| Welcome to the US National Accordion News "ACCORDION USA" for December 1999/January 2000 |
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| Feature Articles: Mario Tacca & Mary Mancini in China and Cotati Accordion Festival Review |
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 US Representatives, Jason Stephen and Cathy Sommers who competed in the World Accordion Championships, in Trossingen, Germany |
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Welcome to the US National News |
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US Champions Compete in Germany | |
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Dan McGhee performs with Myron Floren | |
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Cultural Institute Workshops | |
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100 accordionists, One Mile High! | |
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Myron Welcomed with Standing Ovation | |
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Cathy Sommers USA-ATG Champion | |
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Accordion Extravaganza No. 5 | |
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UMKC Accordion Orchestra in Concert | |
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50 Years of Accordions in the Rockies | |
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Gary Daverne & Y2K Orchestra in Texas | |
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2000 - The Year Ahead | |
| Happy Holidays and Happy New Year! | ||
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| Welcome to the United States National News |
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| USA in CIA Coupe Mondiale, World Accordion Championships |
 The
Confederation Internationale des Accordeonistes, held their Coupe Mondiale
World Accordion Championships, Virtuoso Entertainment Category, and the
Junior World Championships in Trossingen, Germany, from November 3-7, 1999.
For the first time in many years, the USA was represented, when Cathy
Sommers the current USA-ATG Champion competed. For the first time since its inception, the USA was also represented in the Virtuoso Entertainment Category, when Jason Stephen competed, jointly representing the AAA and the ATG. For a complete review of the Coupe Mondiale, please visit: www.accordions.com/cia Next year the Coupe Mondiale will be held in Kragujovac, Yugoslavia from October 25-30th, 2000. |
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 As
part of the First Prize for winning the A.T.G. Polka competition at their
recent festival in Branson, Dan McGhee was featured in concert at the Welk
Theatre and Champagne Resort with the master himself, Myron Floren.Dan was delighted to enjoy his weekend of stardom, and was recognized all over Branson and at the Welk Resort, as the accordionist who has performed with Mryon during the regular show. |
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| Cultural Institute Workshops |
| Noted accordion philosopher
Dr. William Schimmel moderated three days of concerts and workshops at the
Tenri Cultural Institute in New York, which featured such artists as the
"K" Trio, Frank Busso, Dr. Robert Young McMahan, Dr. Schimmel, his wife
Micki Goodman and Ray Rue as Groucho. During the workshops, renowned accordionist Maddalena Belfiore recalled her days studying with the great Pietro Frosini, which usually involved 4-6 hour lessons, in New York. Maddalena highlighted Frosini's eccentric ways, demanding lessons as well as his expertise in the area of bellows technique. This annual workshop was sponsored by the American Accordionists' Association. |
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Anyone passing through
the Mile High City of Denver, Colorado on September 12th may have witnessed
the festivities for the annual Octoberfest Concert. Alice Aman directed
the Mammoth accordion orchestra in a variety of selections for this exciting
outdoor concert which was held at 3pm in Larimer Square, Downtown Denver.
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| Myron Floren Welcomed with standing Ovation |
 As
Myron Floren (long time ATG member) walked on stage at the Accordionists
and Teachers Guild International Festival in July, (in Branson, Missouri)
the 1,000 strong audience immediately rose in an emotional standing ovation.
Gracing the concert stage for the first time in over a year, Myron, the guest of honor of the ATG delighted the audience with two medleys of his well known selections. This unscheduled performance was a surprise for all, but Myron just couldn't resist doing what he loved to do most, and that is play the accordion! Complete with bellow shakes, which brought applause from the audience, Myron then went on to direct the ATG Festival Orchestra in three Polka selections, which was a fitting finale of the "Tribute to Myron" concert, held at the Welk Resort. The reception that followed allowed Myron to greet his fans and sign autographs with all the admiring fans who had come to wish him a warm welcome and play under his direction. (Mryon is pictured here with Amy Jo Sawyer, left, and Joan Sommers, right.) |
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| Cathy Sommers Wins United States Championships |
Cathy
Sommers won the United States Accordion Championships at the Accordionists
and Teachers Guild (ATG) International Festival in Branson, Missouri.
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is the first time that a mother/daughter team have won this honor. Cathy's
mother, Joan Sommers (our
new ATG President), Professor of Accordion at the University of Missouri,
Kansas City won this esteemed title in 1955 and 1956. Other crown events
at this weekend's competitions were also won by students of Joan Sommers.
