Top Dog Run Performance

Lenny Feldmann in the News

Addison Oktoberfest Results

Gem of the Kaipara in the Czech Republic

Two young Kansas City resident accordionists Shanxi Upsdell (left) and Christine Jarquio (right), both of whom qualified to compete in the Confederation Internationale des Accordeonistes Coupe Mondiale World Accordion Championships are giving recitals as preparation for their upcoming international competitions.

The 56th Coupe Mondiale will be held from October 20-25 in Sturovo, Slovakia and Esztergom Hungary and will feature young accordionists from all over the world competing in six different categories.

Shanxi will be competing in the International Competition for Piano Accordion and the Junior Virtuoso Entertainment Divisions and Christine will be competing in the Junior Virtuoso Entertainment Division.

Shanxi Upsdell, originally from New Zealand, likes reading, writing and playing the accordion. Although home-schooled, Shanxi attends Johnson County Community College part-time through the Quickstep program, which enables students to earn college credit before graduating high school. She will explore either a communications or journalism major in college.

Shanxi has been very active in the area of debate and won national honors last year. She has been studying accordion with Joan Sommers for several years now and is also a member of the UMKC Community Accordion Orchestra.

Christine Jarquio is a senior at Fort Osage High School in Independence, Missouri. She has been studying with Joan Cochran Sommers for three and a half years and plays in the UMKC Community Accordion Orchestra.

Christine was the top accordion virtuoso at the Mid-America Music Association (MAMA) festival in 2000, and this past summer, took first in both the ATG Piano Accordion and ATG Junior Virtuoso Entertainment categories at the Accordionists and Teacher's Guild, International (ATG) festival held in Chicago. Christine recently got to attend a college program at the University of Cambridge in England. In addition to the accordion, Christine also plays the piano and sings in the school choir.

Shanxi and Christine presented their first concert on September 28th, and will be featured again on Sunday October 12th at 3 PM at the Filipino Cultural Center, 9810 West 79th St.
Overland Park, KS 66204, (Near I-35 and 75th St.).

Shanxi, a New Zealand citizen will be representing the New Zealand Accordion Association while Christine will be representing the Accordionists and Teachers Guild, International. Both are students of Joan C. Sommers at the University of Missouri - Kansas City Continuing Education program.

For information on how these fine young musicians do at the Coupe Mondiale, as well as the other USA Contestants Andrea Caruso (representing the ATG in the Junior Coupe Mondiale) and Christopher Gorton (representing the AAA in the International Competition for Piano Accordion) please follow the daily reports from Slovakia/Hungary from October 20-25, 2003 by visiting the CIA webiste at: www.accordions.com/cia

The "Other Accordion" the contemporary Music Scene will feature a concert of contemporary Music for the accordion on Friday October 10th, at 7:30 PM at Elebash Recital Hall at the Graduate Center of the City University of New York, 365 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY (located opposite the Empire State Building.)

The concert will be preceded by an informal panel discussion beginning at 6:30 PM with Robert Young McMahan (moderator - pictured left) James Jengini and William Schimmel (panelists) which will focus on the works to be performed at the concert.

Program will include works by Paul Creston, Pietro Deiro, Pietro Frosini, Ernst Krenek, James Lentini, Robert Young McMahan, William Schimmel, Alexander Tcherepnin, and others and will represent a wide variety of 20th century styles. Artists will be noted classical accordionists Carmen Carrozza, Robert McMahan, Beverly Roberts, Christopher Gorton (Recipient of 2003 Carmen Carrozza Scholarship Award) and William Schimmel with cellist Madeleine Shapiro of Modernworks and soprano Alyssa Lamb.

The concert is part of the Public Programs at the Graduate Center series and will be cosponsored by the American Accordionists Association and CUNY's Center for the Study of Free-Reed Instruments headed by Professor Allan Atlas, with addition funding by Meet the Composer.

Tickets are $20.00 per person. For ticket information please contact: (201) 991 2233.

This month, the annual International Accordion Festival will take place from October 18-19, 2003 in San Antonio. It's big, it's outdoors, it's two days and multiple stages of dancing mayhem for the whole family, and it's FREE!

