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Yellow Pages Events
Highlights |
Octoberfest Las Vegas International Accordion Festival Ready to Start - USA
Josh Groban Plays Accordion on Broadway
Dr. William Schimmel to Be Honored at William Paterson University
Guy Klucevsek: New CD and Fall Concerts
Roland Product Launch, Paris, 9th September - France
Cory Pesaturo: "World Champion Accordionists Only Fly Southwest
Julien Labro in September/October Concerts
Accordionist Needed for US Army Strings
Ksenija Sidorova’s ‘Carmen’ Named Classical Recording of the Month,
New York International Jazz Accordion Festival
Meet Simone Baron
Peter Dranga To Perform for Michigan Accordion Society on September 17
"Accordions Rising" Gaining Increased Recognition
JINTA-LA-MVTA
Jamie Maschler Teaches Forro Ensemble at Seattle Jazz Night School
9th Annual Accordion Noir Festival in Canada Sept. 8-11
Frank Petrilli to Perform for San Francisco Accordion Club
Dallas Vietty's "Jazz Mondays" at Acme Accordion School in NJ
Reports for Concerts, Masterclasses, Competitions, Festivals, etc. |
New Joe Cerrito Composition Theme & Scherzo Available
Accordionists & Teachers Guild (ATG) 76th Annual Festival Report
Report: 22nd Year AAA Master Class and Concert Series, July 29-31.
Las Vegas International Accordion Convention 2016 – A Grand Success!
2016 Cotati Accordion Festival, A Joyful Experience
ATG Presents Lifetime Achievement Awards to Gene Van and Beverly Fess July 22, 2016
Patricia Bartell Busy Schedule of Teaching, Jury in China and New Publications - USA
Joan Grauman to Present Workshop on Balkan Music and Rhythms
Natasha Enquist’s debut album "MNE"
Memories of “Mama Stella” Allison, Maryland
Alte Kameraden to Perform at Laconia Multicultural Festival
Passing of Joe Derrane (1930-2016), Massachessetts
Gail Campanella to Perform for Washington Metropolitan Accordion Society,
Acclarion in September Concert in Michigan
Mary Ross-Klektau: Part of the Victoria International Accordion Festival
Future events |
Reading Liederkranz Button Box Fest on September 17
Accordion Pops Orchestra Concert on October 23 in New Jersey
Valtaro Celebration on November 26
New and Updated Sites |
Chapter 20 Released of "Play Your Accordion Without Pain" - USA
Highlights |
Editor's Noteby Rita Barnea |
 The accordion is everywhere! On Broadway in two shows! Josh Groban performs onstage in "Natash, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812" and Dr. William Schimmel is in the orchestra for the highly successful "American in Paris". An accordionist is needed for the US Army Strings. Could you be the one? More festivals! Read about future ones in addition to detailed reports on the accordion festivals of this past summer. It will make you want to include one in your future plans. Great performers of every style, accordion videos, and new accordion music plus much more. Read about it all in the September USA news. As always, I welcome all comments and ideas. Please send to me at Ritabelll@aol.com |
Octoberfest Las Vegas International Accordion Festival Ready to Start - USAby Heather Masefield, Secretary, New Zealand Accordion Association |
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  I am writing this on the plane flying internationally to Las Vegas for the Octoberfest Las Vegas International from 15th to 18th October at the Gold Coast Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas. Paul Betken & Jerry Cigler are newly added to a great line up of stars (list below) with lots of great seats still available! Want to hop a plane to come and enjoy this exciting festival? Newsletter (picture right) with full information: 2018LVACnews.pdf Picture left: Event organizer Paul Pasquali The lineup starts with visionary accordionist Cory Pesaturo and bookends with a grand finale starring Grayson Masefield and the International Accordion Orchestra under the direction of the legendary Prof. Joan Sommers. You can register online at www.AccordionStars.com or contact Paul Pasquali, event organizer, by phone at 1-800-472-1695 or (801) 485-5840, email: paul@accordioninfo.com. |
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Josh Groban Plays Accordion on Broadwayby Rob Howard |
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 The famous and very popular singer Josh Groban will make his Broadway debut starring as Pierre in ‘Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812’, an original electropop opera musical by composer Dave Malloy, based loosely on Tolstoy’s ‘War and Peace’. Josh Groban, who has previously played the piano and drums, has been learning to play the accordion for his role as Pierre. The show is scheduled to open on October 18th in previews at the Imperial Theatre, Manhattan, with the opening night set for November 14th. Josh Groban (born 1981) is a highly successful American singer, songwriter, actor and record producer. His first four solo albums were multi-platinum sellers, and in 2007 he was the number-one best selling artist in the USA. To date, he has sold over 25 million records worldwide. Groban originally studied acting, and has made numerous movie and TV appearances in addition to his high profile singing career. |
Dr. William Schimmel to Be Honored at William Paterson Universityby Rita Barnea |
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| On September 19, 2016 a free concert to honor the 70th birthday of Dr. William Schimmel will be held at Shea Auditorium, William Paterson University, 300 Pompton Road in Wayne, NJ at 7:PM. The concert is sponsored by the Composers Concordance and the New Jersey Percussion Ensemble and will present contemporary music in honor of Bill Schimmel who has commissioned and premiered many new works. Presently he is the accordionist with the popular Broadway show "An American in Paris". Over the years his music has been included in television shows and films. His best known appearance is in the tango scene of "Scent of a Woman" starring Al Pacino. Bill Schimmel learned accordion as a child and attended Julliard School of Music where he received his doctorate in composition. While he was still a student at the school, his career was launched after he recorded songs of avant gard composer, Luiano Berio. An authority on Kurt Weill, Dr. Schimmel has recorded all of Weill's music with accordion Beginning in 1981, Schimmel’s Tango Project has released a string of acclaimed recordings on the Nonesuch and Newport Classic labels. The first Tango Project recording went to No. 1 on Billboard’s classical charts and was named Record of the Year by Stereo Review magazine. Schimmel has described the accordion as having a “built-in ironic duality,” both “elegant and vulgar.” That dual quality is captured in the tango scene of “Scent of a Woman,” where it adds a spirit of fun and an undertone of raw sexuality. He has served and continues to serve as Artist in Residence of The American Accordionist's Association (AAA) where he also serves as Distinguished Lecturer in Residence and member of the Governing Board. Directed by Peter Jarvis, the Composers Concordance program will feature eight world premieres. Music written by Schimmel will be featured alongside compositions by John Clark, Dan Cooper, Franz Hackl, Jarvis, Gene Pritsker, David Taylor and Payton MacDonald. Performers will include Schimmel, Pritsker on guitar, the New Jersey Percussion Ensemble and the B3+ Brass Trio. For further information: accordionbill@gmail.com |
Guy Klucevsek: New CD and Fall Concertsby Rita Barnea |
  Accordionist Guy Klucevsek, a very versatile musician and composer presents several unique concerts this fall. Excerpts from Guy's website: "
Guy Klucevsek is one of the world’s most versatile 'and highly-respected accordionists. He has performed and/or recorded with Laurie Anderson, Bang On a Can, Brave Combo, Anthony Braxton, Anthony Coleman, Dave Douglas, Bill Frisell, Rahim al Haj, Robin Holcomb, Kepa Junkera, the Kronos Quartet, Natalie Merchant, Present Music, Relâche, Zeitgeist, and John Zorn.
Klucevsek has redefined the status of the accordion in new music. As a “rebel with an accordion,” he “combines poker-faced wit and imagination with command of his instrument, forcing you to re-think the accordion’s limitations” (Downbeat). He is “a remarkable performer on a remarkable instrument” (Village Voice), and the uninitiated must “forget everything you thought you knew about the accordion” (The Seattle Weekly). Performances include the Ten Days on the Island Festival (Tasmania), the Adelaide Festival (Australia), the Berlin Jazz Festival, Lincoln Center, Spoleto Festival/USA, BAM Next Wave Festival, Vienna International Accordion Festival, and the children’s television show “Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood.” In 1996, he founded composer/accordionist ensemble Accordion Tribe. They toured internationally from 1996-2009, are the subjects of Stefan Schwietert’s award-winning documentary film, “Accordion Tribe: Music Travels,” and released three CDs on the Intuition label. He has premiered over 50 solo accordion pieces, including his own, as well as those he has commissioned from Mary Ellen Childs, William Duckworth, Fred Frith, Aaron Jay Kernis, Jerome Kitzke, Stephen Montague, Somei Satoh, Lois V Vierk, and John Zorn. Klucevsek has released over 20 recordings as soloist/leader on Tzadik, Winter & Winter, Innova, Starkland, Review, Intuition, CRI, and XI. He can also be heard on John Williams’s orchestral scores for the Steven Spielberg films, “The Terminal,” “Munich,” “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull,” and “The Adventures of Tin-Tin,” and on A. R. Rahman’s score for “People Like Us.” On Sunday, Sept. 18, 2016 at 8 PM, Guy will perform a solo set at the First New York International Jazz Accordion Festival at Terraza 7, Queens, NY. This concert will feature the New York City premiere of Guy’s composition, "Three Tributes", commissioned by the American Accordionists Association. The individual pieces are dedicated to Evan Harlan, Faithe Deffner, and Walter Kuehr. On Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016 at 6:PM: “Hard Coal Concert,” Bucknell University, Lewisburg PA. The concert takes place at the Weis Center Atrium Lobby. The concert is free. Tickets are not required.The Concert will feature the sometimes folksy, sometimes haunting, always beautiful music that Guy Klucevsek composed for the play HARD COAL: LIFE IN THE REGION along with singer/performers from the Bloomsburg Theatre Ensemble. On Saturday, Oct. 1, 2016 at 9:PM: Concert celebrating the Starkland CD release of "Teetering on the Verge of Normalcy", Guy’s 23rd recording as soloist/leader/co-leader, featuring Guy’s compositions. The performers will be: Todd Reynolds, violin, Phillip Bush, piano, Kamala Sankaram, voice, and Guy, accordion. The location of the concert is at Spectrum NYC, 121 Ludlow Street, NYC. "Friendship and tributes bind this album together,” Sarah Cahill writes. “Compared to his previous work, this heartfelt album has an especially elegiac quality.” The CD abounds in tributes, both to composers who have inspired him along the way, such as Astor Piazzolla, Erik Satie, Nino Rota, and Kurt Weill, as well as to personal friends of his who have passed away in recent years, including composer William Duckworth, arts advocate Bob Flath, and his Accordion Tribe colleague, composer/accordionist Lars Hollmer. The CD will be available on September 30, 2016. Contact: info@starkland.com For further information on Guy Klucevsek: gklucevsek@mac.com |
Roland Product Launch, Paris, 9th September - Franceby Harley Jones |
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| On the 9th September, Roland will unveil 30+ new products in a series of dedicated launches in various worldwide cities. Rumour has it that a new V-Accordion will be unveiled during the Paris launch event. Tune into the live broadcast from the Eiffel Tower, Paris at 18:00 CET on the 9th of September when all will be revealed. Roland writes: ‘The Future. Redefined’ is a 24-hour online event unlike anything you’ve experienced before. Streaming live from eight iconic cities across the world (Paris, Tokyo, Los Angeles, New York, Toronto, Berlin and Brussels), we’ll be unveiling the new generation of Roland electronic instruments in real-time. Roland’s 24-hour “must-watch” online music festival fuses liveliness and diversity with artist performances, new product debuts, and interviews, spanning multiple times zones from major cities around the world. What does the future of musical instruments sound like? Don’t miss it. Wherever you are, it’s free to watch all over the world on the dedicated website – http://www.ustream.tv/channel/PG8m95Hty9b and the accordion launch will also be broadcast here. |
