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Yellow Pages Events
Highlights |
75th Coupe Mondiale in Zofingen, Switzerland
Official National Accordion Association News Release
Cory Pesaturo Playing In Weird Al Movie: “Weird: The Al Yankovic Story”
Ludovic Beier Performs at Birdland NYC for Django Reinhardt Festival Nov. 1-6
Sam Reider’s New Album Release on November 3rd in Philadelphia
JANPress Master Classes Release
World Accordion & Tango Festival
Rob Curto’s New EP Release on November 15
Miles Hoyle's Debut Recordings Will Be Released on Friday, November 25th
Reports for Concerts, Masterclasses, Competitions, Festivals, etc. |
Accordions Are Coming! November is National Accordion Month at Westmont Accordion School
Kevin Friedrich and Friends 2022 Christmas Concert, Dargaville - New Zealand
Brooklyn Accordion Club Presents Virtuoso Accordion Concert Series Fall/Winter 2022-2023.
Accordion Pops Orchestra (APO) Concerts
The Victoria Pops (Canada) is Looking for New Members
Mary Ann Covone Performed for SAI National Convention
Accordionist Julia Williams Performed in “Legend of Sleepy Hollow”
Those Darn Accordions: "Zombie Polka". A Halloween Classic!
Dr. William Schimmel Presents 4 new videos with Paintings by Michael Schimmel
Dominic Karcic and Continental Sound Orchestra Perform for Italian Charities of America Gala
Cody McSherry Performs with the Tamburitzans
Future events |
2022 Polka Hall of Fame Awards Highlight 58th Thanksgiving Polka Weekend, November 25 - 27
An Accordion Holiday at the Mattatuck on December 10
Byrne Brothers Perform for Florida Keys Celtic Festival and More!
Versatile Accordion Orchestra Returns to First Night Chatham 2022
Branson Accordion Extravaganza and Band Camp 2023 with Kim and Dan Christian
2023 Houston Accordion Orchestra Retreat
“Home of the Accordion” Trip to Castelfidardo, Italy: May 16-20, 2023
Highlights |
Editor’s Noteby Rita Davidson Barnea, Editor USA Accordion News |
 The November USA news is here! There is an amazing amount of information to educate, entertain, and delight you! So many new artists sharing their creativity! I hope you will take the time to read this month’s news and see for yourself how versatile, popular, relevant, and important the accordion is.The accordion is an instrument that crosses all cultural boundaries. There is something for everyone! I encourage all of you to listen to all types of accordion music. Maybe consider learning the accordion! There are so many online teachers and now there is a return to more in person instruction. As always, you are invited to send comments/ideas to me at Ritabelll@aol.com Happy Thanksgiving! |
75th Coupe Mondiale in Zofingen, Switzerlandby Kevin Friedrich, CIA Ambassador |
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 Picture top: CIA Executive 2022 to 2026, left to right, Kevin Friedrich (USA), Zorica Karakutovska (North Macedonia), Jörgen Sundeqvist (Sweden), Mirco Patarini (Italy - President), Kimmo Mattila (Finland - Secretary General), Alexander Selivanov (Russia), Harley Jones (New Zealand), Not present Prof. Li Cong (China).Daily Reports, pictures, results at: 2022CM-Report Pictures left: 2022 Coupe Mondiale winner Dragoslav Vasiljevic (Serbia), Ding Hang (China) 2nd Grayson Masefield and Joan C. Sommers judging. Report for USA: The Confédération Internationale des Accordéonistes (CIA) held their 75th Coupe Mondiale World Accordion Championships and 148th CIA International General Assembly of Delegates in Zofingen, Switzerland. The event was hosted by the CIA member accordeon.ch from October 4th to 9th, 2022. Founded in 1935 in Paris, France, the Confédération Internationale des Accordéonistes (CIA) is a member of the International Music Council, an NGO official partner of UNESCO). The American Accordionists' Association (AAA) and the Accordionists and Teachers Guild, International (ATG) have long since shared the USA membership to the CIA. Over 80 contestants competed in six categories of competition, with winners representing a variety of countries. This years Coupe Mondiale winner was Serbian accordionist Dragoslav Vasiljevic. In an exciting competition, after three demanding rounds of competition held over several days, with a score of 23.49 he narrowly edged out Hang Ding from China who was just fractions of a point behind with 23.41. The American delegation this year included Kevin Friedrich representing the AAA (also CIA Ambassador) and ATG President Mary Ann Covone, Joan Cochran Sommers (CIA Honorary Member and President of the 75th Coupe Mondiale Jury) and Liz Finch representing the ATG. The Mayor of Zofingen, Christiane Guyer welcomed everyone to the 75th Coupe Mondiale in Zofingen during the Opening Ceremony Concert which featured an array of unique Swiss performances including Yodeling and Alp Horns as well as the winner of the 2021 Coupe Mondiale held in Munich, Olzhas Nurlanov. Three special presentations were made at the event, including the CIA Merit Award for outstanding contributions to the International accordion movement, which went to Vojin Vasovic from Serbia and Prof. Ricardas Sviackevicius from Lithuania while the Honored Friend of the Accordion Award for services to the accordion movement was presented to Lois Breitfuss from Austria. After Mirco Patarini (Italy) was re-elected as CIA President last year, this General Assembly included elections for all other offices. Newly elected CIA Executive Committee members include: Kevin Friedrich (USA - Ambassador), Zorica Karakutovska (North Macedonia - Vice President), Jörgen Sundeqvist (Sweden - Vice President), Kimmo Mattila (Finland - General Secretary), Alexander Selivanov (Russia - Chairperson of the Music Committee), Harley Jones (New Zealand - Public Relations Manager) and Li Cong (China – Vice President, not pictured). In addition to the re-elected Chairperson, Alexander Selivanov (Russia), members of the CIA Music Committee include: Grayson Masefield (New Zealand - Vice Chairperson), Jirí Lukeš (Czech Republic), Ruedi Marty (Switzerland), Danijela Gazdic (Bosnia and Herzegovina), Antonio Spaccarotella (Italy) and not pictured, Crystal Wang (CongYu Wang - China). To compliment the competitions, several magnificent concerts were held including the spectacular Misa a Buenos Aires by Martin Palmeri performed by the Accordion Orchestra Brittnau and the Soland Choir under the direction of Ruth Soland with soloists Susanne Wiesner (Alto) and Julien Tudisco (Bandoneon). The 60 strong Blue Project Orchestra was a group formed specifically for the event and performed under the baton of Lionel Chapuis. The program included works related to ‘blue’ including things like Blue Rondo a la Turk, Rhapsody in Blue by George Gershwin with piano soloist Ettienne Murith and Bluesette by Jean Thielmanns and Worlgang Russ. The awards concert opened with the World Premiere of a new Finnish work by renowned composer Kalevi Aho, when Janne Valkeajoki performed his newly composed Sonata No. 3. After five busy days of competitions and concerts, the Coupe Mondiale festival came to a close with the stars of the event, the young artists themselves with the Awards presentation and Concert featuring the winners of the six categories of competition. The Winners of the 2022, 75th Coupe Mondiale event were: Coupe Mondiale 1st. Dragoslav Vasiljevic (Serbia - picture above) 2nd. Hang Ding (China) 3rd. Alessandro Pagliari (Italy) Masters Coupe Mondiale 1st. Radovan Ivanovic (Bosnia and Herzegovina) 2nd. Drago Garic (Serbia) 3rd. Aleksandar Radovic (Serbia) Junior Coupe Mondiale 1st. Antonio Del Castillo (Germany) 2nd. Mantas Leonardo Lizzi (Lithuania) 3rd. Husejn Bajraktarevic (Bosnia and Herzegovina) International Competition for Virtuoso Entertainment Music 1st. Vladimir Kashuta (Ukraine) 2nd. Anastasija Zubova (Latvia) 3rd. Joaquín Donoso Muñoz (Chile) Junior International Competition for Virtuoso Entertainment Music 1st. Emanuele Viti (Italy) 2nd. Matteo Tortora (Italy) 3rd. Francesco Perna-- (Italy) International Competition for Ensemble Music - Classical 1st. Duo Diverso (Lithuania) Alma Petrauskaite (accordion) and Kristina Jeganian (piano) The CIA Swiss member accordeon.ch organizers President Yvonne Glur and CIA Honorary Vice President Ruedi Marty received a standing ovation for staging the event. All activities including concerts, competitions, events and final results including all adjudicator marks can be viewed online in the Daily Reports and Video Center found on the CIA Coupe Mondiale website. Champions from the 75 years of competitions, including many USA winners can be found on the CIA website. Plans are now underway for the 76th Coupe Mondiale to be held in Bijeljina, Bosnia and Herzegovina from September 5th to 9th, 2023. Picture below: CIA Music Committee, 2022 to 2026, Jirí Lukeš (Czech), Ruedi Marty (Switzerland) Grayson Masefield (New Zealand), Alexander Selivanov (Chairman, Russia), Danijela Gazdic (Bosnia and Herzegovina), Antonio Spaccarotella (Italy), not present in picture - Crystal Wang (CongYu Wang, China). |
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Official National Accordion Association News Releaseby Norman Seaton, NAA President |
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  Round-Up Time in Texas: National Accordion Convention Hilton Hotel, Richardson, Texas March 15-19, 2023 The National Accordion Association (NAA) is rounding up the nation's accordionists to register for the National Accordion Convention where they can share innovative ideas and new opportunities with each other. That is what we do the best! Convention registration will open after we process the findings from the enclosed survey. Drs. Norman and Sharon Seaton, the National Accordion Association (NAA) founders and professional educators are setting new standards for United States and Canadian accordion-featured events. During the pandemic, the Seatons reviewed accordion association events, academic courses, and interactive training sessions to design a national database of activities that addresses the post-pandemic needs and desires of accordionists. Shameless Admission: Of course, the focus of this news release is on the 2023 National Accordion Convention that will be held in the Dallas, Texas area. Conventioneers Determine 2023 Convention Activities! The 2023 National Accordion Convention Planning Team assembled a questionnaire (You Tell Us Survey) designed for any accordionists that may be interested in participating in any area-wide accordion event (not just the NAA). The topics are assembled in eleven (11) questions. Those who have evaluated the survey are reporting that it takes less than five (5) minutes to complete. The National Accordion Association website has been upgraded and redesigned to give the reader a general overview format of typical accordion events. The results of the “You Tell Us Survey” will be listed on the National Accordion Association website and available to others who are designing USA/Canada accordion events. This information is worth sharing with everyone in the accordion-driven environment. Request for All Interested accordionists: Every interested accordionist is requested to complete the “You Tell Us Survey” before midnight on Sunday, November 6, 2022. You Tell Us Survey or “cut and paste” this link: https://forms.gle/BpH329LyWXFaoA6Z6 |
