Greetings from Finland!

The Sata-Häme Soi Accordion Festival is pleased to announce a new International Accordion Competition called the Primus Ikaalinen to be held in Ikaalinen, Finland on the 1st of July, 2005.

The genre of the competition is varietee/entertainment music. In the Final, the contestants perform two pieces of 3-4 minutes suitable for a public entertainment concert, including one piece from their native country, if possible.

All together five contestants will be awarded prizes totaling 7,000 Euros.

The final will be a live TV broadcast in a fully booked concert hall, in front of a real concert audience. The finalists will be accompanied by a professional band (piano, guitar, bass, keyboard and drums.) The chairman of the jury is Mr. Richard Galliano.

In order to take part in the competition, the contestant should play 4-5 pieces of his/her own choice and record it on a tape, video, CD, DVD or minidisk. The tape, a completed entry form and other attachments mentioned on the entry form should be sent to the organizer by the 31st of January 2005. The competition Committee will then select 8-10 contestants to the Final in Ikaalinen. The finalists will be informed by a letter of their success no later than the 15th of March 2005. The contestants will be provided with free accommodation in Ikaalinen and a travel grant of 250 Euros.

Primus Ikaalinen is part of the week-long Sata-Häme Soi Accordion Festival. This gives the contestants the possibility to enjoy the festival program outside the competition. The festival program will include a large variety of accordion music, with different styles and versatile artists from both Finland and abroad. The contestants will have a free admission to all the festival events and concerts.

The Competition Rules

1. The Primus Ikaalinen International Accordion Competition will be organized by the Sata-Häme Soi Accordion Festival and Municipality of Ikaalinen together with guidance of the Finnish Accordion Association, the Confédération Internationale des Accordéonistes (CIA) and Finland's National TV Channel 'TV2' on 1st July 2005.

2. The contestant must perform two (2) virtuoso entertainment style pieces of 3-4 minutes in duration suitable for a public entertainment concert, and should include one (1) folkloristic piece from their native country if possible. The contestants will perform their pieces accompanied by a band provided by the organizers. The competition will be televised live on Finland's National TV Channel 'TV2.'

3. Accordionists under the age 32 on 1st of July 2005 wishing to enter the competition must send a completed and signed application form to the Competition Secretary by 31st January 2005.

Primus Ikaalinen
Sata-Häme Soi Accordion Festival
P.O. Box 33
F-39501 Ikaalinen
FINLAND

4. The application must include the following enclosures: a copy of the applicant's passport or birth certificate a short history of the applicant's musical studies and concerts any recommendations and major concert reviews an audio tape including an own choice program of 4-5 pieces (CD, minidisk or video) two publicity style press photos Application documents and tapes cannot be returned

5. The Competition Committee will select 8-10 contestants from the submitted application documents and recordings. The successful applicants will be advised in writing by a letter dated no later than 15th March 2005. The contestant from Finland will be the winner of the Golden Accordion Final Competition held on 30th of June 2005.

6. Free accommodation will be provided for the contestants in the Ikaalinen Summer Hostel during the competition. Contestants will also be awarded a travel grant of 250 Euros. Contestants requiring a visa for Finland must obtain it themselves, however it will be paid for by the organizer. The travel grant and the visa cost will be paid to the contestant upon registration.

7. The jury will consist of five members who are internationally recognized musicians.

8. Awards - The top five winners will be awarded prizes as follows:

• 1st Prize: 3,000 Euros
• 2nd Prize: 2,000 Euros
• 3rd Prize: 1,000 Euros
• 4th Prize: 500 Euros
• 5th Prize: 500 Euros

The prizes will be awarded at the conclusion of the competition on 1st July 2005.

9. The organizers of the competition will have unlimited rights to broadcast the competition performances on radio and television in Finland and abroad.

10. For further information please contact:
Primus Ikaalinen
Sata-Häme Soi International Festival
PO Box 33
F-39501 Ikaalinen, FINLAND

Festival Competition Organizer: Minna Kulmala: minna.kulmala@satahamesoi.fi

A capacity audience of family and friends packed the Tenri Cultural Institute in New York City for the premier of a new film entitled "The Unforgivable Sin' as Micki Goodman and Dr. William Schimmel celebrated 25 years of marriage and collaboration in theater, dance, music and performance art. (Pictured left are Micki Goodman, Dr. William Schimmel and film editor Deborah Magosci.)

