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Highlights |
What Are You Doing For World Accordion Day? - Internationalby Harley Jones |
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![]() World Accordion Day was started in 2009 by the CIA and has been very successful, generating a lot of positive publicity for the accordion. A key part of this event is the World Accordion Day website. Every association, group, orchestra, performer and teacher, is asked to actively support this event by encouraging national and local accordion activities to happen in their country on this day or the weekend either side of Accordion Day if that should be more convenient. Everyone can register their World Accordion Day activity on the website and send a report of their event after, for that website. No event is too big or too small. ALL accordion events celebrating World Accordion Day are welcome. This is a CIA promotion for the accordion in which every accordion enthusiast can participate and help bring our accordion world together as well as strongly promote the accordion. |
XIX Kokkola Winter Accordion Festival Celebrates 100 Years - Finlandby Harley Jones |
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![]() ![]() A list of all the performers is on the poster above. The event also incudes a seminar: “Accordion and the Independent Finland” with Kimmo Mattila as Chairman of the Panel looking at accordion in Finlands history from a scientific, musical history, composition perspective. In keeping with 19 years of tradition, the final night concert is by the famous Guardia Nueva Orchestra (picture below), renowned in this area of Europe with featured vocalists and conducted by Festival Director Raimo Vertainen. |
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Giustozzi Accordions & Diatonics Interview, Castelfidardo - Italyby Holda Paoletti-Kampl |
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Video 1: Leo performs "Javi se pod hitno" (Pick Up Urgently), accordionist is Samir Nurkic (Croatia), released May 2015. "Know the People" Giustozzi Accordions & Diatonics Interview: 2017GiustozziAcc with: Giampiero Giustozzi (Owner) Silvia Gagliardini (Manager) Editor: Holda Paoletti-Kampl "Know the People" behind the manufacturing of accordions in Castelfidardo who have made this small city so famous around the world for their quality accordions. Interview 2017GiustozziAcc |
21st International Week of Accordion "Alcobaça 2017" - Portugalby Harley Jones |
![]() President of the Portugal Accordion Association Aníbal Freire writes that the program will also include 6 concerts and 3 masterclasses as well as the competitions. Competition Manager Diana Freire invites everyone "to visit out beautiful city with its stunning sights, located only 70 Km from Lisbon and participate in a week of enjoyable accordion activities." Download the rules, regulations and entry information for the 3rd Accordion International Competition at: 2017asaccord.pdf For further information email: info.asacord@gmail.com |
Martynas February Concert Tour – Chinaby Rob Howard |
![]() Video 2: Martynas on Lithuanian LRT TV program „Visu garsu“ (Full Blast), March 2017. The highly accomplished Lithuanian accordionist Martynas Levickis is about to begin his first concert tour in China, which lasts from February 7th to 28th. His program will include works by JS Bach, Galliano, Gubaidulina, Levickis, Paganini, Rossini, Soler, Tchaikovsky, and Vivaldi. The tour dates include: February 7th – Harbin Concert Hall, Harbin as part of the 33rd Harbin Summer Music Festival February 8th – Henan Art Center, Zhengzhou February 10th – Hohhot Grand Theater, Hohhot February 12th – Handan Grand Theater, Handan February 14th – Shanxi Grand Theater, Taiyuan February 16th – Weifang Grand Theater, Weifang February 17th – Yantai Grand Theater, Yantai February 18th – Weihai Grand Theater, Weihai February 19th – Qingdao Grand Theater, Qingdao February 21st – Shengjing Grand Theater, Shengjing February 22nd – Dalian International Convention Center, Dalian February 23rd – Nanjing Poly Grand Theater, Nanjing February 24th Changzhou Grand Theater, Changzhou February 26th – Chongqing Grand Theater, Chongqing February 28th – Jiaxing Grand Theater, Jiaxing Martynas Levickis, known usually as Martynas, graduated from the Royal Academy of Music in London, and performed at the Royal Albert Hall in London, Auditorio Nacional in Mexico, Debussy's residence in Paris, the Berlin Waldbühne, etc. In his home country he won ‘Lithuania’s Got Talent’ on national TV and he has won the 2010 Coupe Mondiale Piano Accordion (now Masters classical) category. Martynas is an Associate of the Royal Academy of Music in recognition of his distinguished contribution to music in his field, and is a member of the Advisory Board of the Lithuanian World Arts Council. For further details about the China tour: 2017MartynasTour |