Cory Pesaturo Playing In Weird Al Movie: “Weird: The Al Yankovic Story”by Rita Davidson Barnea, Editor USA Accordion News |
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| Video: Trailer of “Weird: The Al Yankovic Story” Weird: The Al Yankovic Story had its world premiere at the Royal Alexandra Theatre during the Toronto International Film Festival on September 8, 2022, and is scheduled to be released on The Roku Channel on November 4, 2022. All the accordion music that you will hear in the movie which is not played by Weird Al, will be performed by Cory Pesaturo. How did Cory get this important part? Here is the sequence of events leading up to his performance in the musical score: In March 2022, Cory performed at the SCL (Society of Composers and Lyricists) Awards Ceremony in Los Angeles. Michael Boddicker, one of the executive producers, asked Cory to play there. If the name “Boddicker” is familiar to you, it is because Michael is Arlene Boddicker’s son and Michele Boddicker Scheffler’s brother, all prominent people in the accordion world. Arlene was a renowned accordion teacher from Iowa, former ATG President, and musical director and conductor of the Cedar Rapids Accordion Aces. After becoming oversaturated with the accordion constantly around him, Michael Boddicker decided to become a pianist, moved to LA, and became a legend in the world of synthesizer playing. Also a composer, Michael is a Board Member of SCL. Cory knows Michael from having performed various concerts in in LA over the years. For example, when Cory played at the Vivato Jazz Club, Michael heard him perform. Michael Boddicker came to one of these concerts and thought of Cory to perform at the SCL awards. At the SCL awards, Cory met someone (who turned out to be the Weird Al movie’s composer) who said “After hearing everything that you are capable of tonight, I have a project you are perfect for but I can’t tell you (at that time) what it is.” But during this time, when Cory found out about the movie, he called Weird Al's band and asked to be part of the film. The band members said they were almost certain that the music was already written and recorded. Cory thought he was out of luck, but then he received a call from the composers, Zach Robinson and Leo Birenberg who said they had not completed composing the music and wanted him to play all accordion parts on the movie score. (Unknown to most because that is the last thing that is usually done in movie production. He asked Cory to play for the movie.) Cory was asked to play the accordion music for the movie and went to LA to record the music. He played the tracks and the composer recognized his improvisational ability. They allowed Cory to have artistic license in recording, and Cory accomplished the recordings in two sessions. Weird: The Al Yankovic Story" is a 2022 American biographical parody film directed by Eric Appel from a screenplay he co-wrote with "Weird Al" Yankovic. The film, a satire of biopics and loosely based on Yankovic's life and career, stars Daniel Radcliffe as Yankovic, along with Evan Rachel Wood, Rainn Wilson, Toby Huss, Julianne Nicholson, and Quinta Brunson in supporting roles. Photo below: In the film credits Make sure you see “Weird: The Al Yankovic Story”. |
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Ludovic Beier Performs at Birdland NYC for Django Reinhardt Festival Nov. 1-6by Rita Davidson Barnea, Editor USA Accordion News |
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 Video 1: Django Festival AllstarsVideo 2: The Django Festival All-Stars: NPR Music Field Recordings Birdland is proud to welcome The Django Reinhardt Festival back to the stage on November 1 – 6, 2022 with two sets each evening! Pat Philips, Concert Producer, presents Hot Gypsy Jazz, The Django Reinhardt NY Festival featuring The Django Festival Allstars, a hit band that has taken the US by storm, touring top venues- The Kennedy Center, San Francisco Jazz Festival, Newport Festival and more. They swing like crazy and will break your heart with a ballad. The Django Reinhardt Festival is going into its 23rd successful year with packed houses all over the country. For the first time, Samson Schmitt, lead guitarist from a legendary musical family brings his two daughters, Stenli, who appeared on “The Voice” in primetime TV in France and brought the house down in “The Forever Django” concert at Carnegie Hall. Her sister who is 7 years old will perform Django’s famous hit “Nudges”. Step into the gypsy life of family, where music reigns supreme. The Band’s regulars include Pierre Blanchard on violin, Ludovic Beier on accordion & accordina, Antonio Licusati on bass, and Michael Harris on rhythm guitar. They bring the music of Django Reinhardt to today, a mixture of famous standards and originals. “Sensational’…….George Benson “Hardest swinging Band at the Newport Jazz Festival”…..Downbeat Magazine. I have attended the Django Reinhardt Festival for over 10 years at Birdland, located on 315 West 44th Street, NYC which is an exciting and very comfortable venue. The Django Reinhardt NY Festival continues at Birdland for the 23rd successful year. Excerpts from Birdland website: The Django Reinhardt Festival carries on the legacy of legendary gypsy guitarist Django Reinhardt, with original music keeping it fresh, exciting, cutting-edge! .…along with some old favorites.. the music, Hot Jazz, 'swiging and romantic' has exploded across the US and it all started at Birdland in 2000, with the launching of the Festival with tours now 2X a year at prestigious venues...to standing ovations: Kennedy Center, Disney Hall in LA, SF JAZZ, to name a few. Dorado Schmitt, legendary Manouche gypsy guitarist from the Strasbourg region of France, a Django look-alike with pencil thin mustache, returns to Birdland to adoring fans. Schmitt started coming to the US in 2002 and is now a star attraction at major festivals as well as at Birdland. He is joined by his son, Amati Schmitt, a brilliant young guitarist, plus other talented musicians appearing regularly as part of the Festival: Virtuoso accordionist/accordina player Ludovic Beier, violinist Pierre Blanchard. Each year, they present their newest compositions/arrangements filled with technical brilliance and emotion. If you want to hear more, check them out on Youtube. Accordionist Ludovic Beier is amazing in his virtuosity and sensitivity in performing. Born in 1978, Ludovic Beier learned the accordion from his father and benefited from being part of a musical family. He was brought up in the French tradition of the instrument and developed his jazz accordion skills. He has a spirited, adventurous style which strays into all kinds of byways. He performs on the French and European scene with some of the top players of the Django/Swing Jazz style including Angelo Debarre, Dorado Schmitt, Florin Niculescu. Along with his virtuoso playing, Ludovic composes and arranges, and has his own band, Ludovic Beier Quartet, to perform his "cool and latin" French jazz. He has an impressive technique and also a great dose of lyricism with a band that keeps him at full stretch. Besides performing in Europe at top festivals and clubs, he appeared in the States with the Django Reinhardt Project, performing at Birdland (NYC) with guests such as Paquito D'Rivera, at Lincoln Center with Joe Lovano, at Yoshis (CA) with David Sanchez, and last summer at the Montreal International Jazz Festival with Angelo Debarre and James Carter where he brought the house down. He also had the honor to perform at Carnegie Hall with Toots Thielemans among a prestigious line up including Herbie Hancock, Ivan Lins and Eliane Elias. Django’s unmistakable cool and jumpin’ jole de vivre have made him an icon for an unlikely range of luminaries from Carlos Santana to Eric Clapton, guitar greats! Jimi Hendrix named his “big band of gypsies” in tribute, and Willie Nelson adopted his influence in “country-swing.” The Django Festival All-Stars, have grown into a brilliantly cohesive group of star musicians who’ve taken America by storm, performing at top concert halls and festivals to standing ovations. The music speaks of Paris in the 20s and 30s when “gitane” music filled the air, in the cafés, the streets, in the countryside, a romantic Paris with lovers, campfires, a time of Montmartre, la belle époque, le Boudon café, café au lait, luscious pastry, and a great glass of wine. Django was “king”. He teamed with Jazz Violinist Stephane Grappelli and made musical history. The Django Festival All-Stars bring this music to ‘today’… combining known standards and original music…intoxicating!! They swing like crazy and will break your heart with a ballad. Please note that Birdland is proud to offer two levels since July 2018! Their Ground Level is called The Birdland Jazz Club and offers sets at 7:PM and 9:30 PM. (Additional 5pm Sets Friday – Sunday Only). The Lower Level is called The Birdland Theater and offers sets at 8:30pm. Both Levels have a full service Dinner Menu and Bar. Birdland Jazz Club & Birdland Theater 315 West 44th Street New York, NY 10036 Purchase tickets by calling (212) 581-3080, or by emailing Office@birdlandjazz.com. For further information: Pat Philips,Concert Producer Stratta Philips Productions 520 East 81 Street, NYC 10028 Penthouse C 212 744 8836 Mobile #: 646 436 1185 Email: patmusic2@gmail.com |
Sam Reider’s New Album Release on November 3rd in Philadelphiaby Rita Davidson Barnea, Editor USA Accordion News |