Cumbia, step dance, tango, waltz! That's right, put on your dancing shoes. The International Accordion Festival (IAF) was a tremendous success in 2001, followed by even more fun in October 2002. For 2003, we will feature close to twenty ensembles playing music from around the globe: Cajun, Merengue, Zydeco, Conjunto, Klezmer, Vallenato, French Canadian music, Basque music, Irish music, and more. Check our growing roster of artists as we schedule more appearances by regionally, nationally, and internationally-noted performers.

The International Accordion Festival proves the truly global appeal of the accordion and the many dynamic musical forms of which it is a part. The accordion comes in many flavors - the bandoneón, the concertina, the piano accordion, to name only a few - and all are a source of vital and thriving musical traditions. The festival takes place at the beautiful La Villita Plaza, on the banks of the San Antonio River in historic downtown.

Among the roster of artists is John Williams who is an award-winning concertina, flute, and button box player, and Dean Magraw, an adventurous guitar master. The two combine their diverse talents and styles for an unbeatable concert. The ensemble is rounded out by San Antonio’s own Mark Stone on percussion. The threesome’s repertoire includes evocative and entertaining pieces from France, Spain, Italy, and of course the Isle of saints and scholars. Steeped in the love of traditional Irish music (and its Celtic relatives in other lands), John Williams, Dean Magraw and Mark Stone bring a solid foundation of melodic integrity to the stage. These three musical explorers travel a range of landscapes from pointed, percolating dance grooves which defy sitting still to breathtakingly simple and poignant airs which seem to remain suspended in time like glowing embers.

In addition, the festival will feature Terrance Simien & The Mallet Playboys. Playing accordion since the age of nine, Terrance Simien first learned about the lowdown, tail-shaking party music called zydeco at the legendary roadhouse Richard’s as a teenager. And since he grew up at the crossroads of State Highway 190 and Rural Route 103 in Mallet, Louisiana, Simien followed Highway 190 straight out of there at the precocious age of 17 with his newly formed band, The Mallet Playboys.

Now after two decades of touring, he has paid his dues and forged a special place for himself and his unique sound in the music industry. He continues to raise the standards of his genre by establishing himself as a formidable songwriter and astonishing singer. Originally inspired by both contemporary songwriters like Bob Dylan and Tom Waits as well as zydeco legends such as the great Clifton Chenier. Simien’s sound has evolved into a fusion like no other, both critics and fans agree that he is taking his beloved zydeco music to a new level and into a larger music world, celebrating the circles of American roots music.

“The Tribute Sessions,” Simien’s poignant 2001 release honors many of his musical heroes through their own songs. The recording has been called, “stunning” and a recording of “epic proportions.” The narration connecting the songs offers a personal reflection about his relationship with each of these artists and is delivered very tastefully and sincerely. From the heart: a position from which he has always worked. Join him now at yet another crossroads where his past and present meet, where the music of body and soul begin and end.

Other artists on the featured lineup include: Yuri Yunakov Ensemble, Terrance Simien & The Mallet Playboys, Aniceto Molina, The Gypsies, Don Lipovac Orchestra, Joaquin Diaz and Shati, Los Dos Gilbertos, Glovertango, Conjunto Aztlan, Ginny Mac & Tonic, Jubilee Polka Band, Touch of Cajun, Serge Laîné & Friends, Los DOS Gilbertos.

In addition the International Accordion Festival includes a variety of workshops highlighting various music styles, accordion construction workshops and an Open Mike moderated by Laura Niland.

The IAF is currently looking for volunteers to help with many aspects of the festival, including setup, manning the merchandise and information booths, beer and soda sales, cleanup and other very important Festival jobs. Volunteers will be invited to a post-Festival party (closed to the public) with food, drink, and live music. Plus, you will get an IAF T-shirt. We are asking all volunteers to commit to working 4-hour shifts.

For more information about this fun opportunity to get involved, e-mail staff@internationalaccordionfestival.org or call 210-865-8578

The International Accordion Festival is organized by International Accordion Festival staff in partnership with the City of San Antonio Office of Cultural Affairs, and the Witte Museum It is made possible in part by funding from the following sponsors: The National Endowment for the Arts, San Antonio Office of Cultural Affairs, Budco, and the Texas Commission on the Arts.

Please visit: www.internationalaccordionfestival.org

The American Accordionists Association (AAA) will present a Lifetime Achievement Award to Dick Contino recognizing his contributions to the entertainment world.

The presentation will take place at La Fiestra Caterers, Route 17, Wood-Ridge, New Jersey at 12:30 PM on Sunday November 16th, 2003.

