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Highlights |
DAILY REPORTS: AAA 85th Anniversary Festival - USAby Harley Jones |
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The 85th anniversary celebrations of the American Accordionists' Association! (AAA) festival will be held at the Marriott Philadelphia West in Conshohocken, PA, from July 12th to 16th, 2023. Online Daily Reports: 2023AAA85th The outstanding line-up of festival guest artists includes Grayson Masefield (New Zealand), US Air Force Strings, Joey Miskulin, Mario Tacca and Mary Mancini, Joan Sommers conducting the Festival Orchestra, Accordion Pops Orchestra conducted by Al Terzo, Westmont Philharmonia Accordion Orchestra conducted by Joanna Darrow, Busso Festival Orchestra conducted by Frank Busso Jr. and many more. The festival features a multitude of concerts, workshops, activities, and trade show. Online Daily Reports: 2023AAA85th |
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2023 International Istanbul Accordion Festival & Competition – Turkeyby Christine Johnstone |
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The International Istanbul Accordion Festival & Competition will take place online from August 17th to 20th, 2023 in Istanbul, Turkey. The event will incorporate the 2nd International Istanbul Accordion and Bellows Instruments Competition and the 3rd National Accordion and Bellows Instruments Competition organised by Akorder. The competition will feature age group categories for soloists and orchestras. Applications must be received online by August 11th, 2023. For details email: aaelyagutu@akorder.com |
XXIX Akordeono Festivalis – Lithuaniaby Christine Johnstone |
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The XXIX Akordeono Festivalis (International Accordion Festival) will be held in Palanga, Lithuania from July 31st to August 5th, 2023. The event Artistic Director is Prof. Raimondas Sviackevicius. An opening concert will be held on August 1st, 2023 which is dedicated to the 770th anniversary of Palanga city. The event will include a variety of concerts, seminar lectures and master classes. The closing ceremony will be held on August 5th at the Palanga Kurhaus Hall, with a concert featuring guests of the festival, winners of international competitions and the Joint Accordion Teachers' Orchestra. The head conductor is Prof. Ricardas Sviackevicius with other conductors Rita Auksoriute and Raimond Keith (France). Soloists include Agne Stancikaite (soprano) and Ruslanas Grimbovskij (accordion). |
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Accordionists Perform at 56th Festival della Nazioni – Italyby Christine Johnstone |
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![]() On August 25th, Daniele Ingiosi (bayan and bandoneon – picture left) will perform at the Parco Archeologico del Teatro di Marcello in Rome. His program will include bandoneon works by Ingiosi, Bacalov, Laurenz, Ramirez, Villoldo, Troilo, Bardi and Gardel, as well as bayan works by Ingiosi and Rodriguez. On August 27th, 2023, the Sirius Trio (picture below) will perform at the Chiesa di San Francesco (Church of San Francesco) in Montone. The trio, which features accordionists Michele Bianco, Alberto Nardelli & Pietro Secundo will play a program of works by Makkonen, Olczak, Schnittke, Zubitsky, Hakola, Bánkövi and Semionov. For details email: promozione@festivalnazioni.com |
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Online: Gemini Duo Winners at Manhattan International Music Competition - USAby Mirco Patarini, CIA President. |
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Video: Gemini Duo performing "Escualo" by Astor Piazzolla. The Gemini Duo (China/Denmark) won the online Chamber Music category of the Manhattan International Music Competition, held online this year. The winner’s concert was held live at Carnegie Hall in Manhattan, New York, USA on July 15th, 2023. The duo features accordionists Wanchen Zhao and Wanxu Zhao, who are both studying at the Royal Academy of Music in Copenhagen, Denmark, with Geir Draugsvoll. |
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Kirkjuvagr Ceilidh Band (2022) Performs at St Andrews Weekend – Scotlandby Christine Johnstone |
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The Kirkjuvagr Ceilidh Band (2022 - picture below) will perform at the St Andrews Weekend of live music entertainment at the Carrbridge Hotel in the Cairngorm National Park, Carrbridge, Scotland, UK on November 25th and 26th, 2023. The five piece Orkney band specialises in “cultural experience including dance and musical performance”. Bookings are now open. For details email: marketing@carrbridgehotel.com |
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Grayson Masefield World of Accordions Museum Concert - USAby Accordions Worldwide |