Jason Stephen won the Virtuoso Entertainment category at the ATG competition and Dan McGhee, won the Myron Floren Polka Competition. Both Cathy and Jason will represented the ATG at the Coupe Mondiale World Accordion Championships in Trossingen, Germany from the 3 - 7 November. Dan returned to Branson to perform with Myron Floren and the Welk Orchestra in October. Other Results were as follows: Championship 15 years: Sam McGhee (student of Joan Sommers, UMKC) Championship 14 years: Jorge Reyna (student of International School of Music, Chicago) Championship 13 years: Shanxi Upsdell (student of Joan Sommers, UMKC). Joan Sommers who was just elected as President of the ATG, will be taking over from Amy JO Sawyer who has held this office for the last four years. To show you what a small world this is, in 1956 Joan Sommers and Amy JO Sawyer were joint winners in the ATG National Championships, and both represented the ATG at the World Accordion Championships. Amy JO will now serve as a Board of Director for the ATG as well as the editor of the ATG Bulletin. |
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| Accordion Extravaganza No. 5 |
 On
October 17th the Accordion Extravaganza No. 5 took place at the Westchester
Community College in White Plains, NY. This concert featured accordionists
Mario Tacca, Kevin Friedrich, and the K-Trio. Each presented a portion of
the program, followed by several works together, some of which also featured
Mary Mancini, acclaimed vocalist. Both The "K" Trio and Mary Mancini and Mario Tacca have been recently featured at the A.T.G. festivals. Last year Mary Mancini and Mario Tacca were the featured artists in Chicago, and this year the K-Trio were presented in concert at the ATG festival in Branson. |
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| UMKC Accordion Orchestra in Concert |
| The UMKC
Accordion Orchestra which recently returned from a highly successful
concert tour of Italy, began their 1999-2000 concert season by taking part
in a large musical extravaganza at the University of Missouri, Kansas City
on October 11th, 1999. They accompanied a 600 piece choir, as well as performing
some featured items to a capacity audience. The orchestra was also featured at the Annual American Family Christmas Concerts in Kansas City on December 5th, 1999. The orchestra is featured in concert as well as being used as the pit orchestra for the show. |
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| Celebrating 50 Years of Accordions in the Rockies |
| The Rocky Mountain Accordion
Society celebrated its 50th Anniversary during its annual competition and
festival. The event featured competitions for all ages (including adults),
as well as concerts, an 80 piece mass band, a banquet and an open mike session.
Entertainers included the YMA Denver Intermediate Show Band (which delighted the audience with a reenactment of the Willy Wonker Chocolate Factory) and the YMA Springs Prep Band 'Aliens' who entertained the earthlings playing a "2001 Space Odysee!" RMAS President, Alice Aman paid special tribute to teacher Harold Krieger, who had attended and provided students at all 50 annual festivals! Special thanks were then given to Alice for her many years of contribution to the accordion field and a Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Mike Aman (teacher and director of Monarch Accordions) for his contribution to the accordion field as a musician, artist and teacher and competition. Results were as follows: Open Virtuoso Solo: Stacey Yamada Open Virtuoso Orchestra: YMA Sprints Virtuoso Orchestra directed by Kim Christian (They gained a perfect score of 100 marks) RMAS King: Soum Panda RMAS Queen: Amanda Kuderka RAMS Peanut King (5/6 years old): Marlon Bennett RMAS Peanut Queen (5/6 years old): Camille Christian |
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| Gary Daverne to direct Y2K Orchestra in Plano, Texas |
 The
Texas Accordion Association
is pleased to announce a star studded cast for their upcoming convention
from 16-19 March, 2000 which has been dubbed the "Year of the Accordion
Orchestra."Conducting the "Y2K" Festival Accordion Orchestra, which is made up of all festival attendees, will be the renowned symphony director Gary Daverne, from Auckland, New Zealand. Gary is the conductor of the Auckland Symphony Orchestra, and has appeared as guest conductor with major orchestras all over the world. In addition to his conducting skills, Gary is also a prolific composer, and has written many pieces for accordion solo, duo, ensemble and orchestra, as well as making numerous arrangements for accordion orchestra. We invite you to visit www.garydaverne.gen.nz |
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| 2000 - The Year Ahead |
| The much awaited year 2000
will offer a feast of accordion activities, festivals and conventions including
such events as The Texas Accordion
Association Annual Convention in March, the American
Accordionists' Association and The
Accordionists and Teachers Guild, International conventions in July,
the new Accordion Convention in
Las Vegas, and the annual Cotati Accordion Festival, both held in August.
(For further information, or to list your event, please consult the monthly calendars for exact dates and contact details.) |
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We
are very happy to welcome you to the first edition of the United States
National Accordion News, called "Accordion USA."