Entries Close, 31st January, 54th International Klingenthal 2017 - Germanyby Holda Paoletti-Kampl |
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![]() ![]() Full competition rules and category information, entry forms at: 2017Kling.pdf The event features: - International competition categories for soloists and groups, for concert and entertainment music, for children through to open categories. - Concerts by famous performers and an international jury of well known teachers. Mayor of Klingenthal Thomas Hennig (picture right) extends an invitation to accordionists of all nationalities and countries and their friends to attend the 2017 Klingenthal International Accordion Competition. |
7th International "Akordeon Fest", Knjaževac - Serbiaby Rob Howard |
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![]() This festival includes a competition for accordion soloists of various age categories, and the closing date for entries is March 20th. Download rules and entry information in three languages: 2017Knjazevac.pdf The festival includes a solo concert on March 30th by Alexander Komelkov (picture right), from Russia who was the winner of the 2016 CIA Couple Mondiale in Rostov-on-Don, Russia. For further information email: rakiczoran33@gmail.com |
Reports for Concerts, Masterclasses, Competitions, Festivals, etc. |
Gala Concert, Gold Astana Festival, Astana - Kazakhstanby Harley Jones |
Video of the Gala Concert, held in the Big Concert Hall, Kazakh National University of Arts, Astana on the 4th May 2016. Full information of this 90 minute concert is in Russian and English at: 2017Astana |
Ligeti au coin du feu (Ligeti by the fire) by duo XAMP - Franceby Harley Jones |
Ligeti au coin du feu (Ligeti by the fire) - duo XAMP of Fanny Vicens and Jean-Etienne Sotty Published on Dec 29, 2016. Further information at: http://www.duoxamp.com |
Zoe Tiganouria New Singles Released- Greeceby Harley Jones |
![]() 1. Dreams Track, 2. Something Has Changed 3. My Sister Mirror For further information email: info@zoe-music.net |
Concert in Krasnoyarsk State Institute of Arts.by Harley Jones |
Evening concert of accordion in the Krasnoyarsk State Institute of Arts. Organiser is Honored Artist of the Russian Federation SF Naiko. The opening concert date was 24th November 2016. Krasnoyarsk Krai, Russia is located on the Yenisei River. It is the third largest city in Siberia after Novosibirsk and Omsk. Performing are winners of competitions and festivals 2015-2016. Venue: Big Academic Concert Hall GIIC. Full information of this 90 minute concert is in Russian and English at: 2017GIIC |
Future events |
Marco Lo Russo in Eurovision Song Contest entry heat, Vilnius – Lithuaniaby Rob Howard |
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Picture above: Alanas and Marco Lo Russo finishing '7 Days' in the studio. Italian accordionist Marco Lo Russo has collaborated with the singer Alanas to write and record and also produce the love song ‘7 Days’, which will be performed as a prospective entry for this year’s Eurovision Song Contest. The Lithuanian entry will be chosen on Saturday January 28th in Vilnius, and Marco Lo Russo and Alana will perform the song on live TV. Alanas, a Lithuanian of Kurdish origin, is one of the most popular singers in Lithuania. She has eight best-selling albums and is the recipient of several prestigious awards such as Best Performer of the year, Best Song, Best Video and gold record. Marco Lo Russo met Alanas during his European tour on the Baltic Sea summer of 2015, and they have performed several times in the Baltic States and also Poland. Soon the song will be available in all digital stores.The 62nd Eurovision Song Contest for 2017 will take place in the International Exhibition Centre in Kiev, Ukraine. The contest is expected to consist of two semi-finals on May 9th and 11th and the final is on Saturday May 13th. Some 43 countries are expected to take part. For further information email: press@marcolorusso.info |