Presented in four parts, (1) Evidence (2) Falling From Grace (3) Parousia and (4) What Is This Thing Called Accordion? The Unforgivable Sin marks Micki's film making debut.

Edited by Deborah Magosci, also an accordionist, the film is not a documentary but has its own nonlinear plot. Part 4 focuses in on Dr. Schimmel and his accordion philosophies; Part 3 focuses in on the term Parousia, meaning presence; Part 2 focuses in on the constant sense of struggle, conflict and non-resolve; and Part 1 defines the plight of Dr. Schimmel in his accordion quest - and the price he has to pay for it.

The film debut was followed by a reception in honor of the film, the holiday season and the 25th wedding anniversary of Micki Goodman and Dr. William Schimmel, pictured right after the NY Premiere.

For further information e-mail: billschimmel@billschimmel.com

Quartetto Gelato featuring accordionist Alexander Sevastian performed two sold out concerts in New York City at the Metropolitan Museum in December performing Christmas Music from around the World. Part of the 51st Concert Season and set in the beautiful Medieval Sculpture Hall in front of the Musiceum's Christmas tree and Neapolitan Baroque creche, this was the fourth appearance at the Met during the Holiday Season.

Pictured left are members: Cynthia Steljes - oboe, Peter DeSotto - tenor vocals and violin, David Hetherington - cello and musical saw, Alexander Sevastian - accordion.

Listeners were treated to a program offering a sense of reverence, melancholy, and joy listening to pieces that traveled throughout the USA, Canada, Italy, England, France, Germany and the Czech Republic.

Selections ranged from secular to sacred, classical to popular and traditional to contemporary as instrumentals and vocals in a theatrical setting that also included poetry and dialogue. The capacity audience brought the group back for several encores.

The Quartetto Gelato has been featured regularly on National Public Radio's Performance Today program, where in 1996 they were awarded the title of "Debut Artist of the Year." Their most recent recording "Quartetto Gelato Travels the Orient Express", celebrates the journey of this famous train and features music from London to Istanbul. Their repertoire ranges from classical masterworks and operatic arias to the sizzling energy of Tangos, Gypsy and Folk songs.

The accordionist in the group, Alexander Sevastian is a three-time first prizewinner of international accordion competitions. He won the Oslofjord in Norway (1998), The Cup of the North in Russia (2000), and the ATG Anthony Galla-Rini Competition for Classical Accordion in the USA (2001).

He was born in Minsk, Belarus and began his studies on the bayan (chromatic accordion) at the age of 7. In 1991 he attended the Glinka Musical College in Minsk.

His advanced studies took him to the Gnessin Academy of Music in Moscow where he received his Masters in Performance degree, studying with the renowned performer and pedagogue, Friedrich Lips. Alex began his professional career in Moscow in 1996, performing with the Russian Radio Orchestra.

He has performed as recitalist and soloist with orchestras throughout Russia, Ukraine, Germany, Italy and Japan. Highlights include performances at the Tchaikowsky Concert Hall in Moscow, Suntory Hall in Tokyo and the Minato Mirai Hall in Yokohama.

Alexander and his family moved to Canada in April 2001. In May 2003 he completed the Advanced Certificate in Performance program at the University of Toronto where he studied with Joseph Macerollo.

Since September 2002 Alexander has been playing with the internationally recognized group "Quartetto Gelato" and has toured regularly in the United States and Canada.

The group has also appeared in Korea, Japan and Italy and their 2005 concert season will see them back in Europe and Asia as well as throughout the United States and Canada.

The program was as follows:

• United Kingdom: Master in This Hall/The Dargason - Gustav Holst
  arranged by Quartetto Gelato
• Italy: Concerto Fatto per La Notte di Natale - Archangelo Corelli
  arranged by Cynnthia Steljes
• USA: Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas - R. Blane & H. Martin
  arranged by Bill Bridges
• Czech Republic: Zither Carol Variations - Traditional/Steljes
  arranged by Quartetto Gelato
• Italy: Gesu Bambino - Pietro Yon
  arranged by Quartetto Gelato
• Germany: Konzerstuck - Carl Maria von Weber
  arranged by DeSotto/Alexander Sevastian
• Germany: Silent Night Story - Franz Bruber
  
• Canada: Magic of Christmas - Shelley Brown/Renee Rosnes
  
• USA: Music for a Sleigh Ride - Leroy Anderson
  arranged by Howard Cable
• France: O Holy Night - Alphonse Adam
  arranged by Eric Robertson

Russian accordionist and composer Viatcheslav Semionov will tour the United States in March in conjunction with giving the World Premiere of his most recent composition, a work that was commissioned by the American Accordionists Association in honor of Mrs. Faithe Deffner and her many years of service as President and officer of the organization.

