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Results, Videos and Photos in Daily Reports, 2019 Coupe Mondiale - Chinaby Harley Jones |
View the results and hundreds of pictures and hundreds of videos that are online in the Coupe Mondiale Reports and Videos, link buttons above. |
Coupe Mondiale Category 1st and 2nd Super Close - Chinaby Harley Jones |
Coupe Mondiale category results: Kirill Rusinov (Russian Federation, picture right) was 1st (24.29 marks) and Tian Jianan (China picture right) was 2nd (24.08 marks) in a very close fought competition. Showing just how close this competition was - a majority of jury had placed Tian Jianan 1st in Round II and 1st in Round III of the 3 round competition to make a very exciting close Coupe Mondiale competition. Artem Malkhasyan, (Russian Federation, picture left) was 3rd (23.89 marks) and there was a total of 26 contestants in the very competitive category. Congratulations to these three excellent young musicians. |
2018 Coupe Mondiale Champion Radu Ratoi wins 2019 Coupe Mondiale Masters - Chinaby Harley Jones |
Video music list: D. Scarlatti, Sonata K.519 P.Tchaikovsky/arr. Ratoi Radu Romance Op.5 S.Haapamaki, Power C. Saint-Saens, Dance Macabre Radu Ratoi, 2018 Coupe Mondiale Champion entered the 2019 Coupe Mondiale Masters category and with a really strong performance (23.67 marks), over half a mark more than the 2nd place, he won the Masters Category. 2nd was Nikita Ukrainskiy (Russia) with 23.10 marks and an even closer 3rd and 4th was Veljko Milojkovic (Serbia) with 23.03 marks and Jinghan Lin (China) with 23.02 marks. This popular category of 49 competitors was widely considered very difficult to win with so many competitors spread over three days of competitions. Picture below: Radu Ratoi concert the day before. |
Video: 1st Kirill Rusinov (Russia) in Coupe Mondiale Category - Chinaby Harley Jones |
Video: 1st Coupe Mondiale Kirill Rusinov (Russia): Music: Round I I. S. Bach - Fugue in G Major V. Semionov - The Guelder Rose F. Liszt - Venezia e Napoli, S185/R10 - No. 3. Tarantella Round II V. Semionov - Sonate No. 4 Round III G. Mushel - Prelude and Fugue in C Minor P. Tchaikovsky - Nutcracker: Dance Of The Sugar Plum Fairy, Russian Trepak S. Rachmaninov - Barcarole N. Paganini - Caprice No. 1 V. Semionov - Brahmsiana |
Video: Tian Jianan (China) Close 2nd Place Coupe Mondiale Category - Chinaby Harley Jones |
Tian Jianan (China) Music: Round I D. Scarlatti - Sonata In D Major, K435 F. Angelis - Fantasia O. Schmidt - Toccata No. 1 Round II A. Kusyakov - Sonata No. 6 Round III P. Makkonen - Disco-Toccata J. S. Bach - Fugue In F Sharp Minor F. Mendelssohn, arr. Tian Jianan - Fantasia In F Sharp Minor M. Lindberg - Jeux D’anches S. Prokofiev, arr. Tian Jianan - Sonata No. 2, Mov. 4 |
New Video by Foster & Allen and Brandon McPhee - Scotlandby Christine Johnstone |
Internationally famous duo Foster & Allen together with multi award winning Brandon McPhee have just released a very nice new video - “Walking On The Waves” with Hot Country TV. Enjoy |
5th International Accordion Days in Prague – Czech Republicby Christine Johnstone |
The 5th International Accordion Days in Prague competition and festival will be held at the Prague Conservatory in Prague from October 31st to November 3rd, 2019 organised by CTA Prague (Club Tours Agentur Praha) in partnership with the Czech Accordion Association and the accordion department of the Prague Conservatory. The main goal of the festival is keep and develop the strong tradition of accordion playing in the Czech Republic, building on the European festival of accordion orchestras in Prague. Competition categories include classes for soloists in a variety of age groups, chamber ensembles and orchestras. Orchestras may also include other instruments, but accordions must predominate. The event will begin with an Opening Concert on October 31st at the Exhibition Hall of UPM in Prague. Competition classes will begin the following day at the Concert hall, Dvorákovo Nábr in the Prague Conservatory. The event will finish with the announcement of results, presentation of awards and a performance by festival laureates. The international jury comprises of Mirco Patarini (picture above right), Jörgen Sundeqvist (picture above left), Stefan Hippe, László Ernyei, Jirí Teml, Ladislav Horák, Josef Hrebík, Anibal Freire, Olivier Douyez and others. The deadline for registrations is September 23rd, 2019. Entry information: 2019Prague.pdf |
Reports for Concerts, Masterclasses, Competitions, Festivals, etc. |
Accordionists Perform at Festa di N.S. Assunta - Italyby Christine Johnstone |