Roman Jbanov Concerts, Mures, Le Bourg – Franceby Rob Howard |
![]() ![]() On Saturday February 4th, 8.30pm, Roman Jbanov performs a classical recital with the singer Marie Noelle Cros at Eglise de Bourg Lastic, Le Bourg, south-western France. For further information email: duopm@sfr.fr |
CAA Concert Film Show, Connecticut – USAby Rob Howard |
![]() The video will be shown at The Waverly Inn, 286 Maple Ave, Cheshire, CT 06410. Admission is $5 for CAA members, $10 for the general public, and free for under-16s. For further information email: Marilyn@CTAccordion.com |
Marko Kassl Diary Dates – Netherlands, Germany, Austriaby Rob Howard |
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Austrian accordionist Marko Kassl has the following forthcoming dates in January and February: January 29th, 10am – with the Black Pencil Ensemble, Spiegelzaal (Avotros), Concertgebouwplein 10, NL-1071 LN Amsterdam, Netherlands February 5th, 6.30pm – program: Mieczyslaw Weinberg ‘Die Passagierin, Musiktheater in revier, Kennedyplatz, D-45881 Gelsenkirchen, Germany February 12th, 12midday – with the Black Pencil Ensemble performing ‘La Volta’, Het Oude Raadhuis, Hoofdweg 675, NL-2131 BC Hoofddorp, Netherlands February 14th, 9pm – with the Black Pencil Ensemble performing ‘La Volta’, Philharmonie Haarlem, Lange Begijnestraat 11, NL-2011 HH Haarlem, Netherlands February 21st, 10pm – program: Compagnie Irene K: Die Blume und der BaumBambergsaal, Moritschstraße 2, A-9500 Villach, Austria Marko Kassl is a member of the quintet Black Pencil Ensemble, whose latest concert show is called ‘La Volta’. They have also recently recorded a CD, ‘KAISEKI’, to be published by the German label GWK-RECORDS. For further information email: info@marko-kassl.de |
Gordon Pattullo @ Aberdeen Accordion & Fiddle Club, Scotland – UKby Rob Howard |
![]() Gordon Pattullo has been one of Scotland’s most popular accordionists since the 1970s, and is a former All Scotland Champion. He wrote an autobiographical article for the book ‘Accordion Anthology’, by Rob Howard, published on May 6th (World Accordion Day) 2016. |
Zoltan Orosz Concert, Budapest - Hungaryby Rob Howard |
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![]() Zoltan Orosz studied the accordion and the organ at the Bela Bartok Conservatory in Budapest, and later at the Franz Liszt College, Budapest. He has since pursued a very successful international career as an accordionist, with several recordings to his credit. For further information email: info@harmonika.hu |
Quintetto Veneto Concert, Tezze (VI) – Italyby Rob Howard |
![]() For further information email: info@quintettoveneto.it |
Zoe Tiganouria & Christos Papadopoulos, 5th and 12th February - Greeceby Harley Jones |
![]() Reservations: Ph 210 4100010 Performers are: Artistic / Direction representation Editor: Zoe Tiganouria, Conductor / Piano Stamatis Christou, Accordion: Zoe Tiganouria, Bouzouki: Christos Papadopoulos, Violin: Jason Ktenas, Electric Bass: George Citizen, Percussion: Stelios Generalis, Video Editor: Win Fousketaki, Lighting: Fotis Richard Kokavesis, Makeup: Sofia Karavassili, |
Eastbourne Accordion Festival, West Sussex – UKby Rob Howard |
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![]() Workshop leaders include Gary Blair, Angie Lukins, Sammie Catling, Jean Hanger, and Harry Hussey. The trade show includes The Accordion Shop, Scotland Accordions, Acorn Instruments, Birmingham Accordion Centre, Harry Kipling's "Accordion Treasures", MusicTech, and Carillon Music. For further information email: jr@carillonstudios.com |
Ferran Martinez Concert, Barcelona – Spainby Rob Howard |
![]() The concert programme includes ‘Voices of Spring’ (J. Strauss), ‘Carnival of Venice’ (arr. P. Frosini), ‘Mack the knife’ (K. Weill), ‘Misty’ (E. Garner), ‘Bossa Nova’ (V. Vlasov), ‘Libertango’ (A. Piazzolla), ‘Anantango’ (Gorka Hermosa), ‘Tema i variacions sobre tema ucranià’ (A. Kazakov), ‘Cou-cou’ (C. Daquin), ‘Verano’ (A. Vivaldi), ‘Autumn Scenes’ (A. Kusiakov), and ‘Don Rhapsody’ (Viatcheslav Semionov). Ferran Martinez was born in 1971 in Sabadell, Barcelona. He studied at Bruc's Conservatory in Barcelona and also studied with Iñaki Alberdi in ESMUC (Catalunya High School of Music). His CD recordings to date include ‘Sentiments’ (classical), ‘La Magia del Acordeón’ (popular), ‘Capricho Español’ (classical), ‘Feelings’ (classical/popular). For further information email: ferranbayan@gmail.com |