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 Video: “Homer the Roamer/Sábana blanca” - Sam Reider & Jorge Glem (Official Video)Official Videoclip of «Homer The Roamer/Sábana Blanca», a track from the LP «Brooklyn-Cumaná» by Sam Reider and Jorge Glem The track: Homer the Roamer/Sábana Blanca Accordion: Sam Reider, Venezuelan Cuatro: Jorge Glem Producer: Ernesto Rangel, Jorge Glem and Sam Reider Co-producer: María Alexandra Rodas-Neira Arranger: Jorge Glem and Sam Reider Composers: Homer the Roamer - John Hartford / Sábana Blanca - Venezuelan Folklore Recording Engineer: Justin Gerrish Mixing Engineer: Germán Landaeta Mastering Engineer: Germán Landaeta Studio: Electric Garden Recording Studio Brooklyn, New York Rob Curto, Sam’s musical colleague, shares, “Hey Philly friends! These fantastic musicians will be playing at MAAS 1320 N 5th street next Thursday. I just saw Sam and Jorge at the Cotati Accordion Festival and their music is inspiring and beautiful. Sam is my friend and colleague from NYC, as is Sofia! Check them out!” Sam Reider is a pianist, accordionist, composer, and educator from San Francisco, California. Excerpts from his website: His work brings together various streams of American music, from jazz and folk tunes to popular song and contemporary composition. He has appeared as a bandleader and soloist at major festivals and venues around the world and his performances and original compositions have been featured on NPR, PBS and the BBC. Reider has performed, recorded and collaborated with a range of artists including Jon Batiste, Jorge Glem, Sierra Hull, Laurie Lewis, and Paquito d’Rivera. As Mark Corroto writes in All About Jazz, “Reider has a knack for writing new music that has a familiar sound. Let's say he has an old soul encased in some sprightly fingers.” Reider grew up in San Francisco, California, raised in a family of Jewish-American artists. He learned piano from his father, a musical theater composer, and in high school he was featured on Marian McPartland’s “Piano Jazz” on NPR. At Columbia University in New York City, he majored in American Studies and fell in love with folk music. While writing his thesis comparing the songwriting of Woody Guthrie and Ira Gershwin, Reider picked up an old accordion and began learning bluegrass and old-time tunes. This set him off on a journey that has taken him from back porches and dive bars to concert halls and major festivals all around the world. Representing the U.S. Department of State as a musical ambassador, Sam has traveled to China, Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar, Vietnam, Estonia, Turkey and Azerbaijan, carrying his accordion on his back and collaborating with international artists. Folk songs and stories from these travels serve as inspiration for many of the compositions on Reider’s first record, Too Hot to Sleep (2018), which features the Human Hands, a virtuosic ensemble of acoustic musicians originally based in Brooklyn, NY described by the New York Times as “modern folk music with saxophone and accordion.” Irresistible melodies, fiery improvisation and otherworldly sounds collide in what Songlines Magazine dubbed a "mash-up of the Klezmatics, Quintette du Hot Club de France and the Punch Brothers.” In July 2022 Reider released Petrichor, his first record of solo piano music. The title refers to the smell of the earth after a first rain and the eight original compositions on Petrichor form a musical reflection on Reider’s recent homecoming to San Francisco after ten years in New York City. “Hiking the foggy coastline, climbing through redwood forests up to alpine lakes, I felt rejuvenated to be back home, in touch with a part of myself that had laid dormant,” says Reider. "I sought to capture the grandeur, intimacy and nostalgia of the landscape I grew up with.” The project represents a return to Reider’s piano roots, in which he pays homage to his earliest inspirations on the instrument – Duke Ellington, James Booker, Keith Jarrett, Claude Debussy, and Emahoy Tsegué-Maryam Guèbrou. Petrichor has received critical praised, described by associated press reviewer Steven Wine as “delightfully distinctive” and by the San Francisco Chronicle as “Destined to spark your creativity, imagination and wanderlust for the natural world.” Cross-cultural collaboration plays a vital role in Reider’s creative practice. His most recent project, a collaboration with Venezuelan artist Jorge Glem, puts the accordion in musical conversation with the cuatro. After meeting Glem at a house party in 2016, Reider began taking the train from Brooklyn to visit Glem at his apartment in the Bronx. Over the course of several years of performing, teaching, and traveling together, they developed a strong friendship and a unique repertoire of music. Their debut record Brooklyn-Cumanà will be released on Guataca Records in fall 2022 and features special guests Paquito d’Rivera and Gabby Moreno. Reider is a passionate and dedicated educator and a lifelong student. He has studied piano with Grammy-award winning pianist Fred Hersch, been mentored by legendary composer/conductor David Amram, and studied counterpoint and harmony with composer and Juilliard Professor Kendall Briggs. Reider holds a B.A. in American Studies from Columbia University and an M.A. in Music Composition from San Francisco State University. He is on faculty at St. Mary’s College in Moraga, CA where he teaches about jazz and improvisation. Whether he’s performing, teaching or composing music, Reider brings the same high level of dedication to his craft and an exuberance for sharing his love of music with the world. Future 2022 performances include: NOV 2 WED: Threes Brewing @ 7:00pm Brooklyn, NY, United States RSVP NOV 3 THU: Maas Building @ 7:00pm Philadelphia, PA, United States TICKETS RSVP NOV 7 MON: LunÀtico @ 9:00pm Brooklyn, NY, United States RSVP NOV 9 WED: Brooklyn Cumanà Record Release @ 7:00pm New York, NY, United States DEC 8 THU: The Sound Room @ 7:00pm Oakland, CA, United States For more information: sam@samreidermusic.com |
JANPress Master Classes Releaseby Rita Davidson Barnea, Editor USA Accordion News |
 Joseph Natoli announces that his new project, JANPress Master Classes, will commence virtual Zoom sessions on Monday, Nov 7, 2022 at 7:PM EST. Each session will be 90 minutes and will occur twice a month. The second session will be Monday 11/21/22 and continue accordingly on the first and third Monday of each month following. Write to janpressmusic@yahoo.com for details on subscription fees and how to join these sessions.JANPress Master Classes will have a very diverse and detailed curriculum, with each session doing deep dive studies on various topics, followed by applied knowledge assignments. Additionally, there will be focus on subject matter that the subscribers specifically want to cover for personal musical growth while using planned and requested curriculum materials to benefit everyone. JANPress Master Classes won't be specializing in just one area of musical interest. A wide variety of topics will be presented, and this will be as close to a college course in a music degree program as possible, yet presented in a relaxed fashion at each attendee's level and speed for the most efficient and complete knowledge share. Each session will be amplified and enhanced by an assignment that follows our LEARN acronym (which stands for Listen, Experiment, Apply, Repeat, Normalize). The topics in each session are meant to greatly enhance your musical understanding on widely diverse subjects including all aspects of performance, theory, chord progressions, composition, arranging, ensemble performing, recording, music notation, music & accordion history, music technology and much more. In that regard, the session assignments will expedite that process and help everyone to learn from each other synergistically. If you feel there are gaps in your performance or musical skills, then please join us to become a better musician and accordionist. Joseph Natoli possesses Bachelor and Master of Music degrees in music composition, theory, and electronic music from the University of Toronto Faculty of Music. Joseph also studied in Toronto with Canadian Joseph Macerollo, while also studying composition with highly regarded Canadian composers like John Weinzweig, Lothar Klein, Edward Laufer, and Gustav Ciamaga. Joseph Natoli has enjoyed musical careers in both performance and composition and wants to share these pursuits while incorporating all aspects of music to help subscribers become better musicians and accordionists. For further information: janpressmusic@yahoo.com |
World Accordion & Tango Festivalby Christine Johnstone |
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 The 2022 World Accordion & Tango Festival will be held at various venues in Victoria and Oak Bay, British Columbia, Canada from November 16th to 20th, 2022.The event will include the following: November 16th - Free2Tango – Free introductory tango lessons with Sam and Kelly from Alive Tango, followed by Practica, held at Solwood Studios November 17th: Free accordion lessons November 18th –Concert by the Payadora Tango Ensemble and the Nikolay Bine Jazz Quartet at St. Mary's Anglican Church. November 19th – Three tango workshops at the Da Vinci Centre with Maria Ines Bogado, World Tango Champion and her partner Sergiy Podbolotnyy, followed by a Gala Milonga with live music by the Tango A La Parilla ensemble led by Canadian/German bandoneonist Douglas Schmidt plus special guest performers. November 20th - Three tango workshops at the Canadian College for Performing Arts, followed by “TANGO, to the Pointe!”, a new show of Argentine tango by the PointeTango Dance Company. In addition, a concert by internationally acclaimed music & comedy duo, Bridge & Wolak (which includes Michael Bridge on accordion and Kornel Wolak on clarinet & piano - picture left) will be held at St. Mary's Anglican Church. For details email: contact@watf.ca |
Rob Curto’s New EP Release on November 15by Rita Davidson Barnea, Editor USA Accordion News |
 Video: New release trailer of “Goat Waltz”Rob shares, “I’m very proud to announce the release of my EP, "Goat Waltz" on November 15, 2022. Above is a short little trailer. Thank you so much to Doug Hirlinger and Melissa Brun for your wonderful musicianship, and for being an important part of my musical journey, as well as good friends. It's been about 5 years since I followed Jennifer Rajotte to Philadelphia and stayed, and I've been in an exciting process of personal and musical re-creation ever since. I've embraced a study of the diatonic accordion in Irish traditional music (the B/C box), nurtured my singing and songwriting, composed a ton of new music, and worked to develop an improvisational language that suits me, all while maintaining my love of Brazilian music with which I had become closely associated, and remaining deeply attached to the swing era music of my dear father Steve.....phew, I've been waiting some time to be able to express that mouthful. I've also been having a blast continuing to play and explore music. Thanks to everyone who has collaborated with me on these tunes, and also to Greg Giorgio for your mixing genius, Michael Cumming at Treacle Mine Sound in Philly, Andrew Ogilvie and to Jennifer always. We had a great time making videos of the tracks with the incredible Christopher McDonald, and special thanks to Meghan Cary and Peter Farrell.” Rob Curto is an accordionist, composer, and pianist based in Philadelphia and New York City. Excerpts from his website: Curto has a prolific career touring and composing, gaining notoriety for his mastery of the piano accordion, exciting harmonic blends, and general musicianship across genres and musical boundaries. He is a founding member of the "Brazilian Bluegrass" band Matuto,which gained a following across the US and Canada, was selected to showcase at WOMEX, and toured extensively across Africa, Asia, Europe, and other areas, chosen to represent the US State Department overseas. He has released several CDs and EPs as a band leader and is a prolific composer/arranger, including his latest musical project, the unabashedly accordion-centric American roots band, Fish Harmonics, featuring smokin' accordion along with bass fiddle, groove-oriented drumming, and old-timey strings. Fish Harmonics' debut EP, ONE, is available streaming in all the places. Since relocating to Philadelphia, Curto has developed an interest in Irish button box, adding B/C button accordion to his repertoire. He studies with NEA National Heritage Fellow and multi-All Ireland Champion, Billy McComisky, and occasionally with John Whelan and PJ Hernon. Curto is profoundly interested in the (relatively) recent history of accordion in traditional Irish music, a passion that has brought him zig-zagging around West Kerry and Co. Sligo, joining sessions and absorbing tradition and tunes. Curto has many compositional credits, including his own albums as well as TV (Bear in the Big Blue House), documentaries (The Same Heart), independent compositions, and other commissions for theater, film, and commercials. Rob is available for virtual lessons on reading music, improvisation, composition, development of repertoire and more. Rob has over 20 years of experience as an educator. During his rich career as a world-class performer, Rob has also shared his musical knowledge through private lessons in Accordion and Piano, and workshops for students on both amateur and professional levels. Through teaching, Rob strives to give students not only first-hand information and insight, but the tools to then go and learn on their own. Skills such as how to organize one’s practicing, how to work on technique, how to play by ear and master new repertoire are emphasized. |