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Cory Pesaturo: "World Champion Accordionists Only Fly Southwestby Rita Barnea |
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| Southwest Airlines has posted on their site, Cory Pesaturo's recent article called "World Champion Accordionists Fly Southwest". Cory is an amazingly busy and versatile musician who constantly travels introducing more and more people to the accordion. Please click on the link to read his complete article: PesaturoSW.jpg |
Julien Labro in September/October Concertsby Rita Barnea |
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| Video: Julien Labro and the Spektral Quartet: From This Point Forward Accordionist Julien Labro has scheduled the following performances in September and October 2016: August 18th to 20th - with Frank Vignola and guests, Crested Butte Music Festival, Colorado, USA August 22nd – with the Liz Lee Trio, Daejeon Chamber Music Festival, Seoul, South Korea September 21st – with Marcel Khalife, Jordan Music Festival, Aaman, Jordan September 24th – with the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra, Little Rock, Arkansas, USA September 30th - with the Julien Labro Quartet. Cleveland. Ohio October 7th - with the Emilio Solla Quintet, North Creek, NY October 9 - with Daniel Binelli's Astoria Tango Orchestra, New York, NY Excerpts from his website: French-born Julien Labro graduated from the Marseille Conservatory, and then began winning international awards, taking first prize in the CIA Coupe Mondiale in 1996 and the 1997 Castelfidardo International Festival. After sweeping first place in the Marcel Azzola, Jo Privat and Medard Ferrero competitions in 1995 and 1998, respectively, Julien Labro moved to the USA, where he has further pursued his musical ambitions. Julien Labro has established himself as one of the foremost accordion and bandoneón players in both the classical and jazz genres. Deemed to be “a triple threat: brilliant technician, poetic melodist and cunning arranger,” his artistry, virtuosity, and creativity as a musician, composer and arranger have earned him international acclaim and continue to astonish audiences worldwide. French-born Labro was influenced early on by traditional folk music and the melodic, lyrical quality of the French chanson. Upon discovering the music of jazz legends like Charlie Parker and Miles Davis, he quickly became inspired by the originality, freedom, creativity, and the endless possibilities in their musical language. After graduating from the Marseille Conservatory of Music, Labro began winning international awards, taking first prize in the Coupe Mondiale in 1996 and the Castelfidardo Competitions in 1997. After sweeping first place in the Marcel Azzola, Jo Privat and Medard Ferrero competitions in 1995 and 1998, respectively, Labro moved to the United States, where he earned graduate degrees in Classical Music, Jazz Studies and Composition. During this time, he was exposed to and embraced other genres of music, ranging from pop and hip-hop to electronic/techno and rap, as well as Latin, Indian, Middle Eastern, and other types of world music. Labro draws from both his diverse academic background and eclectic musical influences in his professional life as a performer, arranger, and composer. His passion for promoting the love and understanding of music has well been recognized through his master classes at renowned institutions such as the Oberlin Conservatory of Music and the Cleveland Institute of Music. As a musician and artist, Labro is constantly evolving. In 2015, he performed and debuted his first concerto, Apricity, with the Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra. Additionally, Labro curated an all-accordion concert for the prestigious University Musical Society (UMS) in an event entitled “The Big Squeeze: An Accordion Summit” at Hill Auditorium. Labro, once again, reunited some of the instruments’ finest players to display the versatility of the accordion and its various cousins. Piazzolla, a major influence and the reason Labro picked up the bandoneón, is also the title of his album with classical guitarist and Grammy-award winner Jason Vieaux and A Far Cry chamber orchestra. Other releases include Grammy-award winning vocalist Cassandra Wilson’s Another Country and critically acclaimed Hot Club of Detroit’s Junction, which features many of Labro’s original compositions, revealing his wide understanding and mastery of different genres, innovative approach as well as his broad musical inspirations. On a creative level, Labro has been enlisted as an arranger for several professional ensembles, including Ensemble Vivant of Toronto, A Far Cry, Spektral Quartet, and Curtis On Tour from the Curtis Institute of Music Faculty of Philadelphia.Labro’s musical journey has taken him around the world. His past performances include jazz venues such as Dizzy’s, Birdland, SFJAZZ, Blue Note, Yoshi’s, The Green Mill, and Sculler’s, and many more.He has been a guest artist with numerous symphonies and chamber ensembles such as the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, the Cleveland Pops Orchestra, A Far Cry, the Lebanese Philharmonic Orchestra, the Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra, the Cape Cod Symphony, the Michigan Pops Orchestra, the Linden String Quartet, the Prairie Ensemble, the Spektral Quartet and many more. In the past, he has performed and/or collaborated with groups and artists such as Brazilian pianist João Donato, Argentinean Grammy winning composer and pianist Fernando Otero, vocalist Cassandra Wilson, clarinetist Anat Cohen, Lebanese oud master Marcel Khalife, saxophonists Miguel Zenón, James Carter, Chris Cheek, Jon Irabagon and Victor Goines, composers Du Yun and Avner Dorman, harmonica extraordinaire Howard Levy, percussionist Jamey Haddad, bandoneónist Daniel Binelli, and guitarists Howard Alden, Larry Coryell, Frank Vignola, Tommy Emmanuel, and John and Bucky Pizzarelli. In 2012, Labro embarked on an exciting long-standing collaboration with Spektral Quartet, with whom he performed at NYC’s Subculture in 2014, the International Latino Festival in Chicago, and Wheaton College, just to name a few. Their work has drawn increasing attention and was featured in a 2015 Chamber Music America article entitled “Art of Opportunity” by Paul Brady, who described Labro as an “A-list star” with “deep jazz cred.” Their 2014 album From This Point Forward, which was included in the Chicago Tribune’s list of ten new significant classical album releases, is a genre bending collection of compositions from South America. In these arrangements, Labro delicately melds different genres, styles, and sounds with intricate craftsmanship This past season was a busy one for Labro. He was invited as an artist in residence for the Princeton University Concerts series, where he also premiered his new project, the Julien Labro Quartet. Following a “Jazz at Lincoln Center” tour throughout Mexico with Grammy nominated trumpet player, Diego Urcola, he performed at the Riverside Fine Arts series with the Spektral Quartet in Jacksonville, FL and played a concert with Frank Vignola for the Vail Jazz Winter Series in Colorado. In the Spring, Labro reunited with A Far Cry for a performance of Russian Avant-Garde composer Sofia Gubaidulina’s Fachwerk at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston, MA and participated in celebrating the inaugural season of Hope College’s new performing arts center where he played music by Dutch composer Theo Loevendie. After a show in Dubai, UAE, Labro will be returning to Lebanon this summer for performances at the Batroun Festival in Lebanon, performing in the Lincoln Center’s Midsummer Night Swing Festival, traveling to Colorado for the Crested Butte Music Festival and expanding upon the Julien Labro Quartet with a tour through the Midwest. Labro will be closing his Summer schedule with concerts in South Korea at the Daejeon Chamber Music Festival and several other cities. The new season will open with a trip to Jordan for the Jordan Citadel Festival in Amman, followed by several orchestral engagements throughout the United Stated, including a performance with the Arkansas Symphony and Jason Vieaux as part of the ACANSA Arts Festival. Labro and Vieaux’s collaboration will also result in the release of a new album entitled Infusion, which will include new arrangement of music by Brouwer, Gnattali, and Metheny amongst others. On the jazz side, Labro is also working on a new project with saxophonist Jon Irabagon, and preparing for a second tour with trumpet player Diego Urcola, while continuing to perform with the Julien Labro Quartet and Hot Club of Detroit. In his free time, Labro is working on composing a new bandoneón concerto that will be a sequel to his accordion concerto "Apricity". |
Accordionist Needed for US Army Stringsby Rita Barnea |
 APPLICATION DEADLINE: October 3, 2016
AUDITION DATE: December 2016The United States Army Band “Pershing’s Own,” the U.S. Army’s premier musical organization, announces a vacancy for ACCORDION with The U.S. Army Strings. SGM Manny Bobenrieth who has been the accordionist for the group since 1986 is retiring after a long and distinguished career. Manny is from Concepcion, Chile and has a degree from Catholic University. SGM Manuel Bobenrieth has performed in many different musical mediums and venues, including Broadway musicals, the Contemporary Music Forum, and the Kennedy Center Opera House Orchestra. He has also appeared with legendary jazz guitarist Charlie Byrd in a tribute to the music of jazz accordionist Art Van Damme. He can be heard on the soundtrack to the Discovery Channel television series “The Great Chefs" as a guest artist with The Charlie Byrd Trio. The Manny Bobenrieth Ensemble was featured at the world famous Blues Alley Jazz club. From 1984-1986, SGM Bobenrieth toured Europe and the Caribbean aboard the SS Norway as accordionist for Norwegian Caribbean Cruise Line. As accordionist with The United States Army Band "Pershing's Own," SGM Bobenrieth has performed for Presidents Ronald Reagan, George H. Bush, Bill Clinton, and George W. Bush, at numerous White House State Dinners in honor of foreign dignitaries such as Margaret Thatcher, Mikhail Gorbachev, Boris Yeltsin, and The Emperor of Japan. In addition, he has written numerous arrangements for The U.S. Army Strings, which have been featured at Avery Fisher Hall, the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the State Department, the Vice President’s residence, and the White House. Since 2004, SGM Bobenrieth has been the Group Leader for The U.S. Army Strings. The U.S. Army Strings, a premier ensemble of the U.S. Armed Forces, provide a musical backdrop for many of the country’s most notable events. Their mission is to serve as musical ambassadors for high-level military and government events at home and abroad, as well as in concert for public audiences. The elite musicians that comprise this ensemble have been trained at the most prestigious music conservatories and universities in the country. This versatile ensemble performs as The U.S. Army Strolling Strings, mixed chamber ensembles, and The U.S. Army Orchestra. The U.S. Army Strolling Strings are one of the most requested musical ensembles by our nation’s military leadership. Since its inception during the Eisenhower administration, the group has provided musical entertainment at the White House for every president. Missions include performing for the Department of Defense, the U.S. Capitol, the Supreme Court, kings, queens, and heads of state from countries worldwide. The Strolling Strings offer audiences the unique perspective of being amongst the musicians who elegantly move about the venue playing their instruments. A distinctly unique member of its instrumentation, the ensemble boasts an accordion, which adds rich color and texture to the group’s sound. The Strolling Strings offer a wide array of memorized repertoire, including patriotic, classical, international, jazz, Broadway, bluegrass, and exclusive music arrangements for special guests and events. See link for further information on the US Army Strings, Audition Information, and Application Procedures. |