Tickets ($65.00) are available by calling the AAA Executive Office at (201) 991 2233.

Featured artists for the afternoon are Carmen Carrozza, Tony Dannon and Joe Cerrito, Carmelo Pino, Mario Tacca and Mary Mancini, Comedian "Uncle" Floyd Vivino and a performance by the guest of honor himself Dick Contino.

Contino's father bought him his first accordion when he was seven, but he didn't really take it seriously until he was 12. Within a few years, he had become so proficient, he was traveling to San Francisco, 180 miles away, for regular lessons. His big break came in 1946, when he competed on bandleader Horace Heidt's "Youth Opportunity Talent Show." Contino gyrated around while his fingers flew through "Lady of Spain" and won the night's show. He returned to win the show's grand prize for the season, and soon, he was a star in his own right, with his own string of fan clubs around the country.

Dick stars in main showrooms from Las Vegas to Atlantic City and headlines many fairs and festivals throughout America. The California native who has become known as the "world's greatest accordionist," recently completed a national tour in which he broke house records from coast to coast. During his career, Dick has played virtually every major stage and television show. He has also starred in films and daytime television.

What sets Dick apart is a combination of innovative musical styling and a personal philosophy developed through the experienced turmoil of early stardom and the vicissitudes of show business. He has attained an inner peace that makes him a delight to be near. Dick believes, I allow my life to consume my art, rather than let my art consume me." Famous for his distinctive playing technique, the bellow shake, he is able to coax out of the instrument a warmth bordering on passion. "I treat my audience like a living love relationship. I feed it and it feeds me." Contino is intimate. He presents himself with a feeling of moment to moment spontaneity.

Although best known for his million sellers such as Lady of Spain, Granada and Tico Tico, he is equally at ease with current show material. Contino also surprises audiences with his fine vocal stylings.

His popularity has only grown as every year thousands of new fans discover this artist's unique entertainment abilities. Able to completely captivate an audience of any size with his charm, great looks and technical virtuosity, Contino is nothing short of amazing!

"THERE IS ONLY ONE DICK CONTINO!"

Los Angeles based Frank Marocco has been busy recently working on four major films which have been recently released.

His accordion work is heard in Hans Zimmer's score to the feature film "Matchstick Men" starring Nicolas Cage. Zimmer featured the accordion throughout the score.

In another major feature film just released called "Under the Tuscan Sun" starring Diane Lane, the accordion is also an integral part of the sound track which features music by Christopher Beck. On both films, Frank is given end title credits, an honor which is rarely given to musicians.

Frank also played on the soundtracks of recent releases including "Seabiscuit", (Randy Newman) and the hit film "Finding Nemo", (Thomas Newman).

German born composer Hans Zimmer (left) is a pioneer in the use of digital synthesizers, advanced computer technology, electronic keyboards and their successful integration with the traditional orchestra in music for film and television.

Moving to London, Hans began composing jingles for "Air Edel Associates" and teamed up with Trevor Horn and Geoff Downes as "The Buggles" to produce the worldwide hit, "Video Killed the Radio Star" and subsequent album "The Age of Plastic". By 1980 Hans was pioneering the use of computers live on stage while working with the group Ultravox. Then he enjoyed a period of stardom in Italy with the avant garde band "Krisma", before returning to London to develop his next project with Warren Cann of Ultravox, culminating in a series of unique concerts at the London Planetarium.

It was shortly after this that Hans met and began working with the film composer Stanely Myers. Realizing the importance of incorporating the two musical forms, electronic and classical, they set up "Lillie Yard Studio" in London with the very latest state of the art musical technology.

Exploding into the world of film music after several years as a member of a 1980's rock band, Hans Zimmer has become a pioneer of the dynamic mix between synthesized and orchestral styles. His scores are broadly thematic, ethnically diverse, and immensely popular with a younger generation of film music fans. His Los Angeles based music studio, Media Ventures, is, as he deems it, a "School of Sound," and offers young, talented composers a place to jump-start their careers in Hollywood.
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He has collaborated with many of his friends, colleagues, and students for his scores after 1995. "I like working in a collaborative way," he says. "I'm not very ego-driven about being 'The Composer.' Whoever brings in great ideas should be welcomed." These collaborations culminated into an award-winning score for the blockbuster Gladiator in 2000, translating into one of the best selling film score albums of all time.

