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Highlights |
NOVAM Accordion Soloists & Chamber Music Competition – Netherlands
Accordionists Feature in “Global Music Match” - Worldwide
40 Years after the Dream Came True - 1980 Coupe Mondiale
18th International Bayan Competition "Vivat Bayan!", Samara - Russia
Reports for Concerts, Masterclasses, Competitions, Festivals, etc. |
Adam Ørvad Performs at Classic Mini Festival! in Frederiksberg - Denmark
30th Annual Cotati Virtual Accordion Festival, California - USA
“Duo Vilda” Summer Music Event Concerts - Finland
Closing Date: PIF 2020, 45th International “Città di Castelfidardo” Accordion Prize & Festival - Italy
New Product from AccordionGifts: SUNbuster Car Shade – USA
"A La Carte" Program at CNIMA - France
Stockport Accordion Club Live Meetings Again – UK
Have you Ever Tried Jumping out of an Aeroplane and Playing the Accordion?
Future events |
Gordon Shand Performs at Tartan Tunes Scottish Sessions - Scotland
Ghenadie Rotarie Performs at French Premiere, Paris - France
LandesJugendAkkordeonOrchester Town Hall Concert, Cologne – Germany
2020 Carrefour Mondial de l'Accordéon Online, Quebec – Canada
Online Music Tutorial with Hans-Günther Kölz – Germany
New Date: Milonga De Cuatro Concert, Auckland – New Zealand
New and Updated Sites |
Help Desk, Information needed, Readers CommentsSubmit Your Question, CommentSUBMIT NOW |
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Highlights |
Castelfidardo Accordion Museum Reopens - Italyby Christine Johnstone |
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 The newly renovated Accordion Museum Castelfidardo (Museo della Fisarmonica) reopens on August 29th, 2020.The day will begin with an inauguration ceremony with speeches, ribbon cutting and a walk through the Museum. Due to current social distancing rules, the reduced number of seats is reserved for guests and authorities. After the ribbon cutting, they will be the only ones to visit the renovated Museum in the morning. From re-opening, only small groups are permitted inside the Museum at the same time. The Museum will then be open for free to the public in the afternoon from 4 pm in the same way. The Accordion Museum Castelfidardo features some interesting new exhibits including the reproduction of a typical artisan workshop (1900-1970) with the wooden bench, detached parts of a vintage accordion and unique working tools that our craftsmen often invented and created themselves. (See top photo). Visitors will see other new exhibits including the two creators and founders of the Accordion Museum Vincenzo Canali and Beniamino Bugiolacchi, composer Astor Piazzolla, Mariano Dallapè (founder of an accordion factory in 1876 in Stradella), Paolo Soprani, Gervasio Marcosignori, Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy (see picture below) and so much more. |
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NOVAM Accordion Soloists & Chamber Music Competition – Netherlandsby Christine Johnstone |
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| The 16th NOVAM (Nederloadse Organisatie Voor Accordeon en Mondharmonica) Accordion Soloists & Chamber Music Competition will take place at the Amstelveen Music and Dance School in Amstelveen, Amsterdam, Netherlands on March 14th, 2021. Competition classes include 4 age group categories for soloists up to 19 years as well as Chamber Music categories for groups of up to 12 players, youth section and age groups up to 16 years. The event will include a lunch time concert, the opportunity to meet other accordionists and listen to a variety of music from musicians of all ages. Entry Form: 2020NOVAM.pdf The closing date for entries is February 8th, 2021. For details email: secretaris@novam.net |
Accordionists Feature in “Global Music Match” - Worldwideby Christine Johnstone |
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  Accordion soloists and accordionists in groups have been selected to take part in the “Global Music Match” event which will run from August 31st to October 11th, 2020.Global Music Match is a pilot initiative created to continue raising the profile of local artists in international music markets within the challenging parameters of the COVID-19 pandemic. It is created in a world first collaboration between founding partners Sounds Australia, Showcase Scotland Expo and Canada’s East Coast Music Association (ECMA), along with 11 other export organisations and showcase events from around the world. The programme aims to develop new audience bases for artists in a range of international locations, providing a groundwork for future international touring development. The programme will also support participating artists to upskill their social media activity, as well as encourage cross border artist collaboration by connecting musicians from around the world. Each week, one band/musician from each country will ‘introduce’ another artist from a different country, engaging with them on social media to cross promote to their audiences. This is reciprocated for everyone involved, meaning that participating artists will be presented via social networks across a range of participating international artist’s online audiences. Accordionists participating include Captain of the Lost Waves (accordionist Murray Grainger, England – picture above left), Skerryvore (which includes brothers Daniel on accordion and Martin Gillespie on pipes, whistles and accordion - Scotland), Duo “Vilda” (which includes accordionist Viivi Maria Saarenkylä - Finland, picture below), Tuulikki Bartosik (Estonia) and Antti Paalanen (picture above right - Finland). |
