Friedrich Lips neue CD, NO COMMENT, benannt nach dem gleichnamigen Werk des litauischen Komponisten Merab Gagnidze, stellt eine äußert interessante Mischung von Werken verschiedensten Charakters dar. Von Lips selbst arrangierte Musik von Schnittke und Chatschaturjan ist hier ebenso zu finden wie dem Interpreten gewidmete Originalwerke von Berinsky und Derbenko. Miniaturen von Solotarjow, Schurbin, Precz und Londonow ergänzen das abwechslungsreiche Programm dieser CD, die ihre besondere Frische aus zwei Live-Aufnahmen schöpft.
Auf dem Cover der CD ist eine besondere Ehrung, welche kürzlich Friedrich Lips anerkannt wurde.
Laut dem Ergebnis des regionalen Parlament von Chelyabinsk, seiner ehemaligen Musikschule (siehe Bild) wurde nach seinem Namen „Friedrich Lips – Art School“ neu benannt.
1960 war Friedrich Lips der erste Schüler und 1964 der erste Absolvent dieser Schule, die jetzt den Namen seines bekanntesten Schülers trägt. Dadurch gehört Friedrich Lips zu den wenigen Künstlern, die während ihrer Lebenszeit so eine Ehre empfangen haben.
Früherer USA Weltmeister William M. Samonek stirbt, Connecticut - USA
Contributed by Kevin Friedrich
William M. Samonek, 46 Jahre alt, starb am Mittwoch, den 03. Mai 2006 in Beacon Falls, Connecticut. Er wurde in Bridgeport geboren (Eltern John C. und Anastasia (Alice) Werchak Samonek), und seit 1961 war ein Bewohner von Fairfield. Er war ein Schüler der Roger Ludlowe High School und besuchte die Universität von Bridgeport. Als unglaublicher Akkordeonspieler nahm er erst 1977 am AAA United States Wettbewerb teil und wurde Dritter bei der CIA Coupe Mondiale Weltmeisterschaft Ende des Jahres in Eindhoven, Niederlande.
Bill spielte auch Keyboard und war ein freiberuflicher Musiker. Zusätzlich zu seinen Eltern wird er von seinen beiden Söhnen William Samonek aus Bridgeport und Jonathan Samonek aus Derby, einem Bruder, Kenneth Samonek und seiner Frau Nancy, aus Monroe, einer Schwester, Carol Ann Fawver und ihrem Ehemann, Harlen aus New Hampshire und verschiedenen Nichten und Neffen sowie Cousins und Cousinen überlebt
Am 1. Mai wurde im Regierungspalast von Ancona Marino Ascani mit dem „Verdienst-Stern“ der Ehre und des Verdienstes seiner Arbeit als Handwerker ausgezeichnet.
Marino hat diesen Preis für seine ausgezeichnete Arbeit und Professionalität in der Pigini Akkordeonfabrik empfangen, in der er junge Arbeiter mit maximaler Betreuung und Aufmerksamkeit trainiert und vorbereitet.
Die Firma Pigini dankt Meister Ascani dafür, dass er die letzten 33 Jahre mit Leidenschaft und Hingabe die besten Tastaturen für Akkordeons produziert hat. Das Bild zeigt Ascani Marino und Francesca Pigini.
Nikolai Ryskov Performs for Royalty, London - UK
Contributed by Rob Howard
Russian accordionist Nikolai Ryskov performed in a concert on May 10th at Kensington Town Hall, in the presence of Her Royal Highness Princess Alexandra. The concert was part of the International Social Service Spring Fair, of which HRH Princess Alexandra is the Patron.
Also performing was the singer Dasha Kirilishina, a student at the Anglo-Russian music Academy ‘Musica Nova', based at 88 Cromer St, London WC1H 8DG. Nikolai Ryskov accompanied her as she sang ‘Nightingale’, by A. Alyabiev, and the famous folk song ‘Kalinka’. Nikolai’s solo pieces were 'Dark Eyes', 'Katusha', 'The Gold Moscow ', ' Ash Tree of the Urals', 'The Pedlars', 'The Heart', 'Moscow Quadrille', 'O Flowering Kalina', and some Russian waltzes.
