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Highlights |
19th Northern Ireland Open Accordion Championships, Carrickfergus - UK
Guardia Nueva German NDR Radio Broadcast, 28th February - Germany
Video: Martynas Levickis Two Recent Performances - Lithuania
Reports for Concerts, Masterclasses, Competitions, Festivals, etc. |
Tian Jianan Guest Artist, Celebrating Chinese New Year with Music - USA
UKAAT Workshop @ RAM, London – UK
Video: Iryna Serotyuk and Viktor Daniel Eliasson Perform Bach - Sweden
An Interview with Toralf Tollefsen’s daughter, Oslo – Norway
Video: Grossmütterchen Hatz Salon Orkestar & Robin Gillard - Germany
14 Years Ago: Friedrich Lips @ London’s RAM in 2002
Future events |
Cherish the Ladies Concert, New Jersey – USA
Bjarke Mogensen Concerts – Denmark
Davie Stewart’s 80th Birthday CD launch/concert, Perth – UK
‘Accordion Gala’, Bressana Bottarone (PV) – Italy
42nd NAAFC Accordion and Fiddle Championships, Falkirk – Scotland, UK
Tango Show @ El Querandí, Buenos Aires – Argentina
New and Updated Sites |
Updated site: Sergey Osokin, Moscow - Russia
CD Reviews |
Help Desk, Information needed, Readers CommentsSubmit Your Question, CommentSUBMIT NOW |
Random video 4UWatch the video |
Highlights |
Kokkola XVIII Winter Accordion – A Ray of Sunshine Winter Festival - Finlandby Harley Jones |
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 The 18th Kokkola Winter Accordion did what the audience has grown used to over the years – exceeded all expectations.Festival Artistic Director Raimo Vertainen wrote: "A fantastic festival, 5000 visitors, ALFA TV filmed 4 concerts, 8 days of high-class, versatile, delightful and entertaining music and joyful events all around the town of Kokkola. Top concerts and various events for people of all ages. Altogether 34 events, 22 of them open for the public." This year Kokkola XVIII Winter Accordion had a special visit from France “The Music Juggler” – a fantastic duo of Jérôme Thomas ja Jean-Francois Baez combining the art of juggling and accordion in a unique way. Swedish duo Bengan Janson and Janne Åström took their audience by storm with their "Ett Jäkla Drag" -show. Performer Viivi Maria Saarenkylä wrote: "My concert 'Thursday Jazz' with the Jakob Combo was in Pietarsaari and Finnish TV channel Alfa TV broadcast our concert. I heard two other concerts in the Festival. Tuesday evening was a concert of well-known Finnish diatonic accordionist Antti Paalanen together with actor Jarkko Lahti. The show was named 'Miehemme Hiidellä’. It combined traditional Finnish mythology to Paalanen’s original, quite shamanistic music and voice. Jarkko Lahti sang, danced and read stories. Wednesday evening was a wonderful concert of the legendary Trio Fratres (Raimo Vertainen, Heikki Jokiaho, Toni Hämäläinen). A comeback concert of this high level accordion trio was a skilled, precise and expressive set of classical pearls and modern Finnish compositions for accordion to mention a few." Trio Fratres also published a recording 'Live At Kuhmo Chamber Music' during Kokkola Winter Accordion. The traditional Guardia Nueva concert conducted by Raimo Vertainen made an excellent finale to a very successful festival. Thanks to photographer Anne Yrjänä for the superb pictures. |
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19th Northern Ireland Open Accordion Championships, Carrickfergus - UKby Rob Howard |
 The 19th Northern Ireland Open Accordion Championships, held in the Belfast Loughshore Hotel, Carrickfergus, on Saturday February 20th 2016, were another major success with reaction from spectators and competitors alike being very favourable towards the festival, which ran like clockwork in a very relaxed and friendly spirit.Organised by Clyde Johnston (picture right), it is the largest accordion festival held in Northern Ireland and attracted a record 245 entries. The Championships are recognised by the National Accordion Organisation of the United Kingdom (NAO) as a qualifier for the UK Championships, held from April April 22nd to 24th at The Adelphi Hotel in Liverpool. Clyde was delighted to again welcome competitors from the Chilton School of Music in County Cavan and Gerry Kelly’s Accordion School from County Meath, as well as the Keith Dickson Accordion School from Scotland coming across for the first time. They certainly enriched the Championships. There were also other entries from Co. Meath, Co. Dublin, Southern England and Glasgow in addition to the local competitors and trade stands by Alan Shute, Roy Hendrie, Rob Howard, Glitterbug Bagz, and Scotland Accordions, which all added great interest and atmosphere. The adjudicators, Ivan Black, Audrey Gillian and Graham Laurie were greatly impressed not only by the high standard of playing but also with the smooth and efficient manner in which the Championships were run. Further report, results and pictures at: 2016NIreland |
