary, and will be directed by Joan C. Sommers. The fee to hold your seat in the orchestra is $25 and will be applied towards your festival registration. Reservations are on a first-come, first-served basis, so don't drag your feet and take a seat! Registration will be available soon on the website: ATG |
2022 South Pacific Accordion Championships & Festival – New Zealandby Heather Masefield Secretary, New Zealand Accordion Association |
The 2022 NZAA South Pacific Accordion Championships & Festival will be held at a venue to be selected June 4th and 5th, 2022. The event, due to current Covid travel restrictions, will be open to only New Zealand residents or NZ passport holders. A variety of age group classes for soloists, duos, trios, ensembles and orchestras will be available. Covid restrictions mean that currently, non NZ residents and non NZ passport holders are not allowed to come to New Zealand. Entries close on April 14th, 2022. Download the rules and competition prospectus at: 2022nz_prospectus.pdf For further details email NZAA Competitions Secretary Renee Jeffries at: nzaacompsec@gmail.com |
Yuri Shishkin CD's Sold Out, eTracks Available - Russiaby Harley Jones |
Yuri Shishkin writes that a number of his CD's have sold out, mp3 eTracks remain available. Three CD's remain. At the excellent price of Euro 13.50 plus post, CD fans should purchase now to avoid disappointment. yshishkin07 Appliques CD - available yshishkin04 Shishkin Plays Semionov CD - available yshishkin06 Libretto (Bajan on the Russian Opera Stage) CD - available yshishkin01eT Towards The Sun CD has just sold out, eTracks mp3 album available yshishkin02eT Images Of The Passing Time - CD sold out, eTracks mp3 album available yshishkin03eT Favourites - CD sold out, eTracks mp3 album available yshishkin05eT Pictures at an Exhibition - CD sold out, eTracks mp3 album available |
Help Desk, Information needed, Readers CommentsSubmit Your Question, CommentSUBMIT NOW |