Miles Hoyle's Debut Recordings Will Be Released on Friday, November 25thby Rita Davidson Barnea, Editor USA Accordion News |
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 Miles Hoyle’s upcoming debut solo recordings are scheduled for release on Friday, November 25th, 2022-- two tunes entitled, "Of Cities Dreamt" and "Absolutely Charming”. Miles Hoyle is an accordionist based in Norfolk, Virginia and specializes in folk & world music. Miles shares, “I am insanely thrilled to announce that my upcoming debut recordings — two single tracks entitled “Of Cities Dreamt” & “Absolutely Charming” — are scheduled to be released on Friday November 25, 2022 and will be available on all major streaming platforms! You can save them on Spotify now. I can’t thank audio engineer Rob Ulsh Master Sound Studios + Justin Stanley Violin & cellist Joshua Sierra Delgado as well for their contributions to the tracks on strings & help bringing this project to life throughout the recording process!! A huge thank you to them and everyone else who has supported me along the way — as I am very excited for you to hear the results!” Miles Hoyle is an accordionist with over 13 years of experience & specializes in folk & world music. His repertoire draws from various styles and countries ranging from German, Irish, Scandinavian, French, Klezmer, and more! Previously a guitarist in rock groups, Miles made a musical transformation in late 2006 when switching his primary instrument from guitar to the accordion. Initially self-taught, he then later became an apprentice of accordionist Sid Sward and a member of VALOV (Accordion Lovers of Virginia). He then further cut his teeth with the instrument while street performing all over the state of Virginia-- particularly in Norfolk, Charlottesville, Williamsburg, & Alexandria while also picking up gigs at weddings, cafes, and parties. Excerpts from his website: In 2014, Miles joined the Fighting Jamesons and is featured on the recording of their second full-legnth album, "Every Day Above Ground". Touring all over the United States, he has appeared with the Jamesons at many Irish & Rock festivals; ranging from multiple appearances at both Shamrockfest at RFK Stadium in Washington DC, Indy Irish Fest in Indianapolis, to even as far as Get Shamrocked Fest in Murietta, California. During his time with the Fighting Jamesons, they've shared the stage and opened for World Inferno Friendship Society, Lucero, Eileen Ivers, & the Dropkick Murphys! Hoyle also performs in Mosquito Cabaret-- a folk/world music sextet formed in the late summer of 2017 that derives their signature sound from various European folk traditions. The cabaret performs heavily in the Hampton Roads area: bars, art events, museums-- as well as appearing at festivals such as the nor-FOLK Fest, the Hampton Block Party, Stockley Gardens Art Fest, & NEON Fest + also appearing at venues such as Elevation 27, Shaka's, The Bunker, & The Norva. Recently, the group has stretched their wingspan outside of their hometown at the Richmond Capital Alehouse, the Crow & Quill in Asheville, North Carolina, & the Key City Steampunk Fest in Frederick, Maryland. Mosquito Cabaret have shared the stage with the Atom Age, Maid of Ace, Agents of Good Roots, the Toasters, Agent Orange, & Bella's Bartok. You can hear Miles's accordion playing in this project on their debut album, "The Modern Life of Insects". When not playing with both groups, Miles does a variety of other types of performances: from private parties, Oktoberfest events, weddings, bar/bat mitzvahs, dinners & cocktail hours, funerals, suprises-at-the-door, & much more! Rather it's playing a rowdy Irish-Rock festival or a cocktail-hour for a wedding reception-- Miles's accordion performance can adapt to any atmosphere. Currently, he is performing regularly with both groups mentioned above: the Fighting Jamesons are working on writing and recording their third full-length album + Mosquito Cabaret is also performing often and entering the early stages of a second record. With solo performances sprinkled in between gigs with both groups-- Miles is also currently recording solo instrumental material at Master Sounds Studios in Virginia Beach with audio engineer Rob Ulsh. Miles shares, “My debut solo recording will come out roughly this winter!” When COVID-19 hit, as a result of all concerts and major public gatherings having to be cancelled due to COVID-19-- Miles remained active by providing an Accordion-At-Your-Door service in the Hampton Roads area (and sometimes further!) that was both safe and COVID-19 compliant by doing small private performances for an affordable fee and showing up as a surprise to play for people at their door for whatever the occasion (birthdays, anniversaries, etc.). Currently, he remains active in both the Fighting Jamesons & Mosquito Cabaret-- most recently, he performed as a special guest on organ & also assisted as a producer for the arrangement of a new upcoming Spirit Gun single called, "Restless”. AWW will report Miles Hoyle's new releases in the December 1, 2022 www.accordionusa.com news. For more information: miles.accordionist@gmail.com (757) 560-3893 |
Reports for Concerts, Masterclasses, Competitions, Festivals, etc. |
Great Holiday Gift Created by Joan Grauman to Assist A World of Accordions Museumby Rita Davidson Barnea, Editor USA Accordion News |
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 AAA Historian Joan Grauman made 100 signed prints as a fundraiser for A World of Accordions Museum. It is not too early to be thinking of Holiday or any occasion gifts. Accordion themed gifts will be especially appreciated. This gorgeous mandala by Joan Grauman will make any lover of accordions very happy. All proceeds (except for postage costs) will be donated by Joan to the museum. Each signed print is $50, including postage. For more information on purchasing this beautiful accordion art work: graumanjoan98r@gmail.com |
Accordions Are Coming! November is National Accordion Month at Westmont Accordion Schoolby Rita Davidson Barnea, Editor USA Accordion News |
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 Joanna Darrow, Director of the Acme Accordion School in Westmont, New Jersey, has organized an accordion event for November 6, 2022, to take place at the Acme Accordion School. The day is sponsored by the Scholarship Funds of Acme Accordion School and the American Accordion Musicological Society.The day is devoted to accordion performances and presentations of interest relating to the development of the accordion. The schedule of events includes: 10:30 AM: Children’s Circle: For the young at heart. Look inside an accordion. Play an accordion. Hear an accordion. 11:30 AM: Performance by the Westmont Accordion Club Noon: Guest artist, Rita Barnea, Editor of www.accordionusa.com, presents a lecture/concert “Eugene Ettore and his Accordion Legacy” 12:55 PM: Performance by the Westmont Accordion Club and the Westmont Philharmonia Accordion Orchestra creating music together. 1:30 PM: Presentation by Rik Kaplan. Enthusiast of the Cajun/Creole/Zydeco style techniques, he will share some history and experiments on melodeons, with a concentration on diatonic boxes. 2:30 PM: Performance by the Westmonth Philharmonia Accordion Orchestra Historic accordions will be on display. For more information: Joanna Darrow at 856-281-4035 or acmeaccordion@gmail.com |
Kevin Friedrich and Friends 2022 Christmas Concert, Dargaville - New Zealandby Harley Jones |
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 The Dargaville Museum which houses the superb Accordion Gems by Kevin Friedrich ... A Master Collection of Accordions through Time... is also the venue of the Kevin Friedrich and Friends 2022 Christmas ConcertIt is with real excitement that the Dargaville Museum announces the resumption of the popular fundraising concert series that have so often filled the Dargaville Museum Function Center to capacity. “Christmas Joy will be held on Sunday December 4th at 1:00 PM and will once again bring our community and guests together for a magnificent and entertaining afternoon of music and friendship. This family variety holiday show hosted by Kevin Friedrich, the concert will feature Holiday favorites, a few sing-along songs and some surprises as presented by an array of artists including: North Shore Accordion Orchestra, Lionel Reekie (Vocalist and Accordionist), Alanah & Maurice Jones (Vocalist), Promise Mitchel (Harp), Jone Yelcich (Vocalist), Rivertown Singers and Take 6 (Choir), Thomas Koloi (Piano and Vocals),Sonja Whitehouse as soloist and with her Kaipara Ensemble, Ros Gilmour (Vocalist), Linda Emmett Litt (Percussion) and more. Concert organiser Margaret Tier has been busy scheduling rehearsals and reports that all is on track for another outstanding community event showcasing an impressive lineup of talented performers. The Dargaville Museum hosts the only public accordion exhibition in the Southern Hemisphere “Accordion Gems, A Master Collection of Accordions Through Time”. Established and curated by Kevin Friedrich, the 150 instruments on display showcase the fascinating evolution of the instrument over its nearly 200 year history. Tickets are $20 per adult with Youth (15 & under) free. Both Adult and free Youth tickets are available from the Dargaville Museum. We look forward to seeing you there! |