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40 Years after the Dream Came True - 1980 Coupe Mondialeby Kevin Friedrich, CIA Ambassador |
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 1980 Historical website Report, Pictures and Results at: 1980CoupeMondialeHistory"Could we in New Zealand, host the Coupe Mondiale? Would it not be a great event both for New Zealand and the accordion?" These were questions posed to a group of New Zealand Accordion Association (NZAA) committee members in the late 1970s by prominent Auckland lawyer, Gerald Ryan, who was a keen supporter of the accordion movement, with several of his children learning the instrument. With added encouragement from Harley Jones and his father Allan, both of whom had considerable contact with overseas accordion organizations, it became first a feasibility study and finally developed into a definite project. The New Zealand offer to host the Coupe Mondiale in Auckland was presented to the Confédération Internationale des Accordéonistes (CIA) in March 1979 at the Winter Congress and provisionally accepted. It was obvious that competitors, especially those from Europe, would have to travel further than they were accustomed, to take part in a Coupe Mondiale held in New Zealand. Even on the few occasions the Coupe Mondiale had been held in the USA, it had posed financial problems for European competitors. Travel cost was a major obstacle to a bid to host the event in New Zealand. The acceptance was confirmed when at the "Summer Congress" of 1979 in Cannes, France, Harley Jones and David Lilico presented a promotional film of New Zealand, and gave assurance of an air fare subsidy of $1000 per competitor, with a similar amount offered to several executives of the CIA. This was actually increased to $1500 at the time of the Coupe Mondiale and a smaller subsidy of $600 was provided for all delegates attending. The 1980 event was the first time the Coupe Mondiale had been held in the South Pacific and was also the first international music competition ever held in New Zealand. Now, reflecting upon this milestone event in New Zealand and in CIA history, a review of the event has been published to commemorate the 40th Anniversary of the staging of the Coupe Mondiale in New Zealand. Very few pictures and documents are available from this time, however all such materials have been correlated to make this souvenir review. 1980 was the first Coupe Mondiale that famous French teacher Jacques Mornet attended and to this day he always reflects that 1980 was was one of the finest Coupe Mondiales he enjoyed attending. It is interesting to see that most of those accordionists competing at that time have gone on to maintain an active role in the accordion world. Myself, shaking the hand of CIA President Dr. Karl Majer, as 9th Place winner could never have imagined that I would go on to have the honor of serving as the CIA President myself. My fellow New Zealand contestant Marcel Riethmann now serves as the Chairman of the Accordion Examinationa Board of New Zealand, Dan Mastroianni has enjoyed a lifelong career as a musician, composer, accordionist and pianist, Australian competitors Nerida Farmer and Catherine Day Jackett both maintain busy accordion activities performing and teaching in their homeland, Alain Musichini (France) went on to win the Coupe Mondiale and is one of the most sought after performers in France with Bal Musette, Peter Soave (USA) also went on to win the Coupe Mondiale and established himself as one of the most respected concert artists on both accordion and bandoneon, Krystof Olczek (Poland) is now a prolific composer and accordionist and teaches an accordion class, conducts chamber ensembles and teaches a facultative course entitled “20th-century music performance practice” in the Music Academy in Gdansk, Alfred Melichar is Professor of Accordion at Bruckner University in Linz in his native Austria, Christianne Bonnay (France) is Professor of Accordion at the Academy of Music in Monaco and winner Werner Glutsch teaches at the Hohner Conservatory in Trossingen. 1980 Historical website Report, Pictures and Results at: 1980CoupeMondialeHistory For reviews of other Coupe Mondiale festivals, please visit: Coupe Mondiale Below: Political cartoon created for New Zealand Herald in reference to the New Zealand Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Sir Robert Muldoon opening the Coupe Mondiale - August 1980 before an audience of 1,800 people. The Prime Minister was also the Minister of Finance and renowned for being very "thrifty with money" so the "economic squeeze" had real political relevance at the time in New Zealand. |