Ksenija Sidorova’s ‘Carmen’ Named Classical Recording of the Month,by Rob Howard |
 Ksenija Sidorova’s ‘Carmen’ is named classical recording of the month in Canada by Classic 107, Winnipeg’s classical and jazz radio station.Classic 107 reports: One of the newest signings to Deutsche Grammophon is accordion player Ksenija Sidorova. Ksenija’s ‘Carmen’ presents an authentic reflection of the Latvian accordionionist’s charismatic personality. “Carmen fascinates me,” she notes. “Of course I wanted to bring something new to this music, to let Carmen speak with a different voice. The accordion doesn’t have to breathe like a singer, so there are no restrictions to what I can do with this music. I could be daring and passionate, just like Carmen, and share in the multicultural musical ideas created by my wonderful collaborators.” There’s much more Carmen to come from Ksenija thanks to a run of performances that opens in Dortmund in April and continues in Latvia and Chicago later in the year. “I feel that people of all ages are ready to connect with Carmen and so I want to take this project on the road.” She has shared the stage with guitarist Miloš Karadaglic at the Classic Brits in 2012. The show, presented at London’s Royal Albert Hall, paved the way for her to work with, among others, Avi Avital, Juan Diego Flórez, Sting, Bryn Terfel and Rolando Villazón. Last year she toured an early version of her ‘Carmen’ project as part of the “Night of the Proms” concert series, delighting tens of thousands at major arena and stadium venues across Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany. “It was so exciting for me to explore the idea of ‘classical meets pop’. I saw just how open people were to this music and to the instrument.” |
New York International Jazz Accordion Festivalby Rita Barnea |
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 The First NYC International Jazz Accordion Festival is here presenting many of the best accordionists in the USA and abroad including Eddie Monteiro, Guy Klucevsek and Simone Baron .Make sure to reserve your sits for this historical and unique festival. The first New York International Jazz Accordion Festival, organized by Victor Prieto, takes place on September 17th and 18th at the Terraza 7 Club, NY. This festival will celebrate the cultural heritage of the accordion. Entrance fee will be $15 at the door. On September 17th the Eddie Monteiro Trio will perform in concert, and on September 18th Guy Klucevsek will give a solo performance. Eddie Monteiro Trio: has over 30 years of musical performance in classical, jazz, dance, theater, cabaret and choral ensembles. Simone Baron: Arco Belo has headlined at the West Virginia Jazz Festival, Gallery O and Twins Jazz, and performs, arranges and composes for her project Arco Belo, a sextet of strings, bass, percussion and accordion/piano. Recently an guest artist in residence at the Banff Arts Centre, Simone is looking forward to her upcoming 2016-2017 residency at the Strathmore. Guy Klucevsek is one of the world’s most versatile and highly-respected accordionists. He has performed and/or recorded with Laurie Anderson, Bang On a Can, Brave Combo, Anthony Braxton, Anthony Coleman, Dave Douglas, Bill Frisell, Rahim al Haj, Robin Holcomb, Kepa Junkera, the Kronos Quartet, Natalie Merchant, Present Music, Relâche, Zeitgeist, and John Zorn. Klucevsek has released over 20 recordings as soloist/leader. Victor Prieto Trio: Grammy Winner Victor Prieto is hailed by The New York Times as “A fiendishly skilled accordionist and composer” and by The All About Jazz as “One of the best World music and Jazz accordionists now days”. An accordionist, composer and educator that has changed and influenced a whole new generation of accordionists and musicians all over the world. For further information: info@victorprieto.net |
Meet Simone Baronby Rita Barnea |
 Simone Baron is the up and coming Italian (now in USA) accordionist who is specializing in Jazz, after her Classical Piano degree at the prestigious music college of Oberlin.Excerpts from the Strathmore website: Simone Baron improvises, interprets, experiments, and arranges her way through classical, chamber jazz, and global music on the accordion and piano. Baron studied piano and conducting at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music and Tel Aviv University’s Buchmann School of Music, and has performed throughout Europe, Israel, and North America. Her unique voice and re-imagination of the accordion’s possibilities have opened the door to cross-genre collaborations with dancers, actors, puppeteers, visual, and performance artists. Arco Belo, Baron’s current project with fellow AIR Ethan Foote, is a hybrid chamber jazz sextet with strings and percussion that features original compositions and innovative arrangements of works from different musical traditions. Baron was recently an artist in residence north of the border at Banff Arts Centre in Alberta, Canada, exploring the intersections of music, visual, and performance art. As a conductor, Baron has put together chamber orchestras to perform works by celebrated composers including Beethoven, Debussy, and Schoenberg and occasionally presents accompanying musicology papers and talks. A seasoned performer, Baron has appeared at Carnegie Hall and at prestigious DC venues including the Kennedy Center, World Bank, and the Hirshhorn Museum. A DC and Baltimore based multigenre pianist, accordionist, conductor, composer, arranger and educator, she has been performing and teaching for more than 15 years and is available as a solo classical or jazz pianist, as a strolling accordionist, with a small chamber ensemble, or with a small jazz combo, or with other multigenre bands. Simone's performance schedule includes: NextNOW Fest 2016 at The Clarice at University of Maryland! Forrobodó: For All Brazilian Dance Party will take place in the Grand Pavilion on Friday, September 9, 2016 at 8:PM. The all-star ensemble includes: Pablo Regis (cavaco and voice), Tom Rohde (guitar), Simone Baron (accordion), TJ Turqman (bass), Ceylon Mitchell II (flute), Lucas Ashby (percussion), Marcos (percussion), and dance instructors Kate Spanos and Bohasha Lima Porto. Simone will participate in the First New York International Accordion Festival organized by Victor Prieto. The program takes place on September 17th and 18th at the Terraza 7 Club, NY. See article in Highlights. Simone will present two concerts at Strathmore on May 10 and May 24, 2016. Additionally, she will present a workshop, "AIR Workshop, World of the Accordion with Simone Baron" on May 17, 2016. The workshop is free. Simone is a musician/accordionist who is versatile, extremely talented, and an inspiration to all. It is well worth your time to attend her unique performances. For further information: simonebaronmusic@gmail.com |
Peter Dranga To Perform for Michigan Accordion Society on September 17by Rita Barnea |
 Video: Peter Dranga Performances medleyMichigan Accordion Society President Joe Recchia invites all:"As we continue to celebrate our 20th year anniversary, the Michigan Accordion Society is working very hard to bring great accordion performers to Michigan. This time, we are very pleased and excited to present Accordionist Peter Dragna from Russia. Peter is an extremely talented Entertainer, Singer and Accordionist. This is a very special appearance as Peters shows are high energy and very exciting! Please do not miss this opportunity to see a brilliant performer as you will see by his promo video. See video above." Peter will perform only one concert in Michigan and will be in town for one night only on Sept 17, 2016. The show starts at 8:00 PM. Dranga was born in 1984 to a family of musicians. Under the influence of his father, Dranga began to play accordion. In 1990 he was accepted to the Richter music school.In 1996, Dranga won VI Moscow Open Competition of accordionists and in October the same year he won the International Competition of accordionists in Castelfidardo, Italy. In 1997, Dranga participated in the13th International Music Festival in St. Petersburg. In 1998, he performed at the International Music Festival in Beijing, China, and won the International Competition of accordionists in Asturias, Spain. In 1999 he was named Laureate at the VII Moscow Open Music Competition and began his concert career organised by Russian Cultural Foundation. He graduated from high school and enrolled in Gnesin Academy of Music. Peter is a versatile performer and is very involved in theatre work, charity performances, solo and band performances all over the world. To order your tickets on line or call the Bergman Center in Bloomfield Township, MI at 248-661-1900. MAS members will receive a $5.00 ticket discount! This concert is expected to sell out so please get your tickets early! |
"Accordions Rising" Gaining Increased Recognitionby Rita Barnea |
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| In the month of August, "Accordions Rising" was shown at two very different venues: the Las Vegas International Accordion Convention and the Cotati International Accordion Festival. The film also won an Award of Merit from the Indie Fest Film Awards in the Documentary Category. The IndieFEST Film Awards recognizes film, television, videography and new media professionals who demonstrate exceptional achievement in craft and creativity, and those who produce standout entertainment or contribute to profound social change. Entries are judged by highly qualified professionals in the film and television industry. Roberta is in the process of finalizing a brand new contract with an additional distributor to handle foreign sales and streaming world-wide, the very "deal" she had been waiting and hoping for. The Purchase Page of her website is now complete with, not only the option of buying DVDs or Blu Rays, but also the award winning poster and T shirts! (www.accordionsrising.com/purchase) Roberta has also arranged for deliveries to Canada and Europe to be made from within Canada and Europe which avoids the high cost of mailing from the US. If you have not already seen her amazing documentary, make sure you obtain a copy. For further information: rcantow@originaldigital.net Roberta Cantow Producer/Director 858-487-4945 |
JINTA-LA-MVTAby Rita Barnea |
