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Highlights |
Duo ‘Bayan Mix’ Prepares to Release New CD, Samara – Russia
Johanna Juhola 10 Concert Tour to England – UK
Bouteille en Bretelles Festival, Bourg-Saint-Andéol – France
Reports for Concerts, Masterclasses, Competitions, Festivals, etc. |
‘Kleine Tage der Harmonika’ Results, Klingenthal - Germany
Video: Richard Galliano Promotional Video for New Vivaldi CD - France
Fred Parnell Passes Away, Nottingham – UK
Video: Ionica Minune and Group video clip
Video: Baltic International Accordion Quintet Performing Poulenc
Al Iorio (1919-2013), New Jersey – USA
Video: Brothers Borodins perform Joe Dassin "Champs Elysees" - Russia
21st ‘Concerto di Fisarmonica’, Treviso – Italy
Video: Jérémy Lafon on LM TV "Au Bonheur de Nacre" - France
Video: Duo Jaelson Farias e João Batista - Brazil
‘14 Years Ago’ – 1999 ‘Hottest Accordionist in America’ competition
Future events |
Final Festival Concerts, Vienna – Austria
Victor Prieto Concert, New York – USA
‘Le Rianfra’ Festival, Incourt – Belgium
Accordion Master Class by Frédéric Deschamps, Lagos – Portugal
Festival D’Accordeon, Latinne – Belgium
Kilfenora Ceili Band Charity Show, Clare – Republic of Ireland
Heartland Men's Chorus, Jane Christison backing, Kansas - USA
Romano Viazzani Diary Dates, Leicester, Salisbury, London – UK
Accordion Master Class Programme, Nervi – Italy
‘Bellows and Waves’ accordion orchestral course, Devon – UK
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Highlights |
150th Italian Accordion Anniversary (1863-2013), Arnhem – Netherlandsby Rob Howard |
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 In 1863 Paolo Soprani began making accordions in Castelfidardo, Italy, and 2013 marks the 150th anniversary of the beginning of the Italian accordion industry. This notable anniversary will be celebrated in the Netherlands next month, as follows:April 24th and 25th - Classical Accordion and Alexander Technique Master Class with Claudio Jacomucci (picture left) and Kathleen Delaney, and a Jazz Accordion Master Class by Rik Cornelissen at the ArtEZ Hogeschool, Arnhem. 120 euro (active students), free entrance (listeners) April 25th, 6.30pm - book presentation: ‘Mastering Accordion Technique’ (2013) by Claudio Jacomucci and Kathleen Delaney, ArtEZ Hogeschool, Arnhem. Free entrance. April 26th, 8pm – concert with the musicians of the Italian Accordion Academy: Dennis Allegaert, Marco Ambrosio, Barbara Ardenois, Luca Pignata, Ezio Testa, Przemek Wojciechowski, and the participation of Claudio Jacomucci, at the Instituto Italiano di Cultura, Amsterdam. Free entrance. June 1st, 9pm - contemporary dance and music performance with the students of the accordion and Alexander Technique course at the Accordion Academy of Urbino and the participation of dancers from Kathleen Delaney Dance Company Amsterdam, Coro Polifonico Durantino Urbania (Conductor Simone Spinaci), Claudio Jacomucci (accordionist) and Kathleen Delaney (choreographer. This event takes place at Barco Ducale, Urbania, Italy. Free entrance. For further information email: accademia@claudiojacomucci.com |
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Duo ‘Bayan Mix’ Prepares to Release New CD, Samara – Russiaby Rob Howard |
 During a break between their recent concert tours of Russian cities, ‘Bayan Mix’ found time for a photo session for their soon to be released, new CD named ‘Jolly Classic’. Elegant and beautiful with invariable smile and favorite instruments, Sergey Voytenko and Dmitry Khramkov appear on the background with classic statues and columns. The next concerts by ‘Bayan Mix’ are in Chelyabinsk region this week. Also in early April the duo members will perform solo concerts in Rostov and Novocherkassk. For further information email: pr@voytenko.pro |
Johanna Juhola 10 Concert Tour to England – UKby Rob Howard |
 Finnish accordionist Johanna Juhola and her quartet, Reaktori, will undertake a ten concert UK tour in early April. April 9th – Rich Mix, London April 11th – The Apex, Bury St Edmunds April 12th – Colston Hall, Bristol April 13th – Lighthouse, Poole April 16th – NCEM, York April 18th – The Stables, Milton Keynes April 19th – M A C, Birmingham April 21st, 8pm – The Sage, Gateshead April 23rd – The Junction, Cambridge April 24th – Pontardawe Arts Centre, Swansea Charismatic accordionist Johanna Juhola takes the essence of Buenos Aires tango halls, blends it with dark Finnish landscapes, and rolls it all up in contrasting worlds of sound – by turns melancholy, exuberant, eclectic and just plain cheeky. Harnessing subtle and inventive electronic elements and backed by the innovative musical wizardry of her Reaktori quartet, Johanna is a well-known face on Finland’s music scene. Her opener track, commissioned for the 2007 Eurovision song contest was watched by tens of millions around the world. For further tour information email: office@kapa-productions.com |
