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Highlights |
Coupe Mondiale Video Online Now - Austriaby Harley Jones |
Online now. Videos and Video Timetable at: 2014CM-Video |
2014 Coupe Mondiale Ready to Start, Salzburg - Austriaby Harley Jones |
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![]() ![]() CIA President Raymond Bodell (left) and HVÖ President Werner Weibert (right) warmly invite you to atttend the 2014 Coupe Mondiale in beautiful Salzburg, Austria at the world class Salzburg Congress Center (picture below). The event promises wonderful music and the very highest level of competitions with over 190 entries from 30 countries of the world. For those not able to attend, the www.CoupeMondiale.org website has Daily Reports of pictures, information with videos of all the contestants being placed on the CoupeMondiale.org website just minutes after their performances. For much of the Coupe Mondiale, there will be 2 or 3 competition venues running at once for your video viewing plus pictures and full information of the music programs. The Deschamps Channel is also covering the whole event. The evenings are also filled with wonderful music with Austrian accordionists being featured and a final concert on Saturday evening featuring the World Accordion Orchestra VIII and all the Coupe Mondiale category winners performing. Videos and Video Timetable at: 2014CM-Video Daily Reports at: http://coupemondiale.org/2014/at_coupe_main.htm Other information at: Coupe Mondiale |
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Qingdao National Accordion Festival for Senior Citizens - Chinaby Harley Jones |
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![]() What is probably the worlds first National Accordion Festival for Senior Citizens was held in Qingdao, a major city in Eastern China. Accordionists came from around China to this well attended event. The type of music performed was generally quite different than competition festivals for young people. There was a lot of patriotic music and songs/melodies that were very popular 20-30 years ago. Even competing soloists tended to play music with melodies, popular in past years for competitions. The emphasis was on fun, making nice musical performances and the judges also helped to keep the fun atmosphere alive with positive comments and a happy humor. The variety of instruments, folk orchestras, vocal solo, groups, choirs and dancing with accordion was also a feature of the event with groups and clubs often showing many combinations of instruments and voice with accordion. The success of the event and the strong support of the participants means that a 2015 National Accordion Festival for Senior Citizens is now being planned. A full report, pictures and video, of this historic event is at: 2014Qingdao |
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Roland Releases FR-8X V-Accordion Updateby Harley Jones |
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![]() Based on user feedback, the new features include new drum and orchestral parameters, improved control of audio files, more Looper functionality and new Orchestral Chord ‘voicing’ capabilities. The Version 2 update will be officially launched by Uwe Steger in a dedicated workshop on Saturday November 1st, as part of the 67th Coupe Mondiale in Salzburg, Austria. This workshop will be available to view online at the Coupe Mondiale website from 4:00pm CET. http://www.coupemondiale.org/2014/video.htm Since the revolutionary V-Accordion was first launched in 2004, Roland has introduced many digital accordion models culminating with the current FR-8X launched in 2013. Roland has recently announced a manufacturing agreement with Fatar Srl that will ensure that production of the V-Accordion range remains in Italy. A dedicated team of Roland staff based at Fatar srl, together with Fatar's world-renowned craftsmanship and quality standards, will ensure that Roland remains dedicated to the ongoing development of the specialised Roland V-Accordion models." For more information, visit: http://www.roland.com/products/en/FR-8xb/ |
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Akkordeonorchester Hof presents 30th Anniversary Jubilee Concert - Germanyby Kevin Friedrich |
