![Jacques Mornet's [non] Method Book with Video Support](http://www.accordions.com/index/squ/graphics/jmornet-en.jpg)
Yellow Pages Events
Highlights |
Faithe Deffner Lifetime Achievement Award - USA
Octoberfest Las Vegas International Accordion Festival Ready to Start - USA
Friedrich Lips and Stas Venglevski in Concert in Wisconsin
Guy Klucevsek will Perform at the 2009 International Accordion Festival
Florida Accordion Association Annual Smash in November
Bill Cosby is Back! A Story of Caring, Kindness, Rekindling and Coincidence
1st Annual Orange County Accordion Festival in California
Reports for Concerts, Masterclasses, Competitions, Festivals, etc. |
Cory Pesaturo Plays First Post-Coupe Concert in New Hampshire
Henry Doktorski Performs with the Erie Philharmonic
Accordion Pool Party: A Unique Idea!
Future events |
Angels and Accordions: October 10 in NYC
Douglas Brunson, 12 years old, to perform for NHAA
Sylvia Miskoe: Scottish & New England Contra Dance Music Accordionist
Jim Gilman to be Featured Performer at "The Big Squeeze" in California
Accordion Cruise to Feature Frank Morocco and an International Competition in April 2010
Highlights |
Editor's Noteby Rita Barnea |
| I am always amazed by the versatility of the accordion. So many types of music, musicians, accordions! This month, I ask you to expand your accordion horizons. Discover and listen to different types of accordion music that you have never heard before. Besides reading the USA News, GO to one of the events! Not only will you enjoy listening to the music, but you will make new friends! We all know that people who love the accordion are the friendliest people on this planet! And, please remember to send me news, stories, and announcements of upcoming concerts and events that you or your accordion club are having in the next few months. Please contact me at Ritabelll@aol.com. HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY |
Faithe Deffner Lifetime Achievement Award - USAby Harley Jones |
 On Sunday September 20 at the prestigious Tavern on the Green, Terrace Room in Central Park New York, the American Accordionists’ Association (AAA) proudly presented the Lifetime Achievement Award to Faithe Deffner for her extraordinary contributions to the accordion world.As well as the presentations, there was a major concert including The Busso Trio, Beverly Roberts Curnow, Karen Fremar, Guy Klucevsek, Dee Langley, Alexander Poeluev - 2004 Coupe Mondiale Champion from Russia, Dr. William Schimmel, Mary Tokarski, the Frank Busso Jr. Trio. A full report of Lifetime Achievement Award with photos and text is now online. |
Octoberfest Las Vegas International Accordion Festival Ready to Start - USAby Heather Masefield, Secretary, New Zealand Accordion Association |
 |
  I am writing this on the plane flying internationally to Las Vegas for the Octoberfest Las Vegas International from 15th to 18th October at the Gold Coast Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas. Paul Betken & Jerry Cigler are newly added to a great line up of stars (list below) with lots of great seats still available! Want to hop a plane to come and enjoy this exciting festival? Newsletter (picture right) with full information: 2018LVACnews.pdf Picture left: Event organizer Paul Pasquali The lineup starts with visionary accordionist Cory Pesaturo and bookends with a grand finale starring Grayson Masefield and the International Accordion Orchestra under the direction of the legendary Prof. Joan Sommers. You can register online at www.AccordionStars.com or contact Paul Pasquali, event organizer, by phone at 1-800-472-1695 or (801) 485-5840, email: paul@accordioninfo.com. |
 |
Friedrich Lips and Stas Venglevski in Concert in Wisconsinby Rita Barnea |
 |
| Friedrich Lips and Stas Venglevski will perform on October 10, 2009 at 7:30 PM at Mount Mary College, Helfaer Hall, 2900 North Menomonee River Parkway, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Friedrich Lips is recognized as the most famous Russian bayanist (accordionist) known, not only in the accordion world but also in classical circles. After intermission Stas Venglevski will be accompanied by an ensemble of local talented musician friends including John Simkus, accordionist, Terry Smirl, percussionist, and John Babbitt, bassist, who will present an eclectic musical program including many of Stas' original compositions. Stas Venglevski’s artistry, dazzling technical command, and sensitivity have brought him increasing acclaim as a virtuoso of the bayan. A two-time first prize winner of bayan competition in the Republic of Moldova, Stas is a graduate of the Russian Academy of Music in Moscow where he received his Masters Degree in Music under the tutelage of the famed Russian bayanist, Friedrich Lips. In 1992 he immigrated to the United States. Stas' repertoire includes his original compositions, a broad range of classical, contemporary and ethnic music. He has toured extensively as soloist throughout the former Soviet Union, Canada, Europe, and the United States including numerous performances with Doc Severinsen, Steve Allen and with Garrison Keillor on the Prairie Home Companion