UMKC Doctoral accordion candidate Lidia Kaminska will present her DMA recital featuring the works of Astor Piazzolla on Sunday, April 21, 2002 at White Hall in the Performing Arts Center, at 4:30 pm.

The Performing Arts Center is located on the UMKC Campus at 4949 Cherry, Kansas City, Mo.

This lecture recital entitled 'Astor Piazzolla and theTango Nuevo' will feature the works:

• Le Grand Tango
• Café 1930
• Bordel 1900
• Cité Tango
• Invierno Porteno
• Fugata
• El Tango
• Adios Nonino

Performing with Lidia will be Ian Flatt - cello; Gregory Sandomirsky - violin; Beau Bledsoe - guitar; Brad Cox - piano; Jeff Harshbarger - bass and Beatriz Dujovne - narrator.

53,000 readers of the March 3, 2002 issue of the Beaver County Sunday Times (Pennsylvania) were treated to a full-page life-size color photograph of an Excelsior piano accordion on the cover page of the newspaper, as well as a comprehensive article titled "Attuned To Their Accordions" by staff reporter Karen Ferrick-Roman.

Although the four-page article included in-depth interviews with four prominent Pittsburgh area accordionists and teachers, Andy Dokmanovich, Arlene Fejka, Al Roginski and Henry Doktorski, the crux of the article focused on the activities of two talented teenage accordionists, fifteen year old Nick Fejka and seventeen year old Brian O'Boyle.

The two young men (former students of Henry Doktorski who currently study with Slovenian master and former Duquesne University Tamburitzan Andy Dokmanovich) are members of the Slavjane Folk Ensemble of McKees Rocks -- directed by Arlene Fejka -- which specializes in authentic Eastern European music and dance performances. The article included four photographs of Nick and Brian rehearsing with the Slavjane Ensemble.

Author Karen Ferrick-Roman commented, "The response to my article was tremendous; I had no idea that the accordion was so incredibly popular. One of the calls I received was from the mayor of a nearby town who told me he performs on diatonic accordion with the
Pennsylvania-Ohio Button Box Association!" For a copy of the article, contact author Karen Ferrick-Roman at krojman@timesonline.com

Fans of the popular cartoon series 'Garfield' have been delighted at the series which shares some fun with the accordion. You can also find the pictures at www.garfield.com.

New Hampshire accordionist Jody Latulippe has just released a new book entitled "101 Popular Songs for the Accordion". (Also available as 101 Popular Songs for the piano, and 101 Popular Songs for the Guitar.)

A past student of Joan Cochran Sommers at the University of Missouri, Kansas City, where he received his Bachelor of Music Degree, Jody wrote the following at the beginning of the book:

"These standards have endured the test of time because of their accessibility. Generations of musicians have enjoyed performing these popular favorites, and each selection was chosen careful from a variety of categories. There's something for everyone here including: sing-a-longs, holiday, patriotic, inspirational, folk, classical, ragtime, and jazz."

Published by Santorella Publishing Co. of Danvers, MA, this new book retails for $19.95.

Santorella's confidence in their products is so assured that they provide every customer with a 100% guarantee, not for 30 days or even 90 days, but for the life of the product. That is unheard of in the print music industry!

Customers can call, fax, send a letter, or e-mail from 8 AM to 6 PM EST Monday through Friday.

Santorella Publications, LTD.
13 Pleasant Ave.
Danvers, MA 01923
Toll Free Ordering: 877-600-0049.
Phone: 978-750-0566 • Fax: 978-750-0572
http://www.santorellapublication.com
e-mail: contact@santorellapublication.com

American concert accordionist Henry Doktorski performed at the Midway United Methodist Church (Midway, Pennsylvania) on Sunday, March 17 for their "St. Patrick's Day Great Commission" service. In addition to leading the congregation during the standard hymns, he played the "Pastoral Symphonie" from Handel's "Messiah" as well as his own "Theme and Variations on Danny Boy." Church Director, David Sims, said, "We wanted to do something extraordinary this year for our St. Patrick's Day Service, so we thought about having our regular organist take the day off and have an accordionist take her place.

One of the members of our congregation happened to know someone from the Pittsburgh Symphony who enthusiastically recommended that we contact Henry Doktorski. "Henry was just the person we were looking for and we were fortunate that he was able to find a substitute for his regular Sunday morning job as organist for St. John of God Parish in McKees Rocks. His concert accordion filled our church with magnificent music which enlivened our congregation. We hope to have him again next year."