Brooklyn Accordion Club Presents Virtuoso Accordion Concert Series Fall/Winter 2022-2023.by Rita Davidson Barnea, Editor USA Accordion News |
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 The Brooklyn Accordion Club presents their Virtuoso Accordion Concert Series Fall/Winter 2022-2023 which includes the following events:Concert Series no. 1 - Iwo Jedynecki (Poland) will perform on Saturday, November 5, 2022 at 2:PM -3:30 PM Location: A4 Collective at 636 Dean Street #2F Brooklyn, NY 11238 Admission: Free and open to the public. The space is limited to 30 people. RSVP is required to attend. Please RSVP to brooklynaccordionclub@gmail.com by the end of Friday, 11/4. Each meeting will start with a brief open mic. If you are interested in performing a piece or two, please indicate your interest in your RSVP form. Accordionists of all playing levels are welcome to perform. Upcoming concerts - Please mark your calendar! Martin Šulc and Ladislav Horák (Czech) - Wednesday, December 7, 2022 from 7:PM-8:30 PM Hanzhi Wang (China) - Friday, February 3, 2023 from 7:PM-8:30 PM What is Brooklyn Accordion Club?: Brooklyn Accordion Club (BAC) was founded in 2013, and is a community of accordionists and accordion enthusiasts in Brooklyn. All are welcome! Volunteer organizers plan open-mic, concerts, and workshops throughout the year. The Brooklyn Accordion Club is sponsored, in part, by the Greater New York Arts Development Fund of Cultural Affairs, administered by Brooklyn Arts Council (BAC). So a bunch of accordionists get together and play polka at the meeting?: No! One of the BAC missions is to provide the opportunity to listen to diverse types of music played on the accordion, and to discover how musically sophisticated the accordion can be! With that said, we welcome Polka too! I'm a beginner? Can I still join?: Yes, one of the BAC's missions is to provide performing opportunities to beginners and non-professionals. Many aspiring accordionists debuted their performances at BAC, and some have gone to Broadway a few years later : ) So it's not for me, professional or advanced accordion player then?: Yes, many virtuoso accordionists including world champions from local areas and all over the world have performed or shared their talents via workshops and concerts at BAC meetings in the past. To name a few.. Hanzhi Wang (China), Alash (Tuva), Maestro Maric (Serbia), Duo Imagique (Poland), Cordeone Loic Da Silva (Brooklyn/France), Feten Feten (Spain)... The past local NYC area accordionists include Dr. William Schimmel, Guy Klucevsek, Will Holshouser, Vitor Goncalves, and more. If you are willing to perform for fun and donate your time/talent, we'd be happy to take your offer! But we also recognize that musicians need to be compensated for what they do! BAC offers a small honorarium for performers and workshop presenters. Our budget, if there is any..., is super small so all your support is welcome and appreciated! If you have an idea for a workshop, please email us! Do I need to be a member?: No, if you believe you are a member, you are! There is no membership due or enrollment required. A small admission fee ($5-$10) may be taken at each event to cover the space rental fee and professional performer's honorarium when the grant is not available. How can I help?: You can support BAC by helping with organizing, booking space, suggesting performers or workshop topics, or volunteering to perform at Open Mic. If you are able to help out, please let us know! A special thanks to all the devoted volunteers who have made BAC possible! Cannot name you all, but you know we mean you! Please RSVP to brooklynaccordionclub@gmail.com by the end of Friday, 11/4. Each meeting will start with a brief open mic. If you are interested in performing a piece or two, please indicate your interest. Accordionists of all playing levels are welcome to perform. |
Accordion Pops Orchestra (APO) Concertsby Rita Davidson Barnea, Editor USA Accordion News |
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| Video: "Sounds of Christmas" - Accordion Pops Orchestra performs at Conlon Hall, 2017 The Accordion Pops Orchestra announces two upcoming concerts for your enjoyment: November 20, 2022 at Conlon Hall Auditorium in Bergenfield, New Jersey. The address is 18 N William St, Bergenfield, NJ 07621. December 4, 2022 at the Hillsborough Elks Club for the benefit of disabled children The Accordion Pops Orchestra was founded in 1970 by the Accordion Teachers Association of New Jersey. The first conductor was Dr. Jacob Neupauer followed by maestro Eugene Ettore in 1980 and Daniel Desiderio in 1985. Since 2011 the group has been under the direction of Al Terzo, one of the original members. In addition to New Jersey, the group now has members from Pennsylvania, New York, and Delaware. The 30 member group rehearses once a month and performs 4 or 5 concerts a year. In recent years, several orchestras from around the work have asked the Pops for their arrangements after watching the group on YouTube. This includes orchestras from the United Kingdom, Germany, Belgium, Australia, and Malta. The orchestra performs a repertoire of Light Classics, Broadway Big Band and Popular music. The orchestra has entertained audiences at many locations including concert halls, festivals, playhouses and churches in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York, Delaware and Virginia. 2022 members of the Accordion Pops Orchestra: AnnaRene Jeremiah, John Modrowsky, Anne Marie Eagan, Joyce Ganderberger, Annette Marinelli, Julie Amerman, Bob Patterson, Kalman Zilberman, Dante Giamarco, Kelly Grove, Denise Koncelik, Mary Thomas, Denise Szabo, Mike Marchese, Diane Ashenfalder, Paul Koslowski, Diane Squillace, Phyllis Edamatsu, Don Nowicki, Ray Haines, Erika Perez, Henry Mikol, Rosemarie Cavanaugh, Ines Csulak, Sandra Perez, Joanna Darrow, Tatiana Slowik, John Andrews and Theresa Rehberg. For more information concerning membership and future performance: accordionpopsorchestra@outlook.com |
The Victoria Pops (Canada) is Looking for New Membersby Rita Davidson Barnea, Editor USA Accordion News |
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| The Victoria Pops is an eclectic, adult ensemble that focuses on playing fun, entertainment, popular music together as a group in a learning, workshop style environment. The orchestra reharsases once a week at the University of Victoria School of Music. Conductor and founder, Jelena Milojevic, creates arrangements with members’ levels in mind, drawing from the variety of popular styles including pop, film music, tango, jazz, gypsy, popular classical, folk music from France, Italy, Ireland, Balkan, Ukraine, Hungary, South America etc. All instruments are welcome and only a very modest playing level is expected (no audition required).Repertoire includes instruments of both, pop/rock band and symphony, like piano, accordions, acoustic and electric guitars, bass, strings, woodwinds, brass, harp, drum set, percussions etc. Excerpts from her website: Jelena Milojević is a world renowned accordion performer. She studied both in Croatia and Serbia and ultimately received her Master’s Degree in Accordion Performance and Education, in one of the most recognized accordion centres in the world, Music Academy (FILUM) in Kragujevac, Serbia, where she is now completing her Doctoral Degree in accordion performance. Being a versatile musician with an extensive performing history, she has played numerous concerts in Europe, North America and Asia as a soloist, chamber musician and a soloist with various orchestras and performed in some of the most prestigious venues such as Carnegie Hall and Berlin Philharmonie. She is the winner of some of the most prestigious international accordion competitions, such as the CMA World Trophy, International Accordion Competition in Castelfidardo, Italy, International Accordion competition in Pula, Croatia, Roland V-Accordion Competition etc. Jelena Milojević has a successful collaboration with internationally recognized composers, such as Ana Sokolovic, Chris Jarrett, Douglas Schmidt, Farangis Nurulla-Khoja etc, and performs and records new music with Vancouver Symphony, Berlin Symphony, Aventa Ensemble, Turning Point Ensemble, Emily Carr String Quartet, UVic Chorus and Orchestra etc. She released three CD's and is being frequently featured at the TV and radio stations in Europe and North America. She has worked with acclaimed conductors, such as Bramwell Tovey, Bill Linwood, Leslie Dala, Giorgio Magnanensi, Clyde Mitchel, Yu Xuefeng, Symeon Ioannidis, Owen Underhill, Adam Jonathan Con, Ajtony Csaba. As an educator, Jelena has been contributing greatly to the accordion development in Canada by organizing International Accordion Festival, hosting major accordion events; 2013 Coupe Mondiale, World Accordion Trophy (2018), inviting numerous international accordion artists to Victoria and by pioneering the acceptance of the accordion at the Vancouver Community College, Camosun College and University of Victoria. With more than 20 years of teaching experience, her students have won numerous prizes at various international competitions, have played with symphony orchestras and developed successful performing careers. She is the Artistic Director of the World Accordion and Tango Festival in Victoria and a frequent adjudicator at international accordion competitions. More info and sign up: jelenamilojevic@uvic.ca |
Mary Ann Covone Performed for SAI National Conventionby Rita Davidson Barnea, Editor USA Accordion News |
 On July 29, 2022, immediately following the ATG Festival, Mary Ann Covone, was off to North Carolina to perform for the Sigma Alpha Iota (SAI) Triennial National Convention. Sigma Alpha Iota is a professional sorority for women in the field of music Most members are initiated in college by invitation only; however, there is a membership category for patronesses who did not study music in college. In addition to being the ATG president, Mary Ann is an active alumnae member of the Oak Park Alumnae Chapter of SAI. The audience of 650 fellow professional musicians, professors and college students was most enthusiastic about the performance, and most of the younger students in the audience had never before been exposed to classical accordion. Mary Ann graduated with a Bachelor of Music Degree in Accordion Performance from UMKC and has performed and taught extensively in the Chicago area for many years. She has presented programs that include light pop, ethnic and semi-classical music. Mary Ann performed with the West Suburban Orchestra and the Loyola University Orchestra in various Shostakovich works. She has also played in the pit orchestra in the show “Cabaret with the Beverly Theater Guild. Mary Ann is available to teach all genres of music at all levels. For more information: maryann@chicagolandaccordionacademy.com or call (847) 274-0435 or maryanncovone@gmail.com |
Accordionist Julia Williams Performed in “Legend of Sleepy Hollow”by Rita Davidson Barnea, Editor USA Accordion News |