Show. Additionally, he has performed with symphony orchestras throughout the United States. Stas performed the world premiere of "Concerto No. 2" by Anthony Galla-Rini and also the world premiere of "Bayan and Beyond", composed for Stas by Dan Lawitts. He is a regular participant of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra's Arts in Community Education Program (ACE); has done television commercials and performed in theater productions; produced numerous recordings including transcription of Tchaikovsky's "Nutcracker Suite" for bayan as well as one of original compositions. He has published several books of original compositions. Stas also performs as a member of the A Sta_Sera Duo where he combines talents with accordionist, John Simkus, known primarily for his smooth jazz renditions. Their musical partnership has resulted in a unique repertoire and as a duo they have toured the United States and Europe extensively and collaborated on a CD of original compositions, Seasonings. Additionally, Stas demonstrates his versatility performing regularly with his Irish friends Leahy's Luck. Advance tickets are $20.00. At the door, they are $25.00. For more info call: Stas Venglevski 262-957-6599 or Shirley Barry at 414-543-7714. E mail: stasvenglevski@sbcglobal.net |
Guy Klucevsek will Perform at the 2009 International Accordion Festivalby Rita Barnea |
 On Oct. 10 and 11, Guy will perform in San Antonio, TX, at the 2009 International Accordion Festival. Held every year in the beautiful downtown Riverwalk area on the historic grounds of La Villita( 3 blocks south of the Alamo on South Alamo Street), the International Accordion Festival features performances, workshops, open mike sessions and accordion jams.During that same weekend, on Sat., Oct. 10 (rain date, Sun., Oct. 11), Guy's music will be performed by a quartet of accordionists on the annual Angels & Accordions event at Green Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn, NY. See article in October USA news. Guy had released over 20 recordings. Guy's latest recording is “Dancing on the Volcano”, on the Tzadik label, with a band consisting of Guy Klucevsek and Alex Meixner, accordions, Steve Elson, sax/clarinet, Pete Donovan, bass, and John Hollenbeck, drums. Gut Klucevsek is a versatile composer/accordionist who has worked with Laurie Anderson, Bang On a Can, Anthony Braxton, Anthony Coleman, Amy Denio, Bill Frisell, Fred Frith, David Garland, Robin Holcomb, Wayne Horvitz, Phillip Johnston, the Kronos Quartet, Natalie Merchant, Pauline Oliveros, Present Music, Bobby Previte, Relâche and John Zorn. He was a member of the Dave Douglas band, Charms of the Night Sky, from its inception, and recorded three albums with the group. As a soloist, he has premiered pieces by Aaron Jay Kernis, John Zorn, Mary Ellen Childs, Jerome Kitzke, Lois V Vierk, Stephen Montague, Somei Satoh, William Duckworth, and accordion concerti by Henry Cowell (Concerto Brevis) and Julia Wolfe (True Love). You can also hear him on John Williams's scores for the Steven Spielberg films, “The Terminal”, “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull”, and “Munich”. He has performed on Broadway in “Fiddler on the Roof”, “Victor/Victoria” and “Piaf”. For further information: info@guyklucevsek.com |
Florida Accordion Association Annual Smash in Novemberby Rita Barnea |
 |
| The 9th Annual Smash sponsored by the Florida Accordion Association - Southeast Accordion Association will be held from November 13-15 2009 at the Holiday Inn International Drive Resort, 6515 International Drive, Orlando, FL. Call 1-888-233-9527 for HOTEL reservations only. The Florida Accordion Association is proud to announce their 9th annual SMASH which features: Murl Allen Sanders who is an independent, modern accordionist, pianist, composer, teacher and recording artist who plays pop, rock, zydeco, country, jazz, blues and various ethnic styles on piano and accordion. He has worked with such diverse national and international artists as: Chuck Berry, Etta James, Merrilee Rush, Theodore Bikel, Peter Duchin, Leslie Gore, The Von Trapp Children, Lee Oskar, OhNo, Underground Resistance, Leroy Bell, Clare Fischer, Todd Simon, and composer David Matthews. Cory Pesaturo is a graduate of the New England Conservatory of Music, where he was the first to major in accordion. At age 21, Cory's extensive resume includes four performances for President and Mrs. Clinton! In August he won First Place in the Coupe Mondiale International Digital Accordion Competition which was held in Auckland, NZ. Cory is the 2009 Leavenworth International Accordion Champion in both Open and Jazz. Cory is also the 2009 Kimberly International Jazz Champion which he won at the 2009 Kimberly Old Time Accordion Championship. Alex Meixner, Grammy-nominated musician and producer, will perform. Alex Meixner’s performing career began at age 6 with his two sisters and father in an ethnic folk ensemble. From these early experiences through headline appearances at music festivals throughout the US; concert performances with the London Symphony Orchestra, Sandy Duncan and his own jazz and ethnic ensembles; as well as over 