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Yellow Pages Events
Highlights |
Eugene Ettore Memorial Website
Octoberfest Las Vegas International Accordion Festival Ready to Start - USA
Joan C. Sommers Elected CIA Vice-President at 2010 Coupe Mondiale
The Darrows Present the 32nd Accordion Day
Florida Accordion Association 10th SMASH
Reports for Concerts, Masterclasses, Competitions, Festivals, etc. |
Arlene Boddicker Passes Away - USA
Gary Dahl’s Christmas Book for the Accordion, Missouri – USA
Future events |
Austin Celtic Festival, Texas – USA
Highlights |
Editor's Noteby Rita Barnea |
 This issue marks the beginning of my third year as Editor of Accordion USA News. It has been a very busy and interesting two years. I have thoroughly enjoyed meeting many accordionists, attending accordion festivals and concerts, writing about them, and learning about the Wonderful World of the Accordion. You all know what I mean when I say "accordion people" are the friendliest and most enthusiastic group of people you will ever meet. Well, if you do not know that already, I suggest you attend an accordion festival or concert very soon! Unfortunately, due to an untimely crash of my computer, the number of articles on the Accordion USA News November edition will be less than usual. I expect to update and include more articles during the coming days. In honor of what would have been the 90th birthday of Eugene Ettore, my accordion teacher, I am proud to announce the "Grand Opening" today of the Eugene Ettore Web Site. I was fortunate to have studied with him for many years before I went to college to major in music education. I have been teaching music in public school for many years. I play my accordion in the music classes every day and the kids love it! The accordion is the perfect instrument for music teachers at every grade level! To honor Eugene Ettore and his contributions to the world of music, I would like to invite you all to a free concert which I will present this Saturday night, November 6th, 7:30 PM at Menzel's Music Shop, Livingston, New Jersey. At this concert, I will perform many of his virtuoso compositions including the "Manhattan Concerto". For further information please contact me at Ritabelll@aol.com or call 201-675-4861. The following week on Saturday evening, November 13th at 7:30 PM, I have the privilege of performing the "Manhattan Concerto" with the Roxborough Symphony Orchestra in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The conductor of the orchestra is Dr. Fawzi Habboushe. This free concert will take place at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Church. Email Ritabelll@aol.com for further information. As we move toward the Xmas season, please remember to share your special talents, no matter the level, with your friends and family. And, if you do not play the accordion, please be supportive of accordionists by attending their programs and buying their CD's! Rita Davidson - Editor Accordion USA News |
Eugene Ettore Memorial Websiteby Rita Barnea |
 A new website is under development that is devoted to preserving the memory and works of Eugene Ettore, composer, arranger, accordionist, inventor, teacher and more! Click Eugene Ettore to view.We hope that you will return often to this site to read the continuing updates of information about his life and music. Eugene Ettore made a very important and valuable contribution, not only to the accordion world, but the entire musical world as you will see during your travels through this web site. The Eugene Ettore Memorial website has been developed over the past year by myself (former student of Eugene Ettore frequently performing his works) with the professional guidance of Harley Jones, (Accordions Worldwide founder) and Dr. Paul Cohen , highly respected and well known performer, teacher, historian, musicologist, publisher, and author, all related to classical saxophone. Special thanks go to Eugene Ettore’s daughter, Carol Ettore Asimou who generously provided many of the original articles, photos, etc. which you will see on this web site. It would be greatly appreciated if any readers who have further information, photos, articles, etc. about Eugene Ettore, would kindly scan and send to Ritabelll@aol.com or mail the original materials to Rita Davidson, 183 Clarken Drive, West Orange, New Jersey, 07052. I will send the originals back promptly to the owners after scanning. All the published accordion music of Eugene Ettore is now listed on the website including information of where to purchase. Accordion compositions never published before, will soon be made available by MusicForAccordion.com and also listed on this website. Future plans also include releasing a CD of Eugene Ettore's original accordion compositions in early 2011 with details to follow. Thanking you all in advance for visiting this site. Rita Davidson - Accordion USA Editor |
Octoberfest Las Vegas International Accordion Festival Ready to Start - USAby Heather Masefield, Secretary, New Zealand Accordion Association |