Bouteille en Bretelles Festival, Bourg-Saint-Andéol – Franceby Rob Howard |
 The second Bouteille en Bretelles festival, sponsored by Marcel Azzola, takes place from March 22nd to 24th at the château Pradelle, Bourg-Saint-Andéol, Ardèche, Rhône-Alpes.The festival guests include Marcel Azzola (France), Claudio Jacomucci (Italy), Yuri Medianik (Russia), and the Lionel Suarez Trio. For further information email: otbsa@wanadoo.fr |
Reports for Concerts, Masterclasses, Competitions, Festivals, etc. |
Video: Oleg Lysenko performs Tango, composed by Igor Stravinsky - Netherlandsby Harley Jones |
| Oleg Lysenko performs Tango, composed by Igor Stravinsky and arranged by Oleg Lysengo for the Bayan. This video was recorded in Bimhuis Amsterdam for VPRO Vrije Geluiden. Vrije Geluiden is a music program for the Dutch public broadcast organisation VPRO. |
‘Kleine Tage der Harmonika’ Results, Klingenthal - Germanyby Holda Paoletti-Kampl |
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| This year’s ‘Kleine Tage der Harmonika’ accordion competition took place in Klingenthal, Germany, March 2nd and 3rd. This popular competition is open to young accordionists from the Free States of Saxony, Thuringia and Bayern, the Czech Republic and the host states Berlin, Brandenburg and Saxony-Anhalt. The results are available as pdf download at: Klingenthal The main International Accordion Competition Klingenthal takes place from May 6th to 12th. |
Video: Richard Galliano Promotional Video for New Vivaldi CD - Franceby Harley Jones |
| Richard Galliano will release a new Vivaldi CD on 1st April.[CD Deutsche Grammophon. This promotional video features interviews with Galliano and excerpts from the recording. The CD includes Galliano’s arrangement of ‘The Four Seasons’ and other music by Vivaldi. This CD of baroque compositions by Vivaldi follows similar albums of music by JS Bach and Nino Rota, and is released on April 1st on the Deutsche Grammophon label. Performers are: Richard Galliano (accordion and accordina), Jean-Marc Phillips-Varjabédian (violin I); Sébastien Surel (violin II), Jean-Marc Apap (alto), Eric Levionnois (cello) and Stéphane Logerot (bass). |
Fred Parnell Passes Away, Nottingham – UKby Rob Howard |
 Frederick Parnell (1933 – 2013)The highly respected accordion teacher and NAO adjudicator Fred Parnell, from Nottingham, died on Thursday February 7th 2013 in the presence of his wife and family. Fred, who was born 8th March 1933, started music at a young age, taking BCA Examinations and competing at the NAO Accordion Day Festivals. In 1950 he was awarded LBCA Diploma by Examiners Conway Graves and George Harris. In the same year, at the Central Hall, London, he was the 2nd recipient of the NAO Challenge Cup (a trophy still competed for at the UK Championships) as the NAO Senior Solo Champion. He went on to represent Great Britain achieving 8th place at the CIA Coupe Mondiale in Paris. Since then in his own words “he has had a wonderful life in music thanks to the accordion”. As well as his many years teaching, examining, adjudicating and composing, together with his wife Mavis and two musical sons, he ran a very successful family band for many years. Fred was a dedicated musician and has served the NAO for many years, still being a current elected member of the NAO Music Committee. In 2006, Fred was the NAO Merit Award recipient for his outstanding contribution to the Accordion in the UK! Fred was also an examiner for the British College of Accordionists and the London based Victoria College. Fred and his wife Mavis were familiar faces at the UK Championships. He was a true gentleman who will be very sadly missed. |
Video: Ionica Minune and Group video clipby Harley Jones |
| A recently released video clip by famous Romanian Ionica Minune and his Group. |
Video: Baltic International Accordion Quintet Performing Poulencby Harley Jones |
| In recent weeks, the Baltic International Accordion Quintet has been releasing videos of past performances and this one features various interesting pictures of this group of highly regarded accordion professors. Performers are: Vladimir Ushakov (Russia), Svetlana Stavitskaya (Latvia), Gennady Savkov (Lithuania), Eduardas Gabnys (Lithuania), Sergei Likhachov (Russia). |