Viatcheslav Semionov was born in 1946 in the ancient city of Trubchevsk, Bryansk (about 300km south of Moscow). Following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather, he began playing the bayan (chromatic accordion) at the age of 7. After his father's initial tuition he continued his studies at the Rostov Art College and the Gnessin Musical Pedagogical Institute in Moscow ( now called the Russian Gnessin Academy of Music), one of the great musical centers in Russia.

At 21 years of age his international career began, when he started to take part in accordion competitions in Klingenthal, Germany (1967), Sofia, Bulgaria (1968) and Berlin, Germany (1973), in all of which he was placed in the top three. As concert artist Viatcheslav Semionov has given concerts in more than 30 countries.

Viatcheslav Semionov (who may rightly be called the founder of the modern school of the bayan) began teaching in 1968 at the Rostov Musical Pedagogical Institute. Since then, fifteen of his students have been competition winners at international level and many others of his students have won national competitions. Youri Shishkin, Anatoli Zaikin and Youri Dranga, Alexander Poeluev, Nikolai Sivchuk, Alexander Selivanov, Evgeny Kochetov, and Pavel Mangasaryan are among his best known students and most recent International competition winners.

In addition to his World Premiere performance on March 11, 2005 at the CUNY Concert, Mr. Semionov will also be performing in Washington DC, Detroit, Kansas City and Atlanta between March 10-21, 2005.

Anyone interested in hosting a concert for Mr. Semionov should contact the US Tour Organizer Mrs. Faithe Deffner as soon as possible for details.

The American Accordion Musicological Society announces the AAMS 2005 Accordion Festival to be held March 4-6, 2005 at the Wyndham Valley Forge Suites Hotel in Wayne, PA.

Accordion enthusiasts from the United States and Canada will gather together for a great weekend of concerts, workshops, and competitions. This years featured performer is Betty Jo Simon from Kansas City.

The 2005 Honoree into the AAMS Accordion Hall of Fame is Tony Ettore, accordionist, teacher, conductor, past-president of AAA and an outstanding person. A dinner will be held in his honor on Saturday evening, March 5th.

Suites have been reserved for attendees at the Wyndham Valley Forge Suites. Please make your reservations by February 12, 2005 to guarantee the rate and availability. Package registrations and all guidelines and information concerning the weekend are available on the AAMS web site.

For more information contact: Joanna Arnold Darrow, 322 Haddon Ave., Westmont, NJ 08108. Telephone: (856) 854-6628 or E-mail: accordion1@comcast.net

For online registration and other information, please visit: www.aamsaccordionfestival.com

The Texas Accordion Association will hold its annual 'Accordion Homecoming' festival in Richardson, Texas from March 10-13, 2005. The convention opens at Noon on Thursday, March 10, and features an evening Polka Festival.

Friday and Saturday will feature free morning concerts at 10:00 AM, a day full of workshops and programs with evening concerts being held at 8:00 PM and after hours events such as Western Swing Session and Late Evening Jazz Sessions being held after the concerts.

This year the TAA Festival Orchestra will be conducted by Joan C. Sommers and will feature the following program:

• National Emblem March ……………………………E. E. Bagley (4 minutes)
  Arranged by A. Galla-Rini
• Granada (Spanish Fantasia) ………………………Augustin Lara (4:30 minutes)
  Arranged by Joan C. Sommers
• Bolero Boogie …………………………… Edwin A. Finckel (4 minutes)
• Waltz from "Sleeping Beauty" …………P. Tchaikowsky (4 minutes)
  Arranged by C. Mahr
• Gershwin Medley …………………………George Gershwin (7:30 minutes)
  Arranged by Joan C. Sommers
  Strike Up The Band - Rhapsody in Blue - Fascinating Rhythm
  An American in Paris - Somebody Loves Me - I've Got a Crush on You
  Swanee - The Man I Love - Embraceable You - I Got Rhythm
  
• Liechtensteiner Polka ………………E. Kotscher & R. Lindt (3:05 minutes)
  Arranged by A. Galla-Rini
  

The American Accordionists' Association (AAA) will hold an International Virtuoso Entertainment Extravaganza, the '2005 Vivian Vivio Stolaruk International Accordion Competition' offering a Grand First Prize of US$10,000 as part of its annual competition and festival which will be held from July 6-10, 2005 at the Hyatt Regency in Dearborn, Michigan.