40 recordings, Meixner has developed a unique musical mix that appeals to a wide cross-section of audiences. Tony Lovello, well known accordionist, will perform. In addition to his performance, the Florida Accordion Association is "roasting" Tony this year. Come out and witness THE LOVELLO ROAST. Tony is also conducting the accordion orchestra, in which all attendees are welcome to participate! Walter Kasprzyk who is a two time Connecticut state championship winner, and part of the world-famous K Trio, will perform at the SMASH. We understand he's got a surprise in store for Tony Lovello! Among the many activities taking place will be: Friday, November 13th: famous Café Accordeon, hosted by Alvaro “Beaver” Barsi, 4:30 – 2:00 a.m. in the hotels’ Front Street Café. Anyone may play. Food is available for purchase until 9 PM, beverages available for purchase until 2:00 a.m. Snacks provided. Accordion orchestra rehearsal (conducted by Tony Lovello) time TBA. Dealer displays are open. On Saturday, November 14th: registration desk & dealer displays open 8:30 a.m. Day includes professional accordion performances, lunch & dinner, accordion orchestra performance, THE TONY LOVELLO ROAST, the grand evening concert, and 50/50 raffles. After the close of the evening concert, players can congregate in the Front Street Café for jamming, and more accordion fun.There will be a lunch buffet Saturday with accordion entertainment and a dinner buffet Saturday with accordion entertainment. Sunday, November 15th: 9:00 am: optional breakfast & accordion concert by Jerry Tramontozzi, dealer displays open before & after breakfast. Early registration ends 10/13/09. Registrations received later are at the "late registration" price. Registration forms can be found at: http://www.accordions.com/florida/register_09.htm For additional information, please e-mail: Flaccassoc@bellsouth.net |
Bill Cosby is Back! A Story of Caring, Kindness, Rekindling and Coincidenceby Joan Grauman Morse, AAA Historian |
 |
| …No, not that Bill Cosby. If you were not involved in the accordion festivals and competitions in the 1950s and 60s, you may not remember the other Bill Cosby. However, if you were involved at that time, you would remember Bill as one of the top accordionists in the world. He held the title of the ATG US National Accordion Champion for four consecutive years, 1964-67. Thankfully, after leaving the instrument for 30 years, he is playing again and playing well. Bill is a truly gifted, accomplished musician, and hecombines his amazing skills with a passion that is mesmerizing. William Cosby, born and raised in California, discovered and fell in love with the accordion at a very young age. His supportive family found the best teachers for him, including Tito Guidotti and Anthony Galla-Rini, and they took him to workshops with the greats such as Charles Magnante, John Molinari and Johnny LaPadula. He rose to the top quickly, winning competitions during a time when the good accordionists were competing with hundreds and sometimes thousands. Those were enjoyable years for the hard-working, young musician. Now living in Fredericksburg, Virginia, Bill has had a successful career, he has continued to play and compose music, and to conduct. But, he played the piano mostly, and eventually, he sold his beloved accordions. 30 years later, upon receiving a treasured old Excelsior accordion from General William Knowlton, a recently deceased dear friend and former Superintendent at the U.S Military Academy at West Point, Bill picked up the instrument and began to play again. A spark was lit. In an effort to find a repairman for this old accordion, Bill met my good friend, the fine accordionist and repairman, Dale Wise. Bill speaks about meeting Dale: "Dale’s sincerity, warmth, and genuine love of the accordion reminded me of the passion so many accordionists have for their instrument. He helped me get started again with things like music and other necessities to help bring the General’s Excelsior back to life. He also began almost immediately to introduce me to other local accordionists and activities." Dale invited me and my husband, Dan, to his beautiful farm to hear Bill play. “You will be blown away!” said the excited Dale, and blown away we were! The very personable Bill Cosby played so incredibly well that it was a shock to learn that he had just started playing six weeks earlier. I watched Bill, and I watched Dale’s beaming face and was reminded of the times that Dale rekindled the love of the accordion in me, and encouraged me to always be all that I could be. “Yes you can there, Joanie!” are words I have heard many times from this dear man. Bill and I spoke for a while at Dale’s. He described the Giulietti Bassetti accordion he wished he had never sold. I suddenly realized that he was describing Amy Jo Sawyer’s accordion. Bill said he had heard of Amy Jo, as she is well-known as an accomplished jazz accordionist. I told Bill that I would ask Amy Jo to see if she knew of one that might be for sale. That evening on the phone, a surprised and delighted Amy Jo said that Bill was the reason she purchased her Giulietti many years