Al Iorio (1919-2013), New Jersey – USAby Rob Howard |
 Amedeo ‘Al’ Iorio, veteran accordion builder and mechanical engineer from Cresskill, New Jersey, died on Monday March 4th at the age of 94. Al Iorio’s father, Candido, an Itaian immigrant, opened an accordion shop in New York City in 1907, and Al grew up in the accordion business, designing, buidling and selling instruments. Al Iorio was one of the first pioneer designers of the electronic accordion, and in the 1950s developed the ‘Accorgan’, thanks to an embedded chip. "If Al had never put in those electronic sounds, the accordion would not have been recognized as an instrument that could be played in many musical groups," said Norman Seaton, President of the National Accordion Association. Al Iorio's family began in the music business in the mid-19th Century in Italy. Al, with a mechanical engineering degree from Hoboken's Stevens Institute of Technology, transformed his father’s NY accordion shop, renamed it the ‘Iorio Syn-Cordion Musical Instrument Co.’, and moved it to an Englewood industrial park. Al Iorio was a lifelong champion of the accordion. "The accordion will never die out," he said in a newspaper interview in 2002. "There's still a lot of business out there, and the new computerized keyboards are always advancing themselves." As for his own musical prowess, Mr. Iorio "didn't go out and do gigs or anything," said a niece, Denise Grasing of Leonia. "But he played the accordion well enough to be able to demonstrate it and sell it." Al Iorio continued on after the business closed. "His garage was full of accordion parts, and you could always call him," said Guenadiy Lazarov, owner of Accordion Gallery, a sales and service business in the Landing section of Roxbury. "He was proud of his family's legacy, and it was a blessing for him to still do what he enjoyed." Mr. Iorio, an Army Air Forces veteran of World War II, is survived by his wife, Gloria; a sister, Norma Ferraro of Long Island; a granddaughter and a great-granddaughter. His son, Ken, who co-owned the family business, died in 1996. |
Video: Brothers Borodins perform Joe Dassin "Champs Elysees" - Russiaby Harley Jones |
| Joe Dassin "Champs Elysees" version for organ, clarinet and accordion. Video of Concert Hall. PI Tchaikovsky Moscow Philharmonic, 9th November 2012, published 8th March 2013. Performers: Brothers Borodins (duo accordion), Ekaterina Melnikova (organ), Sergey Shitov (clarinet). |
21st ‘Concerto di Fisarmonica’, Treviso – Italyby Holda Paoletti-Kampl |
 The 21st ‘Concerto di Fisarmonica’ took place on Sunday March 10th in the Eden Theatre, Treviso, featuring the Fisorchestra Armonia, conducted by Maestro Stefano Romani and Mirko Satto. The guest soloist was accordionist Mirco Patarini. |
Video: Jérémy Lafon on LM TV "Au Bonheur de Nacre" - Franceby Harley Jones |
| Jérémy Lafon appears on the popular LM TV program "Au Bonheur de Nacre" hosted by Pascal Savard. This video crop from the TV program was released on 28th February 2013 by Jérémy Lafon. |
Video: Duo Jaelson Farias e João Batista - Brazilby Harley Jones |
| Published 14th March, presentation of the duo Jaelson Farias e João Batista, November 23, 2012 at Fazenda Santa Clara, city of Zabelê, Paraíba, Brazil. |
‘14 Years Ago’ – 1999 ‘Hottest Accordionist in America’ competitionby Rob Howard |
 The Accordions Worldwide news for the week ending March 26th 1999 included a report of the ‘Hottest Accordionist in America’ competition, an imaginative event that was good publicity for the accordion. The winner was Zydeco button accordionist Dwayne Dopsie, from Louisiana. The links will take you back in time to see what this was all about. Warm Welcome for Hot Accordionists – USA Contributed by Faithe Deffner, President of the American Accordionists' Association It was "Welk Salutes the Accordion" day in Branson, Missouri on Thursday, March 25th, by proclamation of the Mayor. That's the BIG day when the five finalists of the "Search for the Hottest Accordionist in America" played off. The five finalists, selected from over 150 entries were: Terri Conti (New Jersey), Dwayne Doopsie (Louisiana), Phoebe Legere (New York), Tim Padilla (California) and Jason Stephen (Missouri). The search for the "Hottest" has attracted huge publicity, ranging from the front page of the Entertainment Section of "USA Today" newspaper to the opening monologue of Jay Leno's Tonight TV Show. The NBC-TV Tonight Show covered the final of the red-hot accordionists' competition, along with ABC Good Morning America and CBS Sunday Morning. Among attending media people was a New York Times reporter doing a feature for Sunday's Entertainment Section. CBS TV camera and news crew were at the airport to greet arriving contestants and film for their Sunday Morning Show. Accordions Worldwide has its North American representative Kevin Friedrich on the spot and a full report of this exciting event is on line. What a fantastic promotion for the accordion. Great work by the AAA, their President Faithe Deffner and the Welk Organisation. Such positive promotion of the accordion deserves all our support. – Wayne Knights, Editor |