In addition to this major international competition, the AAA festival offers competitions for all ages and ability in solos, duets, ensembles, bands, workshops and concerts, massed band and concert orchestra and exhibits and displays.

Detroit is home to the American Automobile where you can visit the Henry Ford Museum, General Motors Headquarters, the Historic Greenfield Village, Frankenmuth Bavarian Village and much more.

Festival participants will receive a special rate of $94.00 single-quad occupancy at the Hyatt Regency festival headquarters.

Further details on the International Competition and other activities will be announced soon on the AAA website, or please contact the AAA at: AAA1938@aol.com

• Art Van Damme First Prize - $3,000.00
• Art Van Damme Runner Up Prize - $1,500.00
• Frank Marocco Prize - $1,000.00

The City University of New York will present a concert entitled "From Frosini to Foss, A Half Century of Contemporary Music for the Accordion" at the Elebash Recital Hall at the CUNY Graduate Center (5th Ave. and 34th Street in New York City) on Friday, March 11, 2005 at 7:30 PM.

There will be a pre-concert panel discussion: 6:30 PM. The concert will featured music by Guido and Pietro Deiro, David Diamond, Eugene Ettore, Lukas Foss, John Franceschina, Pietro Frosini, John Gart, Sofia Gubaidulina, Robert McMahan, Viatcheslav Semionov and Dr. William Schimmel.

Performed by accordionists Carmen Carrozza (left), Beverly Roberts Curnow, Rita Davidson, Henry Doktorski, Robert Young McMahan, Viatcheslav Semionov and William Schimmel; with Allan Atlas (English concertina), Madeleine Shapiro (cello), Airi Yoshioka (violin), and Allysa Lamb (soprano). The concert is co-sponsored by Meet the Composer and the Carmen Carrozza Scholarship Fund and is held in conjunction with the American Accordionists Association.

Tickets are $20 ($12 with CUNY ID or Senior Citizen ID). For tickets and information: Office of Continuing Education (212) 817-8215 or continuinged.@gc.cuny.edu

Maestro Anthony Galla-Rini will celebrate his 101st Birthday on January 18, 2005 at his residence in Corona, CA.

This is not only a chance to wish the Maestro a wonderful birthday but also a perfect opportunity acknowledge his lifelong contributions to the accordion world.

Throughout his career, his performances, his compositions, his recordings, his arrangements, his musical direction, his teaching, his leadership role in the accordion community, his inspiration and in general 'his love for the accordion' has touched us all.

Over 60 years ago, he was one of the 29 founding members of the Accordionists and Teachers Guild, International (ATG) where he now serves as President Emeritus. In 1951 he traveled to the Confédération Internationale des Accordéonistes (CIA) General Assembly in Paris, France where he successfully petitioned the ATG's membership into the CIA.

To this day, the ATG and fellow USA member the American Accordionists' Association of whom he was also a founding member, take an active and valuable role in CIA activities as they endeavor to promote the accordion in the international arena, including hosting the 2007 Coupe Mondiale World Accordion Championships in the United States.

Mr. Galla-Rini's efforts on behalf of the ATG laid the groundwork for them to work on a global level with fellow national accordion organizations from around the world as well as establish affiliation to the International Music Council, the largest non-governmental sector of UNESCO.

In 1984 the CIA proudly acknowledged Galla-Rini's outstanding contributions to the International accordion movement by awarding him the 'CIA Merit Award' at the General Assembly in Folkstone, United Kingdom. Galla-Rini's profound impact on the accordion movement continues to this day, and will last forever.

Mr. Galla-Rini will spend his 101st birthday surrounded by your family and friends at his residence in California. If you would like to send birthday wishes and cards, please address them to:

Mr. Anthony Galla-Rini
Garden Retreat
853 West Crestview Street
Corona, CA 92882

New Zealand's most prolific composer for accordion, composer/conductor Gary Daverne has just released a CD of his works recorded by the Moravian Philharmonic conducted by Petr Poloanik. Recorded in Olomouc, Czech Republic, the CD includes one work for accordion and String Orchestra with soloist Kevin Friedrich.

