Accordion legend and long time ATG member Myron Floren will conduct the ATG International Festival Orchestra in concert at the 200 Accordionists and Teachers Guild, International Festival to be held from June 27-30, in Orlando, Florida.

Myron has conducted this orchestra several times in the past, the last being when the orchestra was featured in concert at the Lawrence Welk Champagne Theatre in Branson, Missouri.

Back to a busy schedule of doing what he does best... performing, Myron's presence will be a great addition to the 2002 ATG Festival.

In addition, the ATG will feature the French sensation Frederic Baldo - World Entertainment Accordion Champion who dazzled ATG attendees at their 60th Anniversary Celebrations in Chicago.

Back by popular demand, Frederic makes his home just outside of Paris where he performs and teaches. Combining phenomenal technique, rich musicality, a humorous and contemporary style and a fluorescent green accordion which glows in the dark, this dynamic personality captures the audience by storm! Appearing for only the second time in the United States, this is a rare opportunity to hear him in concert.

To add to the international flavor, the ATG is also pleased to present the Laurie Accordion Orchestra from Paisley, Scotland. Touring for the first time in the USA, this 20 plus member ensemble will certainly add further international flavor to the event. They have toured internationally, including a recent performance at the Kimberly Old Time Accordion Festival in Canada.

In addition to all these exciting activities, the ATG will feature two International competitions which will include "The Anthony Galla-Rini International Competition for Classical Accordion" and the "Myron Floren International Competition for Virtuoso Entertainment Music." Both competitions will offer prize money as follows:

Anthony Galla-Rini Competition:
First Prize: $1500.00
Second Prize: $500.00
Third Prize: $250.00

Myron Floren Competition
First Prize: $1000.00
Second Prize: $500.00
Third Prize: $250.00

For details on performing in the ATG Festival Orchestra under the direction of Myron Floren, or to compete in one of the competitions, please contact ATG President Joan Sommers at:
sommersj@umkc.edu

New York based accordionist Kevin Friedrich was elected to the office of President of the Confederation Internationale des Accordeonistes (CIA). Kevin is pictured left, with Walter Maurer from Austria who serves as the General Secretary and the retiring President of 20 years, Ove Hahn from Stockholm, Sweden.

A CIA Vice President for 8 years, this election marks the very first time that a non-European has been elected to this post. Kevin is a New Zealand citizen who resides in New York City in the United States.

The immediate past President Ove Hahn from Sweden, decided to step down after 20 years to allow the next generation to begin taking over the administrative role of the organization.

The Confederation Internationale Des Accordeonistes was founded in 1935, and from the outset, it was always recognized that one of the primary aims of the Confederation should be to elevate the status of the accordion.

Made up of member nations from around the world, the CIA hosts International Competitions throughout the year which have grown to include:

Coupe Mondiale World Accordion Championships
Junior Mondiale World Accordion Championships
Virtuoso Entertainment Competition
Junior Virtuoso Entertainment Competition
Piano Accordion Competition
Chamber Music Competition
Diatonic Accordion Competition

The United States has two member organizations of the CIA which include the American Accordionists Association and the Accordionists and Teachers Guild, International.

The CIA is a member of the International Music Council which is the largest non-governmental body of UNESCO. Interestingly enough, the CIA is currently the only IMC member specific to an instrument.

NB: When the CIA was accepted into the IMC in 1975, there was a some skepticism about the accordion being accepted into the International Music Council from one of the member nations (ironically it was the accordion popular Germany), however the President of the IMC at the time put everything into perspective by asking the General Assembly if they agreed that the accordion was an instrument, and that the instrument was capable of making music, and if the IMC should be an umbrella over all musicians. When this was agreed on, the President then gained tremendous support for the CIA to become an IMC member, and it was overwhelmingly accepted as a new member. That IMC president was famous violinist - the late Yehudi Menuhin!

Today the CIA has tremdous respect from the IMC, with many of the members using the accordion or accordion music in their various activities and projects.

On December 8, 2001 - 3.00 PM at the William Rohrer Memorial Library, 15 MacArthur Blvd. Westmont, NJ, Rita Davidson will be the featured guest concerto soloist with the Westmont Philharmonia Accordion Orchestra under the direction of guest conductor, Vitaly Perog. She will perform the entire "Manhattan Concerto" by Eugene Ettore.