Zimmer has expanded his use of percussion and vocalists in ethnic and electronic arrays unheard in the history of film music, this expansion has now included the use of the accordion.

For information on any of these projects, please contact Frank at: frankmarocco@aol.com

Henry Doktorski and Joseph Natoli (pictured left/right) performed with the Cleveland Chamber Symphony in a concert at 8 PM on Monday night, September 22, 2003. The two performed Erwin Schulhoff's "HMS Royal Oak" (1930), a jazz oratorio for narrator, soprano, tenor, mixed choir and symphonic jazz orchestra, based on text by Otto Rombach.

H.M.S. Royal Oaks was first performed in a radio broadcast in Brno, Czechoslovakia in 1935 and is orchestrated for strings, brass, percussion, piano, celesta, 2 banjos, 3 saxophones and 2 accordions. The two accordions are used in two movements, no. 10 and no. 12. Both are tangos, and the accordions are prominently featured throughout these two movements, especially in the second tango, which is scored for only tenor, 2 banjos and 2 accordions. (Doktorski also doubled on the celesta in two other movements from the suite.) (pictured above left to right - Joseph Natoli, Williams and Henry Doktorski.)

Doktorski said, "I was exceedingly happy when Joe and I finally played through the tangos with the orchestra at our first rehearsal on Sunday morning. The two accordions (pictured stage left, showing part of the orchestra and chorus) really fit together beautifully and creatively, like the pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. The parts are imitative and contrapuntal; even canonical. The music is well-written; perhaps something like a jazz-influenced Neo-Baroque suite. The left-hand parts of both accordions provide the ostinato tango rhythmic beat of staccato quarter notes (with many long leaps, such as D Major, D# Major, E Major) while the right hands revel in flowing and often syncopated melodies. Truly a wonderful showcase for the accordions."

AKORDEONAM, Louisville, KY-based classical accordion ensemble, has an extremely busy calendar of October concerts and radio broadcasts. Fresh from their broadcast premiere in September on "Mixed Media" a weekly program of Kentucky Education Television, AKORDEONAM will give a full-length concert at the University of Louisville School of Music Bird Recital Hall on October 5, 3 PM. The concert will include the Overture and an Aria from Mozart's "The Magic Flute"; JS Bach's "Chaconne"; two lieder by Mahler; Mozart's "Fugue in C Minor";
Bizet's "Menuet"; Villa-Lobos' "Dansa (Martelo)"; Ravel's "La Vallee Des Cloches" and Brehme's "Pastorale e Fuga Giacosa" (on a theme from a Handel Suite).

AKORDEONAM, from the Latvian "for the accordion", consists of up to six piano accordions and one amplified bass accordion. The personnel include Dexter Haynes, Thomas Blanford, Linda Klein, Malinda Rawls, Paulette Venhoff, Todd Hildreth and Jay Landers. They will be augmented in their October concerts by soprano and concert harp.

Following their full-length Oct. 5 concert, they will excerpt their selections to create a one-hour public radio broadcast on WUOL 90.5 FM, in Louisville, on October 8. The concert will be recorded before a live audience and it makes the ensemble's third appearance on WUOL's "Lunch Time Classics" series in the past year.

AKORDEONAM then travels to Central Illinois for a weekend of three public concerts the last weekend of October. Friday the 24th, at 7:30 PM they will be hosted by District 4 of the Illinois Federation of Music Clubs in a concert at the Thorne Deuel Auditorium of the Illinois State Museum. Saturday the 25th, they will be hosted by the Music Department of Illinois State University in Normal and will present that evening. Sunday the 26th, at 2 PM, AKORDEONAM makes its second annual appearance before the Peoria Area Accordion Club, in the Lakeview Museum of Arts & Sciences Auditorium.

The selections to be performed on AKORDEONAM's Central Illinois tour will be taken from the full-length concert performed earlier in Louisville. They will be joined, once again, by soprano and harp.

For more information contact Jay Landers: jllanders5214@msn.com

California governor candidate Arnold Schwarzenegger's cousin, also named Arnold, the accordionist in the popular band the Schwarzenegger Connection, was pictured with his accordion in a recent edition of People Magazine.