Guardia Nueva German NDR Radio Broadcast, 28th February - Germanyby Raimo Vertainen |
 Video above: Guardia Nueva performing Finnish Tango Sä et kyyneltä nää at the 2015 Coupe Mondiale. Popular Finnish Tango orchestra Guardia Nueva performed the final night concert of the 3 week Usedom Music Festival, Usedom at Kaiserbäder Hall on 10 October 2015. NDR Radio Germany is broadcasting this concert on the 28th February 2016 at 22:00 to 24:00 hours. The Usedom Music Festival is dedicated to the music of the Baltic regions and this final concert was dedicated to Finnish Tango which has acquired a special significance, not only in Latin America but also in Finland. The Finnish tango is more melancholic than the Argentine tango and is also mostly in minor keys. Founded in 2001 by Raimo Vertainen (conductor and musical director), Guardia Nueva plays both Argentine and Finnish tango. Their program includes music of Finnish Tango and works of Richard Galliano, Piazzolla, Barry Manilow, Josef Rixner, Gualtiero Malgoni, Zequinha Abreu, Jean Sibelius. Guests include: Teemu Roivainen (vocals) and Jonna Pirttijoki (vocals, accordion, bandoneon). CD's available online at: Guardia Nueva |
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Video: Martynas Levickis Two Recent Performances - Lithuaniaby Harley Jones |
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 Video 1: The versatile and popular accordionist Martynas and the Vilnius Sinfonietta perform Winter from the "Four Seasons" by Vivaldi recorded by Lithuanian National Radio and Television (Lietuvos nacionalinis radijas ir televizija), published 26 January 2016.Video 2: Martynas and Jurgis Didžiulis performing Papatinka at the Music Award MAMA, published 11 February 2016. |
Reports for Concerts, Masterclasses, Competitions, Festivals, etc. |
New CD & eTracks Album Canto Di Natale by Renzo Ruggieri - Italyby Renzo Ruggieri |
 A new CD & eTracks (mp3) album titled Canto Di Natale by Renzo Ruggieri has been released. Catalog: rruggieri12Canto Di Natale (A Christmas Carol) is inspired by the famous story A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. Performers are: Renzo Ruggieri (accordion), Tiziana De Angelis (narrator), Mauro De Federicis (guitar), Umberto Fabi (narrator). Renzo writes: "A Christmas Carol" closes the triptych of my the three "Jazz Musical Story" with "Opera?" rruggieri09 and "Valentino Tango!" rruggieri11. In each of them, in which the musical aspect is always dominant appearance recitative, the composition is structured in five scenes, introduced by the narrative and musical improvisation, which follows the instrumental piece, describing the mood of the scene. Defined as the most beautiful story about Christmas, it narrates the conversion of a miser unrepentant in a good and generous man. Scrooge redeems his miserable and guilty existence by meeting three spirits representing Christmas past, present and future. The CD Canto Di Natale is available online, Catalog: rruggieri12 |
Tian Jianan Guest Artist, Celebrating Chinese New Year with Music - USAby Harley Jones |
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 Video: Tian Jianan performing at the prize giving concert of the VI International Competition for Accordionists in Moscow in December.Tian Jianan (China) has been a winner of many international accordion competitions and in Febuary, she was invited by Purdue University and Utah University, USA, for several concerts. Tian Jianan was performing both academic and light music and took two accordions to the USA. Tian Jianan also gave lectures with the introductions of the accordion & master class to the students in Universities and also to other schools. These were big events as they were also a part of the local Chinese New Year celebrations. The West Lafayette newspaper, the Exponent reviewed one concert with a heading: "This accordion music might just take your breath away" and continued - "Previous conceptions of how accordion music should sound are completely upended by the genius of Tian Jianan, said one concertgoer." Excerpts from an article on wlfi.com. "Guests were treated to a special musical talent Saturday night in the Purdue Union’s south ballroom. Purdue was happy to invite Tian Jianan to perform in celebration of Chinese New Year. Tian is a 21 year old accordion player from Beijing, China. Tian performed many traditional songs as well as a some contemporary pieces throughout the evening. Purdue Convocation’s executive director Todd Wetzel (picture left) says by hosting events such as these, they can help to connect a community that has so many diverse cultures." Tian Jianan is a student at the Central Conservatory of Music, Beijing, accordion tutor Prof. Cao Xiao-Qing, majoring in both accordion and composition. CD's and DVD's available online at: Tian Jianan |