ago. “Joan, your friend, Frank Petrilli has one!” said Amy Jo. I was so excited. I called Frank. Not only was Frank Petrilli, a wonderful jazz musician from California, willing to sell the instrument, but he told me that it was in pristine condition. Before the week was up, Bill was the happy owner of, what turned out to be, “the instrument of his dreams”. Amy Jo describes her feelings about reconnecting with Bill: "I was living in California and heard Bill and Anthony Galla-Rini perform in a concert. Bill was a young protégé of Mr. GR. I was so impressed with the Bassetti system and his wonderful performance, that I knew that was the new accordion I wanted. It is so interesting that both Bill and I studied with Mr. GR and that in some “crazy circumstance” I can now “give back” to Bill for his wonderful inspiration to me. I sat next to Frank Petrilli in the Frank Marocco Orchestra last year and he told me he had purchased a Giulietti Bassetti just like mine. How could I forget that? And now to make a wonderful connection for Bill to again have the instrument he wanted makes me “very happy”!" How very wonderful to be a part of this amazing story of kindness and coincidences. Bill Cosby is now playing his Giulietti Bassetti and I’m sure everyone will have the opportunity to hear him in concert again very soon. Bill is also writing his memories about his life in the accordion world. I saw his preliminary manuscript – a must for the shelves of all accordionists, when it is published! Anyone wishing to contact Bill can e-mail him at WHCosby@gmail.com. |
1st Annual Orange County Accordion Festival in Californiaby Rita Barnea |
 The 1st Annual Orange County Accordion Festival, “The Big Squeeze”, will be held on Sunday, October 11, 2009 at 10:AM at the Orange County Market Place, 88 Fair Dr.,Costa Mesa, CA.This event will showcase a variety of accordion styles including Cajun/Zydeco, Polka, and Tejano along with a wide variety of soloist and club group performances and educational presentations showcasing a variety of accordion music styles. The main stage acts will feature prominent accordionists and include Raving Polka (aka Limpopo) performing Russian folk with a twist of jazz, blues, dance and comedy at 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. with Lou Fanuchhi on accordion, Grammy nominee for Best Zydeco/Cajun Music, Lisa Haley& the Zydekats from 12:45 p.m. to 2 p.m. with Skip Edwards on accordion, and Los Fabulocos with Kid Ramos spicing things up with a Tex-Mex blend,blues and rockabilly music from 2:30 p.m. to 3:45 p.m. with Jesse Cuevas on accordion. Other stage entertainment includes Jim Gilman, The Squeezinator; Norm Panto, Accordionist Extraordinare with members of the Accordionaires Club including Zandra Cousins singing and playing the spoons and Sheri Osen singing German songs; “Around the World” with accordion music by Alex Lavruk; Lou Fanuchhi-Tango Nuevo Workshop; Gee Rabe, L.A.'s Accordion Diva with the Haberdashery Quartet; Fontenot and Pappion Old Style Creole Music; Jordan Elliot JESTER gypsy style; Roberto Rosa, Latin Jazz, Salsa, Merengue and Folkloric Puerto Rico; Rock and Roll Oldies with Bryan J; and special performances by the Martin Music Center Accordion Orchestra of Fullerton. Also available will be zydeco and cajun dance lessons by Karen Redding and Russian folk dance lessons by Youri Nelzine, strolling entertainment, educational presentations including All About Accordions Q & A with Sam Costabile. Special accordion and related vendors will be displayed along with the hundreds of swap meet merchants, food and beverage, beer garden, artisans and crafters and much more. You can receive free admission with a canned food item for the Orange County Food Bank which is being held in conjunction with the Orange County Market Place, the weekend swap meet at the O. C. Fair & Event Center, Costa Mesa. All attendees will have the opportunity to win the Bravo 48 II Hohner Accordion. You can enter to win at the Festival by filling out an entry form at the The Big Squeeze Information Booth from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Skip Edwards, a Hohner playing accordionist who has toured with Dwight Yoakam and other top musicians and bands including the Grammy Nominee for Best Cajun/Zydeco Album Lisa Haley & The Zydekats, will present the accordion to the winner. For more accordion festival Info: 949-650-8016 |
Reports for Concerts, Masterclasses, Competitions, Festivals, etc. |
Amy Jo Sawyer Performs For Silicon Valley Accordion Societyby Rita Barnea |
 Amy Jo Sawyer, resident of O’Fallon, IL., performed in concert for the Silicon Valley Accordion Society on September 6, at Harry’s Hofbrau banquet hall in San Jose, CA.Program chair, Norma Parsons, introduced the virtuoso accordionist to the enthusiastic crowd of about 150 members and their guests. Amy Jo performed Classical, Jazz, and Original music for the event. Amy Jo is the accordionist with the St. Louis Symphony, past President of the Accordionists and Teachers Guild, International, and has performed in many countries of the world. She has degrees in Composition, Performance and a Master’s Degree in Jazz Performance. She has toured internationally with the University of Missouri, Kansas City (UMKC) Accordion Orchestra under the direction of Joan Sommers. Two of her original compositions for accordion orchestra: “Opus Five Six Four” and “Carnival” are on the UMKC CD Collection. Her own CD, “Accordion To Amy”, is available on her web site: www.amyjosawyer.com . It includes Jazz original and standards all arranged by Amy Jo for solo accordion and accompanying instruments. For further information: AmyJo@apci.net |