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18th International Bayan Competition "Vivat Bayan!", Samara - Russiaby Arseniy Strokovskiy |
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 The 18th International Bayan Competition "Vivat, Bayan!" will be held in Samara, Russia from September 22nd to 27th, 2020. International bayanists are expected to attend and compete in six categories, each of which will feature different age groups.The project was implemented with the support of the Russian Cultural Foundation, within the framework of the federal project "Creative People" of the national project "Culture." The event is supported by the Government of the Samara Region and the Samara City District Administration. The artistic director of the competition is an honored artist of the Samara region, a deputy of the Samara Governor's Duma, and winner of international competitions, Sergey Voytenko (picture left). As part of the competition, there will be nightly concerts at the CPC "Diriger" in Samara. On September 27th, 2020, a final Gala concert will be held with performances by Russian and international bayanists at the Samara Philharmonic. The aim of the competition is to develop a truly Russian culture of bayan creativity, support young performers and popularize this kind of musical art. Competitive auditions are now open. Applications close on September 7th, 2020. For details email: Yagia@yandex.ru Download competition rules in Russian language here: 2020VivatRules.pdf |
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Reports for Concerts, Masterclasses, Competitions, Festivals, etc. |
Video: Aydar Gaynullin Performs at “Ingolstadt 2020 Live” - Germanyby Christine Johnstone |
 Aydar Gaynullin (picture left), accordionist, vocalist and composer performed with the Georgisches Kammerorchester Ingolstadt (Georgian Chamber Orchestra Ingolstadt) conducted by Ruben Gazarian, at the “Ingolstadt 2020 Live” event in Ingolstadt, Germany this month.The video above shows their performance of Miserlou (Pulp Fiction Theme). |
Adam Ørvad Performs at Classic Mini Festival! in Frederiksberg - Denmarkby Christine Johnstone |
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 A Classic Mini Festival was held at the KU.BE Frederiksberg performance & event venue in Frederiksberg, Denmark on August 21st organised by Musikforum Frederiksberg and KU. BE.The event featured a series of 30 minute concerts focusing on classical music from Sweden, Austria, Italy and Russia. Accordionist Adam Ørvad (picture left) performed a program of Russian music by Kushakov, Semionov, Mussorgsky and Denisov’s “Des ténèbres a la lumière”. |
30th Annual Cotati Virtual Accordion Festival, California - USAby Christine Johnstone |
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| Video 1: Cotati Accordion Festival “Lady of Spain-A-Ring Video 2: Grand Finale online concert The 30th Annual Cotati Accordion Festival was held online in Cotati, California on August 22nd and 23rd, 2020. The fun “Lady of Spain-A-Ring" is usually invites everyone who has their accordion to come up onto the stage and play. As this year's event was online because of Covid-19, the event had to be held differently, so organisers put out the call for folks to send in videos of their playing the "Lady of Spain" so they could be presented as part of their live stream. Everyone looked like they had a great time. Did you see the young lady in pink dancing? The festival was a two-day, multi-cultural, non-profit, multi-generational accordion extravaganza and included a variety of performers. See list above. The event finished with a Grand Finale online rendition of the well known song "So Happy Together" by the Turtles (1969). Picture below: Lady of Spain participants. |
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“Duo Vilda” Summer Music Event Concerts - Finlandby Christine Johnstone |
| New video recorded during Covid-19 lockdown entitled "2 Kilo Ráhkisvuohta" (“2kg of Love”). Despite the cancellation of international concerts due to Covid-19, Duo Vilda have recorded a new video during lockdown and performed two concerts in Finland this month. The first concert was held at the Muhasaaren Theatre in Savonlinna, Finland on August 21st. The Duo, which includes accordionist Viivi Maria Saarenkylä and indigenous Samí singer Hildá Länsman (Finland) performed original music, composed and written by themselves and influenced by northern nature, traditional Samí joik & Finnish folk, and pop music! Their 2nd concert was at the Hetta Music Days, which runs from August 28th to 30th in Hetta. Music Days is one of the oldest in Northern Finland and the northernmost classical music event. For more than five decades, there have been some great music experiences in the stunning light of spring among the fells. Duo Vilda entertained on August 28th. |