  Video: "Lively & Happily" by JINTA-LA-MVTAJinta-la-Mvta is a musical group founded in 2004 by Ohkuma Wataru, clarinetist and bandleader of the groundbreaking Japanese experimental folk band Cicala Mvta, and his partner and drummer Kogure Miwazo. Members of the group are: Wataru Okuma (clarinet) Miwazo Kogure (chindon, percussion) Naoki Hishinuma (tuba) Marie Abe (accordion) Ohkuma’s interest in Klezmer music began in the late 80s. He was one of the first Japanese artists who listened to and played the genre. He has a repertoire of dozens of Klezmer tunes through his distinct perspective, setting him apart among non-Jewish klezmer musicians. Considered as one of the few Klezmer experts in Japan, he has also penned various pieces on Klezmer and Japanese liner notes of Klezmatics and Frank London. Since the Great Northeast Japan Earthquake and the subsequent nuclear crises in 2011, the band started to perform not only on club stages and festivals but also at anti-nuclear protests and demonstrations on the streets of Tokyo, attracting a new and wide range of audiences and fans. Accordionist James Gerke from Massachusetts attended the concert on August 30, 2016 at The Burren in Somerville, MA and shares his thoughts: "This was a stripped-down version of the band and they were joined by local Boston accordionist Marië Abe, who also served as translator for band leader and clarinet player Wataru Okuma during the performance. The band is awesome. Klezmer, or klezmer-influenced music, is only a portion of their normal repertoire, which includes progressive rock and other styles. But since they were invited by the Jewish Collaborative and knew the audience was mostly interested in that, they played mostly klezmer-related tunes (with a Frank Zappa tune and several originals thrown in), including a few with Yiddish lyrics sung by the percussionist Kogure Miwazow (!!!). "Bei Mir Bist Du Schön" was a big crowd pleaser. The band is thrilling to watch and hear! Wataru Okuma has delved into deeper study of the klezmer tradition more recently, and he really captures the essence of the style. Kogure Miwazow is a dynamic and entertaining performer. Her elaborate costume complete with red hat and a bird perched in her hair, her energetic playing of the chindon drum kit and cymbals, and her dramatic and joyful facial expressions, she is a delight to watch. Her singing voice is lush and powerful at once. While Waturu Okuma and Kogure Miwazow are the stars of the show, the tuba player Naoki Hishinuma and accordionist Marië Abe, both excellent musicians, provided the perfect complement. The comical aspect of this performance was that it featured a Japanese street band, performing klezmer music for a mostly Jewish audience, in an Irish pub. (The Burren in Somerville, MA)" Photo left of Marië Abe, by James Gerke. Their future performances include: Ashkenaz Festival Toronto, ON Saturday, September 3, 8p:PM Harbourfront Centre, Concert Stage, 235 Queens Quay West Free Admission |
Jamie Maschler Teaches Forro Ensemble at Seattle Jazz Night Schoolby Rita Barnea |
 Accordionist Jamie Maschler will teach "Northeast Brazil Forro Ensemble" at the Jazz Night School this fall on Thursdays from 7:15 - 8:45 PM beginning on September 29, 2016 in Seattle, Washington.Jamie shares, "In this ensemble we will be working with music from Northeast Brazil. Traditional instrumentation includes accordion, zabumba (drum), triangle, and voice but in a more modern tradition has several instrumental variations. We will play works by Luiz Gonzaga, Gilberto Gil, Sivuca, Hermeto Pascoal, Marcelo Caldi, Toninho Ferragutti and more. We will learn from charts as well as by ear- focusing on how to comp, solo, and play specific to the genre. If you’ve ever been interested in learning the rural/traditional music of Brazil now is the chance! Forró is influenced from Afro-Brazilian, German, and Portuguese genres. Similar to tango, forró describes the dance, music and event. Forró is still as popular today as is was when the genre first started. Dance halls in Rio de Janeiro, Saõ Paulo, Bahia, and anywhere else you might find yourself in Brazil are filled with sound of this evolving traditional and world pop music." Open to students LVL 2 and above (beginners by audition)." The cost is $355 for a 10 eek session. The course is open to the following instruments in addition to the accordion: Piano, Guitar, Aux. Percussion. Bass, Drums, Flute, Clarinet, Trumpet, Trombone, Sax, Violin, and Vocal. What is Jazz Night School? Jazz Night School is Seattle’s only all-ages jazz education organization offering classes that are geared to students of all levels.Jazz Night School brings together musicians of all levels and ages to play together in a supportive environment that fosters growth and musicianship. By playing in ensembles and combos, students get valuable practical experience in theory and improvisation. The school offers great opportunities to meet other dedicated jazz students and artists. Playing in combos, small jazz ensembles, or big bands is a fun way to share the common language of jazz through improvisation. Jazz Night School is located in Southeast Seattle, near Columbia City at 3916 S Morgan St, Seattle, WA, 98118. For further information: info@jazznightschool.org For further information on Jamie Maschler: Jamie.maschler@gmail.com |
9th Annual Accordion Noir Festival in Canada Sept. 8-11by Rita Barnea |
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 The 9th Annual Accordion Noir Festival will be held from September 8-11, 2016, 2016 in Vancouver, BC. Thursday Sept 8, 2016, “Kissing Everything in Sight” Lanalou’s Rock n Roll Eatery (all ages welcome), doors 7:30. Tickets $10 at the door only, no online or advance sales. Featuring Magic in the Woods (Pemberton), Breaking Boundaries (Columbia/Vancouver), Kael Vincent (standing on top of things), Battle of the Buskers (Artists TBA) and the intoxicating Alexa Fraser (The Plodes) as emcee and bon vivant. The September 9, 2016 program, "Love Potion Cabaret" takes place at 8:30 PM at the York Theatre, Accordion Noir presents an intoxicating elixir of world class artists. Headliners Nefertiti in the Kitchen (Rennes) channel the bite of Kurt Weill and the dreaminess of Radiohead with their eccentric multi-lingual cabaret. Patrick Farrell and Ben Holmes (Brooklyn) premier “The Conqueror Worm”, a suite of music, visuals and text based on the poem by Edgar Allen Poe. Jet Black Pearl (Belgium) delivers a masterful mix of accordion, vocals, beatboxing, looping and flute. Duo Finelli (San Fransisco), combines acrobatics, clowning with Tex-Mex flavored squeezebox, and local composer Nathan Shubert premiers a new work for accordion and sheng with Tim Chan. The September 10, 2016 program, "Move the Mess Around" Dance Party takes place at 8:30 PM at The Wise Hall, 1882 Adanac Street, Vancouver, BC. Accordion Noir presents a dance party mixer of epic proportions. Pinata Protest (San Antonio) brings shredding lead accordion to a mix of old school punk rock and traditional Latin border music. Local squeezebox superstar Jack Garton with his roots roller-coaster band the Demon Squadron celebrate the release of their new album “Move the Mess Around”. Featured square dance, button box rocker Gunther Kablutsiak (Arviat) teams up with local Metis dance troupe V’ni Dansi. Duo Finelli brings accordion clowning and acrobatics to a new level and Dirty Grace limbers everyone up with cheeky and soulful songs from the heart. Sunday Sept 11th, “Accordion Crimes” Spartacus Books (all ages), 2-6pm. Admission by donation. This community afternoon event includes our Youth Incentives Showcase, an extended performance of the new work for sheng and accordion with composer Nathan Shubert and sheng artist Tim Chan, the Squeezebox Circle Orchestra with special guests, a highlight reel screening for “Accordions Rising” by Roberta Cantow (San Diego), a comedy repair workshop by Melodona (Montreal) and cameo performances by visiting festival artists. **Note: Sept 15th at 7pm there will be a feature length screening of “Accordions Rising” at Spartacus Books. For ticket and information call: 604-251-1363 |
Frank Petrilli to Perform for San Francisco Accordion Clubby Rita Barnea |
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| Video: Performing “Speak Low” Frank Petrilli Quartet with the great guitarist John Chiodini at the ATG 75th Anniversary Festival on July 25, 2015. Frank Petrilli from Los Angeles will perform for the SFAC on September 18, 2016 at 2:PM. Frank started to play the accordion at age 7 and by 16 he was performing professionally. In 2006, Frank began intensive study with the great jazz accordionist Frank Marocco. They developed a close friendship and Frank Petrilli became Frank Marocco's protégé. This association ended far too soon at Frank Marocco's untimely death in March of 2012. In May of that same year, Frank had the distinction of being invited to play in the stead of the late Frank Marocco, who was originally scheduled as the featured performer at the Accofestival 2012 accordion competition in Kiev. Frank was also on the panel of judges for the jazz portion of the competition. Immediately following, he performed at the Frank Marocco Memorial Concert held in Castelfidardo, Italy. If you are a fan of the TV series Mad Men you may have caught Frank in a cameo appearance as a strolling accordionist in October 2011. On his debut CD Totally Frank you will definitely hear the influence of Frank Marocco, but Frank Petrilli plays his own style that includes more focus on Latin grooves. Pat Sentator, booking agent and artistic director of the Vibrato Jazz Club in Los Angeles had this to say about Frank: "Like his mentor, Petrilli gives new life to the accordion with impeccable phrasing and a smooth, fluid style. " The concert will take place at: Oyster Point Yacht Club 911 Marina Blvd. South San Francisco, California The San Francisco Accordion Club is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt charitable organization whose purpose is to enhance, promote and stimulate an appreciation for the accordion within the membership and throughout the general public. For further information: info@sfaccordionclub.com |
Dallas Vietty's "Jazz Mondays" at Acme Accordion School in NJby Rita Barnea |
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 Dallas Vietty shares: "Starting in September I’ll be running a program we are calling ‘Jazz Mondays’ at Acme Accordion School.Jazz Mondays are three fantastic events for players of all levels. First, each month I am running compact group jazz classes. The classes lasts only 3-4 Mondays, depending on the month, so they are really easy to fit into people’s schedules. Everyone has too many commitments these days, so it is designed for accordionists to jump in for a month when they can, and then take a month off if they have to deal with other things. Each class will be bite size, and each month will have a theme. I am running two of these classes each Monday, a lower level from 6-7p and an upper level from 8:30-9:30p. The classes are priced very affordably. These group classes are something I have been asked about providing for years, and I’ve just never had the time or space to provide them. The group classes are going to help accordionists who are curious about what jazz is, and ultimately help accordionists find their own voice. After all, jazz is about personal expression above all else. And why else do we play music, if not for personal expression? The other aspect I’m really excited about is an accordion orchestra I’ll be directing called the ‘Joe Mooney Jazz Ensemble'. (The name is a very respectful tribute to the great Paterson, NJ jazz accordionist who has inspired me and so many others.) The Jazz Ensemble will be open to all levels, and you don’t have to attend the group classes to come and participate in the jazz ensemble. I’m really excited to position this ensemble both as a vehicle to play beautiful jazz arrangements, and also to give the accordionists an opportunity to try skills and approaches from the group jazz classes. On some songs they will have the opportunity walk bass lines, accompany, embellish melodies, and improvise. Although I’ve lead groups professionally for years, this will be my first time as a director of an all accordion ensemble. I’m very excited, and I want to make sure people know that everyone is invited to participate. We will have small fee to cover materials, facilities and my time, but it will be more than worth the experience. Registration by phone is required, and interested parties can call: Acme Accordion School at (856) 854-6628. Or email me at dallas@rebelreed.com. The first Jazz Monday will be September 12, and they will run nearly continuously until further notice. |
Reports for Concerts, Masterclasses, Competitions, Festivals, etc. |
13 Year Old Cody McSherry Wins Lancaster's Got Talent Competitionby Rita Barnea |