Cory Pesaturo Plays First Post-Coupe Concert in New Hampshireby Donna Maria Regis |
 New Hampshire Accordion Association and Accordion Connection LLC, concert co-sponsors and co-hosts, warmly welcomed Cory Pesaturo, World Digital Accordion Champion, in his first concert appearance since his recent 2009 Coupe Mondiale win in New Zealand.On September 13, a highly receptive audience, which included 1964 world champion and New Hampshire resident Stephen Dominko, was treated to an afternoon of extraordinary Pesaturo-style improvisation on a wide variety of music. For the first half of his performance, Cory played acoustic accordion, opening with the jazz standard, “On Green Dolphin Street.” He then offered up a tasty musical potpourri: a Sicilian tarantella, a French musette, “Pennsylvania Polka,” a tango medley, “Come Back to Sorrento,” and a schottische he had learned for the 2009 Kimberley International competition, at which he won the Jazz Champion title. In addition, Cory’s outstanding fingerwork brought him both the 2009 Leavenworth International Champion and 2009 Leavenworth International Jazz Champion titles. Switching to the digital Roland for the concert’s second half, Cory began with a piece based on Bulgarian rhythms, proceeded to “Czardas” [Monti], “Besame Mucho,” “Carnival of Venice” variations, and the classic Kern ballad, “All the Things You Are.” Throughout his presentation Cory frequently asked for genre suggestions from the audience, at one point forging their seemingly incompatible requests for “blues” and “El Cumbanchero” into an unlikely medley but one this uniquely talented but unassuming New England Conservatory graduate made work. He honored several other requests, including Jobim's “Meditation” and Piazzola’s “Libertango.” On their feet, refusing to let this phenomenal improviser go, the enthusiastic audience demanded encores and was rewarded with two: “Satin Doll” and a piece from Macedonia. Cory Pesaturo can play anything – jazz, classical, world music, etc. – and he does -- but never the same way twice! New Hampshire looks forward to a return visit by this remarkable young man. For more information: Donna Maria Regis, NHAA Music Director: regisdonna@yahoo.com or Suzanne Welch at Accordion Connection, 1-800-328-5227. |
Henry Doktorski Performs with the Erie Philharmonicby Rita Barnea |
 |
| Accordionist Henry Doktorski appeared with the Erie Philharmonic in two performances of Arturs Maskats', “Tango”, on September 26 at the Warner Theater in downtown Erie, Pennsylvania, and on September 27 at the Shafer Auditorium at Allegheny College in Meadville. The orchestra was conducted by the Music Director of the Erie Philharmonic, Daniel Meyer, who also serves as Music Director for the Asheville North Carolina Symphony and Pittsburgh Youth Symphony, and as Resident Conductor of the Pittsburgh Symphony. Composer Arturs Maskats was born in Valmiera, Latvia, in 1957. After graduating from the Latvian State Conservatory, he served for fifteen years as the Music Director and Resident Composer at Riga's Dailes Theatre. Since 1996 he has been music director of the Latvian National Opera. In 2002 he became Professor of Composition at the Vitols Academy of Music. He was awarded the Latvian Grand Music Award three times, and has produced over 140 works for chorus, orchestra, cinema and theater productions. Mindful of Ravel's famous orchestra piece, “La Valse”, Maskats decided to undertake a similar orchestral work using the tango dance form. At the prestigious British "Masterprize" competition in 2003, with over 1,000 entires by composers from 65 countries, Maskats' Tango was selected as one of the six prizewinners. Its performance continues to be repeated, including three performances by the Pittsburgh Symphony in 2005 in which Doktorski also appeared as accordionist. Doktorski said, "I was very happy to perform on accordion in Maskats' Tango with the Erie Philharmonic. Not having heard the Erie orchestra, I did not know what to expect, but at the first rehearsal I was pleased to discover that the orchestra was composed of extremely high-calibre musicians with lush tone and superb technique. Maestro Meyer was precise and articulate with his baton and the orchestra members responded appropriately to his cues. I really enjoyed playing with this fine orchestra." Concert accordionist, Henry Doktorski has performed with cellist Mstislav Rostropovich, violinists Gil Shaham and Itzhak Perlman during concerts and recording sessions with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra under conductors Lorin Maazel, John Williams, Mariss Jansons, Julius Rudel, David Del Tredici and Howard Shore. |