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UKAAT Workshop @ RAM, London – UKby Romano Viazzani |
  The UKAAT’s first workshop on February 7th was held at the Royal Academy of Music, London. The day included a presentation by UKAAT President Romano Viazzani, then workshops by Prof. Owen Murray and Romano Viazzani (picture left). There was a concert by accordion students of RAM, a book presentation by R. Williams and finally a workshop by Simon Zanchini (Italy, picture right). Read a detailed report and pictures of the event written by Romano Viazzani at: 2016UKAAT |
Video: Iryna Serotyuk and Viktor Daniel Eliasson Perform Bach - Swedenby Harley Jones |
| Performance by Iryna Serotyuk (Ukraine, http://www.serotyuk.com) and Viktor Daniel Eliasson (Sweden) at the Chamber Musik Festival in Stokholm one week ago in the Big Hall, Royal Music College in Stockholm. Published on Feb 24, 2016 J.S.Bach. Concerto for Two Keyboards in C major BWV 1061, Part 2,3 II. Adagio ovvero Largo III. Fuga. Vivace |
An Interview with Toralf Tollefsen’s daughter, Oslo – Norwayby Roland Williams |
  Jon Faukstad recently interviewed Toralf Tollefsen’s daughter Sonja Marie Tollefsen at her home in Oslo. Read the interview 'Tollefsen’s Daughter Remembers' in English at: 2016TollefsenToralf Tollefsen (1914-94) was revered by generations of accordionists in Norway and the UK, where he lived between 1936 and 1961. Except for the 1939-45 WWII war years, which he spent in Norway as member of the Resistance movement. Tollefsen was one of Europe’s first pioneers of the free bass accordion, and did a great deal to promote the accordion in the world of classical music in the post-war years. A book, ‘Toralf Tollefsen World Artist’, edited by Jon Faukstad (picture of book cover right), gives an overview of the life and career of this outstanding accordionist. The book is available from Double Zed Ltd, UK. Price £13.50 plus postage (£2 UK, £4 USA/Australia; Email: romanoviazzani@hotmail.co.uk |
Video: Grossmütterchen Hatz Salon Orkestar & Robin Gillard - Germanyby Harley Jones |
| Performers are: Franziska Hatz (accordion), Richie Winkler (bass clarinet), Julian Pieber (drums), Simon Schellnegger (viola), Robin Gillard (percussion). Published on Feb 21, 2015. |
14 Years Ago: Friedrich Lips @ London’s RAM in 2002by Rob Howard |
 The Accordions Worldwide News for February 22nd 2002 reported that the leading Russian accordionist and teacher Friedrich Lips had been appointed as a ‘Visiting Professor’ at the Royal Academy of Music in London. This happy association has continued to the present time.Accordionist Nominated "Visiting Professor" – England Contributed by Dr Herbert Scheibenreif Manager of Friedrich Lips Productions Friedrich Lips has been nominated "Visiting Professor" at the Royal Academy of Music in London. Lips will travel to Great Britain several times a year to teach students of the accordion class of Professor Owen Murray. The first 2002 seminar took place from January 31st to February 2nd. Lips will return to London in May. |
Future events |
Miguel Alfonso Concert, Las Palmas - Canary Islandsby Rob Howard |
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| Accordionist Miguel Alfonso performs in concert on Saturday February 27th, 8.30pm, at Sala insular de Teatro, Primero de Maya, Las Palmas, Gran Canaria. Miguel Alfonso, based on Gran Canaria, is a versatile and well established accordion entertainer. He is also the Artistic Director and organizer of the annual Folk Festival Canarias. |
Cherish the Ladies Concert, New Jersey – USAby Rob Howard |
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| The all-female Irish American folk band Cherish the Ladies perform in concert on Saturday February 27th, 8pm, at the Pollak Theater, Monmouth University, New Jersey. Also performing in this show are the fiddling wonder herself, Liz Carroll, the mighty Ennis Sisters from Newfoundland, and the dancers Garrett Coleman and Jason Oremus. |
Bjarke Mogensen Concerts – Denmarkby Rob Howard |
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| Danish accordionist Bjarke Mogensen performs this weekend and next month, as follows: February 28th, 3pm – solo concert, Sengeløse Kirke, Denmark March 10th, 8pm – soloist with the Danish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Royal Academy of Music, Rosenørns Allé 22, Frederiksberg March 20th, 7.30pm – Kottos, Ørslev Kirke Danish accordionist Bjarke Mogensen made his concert debut at the age of 13 as a soloist in a German TV broadcast with the Munich Symphony Orchestra. Bjarke Mogensen studied at the Royal Danish Academy of Music as a pupil of Geir Draugsvoll and today he teaches chamber music there. He has given solo concerts all over the world, and in 2011 Mogensen had his solo debut at Carnegie Hall, New York, and in 2012 he received 1st prize in the prestigious European Broadcast Union’s ‘New Talent’ competition in Bratislava. For further information email: bjarke@bjarkemogensen.dk |