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![]() The Jubilee celebration presented by the Hofer Symphoniker Musikschule featured the accordion ensembles from the music school including the Akkordeonorchester Hof under the direction of Torsten Petzold (picture left), the Schülerakkordeonorchester (Youth Accordion Orchestra) directed by Florian Weichert, the Hobbyakkordeonisten (the Hobby Accordion Orchestra) directed by Bernd Rosenberger and the Jubilee Accordion Orchestra where former members of the group were invited to join current members for a performance directed by Torsten Petzold. Founded in 1984, in addition to performing throughout Europe and in their home town of Hof, the orchestra has traveled the world on numerous International concert tours including to South Africa, Japan, China, Réunion Island, Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and multiple trips to the USA. The pre-concert celebration evening included many pictures and videos from these exciting tours, a pop-band performance by orchestra members and even a fashion show of all previous orchestra uniforms. Under the direction of Torsten Petzold, the orchestra recently achieved 5th place at the World Music Festival International Accordion Orchestra competition in Innsbruck, Austria. Recognized as the most challenging accordion orchestra competition in the world, the Akkordeonorchester Hof has received International acclaim for their high level performance standard, which was evident at the anniversary concert, eliciting a several minute standing ovation. Conductor Torsten Petzold previously served as Musical Director of the German National Theatre at Weimar as well as of the Nordharzer Staedtebundtheater. In addition to his work with the Hof Accordion Orchestra, he currently serves as Chief conductor of the Saxonian Police Orchestra in Dresden as well as of several other orchestras and vocal groups. The Akkordeonorchester Hof performed Festive Overture, Op. 96 by Shostakovich, Adagio of Spartacus and Phrygia by Khachaturian, Francanapa by Piazzolla, Miss Saigon Medley by Schönberg, Die Moldau by Smetana, Against All Odds by Phil Collins and Some Skunk Funk by Brecker. The latter two pieces featured sax soloist Jan Grepling who also performed on Miss Saigon with vocalists Julian Feulner and Elisa Plaha. The 60 member Jubilee Orchestra performed a rousing arrangement of My Way by Francois with vocalist Julian Feulner. The Akkordeonorchester Hof is now preparing for their next International tour in April 2015 where they will perform in Réunion Island and Mauritius. |
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Video: Poem by Chen Yiming about "Our China Accordion Dream" - Chinaby Harley Jones |
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Well known Chinese teacher Prof. Chen Yiming, Shan Dong Normal University, Jinan City has written a poem about "Our China Accordion Dream" and the development of the accordion in China. The poem was first publicly recited by: China Accordion Association (CAA) Executive Secretary Crystal Wang, CAA President Prof. Li Cong, Xu Ping and Guan Lin at the Qingdao National Accordion Festival for Senior Citizens Opening Concert on the 18th October 2014. Picture below: The Poem performers, Xu Ping, Li Cong, poem writer Chen Yiming, Crystal Wang and Guan Lin. A full report, pictures and video is at: 2014Qingdao |
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Reports for Concerts, Masterclasses, Competitions, Festivals, etc. |
Days of Accordion at Onet le Chateau, Rodez - Franceby Heather Masefield |
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![]() In Onet le Chateau, Rodez, France, Guillaume Fric has organized exceptional days of international accordion music. Attendees are from China, Chile, New Zealand, Russia and France. Daily Master classes with Frederic Deschamps have been given in the prestigious venue La Baleine. On the Monday evening, an arrival dinner of regional food was hosted by organizer Guillaume Fric. On Tuesday evening a Bal Musette, was held in the hotel, with many students in the Master Classes taking turns to perform, whilst others learnt the dances of the area. The culmination of the 4 days work is the Thursday evening concert featuring Grayson Masefield, Elsa Gourdy, Guillaume Fric, Jeremie Buirette, Romain Dupruis and Vitaly Kondratenko. |
Accordion Concerts in Shanghai - Chinaby Harley Jones |
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![]() The President of the Shanghai Accordion Association Crystal Wang opened the concert and the Shanghai Childrens Palace accordion tutor Wan Yi Zhong introduced the Shanghai Alliance of Accordion Group and the international contestants Sarah Wang Jie and Huang Meng Yao. Picture and videos of this concert is at: Shanghai21 On 24th October, Shanghai Normal University (SHNU) student Jessica Shi Xuan (poster right) performed her graduation concert at the SHNU University to a packed hall with a lot of extra seats were required. Jessica performed 12 pieces and picture and videos of this concert are at: Shanghai24 |