Accordionists Danilo Ponti, Daniele Neri and The Orchestra Davide Aramini (which includes Davide on accordion) performed at the Festa di N.S. Assunta at the Church of St. Mary Assunta in Rapallo, Genoa last week. The festival which was held from August 11th to 15th included daily concerts to honour N. S. Assunta and was organised by the Comitato Fuochi Santa Maria. |
Accordionist George Syrett (1936-2019), Leeds – UKby Rob Howard |
Yorkshireman George Syrett (pictured left with his curved keyboard accordion) was a popular accordion entertainer blessed with an exuberant on-stage personality, and he was for many years well-known and very well liked in the accordion community. He was one the UK accordion scene’s great characters. George played accordion, piano and organ, and also sang and wrote songs. He played music throughout most of his life, though mainly as a hobby until he retired from his job as head of a department in Leeds Social Services. Previously George did National Service in the Army, followed by several years’ service in West Yorkshire Police. During National Service, he played the piano and accordion in an army dance band, and so frequently that he claims to have never done a guard duty! George learned his trade as a part-time entertainer in the tough environment of working men’s clubs in northern England. He also played the piano in pubs, the electronic organ in clubs, and the cinema organ in his home city of Leeds. He played ‘dep’ gigs as pianist with such great bands as Joe Loss, Ted Heath, and Harry Gold & his Pieces of Eight, and even played the famous Wurlitzer organ at Blackpool Tower. As an accordionist he performed as a guest artiste at many accordion clubs and festivals, such as Caister and Bridlington, where he also led workshops and shone as a compere. In 1997 George had an unusual gig playing to the visitors at the opening of the reconstructed Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre in London. He also made several trips to Seattle, USA, where he was popular guest at the Leavenworth Accordion Festival. George had an individual style of music, song and humour, and usually played an Elkavox on stage. Often in the company of his equally madcap drummer, Rodney McNamara, a concert performance was likely to feature George’s lively version of Sinatra’s “New York, New York”, gloriously climaxing with high kicks resembling Basil Fawlty’s famous goose-stepping sequence in the Fawlty Towers episode, The Germans. In 2003 accordion club compere Ron Bennett fittingly dubbed him “The King of Stand Up Accordion” following a concert performance in West Sussex, a description that greatly amused George. George Syrett passed away on Monday August 19th, less than three weeks before his 83rd birthday on September 8th, and was widely mourned in the accordion world and by all who knew him. |
Future events |
Oktoberfest Concerts have Begun - USAby Christine Johnstone |
Even though it is still August, Oktoberfest concerts have already begun for the Alex Meixner Band. Their first performance was at The Alpine Wurst & Meathouse in Honesdale, PA for their Poconos Oktoberfest on August 17th and 18th. The wurst was top-notch and there was a great selection of German beer and spirits at the event along with popular entertainment. August/September concert schedule: August 24th: West Palm Brewery, West Palm Beach, Florida - Polish Craft Beer & Polka Block Party August 28th: Alex Meixner Duo will perform at The Great Allentown Fair in Allentown, PA August 30th to September 2nd: Cleveland Oktoberfest in Middleburg Height, OH September 13th & 14th: APG Oktoberfest at Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD September 15th: Optimist Clubs' Septemberfest, VFW Post 2632 Pavilion, California, MD September 19th & 20th: Addison Oktoberfest in Addison, Texas September 21st & 22nd: Polish Harvest Festival at Our Lady of Czestochowa in Houston, Texas September 25th to 28th: Fort Worth Oktoberfest, Panther Pavilion, Fort Worth, Texas September 29th: McKinney Oktoberfest in McKinney, Texas For further details email: info@alexmeixner.com |
Ghenadie Rotari Performs in Trieste Concert Series - Italyby Christine Johnstone |
Accordionist Ghenadie Rotari will perform in Trieste, Italy in August and September as part of a concert series entitled "Come fogli(e) al vento" (Like leaves in the wind). The event is organized by the Cultural Association Oannes of Trieste which aims to promote the natural heritage of the city. The promotion also includes visits to a historical villa, wine tasting, book presentations and concerts. On August 31st, Ghenadie will play a more modern program which will include works by Makkonen (Flight Beyond the Time), Zubitsky (Sonata N. 2: Slavjanskaja and Omaggio ad Astor Piazzolla), Gianluca Verlingieri (Shift) and Piazzolla (Flora's Game). On September 21st, his program will include classical works by Rameau (Gavotte et Six Doubles – theme and 6 variations), Grieg (Holberg Suite arranged by Jon Faukstad) and a selection of the Goldberg Variations by Bach. For further details email: g.rotari@yahoo.com |