The Schwarzenegger Connection based in New York's Catskills region features Arnold's first cousin Karl Schwarzenegger and Karl's son Arnold Richter on accordion. (Arnold the accordionist, pictured left, changed his last name from Schwarzenegger to Richter after continuous references from the public in regards to his famous relative) The Schwarzenegger Connection played at Schwarzenegger's 1986 wedding rehearsal dinner.

An accomplished and authentic German/American band, playing both traditional and more modern Folk Songs, the band also performs everything from Tangos, to Big Band Swing, to Country!

• October 4-5, All Day Hunter Mountain, Hunter, NY Oktoberfest
• October 11-13th, Throughout the Day Newport Yachting Center Newport, RI Oktoberfest
• October 17th from 7:00 PM - 11:00 PM - Je Ron's Restaurant Ballston Spa, NY Oktoberfest
• October 18th & 19th at the Striped Bass Restaurant Tarrytown, NY Oktoberfest

For further information, to for CD purchase information, please visit: http://www.pcpages.com/germanband

The Glendi International Food Festival will be held in Santa Rosa, California on September 20th and 21st. Glendi is Greek for "party" and the organizers have planned a fun-filled two days.

The event will feature "Edessa" who perform "hot rocking dance music from the Balkans & beyond"! The group includes Lise Liepman who plays the santouri (Greek hammer dulcimer) and accordion, Dan Auvil who plays the tupan (large two-headed drum), doumbek (hand drum) and defi (frame drum), Paul Brown (acoustic and electric bass), George Chittenden on clarinet, alto saxophone, gaida (bagpipe), zurna (shawm) and guitar, and Ari Langer (violin).

For details of other performances, please e-mail: lisegeorge@earthlink.net

Five-time Grammy®-winner and living legend FLACO JIMENEZ celebrates his musical roots with a new album that captures the musical essence, the excitement and the passion that are Flaco Jimenez' trademarks. Squeeze Box King, his new album in three years, is a musical tour of the rhythms, sounds, and moods of grassroots Conjunto music. His love of Conjunto music and his mastery of the accordion are the legacy of his late father, Santiago Jimenez, Sr., who is recognized as the father of the genre. The self-produced Squeeze Box King marks Flaco's return to traditional Conjunto music. From the trilingual party polka written by Flaco Jimenez
and arranged by José Morante "En El Cielo No Hay Cerveza/In Heaven There's No Beer" to the haunting bolero "Tan Sola" (So Lonely) Flaco Jimenez delivers an album that touches on the various rhythms and styles that make Conjunto music a unique genre, with Mexican, German, and American roots.

Flaco's dance appeal is evident in the effervescent Cumbia beat of "Cuando Te Quiero, Te Vas" (When I Love You, You Leave) as much as in the ice-house Polka "Ojitos Negros." Traditional favorites "Prenda del Alma" (Part of My Soul) and "Un Viejo Amor" (An Old Love) gain a new dimension and are ready to be discovered by a new generation of Latin music fans. Renowned
hit-writer Salomé Gutierrez contributed two musical gems to Squeeze Box King, "De Donde Has Sacado" (Where Did You Get That From) and "La Tormenta" (The Storm). Also included are the heartfelt, tragedy-laden classics "La Rosa Negra" (The Black Rose) written by Darío Silva and "Tumba Sin Flores" (Tomb Without Flowers) by Manuel De La Cruz. Steve Ortiz' bilingual bolero "Soy Romántico" (I am Romantic) easily flows from Spanish to English and
back without losing the smooth and sensual feel of a bolero.

Flaco's reputation as a virtuoso stylist makes him a highly sought-after sideman for musicians of all styles and categories. He has recorded with a wide range of artists including musical heavyweights Dwight Yoakam, Ry Cooder, Linda Ronstadt, The Clash, the Rolling Stones, Carlos Santana, The Chieftains, Willie Nelson, Bob Dylan, and many others. In the Nineties,
Flaco teamed up with Doug Sahm, Freddy Fender, and Augie Meyers to form the popular Texas Tornadoes. He recently joined forces with some of Latin music's greatest musicians to form the aptly-named group Los Super Seven. Flaco Jimenez is also a member of the National Hispanic Hall of Fame.