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 Accordionist Julia Williams performed in a new adaptation of Washington Irving's "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" at the Bluebarn Theatre in Omaha, Nebraska in October 2022. Julia shared, “I had worked with director Jill Anderson before and so I'm thrilled to work with her again. It's been really special to be able to tell such a great and well loved tale that I have loved myself for many years! The musical score includes period songs and dances along with original music composed by violinist Olga Smola. Most of the music is performed on accordion and violin but we also perform with a diverse smattering of other instruments. The other instruments include the autoharp, various types of whistle, and a wide array of various percussion instruments. The violin and accordion are joined also by cast member Brandon Williams who plays a drum during the show. It's really one of the best and most enjoyable creative scenarios to work in the creation of a brand new show. It's a wonderful luxury to be directed by the writers and to have the composer right there with you playing the new music. I'm proud of the work we did on this show. The music is colorful and evocative and very much an integral part of the story.”Julia Williams performs as a solo accordionist and with groups as a specialist in classical, swing musette, tango, and contemporary music. She has a B.M. in Music Performance from the University of Missouri, Kansas City Conservatory of Music, M.M. in Music Literature/Historical Musicology from the University of Colorado, Boulder, and additional graduate study in ethnomusicology from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. She has performed with the Sioux City Symphony (“The Godfather” and “A Nightmare Before Christmas”) and with the Omaha Symphony (“Ratatouille”). In 2018 she performed the North American premier of “Neotango Concerto” by Basque composer Gorka Hermosa, with Omaha Chamber Music Society musicians. Other collaborations include performances with the University of Western Kentucky Symphony as a soloist and with the UC-San Diego graduate contemporary music program as a chamber player. Williams first cut her performance teeth while still a teenager when she was hired to play pre-show music in the lobby of the legendary Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis. Since then her theatrical experiences include productions of “A Three-Penny Opera”, “A Doctor in Spite of Himself”, “The Government Inspector”, and more. In 2018 she was Fraulein Kost in Lincoln's Haymarket Theatre production of “Cabaret: The Musical”. In 2019 she appeared in the Ollie Webb Center production of “Morozko” written and directed by Jill Anderson with music by Olga Smola. Excerpt from a review of the “Legend of Sleepy Hollow”: “This particular show relies on its technical aspects more than most shows I’ve seen and their support is solid as an oak. Olga Smola has composed an original score that can spook you or make you feel like you’re in a frolic and done solely with her fierce violin playing and Julia Williams’ dandy accordion work. This show, perfect for the season, takes many lines directly from Washington Irving’s novel and puts them in the hands of a tight and talented ensemble of actors: Abz Cameron; Raydell Cordell III; Rodger Gerberding; Roderick Hickman; Josh Peyton; Theresa Sindelar and Brandon Williams. Most of them play several roles, and all are excellent. They turn the script — adapted with love and a knack for deft trimming by Ben Beck and director Jill Anderson — into something truly magical. They use the 18th century prose to its full effect and the result is sometimes eerily spooky and often humorous.” "I have to gush about 'The Legend of Sleepy Hollow' at the BLUEBARN Theatre," writes Betsie Freeman of the Omaha World-Herald. "I know the theater keeps a waiting list, and ... I would try to get on that list if I were you…..The scenery by Sarah Rowe looks like a sumptuous book illustration, enhanced by Bill Kirby’s lighting (including effective use of darkness, no doubt guided by Anderson). And period music by Olga Smola and accordionist Julia Williams is essential. Photo up: The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, BLUEBARN Theatre" Photo down:”The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, BLUEBARN Theatre" For further information: juliawilliams0789@gmail.com |
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Those Darn Accordions: "Zombie Polka". A Halloween Classic!by Rita Davidson Barnea, Editor USA Accordion News |
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| Video: TDA's video of the Zombie Polka shot in Reno, NV 2019. A Halloween classic! One of America's favorite rock 'n' roll accordion bands, Those Darn Accordions, can entertain any crowd. With four accordion players out front, and bass and drums holding down the rhythm, the band pumps out an outrageously original sound that works for almost any occasion, from giant festival stages to cozy clubs and unique corporate venues. Fronted by squeezebox wizard/lead singer Paul Rogers, the band writes many original rock and funk songs, and also explores more-eclectic musical genres like ska, country and the prerequisite polkas. The aim is always to entertain, with an emphasis on solid musicianship and an unmistakable sense of humor.Susie Davis, Carri Abrahms and Suzanne Garramone, add stunning vocals and fleet fingers to produce a sound like nothing you've ever heard before. Drummer Ian Luke and bass player Lewis Wallace round out this one-of-a-kind band. Those Darn Accordions TV appearances include the American Music Awards (with Drew Carey), Penn & Teller's Sin City Spectacular, Donny & Marie, Good Morning America, MTV Rock N' Jock, Wild Chicago, Bay Area Backroads,The Jerry Lewis MDA Labor Day Telethon, ABC's World News Now and many more! They have been featured in Time, People, Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, Chicago Tribune, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Utne Reader, The Port Townsend Leader, Dirty Linen. For further information: E-mail: tdaccordions@gmail.com Phone: (360) 531-0276 |
Dr. William Schimmel Presents 4 new videos with Paintings by Michael Schimmelby Rita Davidson Barnea, Editor USA Accordion News |
 Dr. William Schimmel performs his arrangements ("Realities") on four new videos that can be seen and heard on YouTube. The songs are: “Blue Room” (Rodgers and Hart), “So in Love” (Cole Porter), “All the things you are” (Jerome Kern) and “Brother can you spare a Dime” (Jay Gorney/Yip Harburg).The backdrop of the pieces are paintings by his son, Michael Schimmel, a prize winning painter and musician with Down Syndrome. The conception and direction is by Micki Goodman, the video filming of Dr. Schimmel’s performance is by Benjamin Niemczyk and the editing is by Godfrey Nelson. For more information: accordionbill@gmail.com |
Dominic Karcic and Continental Sound Orchestra Perform for Italian Charities of America Galaby Rita Davidson Barnea, Editor USA Accordion News |
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  For almost thirty years Dominic Karcic and his “Continental Sound Orchestra” have supplied the musical entertainment for the annual gala held by the Italian Charities of America. The Sunday, October 23, 2022 Dinner Dance, as in many past years, was held at Roma View Caterers in Howard Beach, New York. Dominic’s ensemble included some of the finest club date musicians from the New York metro area and included Phil Battiston on drums, Ron Horton on trumpet, Bernie Rose on saxophone, vocalist Bruce Reed and Dominic Karcic on accordion and keyboard. This yearly event was a fundraiser and also offered the organization the opportunity to honor distinguished members of the Italian-American community. Six honorees from a wide field of endeavors were selected to receive awards at the event. There was also another special guest who was fascinated with and wanted to play the accordion – Mayor of New York Eric Adams. Originally from Astoria, NY AAA Board member, accordionist, pianist, and band leader, Dominic Karcic attended St. Francis of Assisi grammar school, William Cullen Bryant high school, New York College of Music where he earned a Bachelor of Music degree and continued his education at the City University of New York (CCNY) where he received his Masters Degree in Music. Dominic was one of the founders and first president of the Adriatic Islands Charity Committee and served as its president for thirteen years during his tenure the committee raising thousands of dollars for senior citizen homes, hospitals and churches in the Mali Losinj (Lussin Piccolo) area of Croatia. The organizations first fund raiser at the Oyster Bay caterering house in Astoria, NY attracted nine-hundred and fifty people and Dominic and his orchestra supplied the music for the monumental event. Dominic has always played professionally (accordion and piano) in the New York metropolitan area and continues to do so today. He and his musicians “The Continental Sound” have been house musicians at the Columbus Citizens Foundation (NYC) for over twenty-five years and he has played for organizations like the Valtarese Foundation (Parma, Italy), Fubinese Society (Piemonte, Italy), Italian Charities of Queens, NY, Italian Heritage Association of Long Island, La Pace Restaurant (Glen Cove, NY) and also at Magnanini Winery in Wallkill, NY. His love for the Valtaro Musette music was instilled in him through his years of study with noted accordionist Peter Spagnoli. In recent years he has been involved in the preservation and documentation of this musical style. He collaborated in writing a biographical article on the life and career of accordionist John “Scudlein” Brugnoli (founder of the Valtaro Musette Orchestra). He and fellow accordionist Ray Oreggia have given workshop presentations on the Valtaro Musette style for the American Accordionists’ Association (AAA), Connecticut Accordion Association (CAA), Maryland Accordion Club, the Washington Metropolitan Accordion Society (WMAS) and the Istria Women’s Club (Astoria, NY). Dominic founded the Long Island Accordion Alliance (LIAA) The wide spread success of LIAA events has endeared it to accordionists and accordion music lovers from all over the New York Metro area and has made it (LIAA) and its events the “Voice of the Accordion on Long Island.” He also created and performs with various singers in a program titled "From Broadway to the Met” which features the music of the American Song Book and Opera. Thanks to photographer Walter Karling for the great photos. For further information: dkarcic10@gmail.com  |
Cody McSherry Performs with the Tamburitzansby Dan Grauman |