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Closing Date: PIF 2020, 45th International “Città di Castelfidardo” Accordion Prize & Festival - Italyby Christine Johnstone |
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| The closing date for entries into the PIF 2020 45th International “Città di Castelfidardo” Accordion Prize & Festival is August 31st, 2020. Artistic Director Renzo Ruggieri announced that this year the competition will be run differently due to the Covid-19 pandemic. In order to guarantee regularity and equality of conditions among the candidates, there will be a special edition in two phases: Selections (with online videos) Final (in live streaming or through a live audition in Castelfidardo). As soon as the jury have chosen their first selections, the organization will contact these candidates to arrange technical rehearsals for the live streaming. The event will be broadcast by the Astra Theater in Castelfidardo with professionals in the sector to guarantee the same conditions for all candidates. |
New Product from AccordionGifts: SUNbuster Car Shade – USAby Dan Grauman, AccordionGifts.com |
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| Dan Grauman of AccordionGifts announces the introduction of its newest product, the SUNbuster car shade. Keep your car cool in hot weather and show your pride in your instrument by placing the car shade behind your windshield. This corrugated cardboard sun shade prevents the sun from penetrating the windshield so the air is cooler and more bearable upon return. The sun shade efficiently folds up accordion-style to maximize vehicle interior space. www.accordiongifts.com |
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"A La Carte" Program at CNIMA - Franceby Christine Johnstone |
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| The CNIMA international accordion school based in the heart of France, has a special “A La Carte” studies program. This program gives you the opportunity to study for a short or longer period, organizing your studying time according to your own schedule and availability. Students can attend on location at the CNIMA Headquarters in France or study long distance, via Skype. The CNIMA is located in the Volcano area in Auvergne, an authentic, quiet, peaceful environment that helps focus on musical studies. You can live full board and enjoy great French cooking and a friendly family spirit, or you can rent accommodation outside the school (yet eat at school with a half board formula, if you wish). The school is renowned for its accordion teaching method of founder Jacques Mornet. This accordion technique has allowed Mornet's students to break a world record of 107 first prizes at international competitions. The CNIMA directed by Nathalie Boucheix, is open to players from all levels and all ages, from accordion beginners to potential world class players. For further details email: cnima@orange.fr |
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Stockport Accordion Club Live Meetings Again – UKby Rob Howard |
 The Stockport Accordion Club is pleased to announce that after 7 months of closure due to the Covid-19 lockdowns, they are able to return to the Woodley Methodist Church (picture left) for their meetings from September 16th.During the lockdown club members met online to exchange news, chat and play some music. New members and visitors are welcome. For details email: robaccord5@hotmail.com |
Have you Ever Tried Jumping out of an Aeroplane and Playing the Accordion?by Christine Johnstone |
| Video: Check out this video. Have you ever tried playing the accordion while jumping out of an aeroplane? And singing too? |
Future events |
Stas Venglevski Performs at 2020 Summer Livestream Concert – USAby Harley Jones |
 Stas Venglevski will perform an online concert at the United Methodist Church of Whitefish Bay (UMCWFB) in Wisconsin, USA on August 30th, 2020.His program will include music by Sergey Rahmaninoff, Isaak Albeniz, Ernesto Lequona, Eugene Derbenko, Russian folk music, and his original compositions. This online concert will be brought to you by the Accordion Renaissance, a non profit institution based in Virginia and begins at 3pm (CDT) on social media. |
Gordon Shand Performs at Tartan Tunes Scottish Sessions - Scotlandby Christine Johnstone |
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  Gordon Shand is a guest performer at the new Tartan Tunes Scottish Sessions show this weekend. The show features musicians, stories, history, craic, interviews and musical performances from established and upcoming musicians.Gordon will speak about his latest publication of his compositions. “Journey” The Piper’s Collection, a collection of pipe tunes composed by an accordionist! |
Ghenadie Rotarie Performs at French Premiere, Paris - Franceby Christine Johnstone |