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Thanks to sponsorship by AAA, ATG, Accordions Worldwide, Grayson Masefield and his family, every dollar of the ticket sales for the Grayson Fundraising concert on the 30th July will be going for the benefit of the World of Accordions Museum in Superior, WI. We hope accordionists from near and far will support the museum, an amazing and important project for the accordion. Details of the International Convocation and other Museum events are listed on the poster above. Download full poster: 2023AWAM-Poster.jpg Purchase Concert Tickets at: 2023AWAM-GM |
Reports for Concerts, Masterclasses, Competitions, Festivals, etc. |
Deadline extended: XVIII International Accordion Festival Competition - Italyby Christine Johnstone |
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The deadline for the XVIII International Accordion Festival Competition entries has been extended to July 30th, 2023. The competition will be held in San Vincenzo la Costa, Italy from August 4th to 6th, 2023. The event includes a variety of solo age group cateogories for classical, variety, diatonic and chamber music performers. Download competition rules and entry form here: 2023FISAFest.pdf |
Video: Téng Lóng Composed by Gorka Hermosa, Performed by Li Kun - Chinaby Christine Johnstone |
![]() This video is from the premiere in Tianjin (China) on June 25th, 2023 at the Tianjin Conservatory of Music, where a concert was held premiering the award-winning and the commissioned works. |
Future events |
Jérôme Richard Performs in Chaillé-Les-Marais - Franceby Christine Johnstone |
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Video: Jérôme Richard performing "Le Mariachi de Mexico". Jérôme Richard will perform at a dinner dance event at the Salle du Pré Vert in Chaillé-Les-Marais, Pays De La Loire, France on July 22nd, 2023. Jérôme performs a mix of variety, classical and jazz music. For details phone: 02 51 56 37 37 |
Achilleas Panagoulis Performs at Narkissos Music Hall - Greeceby Christine Johnstone |
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Accordionist Achilleas Panagoulis will perform live with vocalist Pepi Theochari at the Narkissos Music Hall in Amarousi, Athens, Greece on July 22nd, 2023. For details phone: 210 2138366 |
Blackhill Accordion Band Parade – Northern Irelandby Christine Johnstone |
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The Blackhill Accordion Band (picture below) will lead a joint parade and service at St Guaire’s Church of Ireland Aghadowey, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland on July 23rd, 2023 beginning at 6.30pm. See poster for details. |
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“Come Dance with Flippie and Nico” Concert – South Africaby Christine Johnstone |
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The Drostdy Theater, Drostdy Centre in Stellenbosch, Western Cape, South Africa presents a concert with a difference on July 23rd, 2023. “After digging and dusting off the very final studio music recordings of two South African accordionists, Nico Carstens and Flippie van Vuuren, their extremely precious unknown 2010 album is being shared with an audience for the very first time." "The long-standing friendship between Flippie and Nico, which was based on mutual respect for talent, their respective early years with the famous Hendrik Susan-orchestra, the love for the accordion, their pointed perfectionism and unprecedented sense of humor, brought them together again to make the album in the Encore Studio on May 28, 2010." This forgotten recording is presented and interpreted by old musical friends: Cassie van Zyl (accordion), André van Vuuren (accordion), Alwyn Koen (drums), Johan Nortje (guitar), Johann Visser (bass) and Frans Treurnicht (guitar). “Carstens' most famous song "Zambezi" became a world hit and has been recorded by artists such as Eddie Calvert, Acker Bilk, Bert Kaempfert, The Shadows, James Last, Chet Atkins, Floyd Cramer and Johnny Dankworth. In 1982, The Piranhas took it to number 17 in the UK. Other versions of Carstens' compositions have been recorded by Horst Wende, Henri René, Geoff Love and bands in Australia, Italy and Poland. Carstens wrote and performed music which spanned the various cultures of South Africa. He drew inspiration from various sources, including Cape Malay, Black Township and indigenous South African sounds and combined them to form a unique sound and style. Since forming his own band at age 24, Carstens had composed more than 2000 songs and recorded over 90 albums which have sold over 2 million copies in South Africa. He did performances all over South Africa, Namibia, Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Botswana as well as at the Nantes Festival in France and he appeared on Musikantenstadl for ORF in 1997.” See poster for concert details. |
Manabu Hiyama Performs at Matsue Shinju Hot Springs - Japanby Christine Johnstone |
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Accordionist Manabu Hiyama will perform live at the Matsue Shinju Hot Springs Special Stage in Shimane Prefecture, Japan on July 23rd, 2023. Manabu will be joined by Mariko Okada (vocals) and Marino (saxophone). See poster for details. |
Phil Cunningham Concert Tour, Scotland - UKby Rob Howard |