The work entitled "Gem of the Kaipara" was written in memory of the late Mrs. Jenny Cocurullo, a lifetime member of the New Zealand Accordion Association, and long time supporter of the arts from Dargaville, New Zealand, the home town of Kevin Friedrich who now lives in New York City.

Daverne's first recording of his orchestral music was recorded with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra (NZSO) and also included one accordion concerto, the "Rhapsody for Accordion and Orchestra" performed by soloist Harley Jones.

The renowned Moravian Philharmonic from Olomouc, Czech Republic has toured internationally to critical acclaim while performing in some of the finest concert halls of the world.

Olomouc, the home of the Moravian Philharmonic, is located about three hours east of Prague. Rich in heritage with cathedrals dating from the 1200's and the original centuries-old cobblestone Streets, Olomouc has hosted such famous musicians as Mozart, Mahler and Dvorak during its history.

The CD is available on-line from Marbecks New Zealand

Mark your calendars for the opening and first meeting of the Atlanta Accordion Club!

This historic meeting will take place on Monday, January 10, 2005 from 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM at the Five Seasons Restaurant, 5600 Roswell Road, Atlanta, at the Prado. Phone: 404-255-5911. For directions & restaurant info: http://www.5seasonsbrewing.com/Directions.html

All accordionists and friends of the accordion of all ages and skill levels are invited to attend this first meeting and guests are invited to bring family members, friends and your accordion, midi accordion, bayan or concertina, etc... A microphone and small amplifier will be available

This is an opportunity to meet and hear other accordion players in the Atlanta area and a chance to gather ideas about how to best form and improve the club for future meetings and events.

The Atlanta Accordion Club need your participation! They hope to get many of the attendees to agree to play for 5-10 minutes so all can hear as great a variety of music as possible. If you'd rather not play, we understand, and your attendance applause will work!

Organizers hope that a club in Atlanta (like other successful clubs around the country) will help to promote the accordion and provide opportunities for teaching, exchanging ideas and music, trading/selling equipment and other accoridon related activities.

Interested parties are invited to express their interest and number of guests that might be attending by calling Jake at 770-447- 9841 (evenings) or 770-416-8298 (days) or Biff at 770-591-3778.

For more information, please visit: www.geocities.com/atlantaaccordions/club.html

The Washington Metropolitan Accordion Society (WMAS) will be opening its 2005 season with their January 11 meeting. Accordionist Steve Tchamouroff will be the featured artist performing a variety of popular European music from Spain to Russia.

With the mission of WMAS (pronounced Wah-mass) to bring together accordionists and promote accordion music in the national capital region, WMAS will begin 2005 by offer their support in promoting the January 15, 2005 appearance of the Ossipov Orchestra of Moscow, featuring bayanist Dmitri Dmitrienko. Dmitri Dmitrienko is considered one of the best bayanists in Russia and the concert will also feature vocalist Anna Litvenenko.

Hosted by The Washington Balalaika Society (WBS) the Ossipov Orchestra will present their concert on Saturday evening, January 15, in Potomac, MD. If you are interested in attending with the WMAS, please contact Jim Vandelly ASAP at vandelly@erols.com or vandelly@starpower.net. The ticket price is $45 per person.

WMAS recently featured NJ based accordionist Rita Davidson who performed a wonderful mix of classical and folk music to a very appreciative audience of accordionists from throughout the Washington area.

WMAS meets on the second Tuesday every month at 7:30 PM at Sleepy Hollow United Methodist Church in Falls Church, Virginia. Dues are $15 a year, and, to cover the cost of renting the church, we ask everyone to contribute $2 at each meeting.

For questions about the WMAS organization, contact the president: Karen Denice at: (703) 671-5395 or e-mail: wmas2002@cox.net

The CD liner notes for the recent Bridge Records double compact disc anthology, "Vaudeville Accordion Classics: The Complete Works of Guido Deiro," were nominated for the prestigious "ASCAP Deems Taylor Award" for outstanding print, broadcast and new media coverage of music. The 23-page liner notes, written by Henry Doktorski (an American concert accordionist who also performed the music on the CDs), were definitive and scholarly, and described the exciting history of the life and music of Guido Deiro (1886-1950), Pietro's older brother.

Frank J. Oteri (editor of the American Music Center's "New Music Box" Internet magazine), expressed his appreciation for the discs and the liner notes:

"Few recordings are made with as much tender loving care as Henry Doktorski's CD of the complete solo accordion music of Guido Deiro. Prior to hearing this illuminating and extremely entertaining recording, the name Deiro was just a name I had heard and read about. I knew that he had something to do with the accordion, I believe there was even a music shop in Greenwich Village when I was just beginning my musical studies named for him (or his brother) which sold accordion arrangements, but I never had heard his music."