 Ghenadie Rotarie will perform a concert with the Ensemble MusikFabrik at the Pompidou Centre Grande Salle in Paris, France on August 31st, 2020.The concert is organised by IRCAM (Institut de recherche et coordination acoustique musique) in Paris and will feature the French premiere of "Nether" by Rebecca Saunders for soprano, 19 soloists and conductor. The piece was commissioned by Philharmonie Essen, Ensemble Musikfabrik and Kunststiftung NRW. For details email: g.rotari@yahoo.com |
LandesJugendAkkordeonOrchester Town Hall Concert, Cologne – Germanyby Christine Johnstone |
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| The LandesJugendAkkordeonOrchester (LJAO) from Nordrhein-Westfalen, conducted by Gerhard Koschel will perform a concert at the Rathaussaal Porz (Porz Town Hall) in Cologne on September 5th, 2020 at 6pm. Their program will include pieces arranged for small ensembles including works by Tchaikovsky and Beethoven. All Covid-19 regulations will be followed. For details email: rathaussaal-porz@stadt-koeln.de |
2020 Carrefour Mondial de l'Accordéon Online, Quebec – Canadaby Christine Johnstone |
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| The 2020 Carrefour Mondial de l'Accordéon Festival organisers will hold a virtual opening concert to be broadcast online on September 4th. Artistic Director Raynald Ouellet has researched several years of archives to create this event which highlights diverse music from around the world. See poster below. As the 2020 event is unable to be held in its usual form, President, Christiane Bouillé has asked accordionists to visit restaurants in the area on September 5th, to perform and highlight the talent of Quebec musicians and encourage people to visit the restaurants in this challenging time of Covid-19. See poster above for details. Christiane thanks the City of Montmagny, the Ministries of Culture and Tourism, Heritage Canada, Hydro-Québec and the SOCAN Foundation for their support. The 2021 event is scheduled for September 2nd to 6th, 2021 in Montmagny, Quebec, Canada. For details email: accordeon@montmagny.com |
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Online Music Tutorial with Hans-Günther Kölz – Germanyby Christine Johnstone |
 Hans-Günther Kölz (picture left) will run an online tutorial from September to November 2020, which is aimed at people who would like to arrange for accordion or mixed harmonica ensembles or who want to set up existing music.It introduces the basics of arranging and music editing. The topics will be adapted together with the participants according to the level of knowledge and prerequisites. Registrations are accepted until the end of September. For details phone: +49 7425 3270 17 |
New Date: Milonga De Cuatro Concert, Auckland – New Zealandby Christine Johnstone |
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 The quartet "Milonga De Cuatro" (which includes accordionist Lian Jones) concert due to be held on August 30th at the Nathan Homestead in Manurewa, Auckland has been postponed due to Covid-19 restrictions.The new date is: November 15th at 5pm. The concert is entitled "Five Tango Sensations" by Astor Piazzolla and will feature this suite of works written in Tango Nuevo style and is a "work of tragic beauty". This is the last piece that the composer wrote and recorded in his life. The concert will also include other works by Piazzolla as well as music of Eduardo Rovira (Argentina). Tickets are transferable to the new concert date. If you require a refund please email: nataliameyta@yahoo.com |
New and Updated Sites |
New Site: Lian Jones, Accordion and Piano Teacher, North Shore - New Zealandby Harley Jones |
 Video: Tango Project "Milonga De Cuatro", Astor Piazzolla "Triunfal" & "Libertango"Astor, performers: violin Irina Lgotkina, accordion Lian Jones, contrabass Marija Durdevic, piano Natalia Meyta.Lian Jones AIRMT, Dip MusEd, is proud of to announce the launch of her new website https://lianjonesmusician.wixsite.com/lian designed by her daughter Alanah. Lian is a performer and teacher of both the piano and accordion, based on the North Shore of Auckland, New Zealand. Born and raised in the Fujian Province of China, Lian (Huang Lingling) started playing the piano accordion at age 5, and began to learn piano and keyboard soon after. At 15, she began her studies at Fujian Normal University, majoring in Music Education under Prof. Li Weiming. Lian has won awards and placed at multiple piano and accordion competitions both in China and internationally. Lian has been teaching piano and accordion in Auckland for over 20 years, and has taught many accordion students who have gained success nationally at the NZ and South Pacific Accordion Championships and also represented New Zealand internationally at the Coupe Mondiale and other competitions. Her students in both accordion and piano also excel in examinations. Alongside her teaching, Lian is an avid performer as a member of the Auckland Accordion Symphonietta, conducted by Lionel Reekie, and the Tango Project, Milonga de Cuatro. Picture below: Lian Jones playing the solo for the Auckland Accordion Symphonietta's world premiere of Gary Daverne's 'Song of the Far North' |
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