Hanzhi Wang @ Brooklyn Accordion Club, New York – USAby Rob Howard |
![]() Hanzhi Wang is one of the stars amongst the young generation of classical accordionists. She tours internationally as a soloist and chamber musician, and has been described in reviews as "Masterfully", "Technically flawless" and "remarkable stage presence", which adds to her innovative musicianship. Her competition successes include winning the Beijing International accordion competition in China and Klingenthal International Accordion Competition in Germany, the Arrasate International Accordion Competition in Spain, and the Premio category of the International Accordion Competition in Castelfidardo, Italy. In 2017 she will release her solo CD, with works by Danish composers. The CD is called ‘In the path of H.C. Andersen’, and takes the listener in to the heritage of Danish adventures. For further information email: brooklynaccordionclub@gmail.com |
New and Updated Sites |
Two New Works by Douglas Ward Released by Charnwood Publishing - UKby Douglas Ward |
![]() DW938 The Happy Whistler Standard: Grade 4 Approximate playing time: 2 min 0 sec This happy-go-lucky little piece will make you want to dance! Written in G major, the introduction is eight bars long. It is quite hummable and memorable. It clips along at a jaunty pace through the first section, which requires some treble fingering dexterity. It changes to C major for the second section before returning to G major. DW939 Ali Baba’s Barber Approximate playing time: 2 min 30 secs. Written in D minor (using just three chords in the basses), this piece combines the mysterious with catchy, playful, and rhythmic. The introduction combines treble chords with a four-note lead-in bass motif. The treble melody and accenting invokes a Moorish feel, with accents and phrasing confirming the rhythmic theme. The second treble section is rapid and requires smoothness and dexterity of the performer, with an extended section displaying playfulness between treble and bass rhythms. After returning to the original theme the piece ends with a showy four-note treble glissando. The Douglas Ward page is now listing over 80 compositions and arrangements of eSheet and printed music available from Charnwood Publishing. Purchase with credit card online. |
Gary Dahl Releases Ashokan Farewell Arrangement - USAby Gary Dahl |
![]() ![]() Arranger Gary Dahl writes about this new arrangement: The minimal use of embellishments is intentional so as to retain the poignancy of this composition. This arrangement is not hard to play but requires exceptional emotion to best convey the beautiful melody to your audience. Jay Ungar and his wife and fellow musician, Molly Mason, were running the Ashokan Camp, a summer arts school specializing in fiddle and dancing. While there, Ray Ungar composed the tune and their group, Fiddle Fever—recorded the song, including it as part of their 1983 album Waltz of the Wind. The inclusion meant that the song would need a name. Mason suggested “Ashokan Farewell.”. The release of the album generally coincided with the years Ken Burns spent researching and producing The Civil War documentary. In 1984 in particular, Burns was on the lookout for songs that could serve as the soundtrack for the documentary. Ken Burns heard the album and the rest is history. Sample page online and to purchase: Catalog No: DH0257 - Ashokan Farewell |
Alessandrini Accordions Factory Interview, Castelfidardo - Italyby Holda Paoletti-Kampl |
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![]() Video 2: Piotr Rangno @ Jazzfest Gronau 2013 "Know the People" Alessandrini Accordions Factory Interview 2017Alessandrini with: Tonino Alessandrini (Owner) Daniela Alessandrini (Owner) Editor: Holda Paoletti-Kampl "Know the People" behind the manufacturing of accordions in Castelfidardo who have made this small city so famous around the world for their quality accordions. Interview 2017Alessandrini |
NAA New Website & Promoting 30th Anniversary Convention in Texas - USAby Norman Seaton |
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![]() The new site also promotes the the 30th Anniversary Convention of the NAA at the Hyatt Regency in Richardson, Texas from March 8- 11, 2017. Full information and registration details are online on the new website at: http://www.NationalAccordion.org |
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