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| Accordion player Cody McSherry won the first Lancaster’s Got Talent competition, held in August 2016 at LNP Studio, 8 W. King St. in Lancaster, PA. He received a $750 award. Judges were impressed with 13-year-old McSherry’s stage presence, and his ability to play such a complex instrument, especially one which is not well known among his peer group. On the piano accordion, McSherry played a lively composition called “Dance of the Comedians,” from the 19th century comic opera “The Bartered Bride,” by Czech composer Bedrich Smetana. The videos were available online for public voting. Ten finalists were chosen with over 4000 votes cast. Cody was the only accordionist. The other nine finalists were vocalists. All performed for three judges and a live audience. It was also shown via online streaming. Cody McSherry is twelve years old and a seventh grade student at Resurrection Catholic School in Lancaster, PA. He began his musical studies with piano at age four and accordion at age 6. Cody also studies button accordion, pipe organ, theater organ, saxophone, viola, and voice. He is currently studying accordion with Mary Tokarski. Cody enjoys performing regularly throughout the Lancaster area as a soloist and also with his band, Polterabend. He has performed onstage with the Alex Meixner Band and the Walt Groller Orchestra, and is the youngest member of the Accordion Pops Orchestra in New Jersey under the direction of Al Terzo. Very active in his church, Historic St. Mary’s in Lancaster, Cody is an altar server, sacristan, plays in the instrumental ensemble and sings in the adult choir. Last year, Cody played the role of Gavroche in Les Miserables and Flick in A Christmas Story, the musical, both at Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre in Lancaster. He was cast in Servant Stage’s Old Time Gospel Radio Hour, where he sang and played the accordion. Cody and his band will perform at the 2016 Reading Liederkranz Button Box Festival in Reading, Pennsylvania on September 17, 2016. For further information on Cody: pat@lmsetch.com |
New Joe Cerrito Composition Theme & Scherzo Availableby Rob Howard |
  Noted jazz artist and exponent Joe Cerrito has released a new composition:Catalog: cerrito101 Theme & Scherzo. You can hear Joe Cerrito performing this work - click the sound file above. Joe Cerrito writes: "Joan Grauman told me many times, "You should write a piece for the accordion that reflects your style of playing." With that in mind, I came up with a simple melody (theme) using a major 7 to 6. Experimenting with different variations of major 7 to 6, I wanted to inject some fun and excitement, thus the scherzo. My intention was to make this piece a bit different from the standard accordion solo. I sincerely hope that all who play Theme and Scherzo and listeners also, will enjoy a little bit of jazz in this piece. I dedicate this work to Dan and Joan Grauman." |
Accordionists & Teachers Guild (ATG) 76th Annual Festival Reportby Amy Jo Sawyer |
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| Picture 1 above: Joe Recchia, President of the Michigan Accordion Society, and Cory Pesaturo, presenting ATG President, Amy Jo Sawyer, a very large check ($2,000.00) to be used for ATG Youth Activities. Amy Jo presented Joe with a Certificate of Appreciation. Picture 2 above: Kenn Baert, former student of Gene Van, along with ATG President, Amy Jo Sawyer, present Gene a “Lifetime Achievement Award”. Picture 3 above: Joan Cochran Sommers, ATG Executive Secretary, along with Amy Jo Sawyer, President, present Beverley Fess a “Lifetime Achievement Award”. The 76th annual Accordionists & Teachers Guild (ATG) Festival was held in the Lisle (near Chicago) Hyatt Hotel from July 19 to July 24, 2016. Attendees were from many states and included participants from China, New Zealand, and Canada. Nightly concerts featured special guest artists Grayson Masefield (New Zealand), Xia Gang (Sichuan, China), Murl Allen Sanders (Seattle), and Jerry Cigler (Chicago). Also featured from China were Jing Qiao, Violinist, and Tao Tong, Tenor. They were accompanied by Xia Gang. The “Sound Scape Trio” (Denver, CO) performed. Members are John & Madalynn Neu and Larry Miller. Gail Campanella (Santa Barbara, CA), soloist, also performed. The “UMKC Community Accordion Ensemble” (Kansas City), directed by Joan Cochran Sommers performed. Members are Betty Jo Simon, Ron Barrow, Kevin Friedrich, Samantha Wagner, Joyce Davis, Sherry Carroll and Joan C. Sommers. The “President’s Quintet” featured ATG President, Amy Jo Sawyer, Joseph Natoli, Gail Campanella, Kenn Baert, and Liz Finch. A concert of Original Music for the accordion featured Beatrice Makdah (Chicago), soloist, performing the 3rd mvt. of Anthony Galla-Rini’s “Concerto for Accordion” in g minor accompanied by an ensemble that included Kevin Friedrich, Amy Jo Sawyer, Joseph Natoli, Ron Barrow, Donna Dee Ray, Esther Lanting, Betty Jo Simon, Samantha Wagner, Mary Ann Covone, Beverley Fess and Joyce Davis. Samantha Wagner performed Paul Creston’s “Prelude and Dance”. “Serenade”, 1st mvt. by Alexander Comitas was performed by the ensemble of members listed above and also included Kenn Baert and Liz Finch. Mary Ann Covone (Chicago), performed Karen Fremar’s “Nocturne”. The ensemble, including Paula Bechtold, performed Murl Allen Sander’s “Ruby’s Four Questions”, and Joseph Natoli performed “Kinetic Tango”. The 35 member ATG Festival Orchestra, under the direction of Joan Cochran Sommers, performed the “Star Spangled Banner” with audience participation, “Overture” to the Opera "Semiramide" by Rossini, “Over The Rainbow”, Harburg & Arlen with special arrangement by Joan C. Sommers, featuring guest vocalist Robyn Hartfield (Kansas City), and “Springtime” by Kolz & Kopf. Cory Pesaturo performed during the Annual Banquet which also featured several Special Awards given to members for outstanding service to the accordion community. Gene Van (IN) and Beverley Fess (Canada) received “Lifetime Achievement Awards” for their 50+ years of teaching the accordion. Xia Gang received a special award for his generous monetary contribution to ATG. Betty Jo Simon received an award for her outstanding three years of service as ATG President. Joe Recchia, President of the Michigan Accordion Society, presented ATG with a special donation of $2,000.00, from the MAS, to be used to promote ATG youth activities. Workshops featured Helmi Harrington (Duluth, MN), presenting “Evolution of the Various Bass Systems” and “Introduction to the Button Diatonic Accordion”. Grayson Masefield presented “Building A Piece of Music, Practice & Memorization”. Jerry Cigler presented “Ways to Freshen Your Improvising” and Murl Sanders presented “Strategies For Learning, Reading, Playing & Teaching Tricky Modern Rhythms”. Joseph Natoli presented “Inexpensive Studio Quality Recording at Home” part 2 (Advanced), and George Secor demonstrated and gave a workshop on the “Moschino Free Bass System”. Xia Gang presented “Accordion Activities in China” with assistance by Sam Su, music critic and writer for a Chinese publication with one million readers. Entertainment was provided during the daily luncheons and prior to the evening concerts by ATG members, and other guests, that included Lou LeBrun, Jon Thiel, George Secor, Dick Tappan, Charles Oprian, Edo Sadikovic, John Steciw, Gordon Kohl, Tony Hermanek, Nick Ballarini, Mardy Eisloeffel, Betty Jo Simon, Nancy Leonard and Charles Weyhaupt. Eight students of instructor, Xia Gang, from China participated in the competitions winning many awards. The Senior U.S. Championship 1st Place was won by Xue Dong (China), picture 2 below (on left) with other students. Picture 1 below: Xia Gang was presented a special award for his generous monetary contributions to ATG after his concert performance. Amy Jo Sawyer, President, Betty Jo Simon, past President, Joan Sommers, Executive Secretary and Sam Su, music critic and writer for a Chinese publication, congratulate him. Picture 2 below: Chinese contestants with their teacher, Xia Gang, receiving their awards. |
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Report: 22nd Year AAA Master Class and Concert Series, July 29-31.by William Schimmel |
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Video: Classical Bluegrass From the CD "Theater of the Accordion" composed by William Schimmel with video and choreography by Micki Goodman
Video: Carousel Breakdown on July 30.
Video: AAA Master Class and Concert Series
 The 2016 Seminars - The American Accordionists’ Association Master Class and Concert Series - Dr. William Schimmel (picture right), moderator/curator - our 22nd Smash Year NO PLACE LIKE HOME - July 29, 30 and 31 at Tenri Cultural Institute - New York Music Maestro Magazine “The 2016 Seminars moderated and curated by Dr. William Schimmel were unsurpassably amazing: High level, high octane performances, stimulating talks and great vibes, perhaps the foundation of an Accordion artistic community, I could live off of it for a year”. The New York Times “William Schimmel who holds a Doctorate in Composition from The Juilliard School is a tireless champion of the Accordion who runs a yearly Seminar in New York that draws fellow players form around the world and intoduces new works. He honors the populist heritage of his instrument by giving master classes on subjects like working as a strolling accordionist at restaurants. Yet for Mr. Schimmel, as he explained in a 2004 interview in The New York Times, there’s no music that can’t be played on the accordion - from Bizet to Blondie” Anthony Tommasini Time out New York “Under the ever watchful eye of mad-genius accordionist Dr. William Schimmel, squeeze boxers from around the globe gather for the AAA’s annual series of master classes and freewheeling concerts, which includes unorthodox spins on classic standards, new pieces and all manner of unpredictable fusions” The participants included: Micki Goodman, who presented her own new video work, Classical Bluegrass with a score by Dr. Schimmel; Dr. Hugo Goldenzweig, Pianist, performing in Transedencia - based on the music of Albeniz with additional music for Bass Accordion by Dr. Schimmel. Erica Marie Mancini presented her Distancia, for Accordion and Laptop. Paul Stein gave us a Melodica Medley from Michel Legrand to Perfidia. Mary Spencer Knapp gave us two new songs complete with choreography. Lee Mc Clure told us the history of Eclecticism as well as a film noir tribute for Flute and Accordion. Ken Laufer’s Symphony in the Old Style mirrored the Blues. Will Holsshouser’s new work mixed classic modernism with jazz with a new approach to bellows shaking. Godfrey Nelson and Lorraine Nelson Wolf performed a work entitled Heart for Accordion, Guitar, Piano and Electronics. Dr. Schimmel did a Reality on West Side Story (West Side Reality)., David First played Harmonica in Home Sweet Home with Dr. S. David Stoler presented Cinematic Suite for Accordion and Guitar (Sal Azzarelli). Carl Riehl premiered Messian in Black for Accordion and Electronics. The Master Classes included acclaimed Klezmer Violinist, Alicia Svigals, demonstrating various Klezmer varieties. City Opera Diva, Lauren Flanigan focused in on newly discovered Kurt Weill songs not yet performed publicly - with special permission from the Kurt Weill Society. Paul Stein gave a workshop on performing in small spaces, including house concerts. Dr. Robert Young Mc Mahan told us about his own personal Accordion Odyssey starting from childhood to Academic life. Jeanne Velonis gave us a 16th Century Scarf Dance and a work by John Tavener. Dr. Denise Koncelik was awarded the Order of the Shield Diploma for her outstanding work as an Accordionist (Dance of the Comedians/Bachtopus, flutist (Burlesca (WS)/Sontag in Sarajevo (Dave Soldier) along with Dr. Mc Mahan and Devon Tipp and arranger (Carousel Breakdown WS - Main Squeeze Orchestra. The Order of the Shield is a private studies program and the graduate and post graduate level with a lineup of graduates and honorary members including Charles Magnate, Carmen Carozza, Joseph Soprani, Dr. Robert Young Mc Mahan, Micki Goodman, Will Holshouser, Paul Stein and many more. Special thanks was given to Micki Goodman (Dr. Schimmel’s wife) for contributions spanning 22 years. Also special thanks was given to Paul Stein for his constant support. Will Holshouser received a special merit award for his distinguished service of 20 years. More highlights included performances by The Main Squeeze Orchestra performing Dr. Schimmel’s Carousel Breakdown - written for them - with movement and costumes and Bachtopus, and Accordion Quartet specializing in Bachian Pieces, Here they performed Dr. Schimmel”s (Anonymous Bach) Concerto in A Minor from the Accordion player’s perspective, preceded by Cantus in honor of Benjamin Britten by Avro Part (arr. Robert Duncan). Will Comer played at a Master Class and received positive comments. Dr. Schimmel gave a lecture that took us back to 1954 when there were four hits on Hit Parade used Accordion extensively: That’s Amore, Chimney Smoke, Crazy Mixed Up Song and Whale of a tale, He explained the fact that various Accordion Associations, the Ethnic Community and young people approaching teen years had their own agendas and none of the groups connected - leading to the Accordion’s demise. He gave suggestions on how to connect today using Social Network as new groups form. He called this factor Permanent Transition - demonstrating with a piece - Tango of the Blue Danube which had one foot in Vienna and one in Argentina. He also played a new rendition of Pietro Deiro’s Concerto in D, one of his last compositions, paired down to five minutes with a steady beat throughout - danceable in a club - He called it the “House Version”. Doug Makofka supplied “Frippertonics” to Cantata for Regular People as well as Persichetti and his own Willys Song. Bob Goldberg explored the Tenri space with Over the Rainbow. Brian Dewan closed the weekend with Horse with no name, Do not mortgage the farm and the Crayon song. John Foti gave us a Asbury Park New Jersey Americana. Melissa Elledge gave us Accordio - Gangsta rap and a new original. Mayumi Miyaoka gave us a tribute to Charles Magante and a Japanese folk Melody. Peter Flint premiered a new work for Bachtopus. Uri Sharlin and Sanda Weigel presented us with selection from Hans Eisler’s Hollywood Songbook. Indie Rocker Corn Mo performed The Lost Chord by Sir Arthur Sullivan, Robert Schumann and one of his own songs. Dr. Robert Young Mc Mahan premiered his Riffs for Accordion and Bassoon (Devon Tipp), joined Cellist Cecila Barczyk in Introduction and Allegro by Matyas Seiber. Marni Rice performed a selection from her Cabaret of the Absurd. We look forward to #23 next year - The Red Lantern Accordionist Dr. William Schimmel Pictures below: 1st picture: Sal Azzarelli, Dr. Schimmel, David Stoler, 2nd picture: David First & Dr Schimmel |
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Las Vegas International Accordion Convention 2016 – A Grand Success!by Rita Barnea |
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 The Las Vegas International Accordion Convention took place in August 2016. Paul Pasquali was the Event Organizer. People attended from all over the USA, Canada and other countries including Australia, UK, France, and Mexico.Full report with photos by Paul Pasquali at: 2016LVIAC Please mark your calendar for the 18th Annual LVIAC which will be from October 23-26, 2017. See AccordionStars.com for more information. |
2016 Cotati Accordion Festival, A Joyful Experienceby Pamela Tom |
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 Photo above: Winners of many competitions and friends from three different corners of the world: Cory Pesaturo (USA), Jelena Milojevic (Canada - originally from Croatia), Tian Jianan (China), Viivi Maria Saarenkylä (Finland) and Michael Bridge (Canada).The Cotati Accordion Festival (CAF) is a non-profit organization committed to promoting the love of the accordion and supporting local youth and service organizations. To date over $400,000 has supported the community. CAF was founded by Jim Boggio (memorial statute below) and others in 1991 and is currently lead by Scott Goree and Linda Conner. Talented international (i.e., from Canada, China, Croatia, and Finland), national and local performers squeezed their accordions to a wide range of toe-tapping, jaw-dropping musical genera (jazz, western, classic, Django, etc.) as they entertained about 5,000 attendees during the August 20-21, 2016 event. The younger accordion students competed for cash prizes up to $500. Veteran performer, teacher, music arranger, and electronic accordion pioneer artist, Lou Jacklich, was recognized as the 2016 CAF Honorary Director. At CAF, the attendee can listen to acts on the center and side stages, try out accordions, dance, or just observe in the "jamming" and polka tents. Plus the Apocalypse Stage features Northern California acts that appeal to the younger crowd and there is a zydeco dance party at nearby Friar Tucks restaurant. Accordions, sheet music and books, CDs, clothing, accessories, food and more are available. According to Linda Conner the "most valuable part of the CAF is the pure joy of thousands who attend (including musicians, vendors, volunteers, students and accordion enthusiasts)." Scott Goree notes that the CAF features such a feeling of joy that not only do the international players love our festival, they want to return." Next Cotati Accordion Festival dates are: August 19-20, 2017 |
ATG Presents Lifetime Achievement Awards to Gene Van and Beverly Fess July 22, 2016by Joseph Natoli, ATG President |
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 The ATG celebrated its 76th Annual Festival this year in July, and since the ATG acronym stands for the “Accordionists and Teachers Guild” International, nothing could be more appropriate than having the ATG Board recognizing two teachers this year who each have made marvelous teaching contributions to the accordion world. Both of these musical icons, Gene Van (Indiana) and Beverly Fess (Canada) have been sharing their teaching talents and skills for over 50 years, and the accordion world is much better as a consequence of their efforts. Gene Van makes his home in Granger Indiana with his wife Mary Ann, also an incredibly accomplished accordionist. Granger is very close to the South Bend Indiana area where Gene had built a stellar reputation for years as a great performing musician, composer, arranger, conductor, and most of all a great teacher. There is no one more passionate about the accordion than Gene, whose passion was also instilled in his four daughters Laura, Lisa, Vanessa, and Dana who each became accomplished accordionists, winning many awards and competitions between them in solo and ensemble categories alike. But Gene’s passion did not rest with his own daughters. He had a large accordion school and accordion orchestra in the South Bend area that had performed and won many competitions over the years with both their serious classical repertoire as well as their show band repertoire, always with Gene at the helm as the conductor (and sometimes even as performer and vocalist!). Many of Gene’s students will tell you even today what an important impact he had on their lives during these years, because his teaching and mentoring taught them not only about music and becoming outstanding accordionists, but also taught them about life, striving to achieve excellence in all life’s endeavors, and never giving up until you have given everything you could to succeed. Gene started as a young musician winning talent shows and other competitions himself, and eventually becoming a staff arranger and performer in the armed services, where he feels he learned many valuable arranging skills that would later prove to be of great benefit to his students and his orchestra as they continued to dazzle audiences for years at the AAA festivals in solo, ensemble, and accordion orchestra competitions, more often than not taking home the top prizes. The loyalty of Gene’s students is still pervasive today as they have joyfully participated in the many Gene Van Accordion Orchestra performances every year since reviving the group in 2008, often to standing room only crowds. Kenn Baert of Illinois, a previous student of both Gene Van and Mary Ann Van, a frequent competition winner himself and new ATG board member, presented the award to Gene at the festivities. Kenn, Amy Jo Sawyer (ATG President) and Gene Van can be seen in the picture here after the award was presented to a pleasantly surprised and gracious Gene Van. Beverley Fess was born in Dunnville, Ontario, Canada. At the age of six Bev started taking accordion lessons. Her teacher, seeing that she had talent, started putting her in competitions by age seven. During the early years she won numerous solo competitions and was part of many award-winning duet teams, accordion ensembles and accordion orchestras. Not only did she perform in these groups but shortly after she started teaching at the age of fourteen she moved into conducting as well. Her teaching career started in Ontario and moved west to Alberta in the mid-seventies. At times she taught as many as 125 students per week. She has trained teachers, adjudicated at accordion music festivals, served as a music examiner and sat on the executive committees of several accordion associations. In February 2000 she established a 20-member accordion orchestra known as Fess ‘n’ Friends based out of Okotoks, Alberta. She continues to direct this group to this day. From early adulthood Bev juggled her teaching and performing responsibilities while pursuing a business career in the Insurance Industry. As of April 2006 she was able to retire from insurance and return to a full time career in music. She spends her time teaching accordion, piano and theory; arranging music; conducting orchestras; and performing. In 2007 she initiated teaching accordion via the Internet. It has proven very successful, reaching students where there are no teachers available. For many years she annually coordinated the Accordion Concert Band for the Kimberley International Old Time Accordion Championships-made up of accordionists from all over Canada and the U.S. For several of these years she also served as conductor. In 2011 Beverley became the conductor of the Spokane Accordion Ensemble. She frequently instructs at the Silver Falls Accordion Camp. Beverly regularly supports and attends music festivals and events worldwide and is a consistent participant in any accordion orchestra at these events She also regularly performs at seniors’ Residences, for Local Charity Fundraisers, for functions held by the Accordion Associations of Calgary and Edmonton and private social events. Bev has dedicated a great part of her life to music and promoting the accordion – the love of her life. May 2016 she celebrated 50 years of teaching. Beverly, who is also a new ATG board member this year, can be seen in the photo here accepting her ATG Lifetime Achievement award from Joan C. Sommers, ATG Executive Treasurer. Congratulations to both Gene Van and Beverly Fess for dedicating their lives toward selflessly supporting the accordion, their students, and so profoundly and positively impacting the lives of their many students, certainly substantiating their well-deserved ATG Lifetime Achievement Awards! |
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Patricia Bartell Busy Schedule of Teaching, Jury in China and New Publications - USAby Harley Jones |
 The very busy schedule of Patricia Bartell included an invitation to be a member of the international jury at the 33rd Harbin China International Accordion Art Week, full report of this major international event, pictures and videos at: 2016HarbinThe activities of Patricia Bartell include a busy teaching schedule and additionally she is announcing a new issue of her free publication Accordion Life Today, due for release on 20th September which will include educational material, pedagogical articles by Frederic Deschamps, Practice Tips and other information targeted to growing musical knowledge. Patricia Bartell has created and published a video instruction series of over 200+ videos including courses for accordion with a step-by-step method for learning the piano, chromatic or diatonic accordions. The publications will eventually include other supplementary materials such as scale modes, special effects, theory, ear training, reading, rhythm, etc. For further information visit AcccordionLife.com or email: bartell.patricia@gmail.com |
Joan Grauman to Present Workshop on Balkan Music and Rhythmsby Dianna McSherry |