Accordion Pool Party: A Unique Idea!by Rita Barnea |
 |
| The first Accordion Pool Party was held held on Saturday, September 12, 2009, at the abandoned Lawrenceville City Pool in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The event was organized by Deb Knox and Susan Englert, who received grants from the Sprout Fund and the Lawrenceville Corporation to cover expenses. About 300 people attended the party, and at least 100 danced in the pool to music provided by the 15-member accordion band. The accordionists played four sets of waltzes, polkas, tangos, and ethnic pieces such as: Zalajdy-Zulajda, Makedonsko Devojce, Miserlu, Dai Mi Dai, Grand Bosco, Ciel de Paris, Adios Muchachos, and others. Some accordionists performed solo works, including Robert Kubacki, Rado Angelov, Henry Doktorski, and Doktorski's 11-year-old student, Christopher Manko. Deb Knox, one of the accordionists, a member of the Balkan Babes and the event manager and director of the accordionists, said the Accordion Pool Party was a big event to get the neighborhood to start thinking about what it can make happen more permanently at Leslie pool, which has been closed for five years. The extravaganza of accordions also brought on board the Guinea West African Drum and Dance Ensemble to provide an opening act and the beat for the finale: a world dance party in the pool. Regardless of the ultimate fate of the pool, a get together like this will bring many intangible positive results. |
Future events |
AAA Presents 8th Annual Carmen Carrozza Scholarship Fund Dinner in May 2010by Rita Barnea |
 |
| On May 2nd, 2010, the American Accordionists; Association proudly presents the 8th Annual Afternoon of Music, Food and Fun to benefit the Carmen Carrozza Scholarship Fund for the advancement of promising young accordionists. Please join us on Sunday, May 2nd, 2010 from 12 Noon until 5 PM at the Magnanini Winery, 172 Strawridge Road, Wallkill, NY. Tel 845-895-2767. This annual event is organized by Dr. Joseph Ciccone, AAA Board member. Please put the date on your calendar and check back soon for more information about special guest artists. For further information: Dr. Joseph Ciccone: drjciccone@aol.com |
Angels and Accordions: October 10 in NYCby Rita Barnea |
 There's a special cultural event coming up that you will want to experience, so if you are near Brooklyn, NY, get there and check it out, because it never fails to satisfy.Angels and Accordions is a site-specific, live music and dance performance appearing on October 10, 2009, at 12 pm and 3:30 pm at the Green-Wood Cemetery. The event is held in conjunction with openhousenewyork, guiding audience members through historic Green-Wood Cemetery’s rolling hills, highlighting its unparalleled collection of sculpture and monuments. This unique event, choreographed by Martha Bowers of Dance Theatre Etcetera, features a cast of 30 dancers. The original music was composed by accordionists, Guy Klucevsek and Bob Goldberg, and will be played live by a band of accordionists. There will be singing, and a visual installation inside the Catacombs designed by photographer Alexander Heilner. Several tombs will be open to the public. Green-Wood Cemetery is one of the most beautiful spots in all of NYC, filled with the graves of the famous and not-so-famous, landscaped perfectly for a symbiosis of spiritual somberness and natural beauty. But to see these dancers hanging from the trees, draped over the tombs, and to hear the accordions as you take a two hour walk through the winding lanes is truly the finest way to experience it. As the earthly sound of the accordions melds with the celestial mystique of the dancers, you truly feel transported into a realm beyond. Angels & Accordions is made possible with funds from The Green-Wood Historic Fund and in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, in partnership with the City Council. Additional funding is provided by the Mertz Gilmore Foundation. A National Historic Landmark-Est. 1838, the main entrance is located at 500 25th Street (on 5th Avenue) in Brooklyn. Via subway, take the R to the 25th Street station. For more info, call 718-768.7300 or e mail: famousaccordions@earthlink.net |
Douglas Brunson, 12 years old, to perform for NHAAby Rita Barnea |
 Accordionist Douglas Brunson was only 11 years old when the New Hampshire State Council on the Arts relaxed its age guidelines in order to award him a grant, making him the youngest recipient in the program’s history. The New Hampshire State Council on the Arts awarded SRSNH members Sylvia Miskoe and Douglas Brunson a Traditional Arts Apprenticeship grant. This grant enabled a master traditional artist, Sylvia, to work with an apprentice, Douglas, for ten months to study traditional Scottish music. One of the grant requirements is a public presentation of what the recipient has learned during the preceding year. When he received this grant, Douglas said, "I am excited to participate in this apprenticeship with Mrs. Miskoe because she shares my love for traditional Scottish music and I believe that she is the best person to teach me the feelings in the