Mika Väyrynen Konyert in Karjalohja und Lohja - Finnland
Von Kevin Friedrich

Der finnische Künstler Mika Väyrynen ist mit Concerto für Bandoneon, Gitarre und Orchester - 'Homage a Liege' von Astor Piazzolla, am 8. Mai um 12 Uhr in der Karjalohja Kirche und in einem Nachmittagskonzert um 15 Uhr in der Laurentius Hall in Lohja.

Mika am Bandoneon wird von dem Gitarristen Ismo Eskelinen begleitet, der zu den aktivsten Sologitarristen seiner Zeit zählt und auch der Art-Direktor des 'Sonkajärvi Soi' (Festivals) ist. Juha Nikkola dirigiert das Lohja Orchestra.

Accordéon Mélancolique's CD 2. Edition - Holland
Von Christine Adams

Accordéon Melancolique mit Cherie de Boer und Jean-Pierre Guiran, aus Holland freut sich über den großen Erfolg ihrer letzten CD 'Parade des Poules' mit Musiknoten von allen Titeln der CD, die speziell für das Duo arrangiert wurden.

Die erste Ausgabe des Albums ist komplett ausverkauft und kam nun in die 2. Edition. Der Verleger ist REBA aus Holland und für jegliche weiter Information werden Sie geben die Webseite des Duos Accordéon Melancolique zu konsultieren.
 

24. Tejano und Conjunto Festival, San Antonio - USA
Von Kevin Friedrich

Das Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center organisiert vom 4. bis 7. Mai das 24. Tejano Conjunto Festival in San Antonio. Neben den zahlreichen Konzerten während des Festivals wird auch der Linkshänder-Akkordeonist Michael Salgado am 5. Mai von 21 Uhr bis 22.30 Uhr und Jose Guzman am 6. Mai von 19.30 Uhr bis 8.34 Uhr auftreten.

Obwohl die Festival-Konzerte die wahre Attraktion der Veranstaltung sind, gibt es auch noch viele andere Aktivitäten die angeboten werden wie z. B. der Poster-Wettbewerb, später für den offiziellen Poster auserkoren. Der Gesamtgewinner erhält ein Preisgeld von $ 2.000. Die Conjunto Music Hall of Fame integriert honoriert jährlich neue anerkannte Musiker, es gibt Recitals von den Studenten des Guadalupe Cultural Arts Centres, Akkordeonklassen, Symposien, speziales Unterrichtsprogramm für Conjuntomusik, Essen und Trinken, Stände, Spiele für Kinder und vor allem sehr viele Möglichkeiten zur Unterhaltung und zum Tanzen.

Schauen Sie doch vorbei - möchten Sie Information, dann schreiben sie an: info@guadalupeculturalarts.org
 

Bandoneon Concert, Auckland - New Zealand
Contributed by Heather Masefield

On 17th April at 2.30pm Tatiana Lanchtchikova performed with the St Mathew's Chamber Orchestra at St Mathews-in-the-City Church as part of its 2005 programme 'The French Connection'. The 50 strong orchestra, made up of teachers and very fine performers, played a mixture of Honegger, Pruden, Haydn, with Tatiana performing the bandoneon solo for 'Five Tangos & Sensations' by Piazzolla. Tatiana's performance was very well received by a capacity audience.
 

Accordions at 'Jauna Muzika' Festival - Lithuania

From April 17th to 23rd, 'Jauna Muzika', an event that is the second most important event of new music in Lithuania after the 'Gaida' festival was held. The accordion was featured prominently, with accordionist and composer Raimondas Sviackevicius performing his latest projects. One concert was dedicated to Lithuanian composers. One work, by Donatas Prusevicius, 'A Piacere', for accordion, voice and surround system, was played in the Contemporary Art Center. 'Piece' was dedicated to the late Pope John Paul 11, and Vilija Sulcaite wrote the text. Accordion was used in an original way, all possibilities and sound technics were mixed with voice and electronic background.

The surround system played an important role in this work, which was written in a free structural form.
A work by Ramunas Motiekaitis 'Apsup(k)ti', written for accordion and electronics, also used surround system sound. The idea of that piece was to show how the accordion adapts to very unusual material. The composer used very high accordion registers to create a more intensive and 'crazy' feeling. Sounds for the background music were selected from different live acoustic sounds and were electronically transformed. The extremely high volume level caused the audience a very big shock, but the results were very well received.

The second concert that included accordion music was 'Lithuanian Multimedia Premieres'. American composer True Rosaschi, who is currently living in Lithuania, wrote a piece named '40 days - 40 nights for Live Accordion', involving accordions, EPS sound system and live surround electronics. For the first time accordions were used performing through the Internet. R. Sviackevicius played on stage in Tolerance Center, Vilnius, at the same time Pauline Oliveros in New York (well known composer and accordionist) responded to live material through Internet, and composer True Rosaschi made the electronics live, controlling all processes.

The work was written in four very different parts, from very loud fff chords in the beginning to very soft and beautiful harmonic textures, using a wide range of accordion sounds. The accordion parts, using players on two different continents, also involved much improvisational material.
The project was high acclaimed by music critics and composers alike.
   

A CD review written by Paolo Picchio of two CD's by Yuri Medianik. 'Images of Three Centuries' (solo accordion) and 'Resurrection of Angel' featuring music of Piazzolla with Yuri Medianik and other musicians such as Gnesin virtuosi soloists & chamber orchestra.

United States National News - May edition of the United States National News is now online. Contains news of activities from across the United States, upcoming festivals, contact information for Associations and Clubs in the United States as well as the May feature article entitled The Brothers Deiro as Composers by Henry Doktor
 

Rocky Mountain Accordion Celebration - The Rocky Mountain Accordion Celebration website has been updated with its 2005 festival information and schedule.

Rosita Lee - The Rosita Lee Music Center featuring the celebrated Showstoppers Accordion Orchestra and Dancers summer concert dates have been added into the concert schedule.
 

The Accordion Teachers' Association of Massachusetts (ATAM) - The Accordion Teachers' Association of Massachusetts (ATAM) site has been updated with a review of the 2005 festival as well as dates for the 2006 event to be held in Newton, MA (near Boston.)
 

National Accordion Organization - The National Accordion Organization of the United Kingdom (NAO) site has been updated with the full results of the 2005 70th Anniversary Festival held in Scarborough, UK.