Rita is a member of the Board of Directors of the ATA of NJ and was also recently elected to the Governing Board of the American Accordionists Association. Rita is a full time music teacher in the West Orange, NJ Public Schools where she is known for using her accordion in the classroom on a daily basis.

She has also traveled throughout the USA giving concerts and workshops. Many of her workshops have been about the music of Eugene Ettore. She has recorded many of his virtuoso solos. It is available upon request.

You may contact Rita at: Ritabelll@aol.com For information on the December 8th concert, call 856-854-6628. For directions please call: 856-854 2752.

The CIA congress unanimously voted to award the Merit Award to the UMKC Accordion Orchestra under the direction of Joan Cochran Sommers during the recent General Assembly held in London.

Joan Sommers has directed the world famous University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC) Accordion Orchestra since it formed 40 years ago, when she established the accordion program at UMKC in 1961.

During its long history, the UMKC Accordion Orchestra has won many national titles in the USA, and toured to such places as Germany, Switzerland, Austria, England, Scotland, Sweden, Denmark, Russia, Estonia, New Zealand, Australia, Hungary, Czech Republic and Italy.

The orchestra presents regular concerts at the University and has made guest appearances at national festivals and other important engagements throughout the United States. Highlights include appearances with the Kansas City Symphony, the Kansas City Civic Symphony Orchestra, and at the American Accordionists Association, the Accordionists and Teachers Guild, International, and the Accordion Federation of North America Annual Festivals.

Concert repertoire includes original accordion orchestra music, orchestral transcriptions, Broadway Music, Jazz and popular favorites. The UMKC Accordion Orchestra members consist of UMKC students, graduates, alumni and special guests who accompany the orchestra when on tour.

The UMKC Accordion Orchestra recently released a series of six CD's highlighting 40 years of concerts at the University.

For information on purchasing the recently released set of CD's, please contact: sommersj@umkc.edu

The Center for the Arts at Wesleyan University in Middletown, CT, will present the world premiere of "Over There," a play by Ron Jenkins, chair and artistic director of Wesleyan's Theater Department, November 2-4 at the University.

The piece is about the migration of residents of Melilli, Sicily to Middletown. Excerpts from oral histories collected from Middletown residents will form the central part of the text. Matt Nozzolio, a Connecticut accordionist, will play during the character transitions and accompany several songs sung by the cast.

"Over There" is being performed as the culminating event in Middletown's 350th anniversary celebration and in conjunction with the University's Homecoming Weekend.

For more information, please contact: matt-nozzolio@home.com

Gary Dahl has announced the release of a new book from Santorella Publications called: Latin Favorites for Accordion.

Suitable for Intermediate and Advanced Level, the Latin Book is Exciting and Beautiful Music and the arrangements qualify for professional performances.

Contents include: Adios Muchachos, Amapola, Amour, Besame Mucho, Brazil, Cuando Calienta El Sol, El Cumbanchero, Maria Elena, Perfidia, Quizas, Solamente Una Vez, Tango Della Rosa, Tico Tico.

The price is $12.95 plus shipping, and for further information and ordering please visit: www.accordions.com/garydahl

The following statement is a released from the International Music Council.

"The terrorists who attacked the United States on September 11th were targeting one nation; but it is the whole planet they have wounded." Kofi Annan, United Nations Secretary General.

The International Music Council (IMC) wishes to reiterate its condolences to its members and the musical community in the USA and also wishes to express its profound sympathy to the whole nation that was subjected to this barbaric act. This wish for compassion also extends to the more than 60 other countries whose citizens perished in the horrendous attack.

In such sad circumstances, it is our hope that the healing power of music will play its soothing role. It is furthermore our duty to make sure the appeasing quality of music will assist in counteracting blind fanaticism which leads to terrorism. Our current study on the effects of globalization upon the world of music is showing the immense discrepancy between the have-nots and the more prosperous parts of the world. This is a situation which we should collectively try to eradicate, thus contributing to a better sharing of the wealth and a better understanding among people and cultures.

Let us work together at reinforcing the capacity of music to build a better and more harmonious world where thoughts of vengeance will be superseded by the attempt to create a new place to live, a planet where solidarity and understanding will replace ignorance and violence.