The Piazzolla Soloists from the Czech Republic (guitar, accordion & flute) will perform a concert in Pittsburgh, PA on September 14, 2000 at 8 PM.

Members (who teach at the Conservatory of Prague) are Petr Paulu, guitar; Ladislav Horak, accordion and Jana Kholova, flute. Horak is a graduate of the Prague Conservatory and the University of Pilsen. He presently teaches at the Prague Conservatory and gives lessons also in Germany. He is a president of the Czech Accordionist's Association and represents the Czech Republic as a member of international juries of the world organization CIA.

Paulua is a graduate of the Conservatory and the Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts in Prague. Since 1983 he has been teaching guitar at the Prague Conservatory and giving courses in Germany. He has performed in Europe, North and South America. He has given guitar masterclasses in Brazil and has recorded four CDs.

Their concert will include pieces by the following composers:
Astor Piazzolla (1921-1992)
Ferdinando Carulli (1770-1841)
Fernando Sor (1778-1839)
Enrique Granados (1867-1916)
Federico Moreno-Torroba (1891-1982)
Hector Villa-Lobos (1887-1959)
Joaqun Rodrigo (1902-1999)
Abel Carlevaro (1918-)

For more information, call Joe Cepicka at 412-795-4183 or e-mail him at joe_j_cepicka@yahoo.com

About 75 people braved the Texas heat on July l4th, 2000, to celebrate the French Bastille Day Holiday at the home of Texas based French accordionist Frederique Benavidez (pictured to the left.)

To have a taste of a "real" French atmosphere a had few natives were imported to Texas! The music, the singing, the language, the waterfall, the soft party lights, the nice breeze (thanks to strategically positioned fans), transferred all to the Rive Gauche of the Seine! Guests were treated to a great show!

While Bobby played solo the all American Patriotic Medley, sparklers were lit (pictured right) and guests broke confetti eggs all over the backyard. This created quite a clean up project the next day! (Can anyone recognize the highlighted figure on the lower right?)

We also acknowledged all performing accordionists by giving medals.

The winners were:
Group Category:
1st place: The New Trick Band
2nd place: Greg and Alvaro duo
3rd place: Mary, Michael, Didier trio
Solo category:
1st place: Barbara Scott from San Antonio
2nd place: Greg
3rd place: Janine (Louis' cousin from France)

So much fun was had, that everyone is planning on a repeat performance next year!

Pictured here are members of the New Trick Accordion Ensemble, Mary Medrick - Director.

Closet Accordion Players of America (CAPA) is an organization of good sports. They believe that accordionists who can laugh at themselves are more likely to be taken seriously when they go on to point out what a wonderful instrument the accordion really is.

CAPA uses humor to get attention, and, once they have people's attention, they go on to make serious points about the accordion. With a lighthearted approach to "accordion abuse," they hope to help improve the image of the accordionist.

Membership in Closet Accordion Players of America (CAPA) is open to anyone who plays the accordion or whose life has been affected by an accordion player. Codependent spouses are welcome, as are adult children of accordion players. A basic membership to CAPA is $12.95.

You might also be interested to know that the official mascot is none other than Lawrence Elk!

To contact the CAPA, please visit their website at: www.venus.cottonwoodpress.com/CAPA

or contact Susan at:
107 Cameron Drive
Fort Collins, CO 80525
Phone: +1 970-204-0715
E-mail us: capa@cottonwoodpress.com

During his lifelong career, Anthony Galla-Rini has had a number of "Firsts"

1. First to eliminate the Perfect 5th interval from the Dominant 7th chord button in the Stradella system by opening up the bass board of his instrument and filing off the pin causing that interval to respond. This occurred in 1924.

2. First to adopt the practice of playing two chord buttons simultaneously in the left hand and, consequently, explained in his Accordion Method Book published in 1931.

3. First to write an article with a chart revealing the actual pitch of the five sets of reeds responding for the bass and chord buttons of the Stradella system. This article was included in the Accordion magazine published in New York City in 1936.

4. First to write the chord inversions in FULL-CHORD NOTATION as actually sounding in the Stradella system chord buttons. This was adopted in his Accordion Concerto in G minor and published by Carl Fischer in 1941. Galla-Rini was also the first to perform an accordion concerto as soloist with two major symphony orchestras, namely, Detroit (twice) and Denver.

5. First to give formal solo concerts in halls such as Philharmonic Auditorium, Los Angeles -1945 and 1946 Shrine Auditorium, Detroit - 1947 Civic Opera House, Chicago - 1947 Temple Sholom, Chicago - 1949 Town Hall, New York City - 1949

6. First American accordionist to be presented in concerts in Europe, i.e. England, Scotland, Sweden, Norway and Italy (1950). Adrian Dante, Empressario from London, organized the tour.

7. First to conceive converting the chord buttons in the Stradella system into single tones in order to achieve a Free-bass system, Titano - 1953.