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Phil Cunningham (accordion) and Aly Bain (violin) will tour Scotland, UK from July 27th to September 30th, 2023. See poster above for details of concert dates and venues. |
Alex Meixner “Impromptu Polka Party” – USAby Christine Johnstone |
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Accordionist Alex Meixner will perform at an “Impromptu Polka Party” at the Ohio Theatre in Madison, Indiana, USA on July 29th, 2023 from 7.30pm. The evening aims to be full of “fun and mayhem” with music and dancing to “an ultra-high-energy mix of polkas, rock, country, classic swing, ethnic classics and American favorites”. Alex will perform with Michael Fortunato (woodwind), Rory Hoffman (guitar) and Tommy Haller (drums). |
Akkzente 2.0 Accordion Orchestra Festival – Germanyby Christine Johnstone |
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The Akkzente 2.0 Accordion Orchestra Festival will be held at the Korbacher Stadthalle in Korbach, Germany on July 29th and 30th, 2023. This year’s event will “celebrate Hans Petersen's 50 years as conductor of the Akkordeon-Orchester Diemelspatzen e.V. (picture below).” The festival “emphasizes friendship through music and offers two concert series, exhibitions, as well as a gala concert, with eight orchestras from Hesse, Baden-Württemberg and Lower Saxony.” For details phone: 0171 / 20 90 031 |
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Tori Trio Performs in Austriaby Christine Johnstone |
![]() Jure Tori (Slovenia - picture left) will perform in the trio “Tori & Stosic & Zore” at Mochoritsch Eck in Klopeiner See, Austria on July 31st, 2023. The trio plays original music by Jure Tori. For details email: jure@toriprint.si |
Stowe Tango Music Festival - USAby Christine Johnstone |
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The Stowe Tango Music Festival will take place in Stowe, Vermont, USA from August 18th to 20th, 2023. As part of the event, a Bandoneon/Piano Intensive Workshop with Hector Del Curto & Victor Lavallen, will be held from August 8th to 13th and a Tango Academy from August 14th to 20th. Finals of the Che Bandoneon International Competition will be held on August 18th with an award ceremony on the 19th. For details email: stowetangomusicfestival@gmail.com |
Flogging Molly Summer Tour – USAby Christine Johnstone |
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Flogging Molly will begin their 2023 Summer Tour of the USA at the Mission Ballroom in Denver, Colorado on August 17th and finish at the House of Blues in Orlando, Florida on September 30th, 2023. The group includes Matt Hensley (accordion, concertina, vocals) along with players of a variety of instruments such as guitar, bodhran, violin, tin whistle, bass guitar, mandolin, banjo, drums, percussion and vocalists. For details email: floggingmolly@5bam.com |
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Links to Previous News Still Current |
Past News List of Linksby AWW |
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Release of 2023 Coupe Mondiale Rules and Regulations 2022 Coupe Mondiale, October 04 - 09, Switzerland Daily Reports from 05 October |
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PIF Castelfidardo 2023 Competition Information PIF Castelfidardo 2022 Daily Reports |
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XXXIV International Festival, Moscow Daily Reports |
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Information 2023 World Accordion Day, 6th May each year |
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2023 Accordion Cruise, Finland Information, News article |
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Accordion Reed Production Article Link |
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Chronology of Production of Italian Accordions Article Link News article about Beniamino Bugiolacchi Article Link |
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Serenellini Know the People Interview News Link |
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AAA information, USA 2023 AAA Festival News Link |
New and Updated Sites |
Updated website: Presidents Reports since 2004 - New Zealandby Heather Masefield Secretary, New Zealand Accordion Association |
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![]() NZAA Presidents Report 2004 NZAA Presidents Report 2009 NZAA Presidents Report 2010 NZAA Presidents Report 2011 NZAA Presidents Report 2012 NZAA Presidents Report 2013 NZAA Presidents Report 2014 NZAA Presidents Report 2015 NZAA Presidents Report 2016 NZAA Presidents Report 2017 NZAA Presidents Report 2018 NZAA Presidents Report 2019 NZAA Presidents Report 2020 NZAA Presidents Report 2021 NZAA Presidents Report 2022 John Statham, President from 1982 to 2011 for some 27 years. Two of his Presidents Reports are now online. Others will follow in the coming months. Current NZAA President Sonja Palinich (picture left), has been President since 2011 and has all her annual Presidents Reports online now. |
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