  Accordionist Cody McSherry will perform concerts with the Tamburitzans in the USA next month.The Tamburitzans, formerly the Duquesne University Tamburitzans, is an ensemble that has performed a wide variety of folk dance and music representing international cultures for over 80 years in the United States and internationally. Cody was accepted into the Tamburitzans in 2020 following an audition that included singing, dancing and playing accordion. November 2022 concerts as follows: November 5 at 6:PM: North Hills of Pittsburgh, PA November 12 at 3:PM: Lancaster, PA November 13 at 3:PM: Meadville, PA November 19 at 7:PM: Edwardsville, IL November 20 at 3:PM: Kansas City, KS For details email: info@thetamburitzans.org |
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What happens when an IDEA becomes a GR8 IDEA??by Joseph Natoli |
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 Video: Symposium 5.0 Video Ad (updated)The organization called IDEAS (International Digital Electronic Accordion Society) has been successful for the last four years with Symposiums 1.0 – 4.0 and is about to embark on a major paradigm shift and name change for Symposium 5.0. What is that paradigm shift? IDEAS will now be dropping its acronym translation and change its name, logo, and brand to GR8 IDEAS because they will be extending an invitation to embrace all accordionists (both acoustic and digital) in this Symposium formula which has worked so well for all who have attended since 2018. The GR8 IDEAS Symposium 5.0 will now also become a Hybrid Symposium where the Virtual portion will be held for 7 straight days, Feb 6-12, 2023 completely online via Zoom; and the Live portion will be held at The Grand Resort country club (Warren OH 44484) April 26-30, 2023. All Symposium attendees voted to retain the virtual portion because the quality of online workshops and level of detail is much greater and more effective than what typically can be accomplished in live sessions. That is because virtual has the distinct advantage of recording and archiving every workshop, concert, and event (about 100 hours’ worth each for Symposiums 3.0 and 4.0) so that all the archived videos can be referenced for continued learning well into the future for all Symposium registrants. As the attached video ad says however, the Live event is also highly desirable for the participants because of the multiple live concerts, jam sessions, master classes, networking, and camaraderie, not to mention the wonderful facilities of the 5-star country club of The Grand Resort which hosts the event. Please refer to the attached video ad that explains the new GR8 IDEAS, what its goals are for Symposium 5.0, and a detailed look at this new paradigm shift: There is an additional big announcement of a scholarship offer this year for any young person, 21 and under, to submit two video performances and a few paragraphs on why this scholarship would assist and be meaningful to them musically and/or for their musical career. This is a GR8 opportunity for any young person who wants to experience the widest possible dimensions of the accordion. Of course, just like all the previous Symposiums, we have some of the best in the world as performing artists and on faculty. This is all being finalized, and will be announced further as final preparations are made. At this point in time however, we can confirm that we have with us Michael Bridge, Matthias Matzke, Uwe Steger, Cory Pesaturo, Eddie Monteiro, Joe Natoli, Júlia Masnicová, and Maria Teleshev. There will be no less than Four concerts for the live portion of this Symposium, one of which will be a mixed ensemble concert of digital and acoustic accordions together playing some brand new compositions and arrangements never performed before. Anyone reading this article is encouraged to go to the GR8 IDEAS website for both registration information and also for pictorial and video highlights of previous Symposiums for anyone who has not had the opportunity to attend previously. We hope to have you join us for one of the premiere accordion events in the world – GR8 IDEAS Symposium 5.0! |
2022 Polka Hall of Fame Awards Highlight 58th Thanksgiving Polka Weekend, November 25 - 27by Rita Davidson Barnea, Editor USA Accordion News |
 The Polka Hall of Fame Awards Show returns in 2022 to pay tribute to well-known polka achievers with three days of dancing and a gala, big-band stage show. The Holiday Inn Cleveland South in Independence, Ohio, is your polka headquarters for the finest ballroom dancing, hosted by the National Cleveland-Style Polka Hall of Fame, the country’s only polka museum. The Awards Show is the highlight of the 58th Thanksgiving Polka Weekend, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, November 25, 26 and 27, 2022.The Polka Music Awards spectacular is a grand salute to the newest names entering the Polka Hall of Fame. Lifetime achievers are bandleader Joe Kusar, musicians Bill Srnick Sr. and Rudy Kershishnik, plus the Penn Ohio Polka Pals social group. The Board of Trustees adds six names to the Polka Hall of Fame Honor Roll, Bill Bevec, Al Hreno, Eddie Korosa Jr., Bill Srnick Jr., and Chris and Gary Byndas. Two beloved All-Time Cleveland-Style Hits were also chosen by Polka Hall of Fame members. “The Little Café Waltz” and “Smile, Sweetheart, Smile” were early recordings by the late Cleveland bandleaders, Johnny Pecon and Frank Yankovic, America’s Polka King. The weekend is supported in part by the residents of Cuyahoga County through a public grant from Cuyahoga Arts & Culture. Enjoy three days of music and dancing with top Cleveland-Style and Slovenian polka bands and performers. Featured entertainers include include Grammy-winners Walter Ostanek and Joey Miskulin, plus Hall of Famers Del Sinchak and Jeff and John Pecon, along with Garrett Tatano, Bob Zolka, Klancnik and Friends, and Linda Lee Brown. Highlights include the Polka Mass with Kathy Hlad, a hop down memory lane with the Vadnal polka family, and the Button Box Jam Session. More jamming goes into the wee hours. Reserve rooms at the Holiday Inn Cleveland South, on Rockside Road in Independence, Ohio, at a special rate, (216) 524-8050. Friday and Saturday admission, $20 each evening. The Sunday Awards Show and Dance are $25. Save $10 with a weekend pass for $55. For more information: contact the Polka Hall of Fame at (216) 261-3263 or PolkaShop@aol.com. |
An Accordion Holiday at the Mattatuck on December 10by Marilyn O'Neil, Connecticut Accordion Association President |
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 When: Saturday, December 10, 2022, 2:00 - 4:PMWhere: Mattatuck Museum, 63 Prospect St., "An Accordion Holiday at the Mattatuck!" Come listen to the CAA orchestra perform holiday favorites under the direction of Peter Peluso! This concert is part of a day of family oriented programming sponsored by the Mattatuck! Come just for the concert or enjoy the whole day at the museum. Family Admission: $15.00 (Up to 6 people) Individual Adult: $15.00; Senior: $12.00 Pay at the door or Pre-register at Mattatuck Museum website. The Connecticut Accordion Association is a proud affiliate of the American Accordionists' Association Waterbury, CT 06702 When: Saturday, December 10, 2022, 2:00 - 4:00pm Where: Mattatuck Museum, 63 Prospect St., Waterbury, CT 06702 |
Byrne Brothers Perform for Florida Keys Celtic Festival and More!by Rita Davidson Barnea, Editor USA Accordion News |
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  Video 1: The Byrne Brothers Christmas Special 2020Video 2: “Carol of the Bells” The Byrne Brothers are a multi award winning family band and Irish dancers from Dublin and one of the biggest names in traditional Irish music today. The band includes Luca, 18, on Accordion, Finn, 16, on Banjo, Mandolin and Guitar, Dempsey, 12, on Bodhran & Whistle and Dad, Tommy, on Uilleann Pipes, Bagpipes, Fiddle and Guitar. All County Champions on their instruments and the boys Ulster Champion Irish Dancers too. The Byrne Brothers are amazing, lively, and entertaining! They maintain a busy schedule. Among their many appearances will be the Florida Keys Celtic Festival which takes place from January 7-8, 2023; Marathon Community Park; Mm49 Us Hwy 1 Ocean Side; Marathon, Fl Having moved to Orlando Florida in 2018, they became the youngest ever Cast Members of Walt Disney World while performing at Raglan Road Irish Pub and Restaurant. They still performed at Raglan Road on weekends even through the pandemic. With 30 million views, half a million shares and over 50,000 followers on social media along with front cover of The Irish Music Magazine and touring 44 States and 2 Caribbean Cruises, the Byrne Brothers are making a great name for themselves in America and all over the world. Their home videos during the pandemic were enjoyed by hundreds of thousands of fans all over the world for their wonderful exciting music and family fun. Luca Byrne (photo on right) 18 years old, is a Button Accordionist, Irish Dancer, Photographer, and Videographer Luca is Donegal Champion on Accordion and Ulster Champion Irish Dancer. He is an award winning photographer, filmmaker and surfer. He has directed, filmed and edited all of the recent music videos. He has also shot the front cover of their latest album cover for which he won the "American Celtic Radio Listeners 2021 Album Cover of the Year" award. He is studying movie making and hopes to be an Oscar winning Hollywood Producer/Director some day to go along with his Young Artist Academy Award. The Byrne Brothers have released an album, “Living the Dream”, available now. “Each performance and festival they graced with their music, dancing and fun presence increased their reputation as a talented act you didn’t want to miss.” Irish American News.“The quality of their individual playing and arrangements, as well as their smooth and interesting transitions are impressive. The combination and pairing of self-composed and Trad pieces are well thought out and brilliantly done” Proceeds from the Florida Keys Celtic Festival support The Hammock House at St. Columba Episcopal Church, a free after school and camp program that provides a nurturing environment where kids a healthy place to thrive emotional, intellectually and spiritually. Byrne Brothers Future 2022-2023 performances include: 16 Nov: Scottish American Society of Dunedin Dunedin, FL 21 Nov: The Field Irish Pub & Eatery Dania Beach, FL 26 Nov:3 Keys Brewing and Eatery Bradenton, FL 01 Dec: 2Shea's Salty Dog Marco Island, FL 08 Dec: Celtic Ray Public House Punta Gorda, FL 10 Dec: Raglan Road Irish Pub Orlando, FL 11 Dec: Raglan Road Irish Pub Orlando, FL 17 Dec: Raglan Road Irish Pub Orlando, FL 18 Dec: Raglan Road Irish Pub Orlando, FL 19 Dec: The Field Irish Pub & Eatery Dania Beach, FL 14 Jan: Timber Pines Community Association Spring Hill, FL 29 Jan: Cruise of Irish Stars Fort Lauderdale, FL 29 Jan: Princess Cruise San Francisco Pier 27 San Francisco, CA For more information on the Byrne Brothers: thebyrnebrothers@gmail.com For more information on the festival: Floridakeyscelticfestival@gmail.com |
Versatile Accordion Orchestra Returns to First Night Chatham 2022by Charles Gruszka |