 The Lancaster Catholic High School Fine & Performing Arts Department, Lancaster, PA, presents a "Balkan Music & Rhythms Workshop" featuring clinician Joan Grauman on Saturday, October 8, 2016 from 10:30 to 12:PM. --- Free Admission. The location is the Lancaster Catholic High School Band Room. It is open to all instruments and musicians of all ages.Workshop: The Rhythms and Harmonies of Bulgarian and Macedonian Folk Music This workshop is designed for musicians who enjoy the unusual rhythms and beautiful melodies of the Balkan region, but need a little “push” to try to tackle this music on their own. Accordionist Joan Grauman will introduce the “mathematical system” of Balkan rhythms. Within minutes, what seemed difficult and confusing will become exciting and fun. She will give out music for a few lovely Macedonian and Bulgarian melodies, so bring your instruments! The art of the hauntingly beautiful Balkan harmonies will also be introduced. Dances will be demonstrated by Joan and her daughter, Emily Geller, who will accompany Joan in this workshop. Both Joan and Emily danced for several years in Eastern European dance troupes. Emily has been a “tupan” player (Bulgarian drum) for the celebrated Balkan bands, Veveritze and ZlatneUste for over ten years, regularly touring the US and Eastern Europe. Emily will demonstrate the drumming techniques and introduce percussionists to the tupan. Joan was the accordionist for the Balkan/Gypsy band “BAMCO” for 18 years. A Maryland resident all of her life, Joan Grauman studied piano and dance in her youth. By the age of 22, she had a degree in piano performance and music education, and was the director of the Columbia International Folk Dancers. At the age of 23, Joan taught herself to play the accordion to accompany the Bulgarian and Macedonian dances she was teaching and performing. She was the accordionist for theBalkan/Gypsy band, BAMCO for 18 years, and also performed in Klezmer and Bavarian groups during those years. Since 2004, Joan has been the Vice-President and music director of the Washington Metropolitan Accordion Society (WMAS) and the director of its performing group, the Potomac Accordion Ensemble. She is on the Governing Board of the American Accordionists’ Association (AAA) and is its historian. Joan and her husband Dan own the mail-order business, “SqueezinArt”, which features Joan’s artwork on “all things accordion.” The Graumans also founded and directed an annual accordion orchestra camp, the Frank Marocco/Mesa Accordion Event, from 2007 to 2014. Lancaster Catholic High School is located at 650 Juliette Avenue, Lancaster, Pennsylvania 17601. Free parking is provided in the lot behind the school, and workshop attendees may enter through the band room doors on the far right side of the back of the building. There is no need to pre-register, and the workshop is free. Dianna McSherry said, "This is the high school that Cody McSherry will attend in another year when he enters 9th grade and they have been very welcoming to him and his accordion." For further information: Tony Brill,Director of Fine & Performing Arts at Lancaster Catholic High School 717.509-0310 tbrill@lchsyes.org www.lchsyes.org |
Natasha Enquist’s debut album "MNE"by Rob Howard |
 Berlin-based Canadian accordionist Miss Natasha Enquist's debut album, ‘MNE’, is the semi-autobiographical story of her journey of self-discovery told through the voice of a adventure-hungry Star Captain, who leaves her home planet to discover a new world, and the struggles she faces while there.Weaving in lines of poetry from various German poets such as Ingeborg Bachmann, Karin Boye, and Rainer Maria Rilke, the narrative of the album touches on themes of kindred spirits, love, passion, loneliness and the resolution that comes from connecting to the indomitable spirit within. Each song on ‘MNE’, which was recorded and produced by Kollo Agency, on MNE Records, in Berlin, Germany, and the sound of the album experiments with sound design of the accordion through sampling, distortion, and effects as well as noticeable melody lines. Miss Natasha Enquist’s intention is to treat the accordion as a human-powered synthesizer, by utilizing the instrument in both traditional and innovative ways, resulting in a very textural, cinematic and atmospheric album. ‘MNE’ is available for direct download and other online sites. For further information email: info@natashaenquist.com |
Memories of “Mama Stella” Allison, Marylandby Joan Grauman Morse, AAA Historian |
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Click to play:
 "While I'm Away" performed live by Stella Allison and Joan Grauman, composed by Stas Venglevski.Click to play: On Monday, August 8, my former duet partner and dear friend Stella Allison passed away after a lengthy illness. For all who knew Stella (and if you were ever in her presence, you knew and loved her!), she will be remembered for her joyous laugh, her great jazz renditions, and her total love for being with her friends in the accordion world. Stella Werner Allison was born in 1929 in Maryland and remained a loyal resident of the state her entire 87 years. She began studying the accordion as a child with the celebrated Washington, DC accordion teacher, Sylvia Kaplowitz, and was the youngest girl to be invited to perform in Sylvia’s all girl band at the age of 12 (she is pictured with this band, third girl from the left, at age 13 in 1942). In their gowns, these young girls performed constantly during World War II to raise money for War Bonds. After graduating with a degree in music education from American University in Washington, DC, Stella took a 40-year break from the accordion to raise a family of four, and to serve in many political, community and church organizations. In her early 60s, Stella dusted off her old accordion, studied with Dr. Carmelo Pino and began soloing, mostly on the west coast, where her son Tom lives, for over ten years. Picture lower left: Stella and Joan Grauman with the Golden Gate Bridge behind them. Then, Stella met me. I was “retired” from playing for close to twenty years in a Balkan/Gypsy band and was basically not playing the accordion anymore. Someone put an accordion on me at a party and Stella listened. “I like the way you play and I want you to be my duet partner”, said the forceful, lovable Stella. I hemmed and hawed, Stella’s husband Roy put some sheet music in front of me, and Stella said, “Stop that FRITZIN’ AROUND, and let’s play!!” From that moment on, our lives were never the same, and I feel very blessed! We toured the country together for 4 ½ wonderful years, playing our duets and making the audiences laugh at accordion camps, festivals, for the Northern Virginia Ragtime Society and many other venues and private parties. Actually, Stella made everyone laugh, as her sense of humor was totally delightful!! When Maddalena Belfiore and Linda Reed asked the two of us to play at the 2005 AAA Luncheon Concert in Dearborn, Michigan, we worked very, very hard to do our best at this event. Even at that time, Stella’s physical health was declining, so we decided to do a live concert CD while we were “at the top of our game”. In November 2005, we taped our concert live and the CD from that fun-filled evening sold out within months. We two “mediocre accordion ladies” were thrilled! This CD was recently re-released and can be obtained by contacting me at: joangrauman@verizon.net. Stella had to put down her accordion by the end of 2008. We stayed close until the end, and enjoyed reminiscing about our magical years together making wonderful friends from all over the country and Canada. I must add that the beautiful duet compositions by Stas Venglevski, to which Stella introduced me, were what motivated us to work for hours weekly during our first couple of years together. Picture below: Stella Allison with duet partner Joan Grauman. |
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Alte Kameraden to Perform at Laconia Multicultural Festivalby Rita Barnea |
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| On Saturday September 10th the trio Alte Kameraden which means "Old Comrades" perform at the annual Laconia (NH) Multicultural Festival, an event celebrating the rich cultural diversity of Laconia and the Lakes Region of New Hampshire. The trio will perform under the gazebo at Rotary Park in two time slots: 10.30-11am and 11.30am-12noon. The public is invited to attend. Alte Kameraden seeks to recreate die Gemütlichkeit – that indescribable experience of comfort, good humor, warm ambiance, and boisterous conviviality – found in Bierhallen (beer halls) throughout Germany. Alte Kameraden line up: Al Brogdon – tuba, Donna Maria Regis – accordion, Doug Rickard - banjo/guitar/vocals – have performed traditional German folk-music throughout New Hampshire, including at the State House and on TV. This is the 15th year of the Laconia Multicultural Festival. The festival is expected to attract over 4,000 people and many vendors will offer cuisine and crafts from around the world. Laconia, New Hampshire is a multicultural community. Refugees have traditionally been relocated in New Hampshire's cities, as opposed to in rural townships, because of the relative availability of affordable housing. Altogether the Mayor's Human Relations Committee, which sponsors and stages the Multicultural Festival, counts people from 34 countries among the residents of the city: Turkey, Rwanda, Bhutan, Bosnia, Burundi, Columbia, Cambodia, Ethiopia, Iraq, Peru, China, Philippines, Laos, Palestine, Morocco, Ecuador, El Salvador, Mexico, Pakistan, Brazil, Guatemala, Sierra Leone, Malaysia, Thailand, Dominican Republic, Argentina, Croatia, Japan, Sudan, Lithuania, Albania, Spain, Puerto Rico and Cuba. For further information email: regisdonna@yahoo.com |
Passing of Joe Derrane (1930-2016), Massachessettsby Rob Howard |
 Video: Excerpt from "As Played by Joe Derrane (1995)", a documentary about accordion player Joe Derrane of Randolph, MA. Produced by Frank Ferrel. Edited by Julie Eddy. Part of the Massachusetts Folk Arts Archive.Joe Derrane, the son of Irish immigrants, is widely regarded as one of the greats of Irish traditional music. Born and raised in Boston, Massachessetts, his father played the button accordion and his mother the fiddle, and at the age of 10, young Joe began playing a one-row diatonic button accordion, taught by Jerry O'Brien, an immigrant from County Cork, Ireland. By the age of 14 Derrane was performing at house parties on the thriving Boston Irish scene. He switched to a 2-row D/C# accordion, and soon became a leading musician in the Irish dance halls, which in the late 1940s led him to playing on radio broadcasts and making records. He was much admired for his lively, accurate and highly ornamented playing. By the late 1950s the Irish dance halls locally were closing down, so Derrane switched to piano accordion and formed a band to play for weddings and functions, moving away from Irish music and instead playing popular selections as well as Italian and Jewish traditional music. In the mid-1970s Derrane moved to playing the electronic organ. He retired from music in 1990. In 1993 Rego Records reissued some of Joe Derrane’s original 78 rpm recordings from the 1940s on a CD, ‘Irish Accordion’. These recordings generated considerable interest, and Derrane began playing the button accordion again and was invited to perform as a special guest at the 1994 Irish Folk Festival in Washington, D.C. His virtuosic performances (accompanied by Felix Dolan on piano) were greeted with overwhelming enthusiasm and acclaim, and Joe Derrane embarked on a second career as a button accordionist. He subsequently recorded two solo albums, ‘Give Us Another’ (1994) and ‘Grove Lane’ (2010), and four collaboration albums with other players, appeared on radio and TV many times, including ‘The Pure Drop’ on Irish TV RTE. He was the subject of a documentary by Frank Ferrel, ‘As Played By Joe Derrane’, and on another broadcast by Irish-language station TG4 as part of its ‘Sé mo laoch’ series. Joe toured Canada, Switzerland and the Netherlands, and appeared with The Chieftains at the Boston Symphony Hall. In 1998 Joe Derrane was inducted into the Hall of Fame of Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann for his contribution to Irish traditional music. Joe Derrane, married with grandchildren, died on July 22nd 2016 in Randolf, Massachessetts, at the age of 86. |