Accordion Round-Up at Broken Spoke – USAby Christine Johnstone |
The next Debra Peters Accordion Round-Up will be held at The Broken Spoke in Austin, Texas on August 27th. Debra regularly hosts these accordion concerts on the last Tuesday of each month from 6pm to 8pm. Attendees can look forward to a variety of accordion styles. For further information email: dp@debrapetersmusic.com |
Duo “Vilda” Perform at 2019 Göteborg Folk Festival – Swedenby Christine Johnstone |
Duo “Vilda” which includes accordionist Viivi Saarenkylä and indigenous Samí singer Hildá Länsman (from northern Finland) will perform at the 2019 Göteborg Folk Festival, held at the Musikens Hus, Djurgårdsgatan 13 in Göteborg on September 7th. The duo will play original music from their latest album Vildaluodda - Wildprint. There is also a solo accordion album online by Viivi Maria Saarenkylä For further concert details email: viivi@saarenkyla.fi |
Orchestras Perform September Church Concert - Germanyby Christine Johnstone |
The First Cologne Accordion Orchestra 1935 eV (Ersten Kölner Akkordeon-Orchester) conducted by Peter Lohmar will perform at the Evangelical Church Cologne-Weiden, Aachener Straße, Cologne on September 7th. Guest performers are the 1st Accordion Orchestra Breinig eV (1. Akkordeon-Orchester Breinig eV) conducted by Andrea Deserno. This event is organized by the Evangelical Parish of Cologne-Weiden. Admission is free. See poster for further details. |
Music Makers Orchestra Concert - New Zealandby Christine Johnstone |
The North Shore Music Makers Accordion Orchestra will entertain members of the Creative Keyboard Club in Browns Bay, Auckland on September 8th. This is an annual event for the orchestra who are invited back regularly to perform orchestra pieces, solos and duets. Their program will include a variety of pieces such as Sonatina (Clementi), Donauwellen (Ivanovici) and traditional Irish pieces "Red is the Rose" and "Whiskey in the Jar". Special guest performers include groups "Ave Accordeon" and "According to Bach". |
Accordionist at “Classical Kicks” Concert in Derbyshire – UKby Christine Johnstone |
Accordionist Milos Milivojevic will entertain at the “Classical Kicks” event at the Peak Music Society, Derbyshire on September 10th. The Peak Music Society is a flourishing music society based at the Cavendish Hall at Edensor on the Chatsworth Estate. Milos will perform with violinist Lizzie Ball as well as Gabriella Swallow (cello) and James Turner. Their program will include works by Astor Piazzolla (Histoire du Tango), Bela Bartok (Six Romanian Dances), Manuel de Falla (Seven Spanish Songs), Brahms (Hungarian Dances), Manuel Ponce (Estrellita) and Consuelo Velasquez (Besame Mucho). For further information email: admin@milosmilivojevic.com |
Mt Angel Oktoberfest - USAby Christine Johnstone |
The 54th Mt Angel Oktoberfest will take place in Mt Angel, Marion County, Oregon from September 12th to 15th. The festival is a celebration of the harvest in German style, a wonderful blend of family fun, music, arts & crafts, food and beer. The Oktoberfest will begin with a Kick-Off party on September 7th at the Mount Angel Oktoberfest Biergarten (Festhalle) with entertainment by The Gordonairs (Canada - picture below) which includes accordionist Gordon Groening, Further concerts will begin on September 12th with performances by “S_Bahn” (picture right) which includes accordionist & vocalist Richard Tyce, European Take-out Band, Chardon Polka Band, Doppelbock Quintet plus many others. Oktoberfest schedule: 2019MtAngel.pdf |
CNIMA Composition Workshop with Eric Bouvelle - Franceby Christine Johnstone |
Video: Florine / La Toupilleuse - Eric Bouvelle & Son Orchestre from his live DVD "Le Bal a Bouvelle" CNIMA directed by Nathalie Boucheix will hold a composition workshop for professional musicians tutored by Eric Bouvelle from September 16th to 20th. The workshop will include information such as "tricks" to composing on the accordion in all styles, as well as arranging pieces for orchestra, harmonising, developing a melody and left hand accompaniment. Participants are invited to bring along one or two compositional sketches (12 to 16 measures) of all styles, so they can finalize these pieces during the workshop. For further details email: cnima@wanadoo.fr |
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