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Lionel and Alexandra Reekie Awards - New Zealandby Heather Masefield |
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![]() Lionel received the award for “Top Male Artist” and Alexandra, the “Rising Star Award”. Lionel was a recipient of the Rising Star Award himself in 1991 as an 18 year old, so it was a very special thrill that his daughter has also received the award, and that they were both honored with awards on the same night - an unusual event and perhaps a first for the Variety Artists. Alexandra started learning piano and accordion at a very early age and recently passed her Grade 8 Trinity College (London) piano examination with merit. Lionel is a singer/musician who performs in New Zealand and overseas and his wife, Elena is a piano teacher and dancer, so it is not unexpected that music has always formed a very big part of Alexandra’s life. Alexandra has been a regular competitor in local and national accordion competitions and has won both New Zealand and Australian titles. She is a pupil of Northcote Intermediate School and plays in her school’s rock and jazz bands, as well as being a member of both school representative basketball and netball teams. She is also a keen ballet dancer and a rhythmic gymnast. In 2013, Alexandra competed in the American Accordionists’ Association (AAA) USA national competitions in New York City and she will be the New Zealand representative at the Coupe Mondiale World Accordion Championships in Salzburg, Austria, later this month, competing in the Junior Virtuoso Entertainment category. |
Video: Alexander Poeluev Performing - Russiaby Harley Jones |
Alexander Poeluev performing The Bee at the Confédération Internationale des Accordéonistes (CIA). |
Music China Expo, Shanghai - Chinaby Andrea Ottavianelli |
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Bugari Armando Italy were displaying their products at the Music China Expo, held in Shanghai from 8th October to 11th October. Some pictures of their display. Top Picture: Zhang Guoping trying new model Prime, Moon Song and some clients viewing. Middle Picture: Teacher Xu Tiansi testing an accordion with Bugari China agent Ren Lihong explaining. In the background is Bugari Director Roberto Ottavianelli talking to a client. Lower Picture: Zhang Guoping performing on the Prime model, Ren Lihong and some public watching. |
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Video: Samuele Telari performing Runchak - Serbiaby Harley Jones |
Samuele Telari (Italy) performing in Kragujevac, Serbia, 2014, the Messa da Requiem by Volodymyr Runchak for accordion, video published on October 19 2014 |
Future events |
“Timbre Russian Accordions Group" of Moscow Tour - Belgium, France, Switzerlandby Martin Frey, Schweizer Generalvertretung für Pigini und Excelsior Akkordeons |
![]() It is a very sad point that the bass player Michail Dmitrokopulo died this spring of cancer and therefore, the Timbres have a new bass player, Maksim Tkachev. Group members: Kuzminskiy Viacheslav (French horn), Stoma Viacheslav (clarinet), Zaitsev Pavel (oboe), Kochurov Alexey (accordion), Tkachev Maksim (tuba, bass) Tour organisers are: Irene Niederberger and Martin Frey together with Claude Alain Antonelli of "Club des Cent". Concerts: 31 October 2014 Concert in Tramelan (BE) 01 November 2014 Private Concert by Francis Kurth 02 November 2014 Concert in Yverdon les Bain (FR) 05 November 2014 Concert in Zug (ZG) If you want to host a concert or for further information, email: martin.frey@yetnet.ch |
Nick Ariondo, A Classical Kaleidoscope Concert - USAby Harley Jones |
![]() Accordionist / composer Nick Ariondo is performing original compositions and arrangements from Baroque to Jazz/Tango to Contemporary as a soloist and sometimes with guest artist Larry Hughes (clarinet and soprano sax). The concert will include a new rendition of Artie Shaw's Clarinet Concerto for clarinet & accordion. Free Admission: no reservations needed but seating limited to first 150 people - doors open 6:30pm. Arcadia Public Library/Cay Mortenson Hall 20 W. Duarte Road, Arcadia, CA 91006, USA. |
New and Updated Sites |
New Website: Mirco Patarini - Italyby Mirco Patarini |
New website for Mirco Patarini with full CV, outlining his extensive performing career, jury and seminars as well as his work in the accordion industry. http://www.mircopatarini.com |
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