Nikolai Ryskov, who was introduced to Princess Alexandra after his performance, teaches at the Music Academy 'Musica Nova'.
Renzo Ruggieri Performances – Albania, Italy, France
Contributed by Rob Howard
Italian accordionist Renzo Ruggieri makes the following appearances:-
May 21st, 10.30am, solo performance in the UniCredit Circle of Verona.
June 1st - Renzo and Luca Ciarla (jazz violinist) are in concert together at the Tirana Jazz Festival, Albania.
June 4th – solo performance at the Chartres Accordion Festival, France.
June 7th to10th – Renzo Ruggieri appears at the Dolci Romori Jazz Festival, Italy, as both Artistic Director and performer. Renzo will perform in the theatrical show La Spada Di Fuoco, by Pablo Neruda.
June 11th to 13th - the ‘Association for the Promotion of Art’ organizes the 1st Stage of Jazz/Modern Music, Roseto degli Abruzzi. Two days of ‘Full Immersion’ with lessons for 8 daily hours.
Concertina, Fiddle and Accordions Concert, Stockport – UK
Contributed by Rob Howard
The Fosbrook Folk Education Trust are having a concert on May 20th, 7pm, at the United Reform Church, Maitland Street, off Hempshaw Lane, Heaviley, Stockport. The guests are Emma Reid and Robert Harbron (fiddle and English concertina), supported by the Fosbrooks – an ensemble of young folk musicians that includes several accordionists.
Emma Reed is a brilliant young fiddle player who has studied Swedish traditional music as well as working regularly with British folk musicians. Robert Harbron has a growing reputation for his work in the field of English traditional music. The concert is organised by Liza Austin-Strange MBE.
Altan Concert Dates in England and Wales - UK
Contributed by Rob Howard
Irish traditional music favourites Altan, featuring Dermot Byrne on diatonic button accordion, tour England in late May. Their dates are as follows:-
May 19th – Southport Arts Centre, England
20th – The Coliseum Theatre, Aberdare, Wales
21st – Victoria Hall, Saltaire, Bradford, England
22nd – Leeds Irish Centre
23rd – Sheffield City Hall
24th – Oswaldtwistle Civic Theatre, Accrington
25th – The Sage, Gateshead
26th – Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester
27th - Aberystwyth Arts Centre, Aberystwyth, Wales
28th - Theatr Mwldan, Cardigan
Accordion Concert, Vienna - Austria Contributed by Holda Paoletti-Kampl A concert takes place in Vienna on June 10th, at 6pm, starring accordionist Hermi Kaleta, and the ensemble ‘Akkordeonissimo’, featuring Christian Theueremann, Muamer Kebic, Lukas Schmied, Daniel Stratznig and Walter Schildberger (MD Roman Pechmann).
The venue is Volksheim GroB Jedlersdorf 1210, SiemenstraBe 17.
Domi Emorine and Roman Jbanov, known as the Paris- Moscow Duo, are to perform the following concerts:-
June 10th, 8.30pm – Agora, Genlis, France
16th to 18th – Bucharest Festival, Romania
21st, 8.30pm – Issoudun, France
27th, 6.30pm – Ancennis
July 6th to 9th – Ransäter Festival, Sweden
16th, 8.30pm – Pfaffenhofen, Germany
21st, 9pm – Rouret, France
22nd, 9pm – Colomars
23rd, 9pm – Valberg (Nice)
29th, 10pm – Casino, La Bourboule
July 30th to August 4th – Master Classes, La Bourboule
A
musical show titled 'Paris Est Un Escargot' takes place at the Theatre
Michel Galabru, 2 rue de l'Armée, 75018 Paris, from April 19th
to 23rd, at 2.30pm. The performers are Béatrice Fontaine -
vocals, Daniel Denecheau - guitar, and Alexandre Leitao - accordion.
Main Squeeze Orchestra Concert, New York - USA
Contributed by Rob Howard
The Main Squeeze Orchestra, an all-female accordion orchestra (MD Walter Kuhr) based in New York City, perform at Mo Pitkins House of Satisfaction, 34 Avenue on June 22n,at 7.30 pm.