tunes." Douglas lives in Merrimack, NH, and began playing accordion when he was 8 years old. After he met John Carmichael at the NH Highland Games, his goal was to play ‘like John’. He began taking Scottish accordion lessons with Sylvia in 2007. Sylvia and Douglas met weekly to learn the style and background of Scottish tunes, from airs and strathspeys to jigs and reels. The goal of the traditional arts apprenticeships is to further traditional arts, i.e. music, woodworking, instrument making, and pass the skills on to other artists. The grant provided monies for Douglas’ lessons and for books and CD’s he used in the learning process. This is the first time a grant has been awarded to an accordionist. Now age 12, Douglas will fulfill this requirement by offering a performance at 1:45 PM on October 18 during the monthly meeting of the New Hampshire Accordion Association [NHAA]. His teacher, Sylvia Miskoe, former music director of the Strathspey and Reel Society of New Hampshire, will also participate in the program. Both Sylvia and Douglas are longstanding members of NHAA. An Oktoberfest celebration will follow their presentation. This event is open to the public without charge and will take place at Accordion Connection, 136 Route 106, Gilmanton, NH 03257. For more information, call 1-800-328-5227 or email regisdonna@yahoo.com. |
Sylvia Miskoe: Scottish & New England Contra Dance Music Accordionistby Rita Barnea |
 Sylvia Miskoe plays the accordion for contra dance and Scottish music. She began playing for contra dances in college and in the 1970’s, she and Cal Howard formed the White Cockade Scottish Dance Band. The group, with four of its original members, still plays for area events, both Scottish and contra dance.Miskoe has traveled to Scotland to further her knowledge of traditional music and studied at Sterling University and the Scottish Country Dance Society Summer School at St Andrews. In 1988, Miskoe became one of the founding members of the Strathspey and Reel Society of New Hampshire, a non profit organization dedicated to the preservation and teaching of Scottish music, serving as the president until 1998. Miskoe was one of the musicians invited to represent New Hampshire at the 1999 Smithsonian Folklife Festival and at the Celebrate New Hampshire festival held in 2000 in Hopkinton. In 2008, Miskoe received a Traditional Arts Apprenticeship grant to teach apprentice, Douglas Brunson, Scottish accordion. In addition to playing for dancing, Sylvia, Tony Saletan, Dan and Molly Lynn Watt have recorded a CD featuring music and stories from the Spanish Civil War. Sylvia is often accompanied by other Scottish and New England contra dance musicians. For further information: smiskoe@aol.com |
Jim Gilman to be Featured Performer at "The Big Squeeze" in Californiaby Rita Barnea |
 Jim Gilman aka “The Squeezinator” will be one of the featured performers at “The Big Squeeze” in Costa Mesa on October 11, 2009.Perhaps it was the phone salesperson from a Chicago accordion school who called Jim Gilman’s parents 52 years ago offering six weeks of free accordion lessons that should get the credit for igniting his musical career. After all, part of the pitch included the comment "they had heard their son had talent." And that statement is true! Jim Gilman, now 60, developed an early love affair with the accordion at age 7. He is one of the featured performers at “The Big Squeeze”, the 1st Orange County Accordion Festival on Sunday, October 11 at the Orange County Market Place in Costa Mesa. He has played the accordion throughout his life and put himself through college as a street performer at Knott’s Berry Farm playing eight hours a day, five days a week while getting paid $1.85 an hour. In 1972, he joined a trio that performed at Holiday Inns across the Midwest. Since then, Gilman has played countless gigs, including sharing the stage with John Denver as well as performing at international festivals including the Cotati Accordion Festival in Northern California and the Las Vegas International Accordion Festival . He’s also played in some unique venues including a sewer in Los Angeles as part of a KFI-AM broadcast radio stunt and on a small plane for a wedding while flying over Los Angeles. Though he still plays with his band now and then, he has taken on an entirely different persona, in which he refers to himself as “The Squeezinator”. Gilman has played every type of music on his accordion. “I don’t think there’s any particular style or genre that I prefer,” he says. “I’ve always prided myself on doing a wide variety of music, although I do lean to older music if for no other reason than it’s better constructed—nicer chords, prettier melodies, more interesting rhythms. That would be especially true if I were just playing an acoustic accordion. With the advent of all the electronics I now have at my disposal, it’s become much easier to move in a whole new direction. It’s been a challenge, but it’s been fun." The Big Squeeze is all about bringing people together for a happy time. Along with Gilman, who performs at 10:15 a.m., noon and 3:30 p.m. and will serve as a stage emcee, the new event will