Squeeze Box King is set for a September 23 release date on the Compadre Records label (www.compadrerecords.com). Brad Turcotte, President/CEO of Compadre Records, expressed "the excitement that precedes the launch of this musically and culturally significant recording is evident in the company. Flaco is an icon of Latin music throughout the world and we are proud to count him as part of the Compadre Records family of artists." The first single is "En El Cielo No Hay Cerveza/In Heaven There's No Beer," a fun party song with Tejano, Regional Mexican and mainstream appeal. Flaco Jimenez gives us a royal treat, indeed, with Squeeze Box King.(José Rosario)

Musicians: Flaco Jimenez (Accordion, Lead Vocals), Raúl "Nunie" Rubio (Lead Vocals), David Jimenez (Drums), Max Baca (Bajo Sexto), Roger "Rabbit" Garza (Guitar), Arturo Jimenez (Percussion), Roy Paniagua (Bass), and Louie Chavez (Sax).

For information, please contact: Jose Rosario e-mail: pighaus@aol.com at Seven Rivers Music Corporation, phone: (210) 520-7373 or Logan Rogers e-mail: logan@compadrerecords.com at Compadre Records, Phone: (615) 423-2038

Accordionist Lenny Feldmann was feature in the Asbury Park Press on Sunday, September 21st, 2003 after his performance at the FESTA ITALIANA at the Garden State Arts Center, Holmdel, New Jersey.

As a young protegé of the late Stephen Harer of Clifton, New Jersey, Lenny was a Virtuoso competition champion. At Vander-Cook College of Music in Chicago, Illinois, Lenny received his Bachelor of Music Education Degree, using the accordion as his major instrument and studying with Mort Herold and the late Mario Moschino. A ten year career of teaching and playing professionally in the New York area followed. During this time, Lenny performed throughout the NY Metro Area with the famous Tony Cee Orchestra as the personal accompanist of Tony (Cee) Corsetto -Popular Vocalist and Orchestra leader.

Lenny then pursued a professional business career for the next 13 years, ending with his retirement in 1987. He returned to his first musical love, the accordion, and began a new professional career in Florida. The Lenny Feldmann Show performed regularly in Florida and for special accordion events - The Galla-Rini Honorary Concert and Festival of the Accordion Teachers Guild in Chicago - as guest soloist and adjudicator for the American Accordion Musicological Society in Valley Forge, PA - the Accordion Teachers Association of New Jersey - in Lake George, NY for the American Accordionist Association.

Career highlight in 1989 as accordionist with the world-famous Mantovani Orchestra on the Mid-West tour, as well as a nine week engagement performing in Yokohama, Japan at their World's Fair (click here for photo story). Lenny performs with, and is the assistant conductor for the Accordion Pops Orchestra directed by Danny Desiderio. The APO, consisting of professional and semiprofessional accordionists from seven Northeast states, has presented concerts with various guest artists including Myron Floren and Dick Contino. Lenny is currently expanding his accordion career and is studying technique and repertoire with the great Carmen Carozza. Lenny currently resides in Southfields, NY with his lovely wife, Marie Elena who is an Elementary School Art Teacher.

Most recently, he participated as a performer, workshop presenter, and adjudicator in music festivals held by AAA in Houston (1995), Philadelphia (1996), Washington, D.C. (1997), ATG in Kansas City (1995) and Chicago (1996 and 1998), ATA of NJ (1997, 1999, 2000, and 2001) and the American Accordion Musicological Society (AAMS - 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2001).

For more information, please contact Lenny Feldmann at: 1208 Parkview Drive Southfields, NY 10975, Ph: 888-639-3013 Fax: 630-604-5607.

Accordionist Benjamin Ickies of the Benjamin Ickies Preservation Society announces several October performances in New York City.

Not much is written about the Benjamin Ickies Preservation Society. It is their decision that minimal information be released regarding its own background and history, so as not to distract from the music of Mr. Ickies.

Shortly after the death of Benjamin Ickies Senior, several close friends and colleagues of the visionary accordionist and composer banded together in a loose organization. Choosing to remain anonymous and recognizing that only a handful of people had ever heard Ickies' groundbreaking music, they set out to preserve his compositions and make arrangements for his work to be performed. Dubbing themselves The Benjamin Ickies Preservation Society, they have accomplished much in a relatively short amount of time.

Benjamin recently located to the New York area and has studied with New York accordionists and philosopher Dr. William Schimmel.