8. First to recommend the circle and dots as the logical register symbols for both keyboards. Presented at joint meeting of the ATG and AAA committee and accepted as the standard in Chicago in 1955.

9. First to present an Annual Accordion Camp, consisting of workshops and a concert, starting in Silver Falls, Oregon, in 1990. It has already been presented ten times.

10. To date, it has been practically confirmed that, of all accordion concerti composed by anyone, his has been given the most number of performances with various soloists and orchestras forty four times, in Canada, England, Finland, Sweden, Norway, Spain and the USA.

This year marks the 40th Anniversary of the University of Missouri - Kansas City Accordion Orchestra, under the direction of Joan Cochran Sommers. It also marks a milestone in the accordion at UMKC as Joan Sommers is retiring as Professor of Accordion, a position she has held since the inception of the accordion program at UMKC in 1961.

Several concerts will be held during the year at the University including fundraising concerts for the University, the Annual American Family Christmas Concert (celebrating its 25th Anniversary) and of course the 40th Anniversary Concert to be held on April 29th, 2001.

This summer, the UMKC Accordion Orchestra performed the World Premiere of the Commissioned Piece "Out of Crooked Timber..." for Accordion Orchestra and Solo by Paul Rudy.

'The Polish Princess' is how Milwaukee Accordion Club Entertainment Reviewer Jerry Smeiska described Lidia Kaminska and her Milwaukee recital!

Presenting a program ranging in style from classical to original accordion works, from Bach to Piazzolla, Lidia presented an outstanding concert which both dazzled and captivated the audience.

In a surprise performance, Lidia even played a duet with Stas Venglevski, who composed the work entitled Autumn Illusions.

Lidia, a graduate of the Chopin Academy of Music, in Warsaw, Poland, is currently a Doctoral candidate in Accordion Performance at the University of Missouri - Kansas City, where she is studying with Joan C. Sommers.

This summer, Lidia won the ATG Virtuoso Entertainment Competition, which offered a $1,000.00 First Prize.

Accordion World Magazine

Accordion World is an exciting magazine launched in 1993 with four quarterly editions, and this year, it has grown to bimonthly.

The aim of the magazine is to bring together accordion news from around the world and to provide advanced information about forthcoming events before they happen. It is read in 14 countries and extensively throughout the USA now!

The magazine reviews accordion CD's, Videos, Cassettes, Books and of course new Music.

Starting soon will be a six part series called... "The A-Z of Accordion'... everything you ever wanted to know about your favorite instrument, - definitions, photos etc...

Accordion World is produced by accordion guru David Keen, the Four times Chairman of the National Accordion Organization of the United Kingdom.

To subscribe, simply send (cash - dollar bills) either $15.00 for 3 magazines (to December 2000) or $40.00 for 9 magazines (to December 2001) to:
Accordion World - David Keen
86 Brookdene Ave, Watford, Herts.
WD1 4LF, England

Don't forget to include your name and address and phone/fax or e-mail if applicable.

NB: If you have a new composition or recording or item that you would like to let our readers know about, please use the submit form on this site, to provide the relevant information.

This 'player' accordion is part of the incredible collection entitled 'A World of Accordions', located in Duluth, Minnesota. To learn more about this museum, please see the information on the website: www.ameraccord.com.      

J. Paul Jr. & the Zydeco NewBreeds has changed the sound of modern day zydeco music. They have been called the architect for a new wave of sounds within the genre. J. Paul can be credited for bringing new audiences to the music and at the same time keeping traditionalist satisfied with a groove that is right on time.

Recently, J. Paul Jr., has signed with a new record label. Skyy Productions CEO Derwin Fisher has confirmed the NewBreeds have a new address within the zydeco kingdom. J. Paul’s new deal with Skyy Productions will facilitate marketing, production and distribution of NewBreeds recordings including coordination, and promotion of special events and talent buyer communication.

Winners of the National Zydeco Society’s, 1998 Clifton Chenier Music Award for Best Newcomer of the Year, J. Paul Jr. & the Zydeco NewBreeds has been creating quite a stir in the world of zydeco. The group will be celebrating its fifth year of performing together this summer.

Skyy Productions and the NewBreeds hope to build on the success of the group’s last two releases, "Use Me Up" and Another Level. The "Another Level" CD was the first zydeco release to receive continuous airplay in one of the largest radio markets in the United States. The first project titled, "Phenomenon" was released in April of 2000 and delivers on displaying the NewBreeds trademark, hard driving rhythms, and Sunday morning vocals to give zydeco dancers the workout they show up for.

The band is booked to perform at most major festivals along the Gulf Coast this year including East and West Coast tours to promote their new release.

For more information J. Paul Jr., and Skyy Productions can be reached toll free at (877) 684-2600 ext. 050 or (281) 798-2096. Douggie Doucet of Amaku Management at (281) 473-2088

For an on-line sound sample and upcoming concert appearances, please visit: jpauljr.com.