"To discover his music in a package that affords his work the same respect as the repertoire of the classical canon is truly a blessing; not only are these recordings respectful and definitive, the annotation couldn't be better. (It actually makes you want to listen again and again.)"

Oteri concluded, "The fact that the annotator and the performer are the same person is remarkable, but it makes sense that Doktorski's passion for this music as a scholar would translate into vibrant performances and that his clarity in performance would be the result of his scholarship. I'm eager to hear more."

Vaudeville Accordion Classics can be ordered at http://henrydoktorski.com

The music of the Mad Maggies will stick in your ears, itch your dancing toes, and lift up your spirits. Eight musicians from the San Francisco Bay Area happily careen across the musical map whipping up pleasingly unusual, dance-inducing tunes in a startling array of styles in their new CD release, "Crazed and Enthused".

Maggie Martin, composer/singer and longtime accordionist with Polkacide, is responsible for this musical mayhem of accordion, sax, trombone, tuba, trumpet, guitars and percussion

A native San Franciscan and parochial school survivor, Mags (Maggie) made her debut as a musical director when she organized an a capella chorus of willing classmates in grammar school. She successfully pitched the ensemble to the sister superior as ideal headliners for a charity benefit. Admission was set at a nickel and student body attendance was required. The door netted $60.00, the performers made nothing and thus began her long career in the arts!

A string of all girl rock and roll bands followed. Then came voice and piano teachers, night classes in ear training and eventually a degree in music. In the 90s, she formed the theater ensemble, Mixed Company with choreographer Diana Keener, for which she wrote five feature length shows. She has written music for dance, community TV projects, advertising and a comedy show and she has played in Polkacide for the past 10 years.

Her ardent wish is that through music she can get people on their feet, kicking up their heels, shaking off their woes.

Martin loves nothing more than to write tunes, wrangle musicians, and sing her heart out. In early 2004 she gathered up some of her favorite players to record an album of original songs. The project took eight months and they had so much fun doing it that they decided to start playing live and take the sound on the road.

All of the Mad Maggies have been playing music for a lifetime, racking up long lists of performance experiences, brushes with fame and show savvy. You might say they are all a tad mad and you just might catch that madness when you listen to them.

For more information and to order the CD, please visit: http://themadmaggies.com or contact: Maggie Martin at: madmags@themadmaggies.com

One of the best, if not THE best Irish rock band in America" says Joe Farrell on "Celtic Crossings" Hot Talk Radio Show!

You can find out for yourself if your travels take you to Kansas City during the month of January, with weekly shows at Molloy Brothers Irish Pub, 1020 Westport Road, Kansas City. Shows are January 8, 15, 22 and 29th.

The Elders, a Kansas City-based supergroup of Celtic rock, call it "kickin' music from the heartland." Formed in 1997, The Elders focus many of their songs on stories of Irish history, distant and recent, real and imagined and then give those traditional stories and sounds a muscular rock underpinning. They have become fixtures on the seasonal festival circuit, blowing away crowds from New York to Colorado, and points in between.

Brett made his debut with The Elders in August, 2004 and has been active performing with the group in all their shows ever since. A native of Auckland, New Zealand, Brett began playing the accordion at age 7 and at the age of 12 won his first New Zealand championship for that age category and continued to seriously play and compete into his late teens as a soloist and with duet, trio, quartet, ensemble and orchestra. Now resident in the United States, more recently Brett can be seen playing with DescargaKC, a Latin Jazz band and now, of course, the Elders.

For more information on The Elders, please visit www.eldersmusic.com

Accordionist Stas Venglevski has just released a new CD entitled "My Main Squeeze."

My Main Squeeze is modern music for solo, two bayans, and other instruments. "Waves of Light" by Sergei Berinsky is a duo performed by Friedrich Lips and Stas Venglevski. The title piece is a trio fro Cello, Trumpet and Bayan written by Yehuda Yannay. Other pieces include "Interier: Voices and Echoes" for bayan and string trio by Gabriel Iranyi and "One-Legged Dancer" which was originally written for toy piano by Yannay and adapted for the bayan by Stas Venglevski.