Henry Doktorski: http://henrydoktorski.com

Legendary accordionists Anthony Galla-Rini, Frank Marocco, Art Van Damme, Dick Contino and Myron Floren will appear together at the Las Vegas International Accordion Convention which is being held from June 23-26th, 2002 at the Plaza Hotel in Las Vegas and Convention Center at Number One Main Street, Las Vegas, Nevada

A terrific opportunity to see these accordion stars together, this momentous occasion will be rare chance to mingle with five people who have helped shape the accordion world in the United States over the years in their respective fields covering areas such as Jazz, Composing, Arranging, Hollywood, Television, Show Business and Teaching.

Not limited to these five accordion greats, the convention will also feature United States World Champion Peter Soave and his wife Maddy and a host of other guests from the United States and abroad.

For further information and registration, please visit www.accordionstars.com
HOT LINE: 801-486-1695
FAX: 801-596-7315
2330 South Main Street Suite 15
Salt Lake City, UT 84115
e-mail: lasvegas@accordioninfo.com

Accordionist Milen Slavov will take part in a live television interview & performance on WLOX TV's "4:30 Show" (WLOX-TV Channel 13, Biloxi, MS) on April 4th. He will be joined by Strandzha singer Zhivka Papancheva and accomplished gudulka player Teodor Dimitrov. Their program will include original Bulgarian music in traditional and contemporary styles.

On April 6th they will perform a free concert at the Leggett Memorial United Methodist Church in Biloxi, MS. This concert is sponsored by the Mississippi Arts Commission and the Mississippi Folklife Association.

Milen Slavov is a composer, arranger, performer, teacher, and vocalist. Born in Stara Zagora in the Thrace region of Bulgaria, he began playing accordion at the age of seven. He graduated from Bulgaria's most prestigious musical training institute, the Philip Koutev Music School in Kotel, then studied at the Musical Pedagogical Conservatory in Plovdiv. He is a skilled master of accordion, keyboard, and tambura. He plays and composes in Bulgarian traditional, contemporary, improvisational, Eastern European, and gypsy styles.

Slavov began his performing career in 1984 as a "wedding" musician, requiring the highest level of professionalism and virtuosity. As a teacher of tambura at the Koutev School, Slavov wrote original works designed specifically for his students, a practice he continues today. His compositions are still taught at the Koutev School. In 1994 the school honored Slavov by adopting a photo of him with singer Zhivka Papancheva as their official school emblem.

Slavov has lived in America since 1997, and has performed throughout the United States. He served as Music Director and Composer for San Francisco-based Westwind International Folk Ensemble. Slavov was guest teacher of the UCLA Ethnomusicology Department for the 98/99 academic year. In 1998 he was Guest of the Community at the EEFC's Mendocino Balkan Music and Dance Workshop. He has performed with Yuri Yunakov, Donka & Nikolai Kolevi, Grammy-winning vocalist Kremena Stancheva, Kitka, Khadra, and at the California Academy of Sciences, the Wild Iris World Music Festival, the Cotati Accordion Festival, and the East European Accordion Masters. He has appeared on live radio in California, Mississippi, Wisconsin, Missouri, and Texas. The California Arts Council has granted Milen Slavov the 1999/2000 Performing Arts Fellowship in Musical Composition.

Serbian accordionist Micho Micic will entertain at Boaz Accordions in Berkeley, California on April 6th. Micho is a member of the popular local band "Ravna Gora", which "brings the house down" regularly at the Serbian Orthodox Church in Fair Oaks.

His program includes traditional music such as "Moravac", "Uzicko", "Kraljevo" and "Gocino".

For details phone: +1 510 845-1429

The 25 member Showstoppers Accordion Orchestra and the 25 member Showstoppers Dance Company will present a variety show which features vocalists, instrumentalists and dancers on Friday June 21, at 7:00PM (with raindate Sunday June 23 at 7:00 PM) at the Greeley Park Stage in Nashua, NH.

The Showstoppers are students of the Rosita Lee Music & Dance Centers in Hudson, NH. The orchestra is under the direction of Rosita Lee Latulippe and the dancers are under the direction of Shelly Latulippe. They have performed throughout Italy, Canada, Ireland and the United States. The program includes selections from the "Big Band" era to the latest hits of today. Polkas, waltzes, audience participation and more are in store. Their show is family entertainment and attendees are asked to bring chairs/blankets for open lawn seating.