Future events |
Kevin Friedrich Annual Dargaville Concert, 24th March - New Zealandby Harley Jones |
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 For the 6th time, the very popular ‘Music with Kevin Friedrich and Friends’ fundraising concert is being held in Dargaville on Sunday 24th March. Dargaville was Kevin Friedrich's home town before he moved to the USA at 18 years of age, to go to UMKC University to gain his degree majoring in accordion. Kevin Friedrich returns to New Zealand annually to make this fundraising concert for the Dargaville museum where there is a permanent historical accordion display titled 'Accordion Gems - A Master Collection of Accordions Through Time'. Last year also featured a major exhibition to celebrate the 40th Anniversary of the New Zealand Accordion Association and saw Kevin Friedrich honored with the NZAA Life-time Achievement Award to honor all that he has done for the accordion in New Zealand over the years. Full report of last years event at: Dargaville2012 |
Final Festival Concerts, Vienna – Austriaby Holda Paoletti-Kampl |
 This weekend sees the final concerts in the month-long Vienna Accordion Festival, as follows:March 23rd, 8pm – Johanna Juhola (Finland), ‘Juhola Meets Bach’, Reigen, Hadikgasse 62, 1140 Vienna March 24th, 1pm - Heidelinde Gratzl (Austria) and Jovan Torbica (Serbia), Film Casino, Margaretenstraße 78, 1050 Vienna March 24th, 8pm – Bratsch (France), Metropol, Hernalser Hauptstraße 55, 1170 Vienna For further information email: friedl.preisl@aon.at |
Victor Prieto Concert, New York – USAby Rob Howard |
 The Victor Prieto Trio + One perform at Flushing Town Hall, 137-35 Northern Blvd., Flushing, New York 11354, on Saturday March 23rd, 6pm. With accordionist Victor Prieto for this gig are Scott Robinson - sax, Jorge Roeder – bass, and Eric Doob – drums.From April 18th to 21st Victor Prieto will be in Santiago de Compostela, Spain, for the Galician Connection, holding a master class and performing in concerts. For further information email: victorprieto2001@yahoo.com |
‘Le Rianfra’ Festival, Incourt – Belgiumby Rob Howard |
 The third ‘Le Rianfra’ accordion festival takes place on Saturday March 23rd, 6pm, at Le Rianfra, 3 Pace des Fêtes, Incourt, Belgium. Accordionists performing include Guy Tillieux, Erika, Jos Steve, Didier Renard, and René Depas. |
Accordion Master Class by Frédéric Deschamps, Lagos – Portugalby Rob Howard |
 The eminent teacher Frédéric Deschamps, responsible for guiding many winners of international accordion competitions will be in Lagos (Algarve, Portugal), March 25th to 29th, to conduct an accordion master class with several participants from various parts of the world, including France, Russia, Spain, and Portugal. The content of the master class will focus on issues of posture, interpretation, reading, technique, and development of the interpreter’s artistic skills. The number of entries is limited and applications end on March 20th. For further information email: secretaria@academiamusicalagos.net |
Festival D’Accordeon, Latinne – Belgiumby Rob Howard |
 The second Festival D’Accordeon takes place at the Troubadourre, Rue du Centre, Latinne, on Saturday March 30th, 5pm.Organised by the L’Ecole Royale Superieure D’Accordeon de Latinne, there will be a dance from 5pm until 11pm, with music by Les Vedettes de L’Accordeon, and accordionists Steve Jos, Roger Larock, Michel Höte, and Manu Defleur. |
Kilfenora Ceili Band Charity Show, Clare – Republic of Irelandby Rob Howard |
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| The Kilfenora Ceili Band will be playing a concert in aid of Cuan an Chláir, a day care and sheltered housing project, on Sunday March 31st, 8pm, at Glór Theatre, Causeway Link, Glór, Ennis, County Clare. The band will be performing their brand new show ‘Spraoi’ with special guests dancing master Michael Donnelan, singer/songwriter Don Stiffe, and the West Clare set dancers. For further information email: johnlynch1955@gmail.com |