Balkanfolk Seminar, Bankya - Bulgaria
Contributed by Rob Howard
The 9th Balkanfolk Seminar takes place in the resort of Bankya, 15 km away from the Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, from July 17th to 30th. This event, the only practical seminar for Balkan Folklore in Europe, takes place in the hotel ‘Jeravna’.
The program of Balkanfolk 2006 includes the following courses: accordion - Bulgarian music, gaida, kaval, dvoyanka, duduk, gadoulka, tamboura, tapan, tarambouka, taragot - Romanian music; folklore dances, Bulgarian folk dances , Romanian folk dances ; Bulgarian folk singing.
Participants will have the option to visit Melnik (the smallest town in Bulgaria), the Rozhen monastery, National park Vitosha and the 10th International folk festival ‘Vitosha’.
Bruno Maurice Master Classes and Concerts, Bordeaux, France
Contributed by Holda Paoletti-Kampl
French accordionist Bruno Maurice currently is Professor of Accordion at the national Conservatory of Bordeaux, France. He has won several international competitions, made three solo recordings, and often performs with other musicians.
During the summer of 2006 he is to perform and hold master classes:-
July 15th to 28th – International Music Academy and Festival of Les Arcs.
August 12th to 26th - International Music Academy and Festival of Guérande
Debate Proposed for Improving Bayan Design - Belgium
Contributed by Rob Howard
Belgian accordionist Stefaan Walraet likes to play a wide range of classical music, such as organ pieces by Johann Sebastian Bach and other composers. For this music he believes it is important to use the thumb of the left hand on the 3 rows in a very flexible manner.
Current designs of free bass accordions only allow the use of 4 fingers of the left hand on the bass side of the accordion, and Stefaan would like to see a more ‘ergonomical’ design for the accordion, so that accordionists can use 5 fingers. They would then be able to use the same fingering for the right hand and for the left hand! He believes accordion education would improve much in doing so, possibly reducing study time. The theory is that if the same fingering can be used for both hands, the brain is less ‘troubled’, enabling one to play more easily.
In the USA, 1979 AAA US Champion Don Severs, from Des Mines, Iowa, has produced a design for an ‘ergonomical bayan’. Stefaan Walraet would like to propose to organise a seminar or symposium or congress around this subject.
Friedrich Lips
1960 war 
Award for Pigini Craftsman, Ancona – Italy
Am 1. Mai wurde im Regierungspalast von Ancona Marino Ascani mit dem „Verdienst-Stern“ der Ehre und des Verdienstes seiner Arbeit als Handwerker ausgezeichnet.
Marino hat diesen Preis für seine ausgezeichnete Arbeit und Professionalität in der 
Russian accordionist Nikolai Ryskov performed in a concert on May 10th at Kensington Town Hall, in the presence of Her Royal Highness Princess Alexandra. The concert was part of the International Social Service Spring Fair, of which HRH Princess Alexandra is the Patron.
Italian accordionist 
Accordion Concert, Vienna - Austria
Domi Emorine and Roman Jbanov, known as the 
A
musical show titled 'Paris Est Un Escargot' takes place at the Theatre
Michel Galabru, 2 rue de l'Armée, 75018 Paris, from April 19th
to 23rd, at 2.30pm. The performers are Béatrice Fontaine -
vocals, Daniel Denecheau - guitar, and Alexandre Leitao - accordion.
Main Squeeze Orchestra Concert, New York - USA
The 9th Balkanfolk Seminar takes place in the resort of Bankya, 15 km away from the Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, from July 17th to 30th. This event, the only practical seminar for Balkan Folklore in Europe, takes place in the hotel ‘Jeravna’. 
French accordionist Bruno Maurice currently is Professor of Accordion at the national Conservatory of Bordeaux, France. He has won several international competitions, made three solo recordings, and often performs with other musicians.
Belgian accordionist Stefaan Walraet likes to play a wide range of classical music, such as organ pieces by Johann Sebastian Bach and other composers. For this music he believes it is important to use the thumb of the left hand on the 3 rows in a very flexible manner.