bring together dozens of other accordionists playing a variety of traditional and contemporary accordion music including Cajun, Zydeco, Old Creole, Russian Folk, Polka, Tejano and other music genres during the one day festival held in conjunction with the Orange County Market Place, the weekend swap meet at the O. C, Fair & Event Center in Costa Mesa. The event runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and will include four stages of accordion based bands and solo accordionists, strolling entertainment, dance lessons, an open jam session, educational presentations , special vendors including music stores and accordion related items, all of which will be presented amidst the other swap meet activity, In its 40th year the Orange County Market Place is held every weekend (except during the Orange County Fair) at the O.C. Fair and Event Center in Costa Mesa. Hours are 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. and include nearly 1,000 merchants, fresh produce, gourmet foods to go, artisans and crafters, manufactured homes, kid’s play area, inflatable attractions, hair salon, food concessions and more. Admission is $2 but will be waived with a canned food donation for the Orange County Food Bank. Entrance is free for kids 12 and under. More information is available by calling 949-723-6660. |
Accordion Cruise to Feature Frank Morocco and an International Competition in April 2010by Rita Barnea |
 |
 For the first time in the accordion history, the International Accordion Forum, in partnership with Costa Cruises and the sponsorship of Asso Artisti, is pleased to present the festival ACCORDIONS CRUISE.This 1st International Online Competition, "ACCORDIONS ON THE SEA", hosted by International Accordion Forum will be held from April 17th-24th, 2010 on Costa Victoria Ship during the ACCORDIONS CRUISE FESTIVAL. "Accordions On The Sea" is an international accordion competition for soloist, chamber ensembles and orchestras which will take place on line on YouTube. You will have to use a Video Camera to record your performance. Then place the video on YouTube and send the link to redazione@accordionplanet.net A jury will evaluate your performance and you will be informed of your score. The award ceremony will take place during the cruise from 17th to 24th April 2010 and the winners, if they want, can receive the award directly on the ship. This competition will take place only if a minimum of 50 candidates is reached. The competition is for acoustic accordions and MIDI accordions. During the cruise, there will be a free workshop with the renowned accordionist, Frank Morocco. Frank Marocco was born in Joliet, Illinois USA 1/2/31. He studied classical accordion for 9 years in the Chicago area. Frank Marocco also studied clarinet, Piano, Harmony & Theory. Frank began his professional career playing in clubs and hotels all over America with a trio he organized when he was eighteen. Jazz was his first love but the opportunity to make a living playing Jazz was not easy and he eventually made his way west to Los Angeles where he worked as a session studio musician becoming one of the most recorded accordionists in the world playing on hundreds of movie soundtracks, TV shows and record dates. He has recorded film music with a long list of composers; John Williams, Quincy Jones, Elmer Bernstein, Michele Le Grand, Henry Mancini and dozens of others. Frank Marocco has also played with some of the best jazz musicians in America and Europe; Ray Brown, Jeff Hamilton, Zoot Sims, Joe Pass, Joey Baron, Herb Ellis, Ray Pizzi, Ivor Malherbe, Massimo Tagliata, Conti Candoli, Philippe Cornaz, John Pattatucchi, Mats Vinding, Marcel Papaux, Angela Hagenbach, Ron Feuer, Richard Galliano, Peter Erskine, Klaus Paier, Renzo Ruggieri, Pete Christlieb, Larry Koonse, Simone Zanchini, Andy Simpkins, Bob Shepard, Frank Rossolino, Jim Hall, Carl Fontana, Abraham Laboriel, Grant Geissman, Luis Conte and Stix Hooper just to name a few. His passion is Jazz and in recent years has been playing concerts in Europe, Japan and Brazil. In the world of accordion performance, Frank Marocco is a giant. Not only for his mastery of the instrument itself, but for his highly developed musicality. In any style, on the concert stage or in the recording studio, his playing is technically brilliant and musically superb. Frank Marocco is one of the most recorded accordionist in America (and, possibly, the world), having played on a vast number of movie soundtracks, television scores, commercial jingles and record albums, in the studios of Hollywood and beyond. He has recorded for and/or worked with artists ranging from Brian Wilson, Pink Floyd and Madonna to Luciano Pavarotti, conductor Maxim Shostakovich and composer John Williams. Frank Morocco was nominated eight years in a row for the Most Valuable Player Award by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (N.A.R.A.S) and received that award twice. Frank is also a consummate jazz artist and a gifted composer with several of his own albums to his credit. He has played his music for audiences all over the world. For further information: redazione@accordionplanet.net |