For information on Stas or to order the CD, please visit: www.accoridons.com/stas or contact Stas Venglevski stas.venglevski@verizon.net

The featured International guest artists for the 2005 ATG Festival from June 15-19, 2005 in Richardson, Texas will be the popular Russian pair, the Moscow Duo. Since their formation of the Moscow Duo in 1995, Evgenij Grechov and Aleksandr Ushakov have concertized throughout Russia as well as in Denmark, Portugal, Germany, Korea, Italy and the United States .

In October 1998 the Moscow Duo participated in the International contest "Citta Di Castelfidardo Prize" in Italy and was awarded first prize.

The variety of music in their program ranging from classical music to the colorful Russian Folk Music, mostly performed from their own arrangements and transcriptions regularly brings the audiences to their feet.

Featuring our local US artists, this year we have two legends - known to all for their outstanding careers in the entertainment field. Art Van Damme, a legendary American jazz musician has given the Accordion a whole new unique sound that is internationally recognized. He has combined the Accordion with Guitar and Vibes, and a rhythm section of Bass and Drums, thus creating a unique sound, and with the harmonic melodies and jazz rhythms they produce, truly separated them from any other musical group.

The ATG is also pleased to feature Frank Marocco, who will appear in concert during the festival.

He began a career which includes traveling with Bob Hope visiting the servicemen in many countries; being featured on the Les Brown Band, including six Love Boat cruises. A resident in Los Angeles, Frank has been very active doing studio work: movie soundtracks, TV movies, TV series, records and advertising jingles. Frank has also composed and arranged many accordion works in jazz and classical music.

In addition to the regular features of the ATG Festival including competitions, trade show displays, workshops and concerts, the 2005 Festival will also offer its popular ATG Festival Accordion Orchestra which this year attracted 85 players. The 2005 ATG Festival Orchestra will be conducted by Joan C. Sommers.

For festival information, please visit www.accordions.com/atg

The Friends of the Charles Allis Art Museum present an extraordinary evening of classical and Russian folk music by accordionist Stas Venglevski accompanied by Michael Litvin on the mandolin. The program will include Baroque music by Russian and European composers and a selection of Russian folk songs and other music. A light "medley" of Russian delicacies will be served.

Stas has impressed and delighted many Milwaukeeans and audiences in Europe, the former USSR, the US and Canada and has been an acclaimed performer since receiving his Masters Degree in Music from the Gnessin Academy of Music in Moscow.

Tom Strini, music critic for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, called Stas "Astoundingly virtuostic." Another reviewer at the Columbus Dispatch in Ohio said "his performance shouted outstanding musician."

A vibrant, urban center for Wisconsin artists, the Charles Allis Art Museum continually strengthens and supports the Milwaukee community by elevating the visibility and prestige of local talent through its sponsorship of exhibitions featuring Wisconsin artists in changing exhibitions. At the Allis there is an emphasis on fine art - drawing, painting, photography, printmaking and sculpture. Charles and Sarah Allis generously bequeathed the home and its collection to the public to "delight, inspire and educate." The Tudor-style mansion is intact with original furnishings and an art collection spanning more than 2,000 years.

The Museum also hosts a variety of events and programs that not only entertain patrons, but educates as well. Located at 1801 N. Prospect Ave., the Museum is part of the Milwaukee County War Memorial complex and a partner of the Villa Terrace Decorative Arts Museum, 2220 N. Terrace Ave.

Tickets are $25.00 for members and $35.00 for nonmembers. For reservations and information please call: 414-278-8295 ext. 15. or visit www.cavtmuseums.org

On Saturday February 12, 2005 from 7:00 - 10:00 PM, accordionists will gather in Calgary to celebrate the "Accordion a la Carte" annual get together.

This festival is run at least once a year and is often situated in a local coffee house. The audience is treated to the closest thing Calgary has to a Parisian cafe and are encouraged to chat amongst themselves while drinking and eating while many of our performers play a few selections.

There are no guidelines for the performer as far as the choice of songs and almost every type of music can be heard at Accordion a la Carte from polkas to blues to French cafe music. A la Carte often ends with a short jam session for anyone who cares to join in.

The Accordion A la Carte get together will be held at the St. Cecilia's Church Hall on the main floor, located at 321 - 90 Avenue SE, Calgary, AB. For further information, please contact the Accordion Association of Calgary: 32 Armstrong Cres. SE, Calgary, AB, T2J 0X3 - Canada or e-mail: accordion_assoc@mac.com