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| Where can a lover of music witness an orchestra consisting of accordions, accompanied by two vocalists, a drummer, and guitarist that combines the sounds of nearly every musical instrument on the planet into a single concert consisting of a song list from nearly every musical genre? The answer lies in a concert performance of the New England Digital Accordion Orchestra (NEDAO). The NEDAO is the first of its kind in the United States and one of only two known in existence throughout the world! Close your eyes and you would never imagine that you were listening to a group consisting mostly of accordions! That is due to the amazing versatility of the Roland V digital accordion's unique technology, first introduced in 2004. The instrument has been aptly described as "an orchestra in a box" and each accordion can perform the sound of multiple instruments playing at one time. The Orchestra is truly unique because of its abilities to produce almost every musical instrument sound in existence and, therefore, perform in the fashion of every type of musical ensemble in the field of music. As a result, its concert performances are able to feature a broad spectrum of musical genres rather than a single one. Audiences at NEDAO concerts are treated to a program consisting of a smorgasbord of musical ensembles and genres. Whether its Broadway ("Fiddler On The Roof") to Hollywood (themes from "Star Wars", "Rocky", "James Bond"); Classic Rock n' Roll ("Celebration", "You're Mama Don't Dance", or a medley of hits by The Beatles) to Country ("On the Road Again" a la Willie Nelson); Classic Swing (Medley of "In the Mood", "String of Pearls", "Moonlight Serenade", and "Take the A Train") to the original Big Band arrangements of "New York, New York" and "Fly Me to the Moon" as recorded by Frank Sinatra or "Birth of the Blues" as performed by Sammy Davis, Jr.; Polka, Italian, Mariachi, and Celtic/Scottish medleys; or unique pops concert arrangements of patriotic favorites (medley of Civil War Era songs, "Stars & Stripes Forever", "God Bless America"), music lovers will get a taste of each at every NEDAO concert! Do you enjoy Dixieland? If so, you will love the Orchestra's New Orleans style sextet's arrangement of "Muskrat Ramble"! An NEDAO concert provides the audience an array of "miniconcerts" of every type of musical group and genre to take in - all in one sitting! The New England Digital Accordion Orchestra was formed in 2015 by its conductor who is the internationally recognized accordionist and music educator, Anselmo (Sam) Falcetti of Wilbraham, Massachusetts. The Orchestra currently features 20 performers representing four of the six New England States. Its venues have included First Night Chatham 2019, The Big E, The Spencer Fair, opening act for Deanna Martin and Bobby Rydell at the Annual Italian Festival in Enfield, CT, and numerous community summer concerts. The Orchestra is looking forward to returning by popular demand to First Night Chatham on New Year's Eve to perform concerts at 1and 2:PM at the United Methodist Church. Chatham, a beautiful New England seaside village on Cape Cod in Massachusetts, is the site of one of the nation's longest running and most successful First Night celebrations. This year's event marks the 32nd year of First Night Chatham, a family-friendly and alcohol-free festival of the visual and performing arts which ushers in the New Year on December 31 of each year. It features over 70 top-flight entertainment acts from throughout New England performing throughout the day from 1 to 9 pm in indoor and outdoor spaces, all within walking distance along Chatham's Main Street! Other highlights include a road race and a noise parade in which all who wish to participate march down Main Street, noisemakers in hand, to the field where a professional fireworks display is held! Admission to indoor events is via purchase of First Night buttons. Ordering directiona and event details can be found at www.firstnightchatham.com. The event is an annual sellout attracting both locals and visitors from around the country! Videos of performances can be viewed on youtube.com and Facebook by searching under New England Digital Accordion Orchestra. The first photo was taken at our 2019 First Night Chatham concert program, and the second taken at a "Concert on the Common" which the Orchestra performed in Sturbridge this past summer. |
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Branson Accordion Extravaganza and Band Camp 2023 with Kim and Dan Christianby Rita Davidson Barnea, Editor USA Accordion News |
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| Kim and Dan Christian are leading their Branson Accordion Extravaganza and Band Camp 2023 from May 17 - 20, 2023. Come and be a part of this amazingly fun, interactive 4 day event where you will be working together with people all over the US to perform an awesome and entertaining set of music in front of an appreciative and energetic audience in the famous show capital of Branson, Missouri! Kim and Dan share, “We would like to invite all accordionists to an exciting Band Camp/Accordion Extravaganza that we will be having in Branson, MO. May 17-20, 2023.” When you get signed up, you will be sent the music to seven great band pieces. This is a very fun event where Kim and Dan promise that you will definitely notice an improvement in your technical playing skills, articulation, and performance skills and you will be very proud to be part of this impressive Accordion Orchestra! The audience absolutely loved this Albuquerque Band Camp performance in 2022 which received a long and hardy standing ovation.The attendees had a blast and performed extremely well! These are the pieces to be performed in Branson 2023: “Gonna Fly Now” (Theme from Rocky) - Arr. Dan Christian “Slavonic Dance #8” - Dvorak - Arr. Curt Herold “Rock A Jimmy” (An original accordion chart - Swing) “Theme from Schindler's List” - John Williams (Arr. Dan Christian) “Corazon” - Carole King (Arr. Dan Christian) “Espana Cani” - Arr. Palmer-Hughes (Select advanced players) “Nickelodean Rag” (fun ragtime piece) “Conflict - An Overture on Civil War Themes” - Eugene Ettore 2023 Schedule: Wednesday, May 17: 5:00 pm Meet and Greet 6:00 – 8:30/9:00 Rehearsal Thursday, May 18: 9:00 AM – 12:PM Rehearsal and Built in Workshop 12:30 pm Bus to Branson Landing. Lunch at White River Café on the Lake. Afternoon at the Branson Landing and Downtown Mainstreet 8:00 – 10:00 Hughes Family Show Friday, May 19: 9:AM – 12:PM In Depth Rehearsal 12:30 PM Bus to Dana’s Barbecue for Lunch Sightseeing Tour of Chateau at the Lake, Tablerock Lake and Dam, Showboat Branson Belle, College of the Ozarks and the Branson Strip 6:00 – 8:00 PM Open Microphone for anyone who would like to perform Saturday, May 20: 9:AM – 12:PM Dress Rehearsal at the Theater. Show will be professionally set for sound and lights. 2:00 pm - This is it! The Big Performance!! Concert Show Time 8:00 – 10:00 Shanghai Circus Show (Amazing production right next to the Lodge of the Ozarks) Sunday, May 21: 9:AM Farewell Breakfast Costs for the additional fun events will be available soon. These are all voluntary, of course. The activities are just a fun way to hang out with awesome accordion friends from all over the country! We want this to feel like a wonderful vacation where you get to perform and learn, too! We want to make this a blast for everyone involved – the participants and the spouses and family members will have lots of fun at Branson Accordion Extravaganza and Band Camp 2023! Registration Fee for Accordionists Only: $247 which includes: Music, workshops, and the ability to work directly with Dan and Kim in a band setting which will help improve your playing skills and most importantly, you will be part of a performance that you can be proud of for a large crowd on a professional theater on the Branson strip!! You can brag to your friends how you performed on the strip in Branson!! On the back end, the fee helps pay for the rental of the theater both for rehearsal and performance, rental of rehearsal room, lighting and sound technicians, drummer, marketing and other expenses. Registration Payment for the event can be made via check and snail mail, contact Kim Christian (719) 459-2061. Registration closes March 15, 2023 so there is still plenty of time to learn the band parts. Please email Kim Christian with any questions at: kdcstudios@gmail.com Come and be a part of this fun and unique adventure! This is meant to be a great time for all! Great people! Great fun! Great music! Great learning experience! Register now! Email: kdcstudios@gmail.com |
2023 Houston Accordion Orchestra Retreatby Megumi Hada |
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| The 2023 Houston Accordion Orchestra Retreat will be held from January 12th to 15th, 2023 in Houston, Texas, USA, under the baton of Stas Venglevski. Activities include an enlarged orchestra and 13 music scholarship winners from across the USA who will play in the Youth Ensemble. Three of them will have their compositions premiered as an orchestral arrangement by Stas Venglevski. Those students are Daniel Hartnett, (Night Life), Gabrielle Peck, (Waltz!) and Ashley Frye, (Finale). For further information email: meghada33@gmail.com |
“Home of the Accordion” Trip to Castelfidardo, Italy: May 16-20, 2023by Rita Davidson Barnea, Editor USA Accordion News |
 Since 2012 Peter Le Geyt has arranged several visits to Italy from the UK offering accordionists the opportunity to experience Castelfidardo, the ‘Home of the Accordion'.Some people have enjoyed the experience enough to attend a few times. If you have not visited Castelfidardo before then here is the perfect opportunity.Summary of the trip: · Fly to Bologna from London with British Airways · Travel by luxury coach from Bologna to Castelfidardo · Coach and driver available with the group throughout the stay · Accommodation for 4 nights at a 4 star hotel with breakfast daily · Visits to factories to see wonderful instruments being built by hand. · Musical demonstrations at the factory showrooms · Play high quality accordions loaned to the group by some of the manufacturers · See also how reeds are produced and how bellows are made · Visit the Carini accordion accessory shop · Visit the Castelfidardo Accordion Museum · Try out the largest working piano accordion in the world · Optional visit to nearby town of Loreto to see the Basilica & Holy House · Visit seaside resorts in the evening for dinner and accordion entertainment · Final night private dinner included and a guest accordionist performance · Group members are able to entertain at the restaurants on the loaned accordions · San Marino sightseeing, lunch and music shop · Option to stay in Bologna or London before or after the trip Please make contact ASAP - numbers will be limited. For more information: Peter Le Geyt: plg@plgmarketing.com |