Upcoming October shows are: 2003

Wednesday October 8, 2003 - 9-12
It Came From The Soundtracks!!
Bowery Poetry Club -308 Bowery, NY, NY
Tickets: $10.00

Thursday October 16, 2003
Little Miss Big Mouth: It's Showtime!!
Bowery Poetry Club -308 Bowery, NY, NY
Tickets: $5.00

In addition, the BIPS morphs into a marching band and joins the mysterious and kooky Halloween Parade in Greenwich Village in New York City. More information will be available here on www.Ickies.com soon!

For future bookings and information, please contact: Camille Acey, Booking and Promotion
Benjamin Ickies Preservation Society. E-mail: number2@ickies.com

The Texas Accordion Association in conjunction with the Addison Oktoberfest recently sponsored a competition in Addison, celebrating their annual Oktoberfest.

The competition was won by 18 year old Ginny Mac. Ginny is a singer/songwriter/musician from Fort Worth, Texas. She is classically trained in accordion and piano by Lorraine Tornow. Eighteen-year-old Ginny is gaining popularity for her vocal style and natural ability to entertain, and her melodic improvisational skills have ranked her among the best musicians.

As a result of her performance and winning the Guido Deiro Award at the 2002 Las Vegas International Accordion Convention, Ginny is a Scandalli Accordion artist and will travel overseas for promotional shows. Ginny loves Country and Western music, Jazz, and Big Band classics, but enjoys playing all kinds of music. She performs regularly in the historic Fort Worth Stockyards, as well as other benefits, charities, and community service. For more information on Ginny, please visit: www.GinnyMac.com.

The following are Addison prize winners:

• First Place $1,000.00 - 18 year old Ginny Mac
• Second Place $500.00 - Grigori Fainshtein (Russian trained who lived in Israel 8 years)
• Third Place $100.00 - Mike Bareilly (Fort Worth Based Musician)
• Fourth Place $50.00 - Mike Middleton (Medical doctor from Central Texas)
• Fifth Place $25.00 (2003 TAA convention orchestra director)

For more information on the festival, please contact: gklugie@comcast.net

New York based accordionist Kevin Friedrich and New Zealand Composer/Conductor Gary Daverne have just completed recording works for accordion solo and String Orchestra and percussion in Olomouc, Czech Republic.

The piece "Gem of the Kaipara" which 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, was one of 10 works by Gary Daverne recorded during the four day session with the Moravian Philharmonic led by Czech conductor Petr Pololáník. This is Daverne's second CD of his original compositions.

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. Home of the Philharmonic, Olomouc is located about 3 hours east of Prague. Rich in history with cathedrals dating from the 1200's and the original centuries-old cobblestone Streets, Olomouc hosted such famous musicians as Mozart, Mahler and Dvorak during its history.

This new CD of Daverne's symphonic music is due to be released later in the year. Pictured above are Kevin Friedrich with conductor Petr Poloanik and Gary Daverne and members of the Moravian Philharmonic.

Springfield, IL accordionist Jay Landers (pictured left on the cover of his CD) will perform on the October 17 Fall Concert by theatre organist Mark Gifford, 7:30 PM, Springfield High School Auditorium. While it's an unusual venue, there is a perfect match of tone colors between accordion and theatre organ. This is Landers' fourth time onstage in duets with Mark Gifford during the past five years. And, Jay has provided pre-concert music for the past two years.

The Barton Theatre Organ made its premiere in Springfield's Orpheum Theatre in April, 1927. When the theatre was razed in 1965, the Mighty Barton Organ was donated to Springfield Public School District 186 and installed by a group of dedicated volunteers in the auditorium of Springfield High School. The auditorium was constructed circa 1917 and was designed with organ pipe chambers on either side of the stage and a pit for the console at the foot of the stage.

October 17 is the tenth anniversary for Mark Gifford as principal soloist in semi-annual theatre organ concerts, which have had a variety of sponsors over the years. The $5 donation at the door for adults goes toward a fund in the District 186 Foundation for the continued restoration and upgrade of the Barton Organ.

Jay Landers and Mark Gifford will present duets within the concert's theme of "Classics - Then & Now" which are especially suited to the accordion, ie: "Twilight Time", pieces by accordionist Pee Wee King "You Belong to Me" and "Tennessee Waltz", and probably a polka and a surprise or two.

The pre-concert hour of music October 17 will be presented by the accordion duo of Henry Du Pont and Jay Landers, performing on their Iorio Accorgan and Excelsior 960 MIDI accordions respectively.