For further information, please contact 603/882-8940 or e-mail:Roger Latulippe at: Roger@rositalee.com

By Kate Kelsall

"Embracing diversity is one adventure after another, opening new paths of discovery that connect an understanding to caring, listening, and sharing with others who are different than ourselves." April Holland

The Texas Accordion Association National Accordion Convention was held from March 7-9, 2002 in Plano. The Texas Accordion Association's President, Norman Seaton, demonstrated Texas hospitality. This event was a true celebration of diversity, representing accordionists with ages from teens through seniors from many cultural backgrounds, playing diverse genres of accordion music. Walking through the hallways of the hotel was a musical delight with a wide range of diverse accordion music emanating from the rooms-waltzes, polkas, classical, standards, Tex-Mex, country western-every type of music imaginable.

Some highlights of the convention included a musical smorgasbord of the following:

• Lidia Kaminska performed classical pieces. Lidia is from Poland and is completing her Doctorate in Musical Arts (DMA) in Accordion Performance at the University of Missouri at Kansas City.
• Alice Aman, Colorado's Polka Queen, conducted one orchestra and generously played the bass accordion in two other orchestras at the convention.
• Mike and Margie Aman from Colorado played the accordion and recorded live on Channel 4 television in Dallas.
• John Simkus, the Accordion Jazz King of Chicago and of Lithuanian descent, conducted the TAA Accordion Orchestra.
• Jim Rommel of Dallas played the accordion and sang with his eleven year old daughter who also sang "I Got Rhythm" and "Edelweiss".
• Dick Albreski of Oklahoma City and Greg Klugiewicz of Texas, both of Polish descent, performed as an accordion duet.
• Santiago Jimenez, Jr. a legend in the Conjunto music world, performed and conducted workshops. Santiago dedicates himself to preserving the style and memory of his father's and grandfather's music.
• Tim Alexander, five-time Grammy winner, conducted workshops and performed on the button-box.
• Ginny Mac, a 16 year old Texan, sang and played country western songs on her accordion.
• Joseph Castorina from Australia, who currently resides in Texas, played "O Solo Mio" on the accordion and was accompanied by 19 year old, Lin Xu, from China who currently resides in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Lin sang this Italian song in Chinese, and he is also an accomplished accordionist.

The convention included two exciting public concerts on Friday and Saturday evenings. There was a "flag-waving" patriotic opening ceremony featuring the Plano Civil Air Patrol Color Guard on Friday night. Saturday night's program concluded with accordionists playing the "Beer Barrel Polka" and being accompanied by a surprise visit from a group of tuba players.

Participating in this event was a rewarding human experience. We appreciated and embraced others' differences. Our common bond was the accordion. We reached out and shared our gifts of music and became richer because of it.

The author, Kate Kelsall, enjoys entertaining with the accordion and plays solos, in an accordion quartet and in an accordion band in the Denver area. Kate can be contacted at KateDenver@aol.com

The American Accordionists' Association is sponsoring the new World Music Fest which is part of their annual festival to be held in Minneapolis and Duluth from July 10-14, 2002 at the Holiday Inn West.

The World Music Fest is open to Ensembles performing Ethnic, Rock, Polka, Klezmer, Continental, Scandinavian, Swing, Ceilidh, Jazz or any other Style. The competition will be held Thursday, July 11, 2002 at 7:00 PM in the Ballroom at the Holiday Inn West - Minneapolis.

Offering a $1000.00 first prize, competition rules are as follows:

• Each group must consist of a minimum of 3 and maximum of 6 members. Other instruments and vocals may be used, but the accordion must be featured.
• The program should consist of any form of world music (as above), not exceeding fifteen minutes duration. Entries will be judged on basis of originality, variety, musicianship and professionalism.
• An audio tape of the program, postmarked no later than
  June 1, 2002, must be sent to:
  American Accordionists' Association
  World Music Fest Committee
  1066 Papermil Court, NW
  Washington, DC 20007
• Up to ten finalists will be chosen from the tapes by a panel of prominent musicians and dignitaries. They will be notified by June 8, 2001. These finalists must be prepared to perform in person before a live audience at the competition to take place at the Holiday Inn West in Minneapolis, MN on Thursday evening July 11, 2002 at 7:00 PM.
• Finalists will be judged by a distinguished panel of musicians and dignitaries. Decision of the judges will be final and prizes will be awarded following the competition.
• No tapes will be returned.