Heartland Men's Chorus, Jane Christison backing, Kansas - USAby Harley Jones |
 The Heartland Men's Chorus will be presenting 'Falling In Love Again' on these dates:8:00pm - 23rd March 2013 and 4:00pm - 24th March 2013. It will be held at the Folly Theatre in Kansas City. Accordionist Jane Christison will be entertaining in the pit orchestra for the first half of the concert. You all welcome and hope to see you there. For tickets and additional information please click on the link below. http://hmckc.org/spring-concert/ |
Romano Viazzani Diary Dates, Leicester, Salisbury, London – UKby Rob Howard |
 Accordionist Romano Viazzani writes about some of his forthcoming engagements:From April 3rd to 6th I will have the pleasure of playing with the hugely talented Frances Ruffelle in her role as a nitty-gritty Piaf at The Curve in Leicester. It would be lovely to see any Midlands-based accordionists or accordion fans there after the show for a drink if you can make it along there. There are two matinees too. We will be in the large theatre too as up till now the show has been in the smaller studio theatre but has been a sell-out and getting rave reviews hence the decision to extend the run. I will be replacing Zivorad Nikolic who has been the fabulous accordionist there for the past month. I have two other dates which may interest you too. The first is on Friday April 12th in the west country at Salisbury Arts where I will be with Cabaret Verite, performing with Bethany Jameson and ensemble in ‘On the banks of the Seine’ again. It would be great to see you there at this increasingly popular cabaret show where we will perform many famous French songs, not just by Piaf but Jacques Brel, Charles Aznavour, Mireille Matthieu, etc. Then on April 21st at London's Bull's Head in Barnes I will be with the unique singer-songwriter David Vaughan and his superbly-arranged and original songs which are sometimes cheeky, sometimes melancholy and often Italianate-sounding. So if you fancy something different do come along. We will also be in the company of the talented Spanish clarinettist Daniel Broncano. For further information email: romanoviazzani@hotmail.co.uk |
Accordion Master Class Programme, Nervi – Italyby Rob Howard |
 Accordion teacher Ivano Battiston has organized a series of 6 working weekends, which will be held in Nervi, near Genoa, Italy, from April to July 2013.The application form, completed in its entirety, must be submitted to the Segreteria Didattica (enrolment office) no later than March 25th 2013, together with: identity document, curriculum vitae, including all relevant personal data as well as details regarding professional and musical background. For further information email: ivanobattiston@gmail.com |
‘Bellows and Waves’ accordion orchestral course, Devon – UKby Rob Howard |
 The ‘Bellows and Waves’ accordion orchestral course has been running for almost 30 years. This year’s course runs from Sunday May 26th to Wednesday 29th at the Ariel Centre, Mullacott, Devon. Starting in Harwich with Graham Romani and Pearl Watson, and then in Clacton on Sea with Ian Watson and Julie North, and now in Ilfracombe Devon, still with Ian and Julie. It's 3 days of intensive rehearsals followed by an evening concert in the stunning Emmanuel Church in Ilfracombe, by the sea. This is the perfect way to improve your ensemble playing - whether you are relatively new to the accordion or an experienced player. Playing fantastic music (from film scores to show tunes and original accordion orchestra music) meeting new friends and relaxing in the beautiful North Devon countryside - what better way to spend some time over the half term week. Everyone always says they leave feeling like they've learned a lot and managed to have a great time. For further information email: i.watson99@gmail.com |
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Vincent Lhermet and Beatrice Berne Release New CDby Vincent Lhermet and Beatrice Berne |
 Vincent Lhermet and Beatrice Berne release their new CD with eTracks titled:'Winds from Ireland and Elsewhere - Vents d'Irlande et d'Ailleurs', catalog: VB101 with sound samples. Music performed by Vincent Lhermet and Beatrice Berne. Purchase online. |
CD Reviews |
“Wing Span” – Contemporary Danish Accordion Music & Classical Works CD by Adam Ørvadby Alessandro Mugnoz |
 CD Reviews Index for the Review of “Wing Span” – Contemporary Danish Accordion Music & Classical Works CD by Adam Ørvad, in Italian language, reviewed by Alessandro Mugnoz. |
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