Davie Stewart’s 80th Birthday CD launch/concert, Perth – UKby Rob Howard |
 Scottish accordionist Davie Stewart celebrates his 80th birthday with a CD launch for his recording ‘Momento’ at a concert on Sunday afternoon February 28th, 2pm until 6pm, at The Salutation Hotel, Perth. Sharing the concert with Davie and his band will be accordionist Leonard Brown and his band.Well-known and respected on the Scottish dance band scene, Davie Stewart has been around as a player, band leader and composer for several decades. The tracks on ‘Momento’ include Grand Marches, Old Favourite Jigs, Reekie Lynn, Raison D’Etre, Tiger Rag, John Sinton Marches, Petite Panache, Angus Fitchet Jigs, H.M.S. Pinafore, Mio Amore, The More I See You, Highland Medley, Eli Brackett Rag, Neapolitan Serenade, Candy, The Love Triangle, Set of Three Marches, Set of Reels. For further information email: tommynewcomen@hotmail.com |
‘Accordion Gala’, Bressana Bottarone (PV) – Italyby Rob Howard |
 An ‘Accordion Gala’ featuring accordionists Walter Losi, Giuseppe Spinelli, Dario Ghelfi, and many others, takes place on Sunday afternoon February 28th, 2pm, at Tabu, Bressana Bottarone (PV), Italy. |
42nd NAAFC Accordion and Fiddle Championships, Falkirk – Scotland, UKby Rob Howard |
 The annual NAAFC (National Association of Accordion & Fiddle Clubs) Accordion and Fiddle Championships take place on Saturday March 5th, 9am, at the Inchyra Grange Hotel, Polmont, Falkirk, Scotland.The competitions include Traditional Accordion Solo, Polka and Musette, with other sections including Scottish Bands and Trios. There are also fiddle sections. This year’s selected composers are Gordon Shand – accordion, Angus Fitchet – fiddle. The festival this year includes an accordion workshop led by Liam Stewart, and a fiddle workshop led by Marie Fielding. Both are free. The competitions are followed by a prize winners concert, and a ceilidh to the music of the Burns Brothers. For further information email: magsknight19@gmail.cominfo@festacontinua.it info@festacontinua.it |
Tango Show @ El Querandí, Buenos Aires – Argentinaby Rob Howard |
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| The nightly Tango Show at El Querandí, San Telmo, Buenos Aires is a must-do for visitors to the capital city of Argentina. Watching tango in Buenos Aires can show insight into the Argentine cultural personality; its passion, sensuality, and reverence for history. The venue has been called 'living evidence of civic memory' and transport audiences back to the height of the tango era in the early 20th Century. After pickup at hotels and transport to El Querandí, visitors have a traditional 3-course Argentine feast, and Argentine wines produced by Finca Flichman are included. After the dinner, the tango entertainment begins, accompanied by accordion, violin, bass, and piano. Buenos Aires is the cultural centre of this seductive dance, and many first-time tourists eventually return again and again to see the shows and dance the tango themselves. The evening ends with hotel drop-off. For further information email: info@querandi.com.ar |
New and Updated Sites |
Historical Composition 'Loganola' Released - New Zealandby Heather Masefield |
 The New Zealand Accordion Assocation Inc. to preserve original New Zealand accordion music has typeset and released Loganola composed by Clarrie Bruce. Purchase online and view sample page at Catalog: mfa8050This is the first accordion music to be published and printed in New Zealand and was published by Arthur Eady, Auckland, New Zealand during the 1930's (exact date unknown). The original copy of this music was donated to the Dargaville Museum Accordion Gems display, curator Kevin Friedrich, by Titano Accordions (NZ) Ltd Director Maurice Jones. |
Updated site: Sergey Osokin, Moscow - Russiaby Harley Jones |
 Updated site with biography and 3 CD's by Sergey Osokin for sale. Sergey Osokin has won numerous international competitions and is an accordion tutor at Schnittke's Moscow State Institute of Music.- Eternal Returning CD and eTracks (mp3) album Catalog: os601 - IL Cinema Per Sempre CD and eTracks (mp3) album Catalog: os602 - Il Dolce Dolore CD and eTracks (mp3) album Catalog: os603 |
CD Reviews |
CD Review: Fachwerk | Kapote CD by Friedrich Lipsby Joan C. Sommers |
 CD Reviews Index for the Review of Fachwerk | Kapote CD by Friedrich Lips. Review by Joan Cochran Sommers. |
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