Gail Campanella to Perform for Washington Metropolitan Accordion Society,by Joan Grauman Morse, AAA Historian |
 Click to hear the MP3 file of Gail Campanella performing "La Motocicietta" one of the 13 tracks on her newly released solo CD, "Discovery".The Washington Metropolitan Accordion Society (WMAS) is honored to feature Gail Gardetto Campanella as our Guest Artist on September 18 at 4:00 pm, Sleepy Hollow United Methodist Church, Falls Church, Virginia. Gail’s interest in her mother’s old accordion resulted in her starting accordion lessons at the age of 10. She participated in annual accordion contests in Northeastern Colorado, talent shows, parades, and many other local events. As a teenager, she began teaching the accordion students of her retiring teacher. During high school, she continued her studies with Anthony Pennetti in Denver, after which she majored in piano at Loretto Heights College while studying classical accordion with Robert Davine at the University of Denver. Gail taught elementary music in the Denver Public Schools for 6 years. She has received certification in Orff-Schulwerk. Gail’s performing experience includes the 2013 Cotati Accordion Festival, 2015 Orange County Accordion Festival (Big Squeeze), 2015 National Accordion Orchestra in South Bend, Indiana (directed by Gene Van), Accordionaires Orchestra (directed by Janet Hane), guest accordionist with the Santa Barbara City College Jazz Band (spring 2016). She has also performed for the Santa Barbara and San Francisco Accordion Clubs. Most recently, Gail was guest artist for the Accordionists and Teachers Guild International (ATG) and the Chicago Accordion Club (July) and soloist at the Las Vegas International Accordion Convention (August 2016). From 2008 to 2014, Gail performed in the annual concerts at the Frank Marocco/Mesa Accordion Events in Arizona and in Castelfidardo, Italy (2011). Gail has just released her first solo CD, “Discovery”, a collection of beautifully played lively selections. The CD is available online or by contacting Gail at omzig321@cox.net. For additional information about this concert or other WMAS activities, please visit the WMAS website or contact Joan Grauman at joangrauman@verizon.net. |
Acclarion in September Concert in Michiganby Rita Barnea |
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| Acclarion will present a concert on Saturday, September 17, 2016 at 8:PM at the Trinity House Theatre, 38840 6 Mile Rd., Livonia, Michigan. Acclarion will pull you into the magic of music for accordion and clarinet. An unusual combination you say? Well, yes, but the results will shatter your expectations. An eclectic blend of heart warming music mixed with the spontaneous, humorous banter only a husband and wife team can create. Guaranteed to leave a smile on your face. Tickets are $15 at the door or in advance. This Trinity House Theatre concert will feature Acclarion Duo's virtual symphonic orchestra performing their "Animated Classics Medley" Since 2003 the husband and wife team of accordionist David Carovillano and clarinetist Rebecca Sajo-Carovillano have created a luscious, irresistible blend with their instruments and delighted audiences with their virtudntertaining banter. "I have never heard such fresh and exciting performances of my favourite classical pieces. This duo has a passion for their music and each other that weve missed from other concerts. Watch out for them!" said Stanley Solomon, former principal violist of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra and President of Friends of the Toronto Symphony For tickets: tickets@trinityhousetheatre.org |
Mary Ross-Klektau: Part of the Victoria International Accordion Festivalby Rita Barnea |
 Mary Ross-Klektau was one of the musicians who took part in the 10th Annual Victoria International Accordion Festival held at the end of July 2016. Ross-Klektau taught a workshop on Scottish and Irish music focusing on how to play for dancers.Mary Ross-Klektau remembers the first time she saw an accordionist perform like it was yesterday. Ross-Klektau was 13 years old when her father took her to a show that featured live Scottish music in Calgary in 1963. She was inspired to learn the accordion and has continued to perform ever since. She is also one of the rare accordionists in North America to play traditional Scottish music, a talent that has allowed her to perform alongside various dance groups in competitions and workshops all over the world, including Scotland, Greenland and the U.S. “A lot of people have a very narrow minded view of it (accordions) as just what they remember on the Lawrence Welk Show, but there's more to it. My favourite comment is when people come up and say 'wow, I didn't know an accordion could do that',” she said, adding playing Scottish music allows her to keep in touch with her roots. The six-day festival, which is one of the largest in North America, included more than 100 performers at various venues around downtown Victoria, workshops and a parade.There was also a competition featuring roughly 50 accordionists from China, Europe and South America. On Friday, July 29 and Saturday, July 30, there were two concerts, the first of which featured young accordionists Grayson Masefield from New Zealand, Jianan Tian from China and Jelena Milojevic from Victoria. The other featured the Calgary Accordion Ensemble, the B.C. Accordion Orchestra and the Victoria Accordion Club Band. Aleksandar Milojevic, executive director of the festival, said in the past few years, the accordion has made a resurgence in North America. He hopes the festival will raise the profile of the instrument and inspire people young and old to pick it up. |
Future events |
Carrefour Mondial de l'Accordéon in Québecby Rob Howard |
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 The 28th annual Carrefour Mondial de l'Accordéon takes place in Montmagny, Québec, from September 1st to 5th. This large scale festival celebrates all styles of accordion music from manouche swing to classical pieces to the colourful rhythms of world music, offering many concerts, conferences, exhibits, children's activities, accordion museum, and evening dances.This year’s guests include the Paris-Moscow Duo (Domi Emorine & Roman Jbanov, France/Russia), Petar Maric (Serbia), Jelena Milojevic (Croatia), Roberto Lucanero (Italy), Anatoli Taran (Belorusse), Antoine Pigeon-Bourque, Nathalie Boucheix (France), Marie-Jeanne Brousseau, Georges Camitsis, Sébastien Clermont, Daniel Colin (France), Claire Elzière and Dominique Cravic, Raynald Ouellet, Bruno Gendron, Benoît Legault, Normand Legault, Gaston Nolet, Valérie Plante, Gerry Virone, and many more. |
Reading Liederkranz Button Box Fest on September 17by Pat McSherry |
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| On Saturday, September 17, 2016 the Reading Liederkranz (Reading, Pennsylvania) will host “Button Box Fest,” a musical salute to the diatonic accordion. The event will feature a day of button box music by some of the best diatonic accordion musicians on the east coast. In addition, the Liederkranz will be providing a fine selection of both German and Slovenian food and drink available in both the club’s beer garden and interior dining room. The event will be held rain or shine in the club’s outdoor pavilions in its wooded picnic grove. The pavilions include the stage, seating, and a large wooden dance floor. The event will open at Noon. Six musicians are scheduled to perform to provide continuous music from 2:00 PM to 10:00 PM. They include Kathy Hlad and Julie Tabaj of Ohio (together forming the “Button Box Divas”). Hlad is the 2015 “Most Valuable Player” award recipient at the National Button Accordion Festival and a Trustees Honor Roll recipient at the National Cleveland Style Polka Hall of Fame. Also performing is Ron Pivovar of western Pennsylvania, one of the most prolific composers for the instrument. In both 2011 and 2015 Ron was a member of the Cleveland Style Polka Hall of Fame Awards Show Band, and in 2009 Ron was a member of “Polka Party 2009”, a group of American musicians who performed in Holland. Pivovar is the organizer of the National Button Accordion Festival, held annually in Bessemer, PA. Also performing are William Hayes of Virginia, David Bey of North Carolina, and Cody McSherry of Pennsylvania. Hayes is a regular performer with the River City Radio Hour and the Shenandoah Jamboree at the Wayne Theatre in Waynesboro, VA. Bey is a favorite of many at the National Button Accordion Festival. Cody McSherry, age 13, is a winner of many national and regional awards for piano accordion and button accordion, and won the recent “Lancaster’s Got Talent” competition. The admission cost for members is $5.00 a person and $8.00 for non-members. Tables can be reserved for a fee (which includes admission for 8 people). The Reading Liederkranz is located at 143 Spook Lane, in Reading, Pennsylvania. For more information, visit the Liederkranz’s event calendar at http://www.readingliederkranz.com/calendar/ or visit its facebook site at https://www.facebook.com/ReadingLiederkranz/ For specific questions, please email the club at info@readingliederkranz.com. |
Accordion Pops Orchestra Concert on October 23 in New Jerseyby Rita Barnea |
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 Video 1: Accordion POP's Orchestra performing "The Trolley Song" at Seabrook Village, Tinton Falls NJ, May 1, 2016 - Al Terzo conducting.The Accordion Pops Orchestra presents "An Afternoon of Music" on October 23, 2016 at 2:PM at the Veterans Hospital, 151 Knollcroft Road, Lyons, NJ. APO conductor, Al Terzo is a teacher, arranger, and conductor who has been with the orchestra since its inception in 1970. He is a member of the Music Teachers National Association, New Jersey Music Teachers Association, and National Association of Music Educators. Mr.Terzo serves on the governing board of the American Accordionists Association and is a founding member of the Mid Atlantic Music Teachers Guild. He his an accomplished accordionist who has performed at the Garden State Arts Center and Newark's Symphony Hall. Currently Mr. Terzo teaches accordion and piano in New Jersey. For further information: webmaster@accordionpops.com |
Valtaro Celebration on November 26by Rita Barnea |
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| The American Accordionists' Association presents "A Valtaro Celebration" on Saturday, November 26, 2016 from 12 Noon until 5:PM at the Magnanini Farm Winery, 172 Strawridge Road, Wallkill, New York. The event will feature non-stop traditional Valtaro and French Musette Music for your listening and dancing pleasure. Performers include: Mario Tacca and Mary Mancini, Giangiacomo Bucella, the Ciccone's (Joe, Gia and Reagan), Mary Tokarski, Ray Oreggia and Dominic Karcic, Frank Toscano, Bruce Nielsen, Beverly Roberts Curnow, Fred Schwinger, and Emilio Magnotta. Reserve now. For a donation of $73/person, you will recieve a prime rib and chicken dinner and entertainment. Please respond on or before November 1, 2016. For information: ameraccord1938@gmail.com Phone: 203-691-8808 |
New and Updated Sites |
Gary Dahl New Arrangement and Updated Arrangement Now Availableby Gary Dahl |
 Updated Site:New arrangement of Muss i denn ... a favorite German folk tune known world wide. Note the bass lines composed by G. Dahl that add more color than the original lines. Catalog: DH0255 Updated arrangement of Catalog: DH0210 Maple Leaf Rag Any clients who have already purchased Maple Leaf Rag music may email for the updated arrangement which will be provided by email to you without charge. |
Chapter 20 Released of "Play Your Accordion Without Pain" - USAby Harley Jones |
 John Bonica PT CMP NZRP has released Chapter 20 of his book "Play Your Accordion Without Pain". Chapter 20 details "Other arm/hand conditions which affect playing your accordion." You can purchase the whole book for US$22 (or Euro equivalent) and be sent each chapter by email as it is released. This is an ebook so it will be sent to you as as Acrobat pdf. Further details about this book is at: John Bonica |