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  I am writing this on the plane flying internationally to Las Vegas for the Octoberfest Las Vegas International from 15th to 18th October at the Gold Coast Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas. Paul Betken & Jerry Cigler are newly added to a great line up of stars (list below) with lots of great seats still available! Want to hop a plane to come and enjoy this exciting festival? Newsletter (picture right) with full information: 2018LVACnews.pdf Picture left: Event organizer Paul Pasquali The lineup starts with visionary accordionist Cory Pesaturo and bookends with a grand finale starring Grayson Masefield and the International Accordion Orchestra under the direction of the legendary Prof. Joan Sommers. You can register online at www.AccordionStars.com or contact Paul Pasquali, event organizer, by phone at 1-800-472-1695 or (801) 485-5840, email: paul@accordioninfo.com. |
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Joan C. Sommers Elected CIA Vice-President at 2010 Coupe Mondialeby Kevin Friedrich, CIA Ambassador |
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| 2010 Coupe Mondiale Daily Reports. Prof. Joan Sommers was elected as a Vice President of the Confédération Internationale des Accordéonistes (CIA) at their recent 124th General Assembly of Delegates held in Croatia. See 2010 Coupe Mondiale Daily Reports. A long time supporter of the CIA, she has held various positions including the CIA Music Committee Chairperson and Vice Chairperson, Vice Chairperson of the Advancement and Development Committee, Coordinator and Director of the CIA World Accordion Orchestra and served as both Chairperson and member of the International Jury panels during the annual Coupe Mondiale Competitions. Joan Sommers first attended the Coupe Mondiale held by the CIA in 1955 representing the United States in Brighton, England and again in 1956 held in Biel, Switzerland. Joan Cochran Sommers established the accordion degree program at the University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC) Conservatory of Music in 1961. It served as one of the most comprehensive accordion programs in the world where both performance majors, secondaries, and non-music majors used the accordion to earn Baccalaureate through Doctorate degrees. Now retired, Professor Joan Sommers has been honored several times by the American Accordionists' Association (AAA), the Accordionists & Teachers Guild, International (ATG), the Confédération Internationale des Accordéonistes (CIA), as well as other musical organizations for her ongoing dedication and contributions to the field of music, and next year the AAA will honor her with their Lifetime Achievement Award during their annual Festival to be held from July 13-17, 2011 at the Sheraton at Charleston Airport in Charleston, SC. Her students have won numerous top awards, including the US Championship competitions in both the AAA and the ATG, and have been candidates to the Coupe Mondiale many different times in six of the different CIA categories, over a long period of time. Some of the most outstanding accordion professionals, both men and women, have been her students and have earned music degrees at the UMKC Conservatory of Music. Joan has led the world renowned UMKC Accordion Orchestra since its inception in 1961, and next year, the orchestra, now known as the UMKC Community Accordion Orchestra will celebrate its 50th Anniversary concert on May 22, 2011 at the University of Missouri – Kansas City Center for the Performing Arts. After the recent elections, the CIA Executive Team currently comprises Raymond Bodell (United Kingdom - President), Herbert Scheibenrief (Austria - Vice President), Tibor Racz (Slovakia - Vice President), Joan Sommers (USA - Vice President), Kimmo Mattila (Finland - General Secretary/Treasurer), Harley Jones (New Zealand - Public Relations Manager), Frédéric Deschamps (France - Chairperson of the Music Committee) and Kevin Friedrich (USA - CIA Ambassador, a non-voting advisory role as immediate CIA Past President.) For a full report on this years CIA Coupe Mondiale activities, please visit www.coupemondiale.org and follow the links to the Croatian Festival. |
The Darrows Present the 32nd Accordion Dayby Rita Barnea |
 Sunday, November 7th, will be an exciting day for Delaware Valley Accordionists, Acme Accordion School, and residents of Haddon Township, NJ. The Acme Accordion School kicks off its new Diatonic-Button Box Club featuring Tex Mex, Zydeco, Cajun, and Louisiana sytles of squeezing. After the festival the new Acme Button Club will meet each Friday evening at 8 PM at the Acme Accordion School & Musikgarten, 322 Haddon Avenue, Westmount, New Jersey. The festival will take place from 10:AM until 4 PM beginning with a 10:00 AM workshop presented by Stanley and Joanna Arnold Darrow on the "Art of Practicing a Musical Instrument" Benefits derived from musical involvement will be discussed. These include the long term physical, emotional, and social skills. The Annual Accordion Day Photograph will be a Noon. Remember to bring your accordion! There will be many ensemble performances including: The Westmont Philharmonia Accordion Orchestra, Westmont Accordion Clubs, the ACME Accoridon School Junior Band, Preparatory Band and Musikgarten Ensemble. Invited featured guests are scheduled to perform including Rik Kaplan from Washington, DC. he has performed extensively during the AAMS Conventions. His specialty is the button box accordion and its related musical styles, Cajun, Zydeco, and Louisiana styles will be presented. Dee Langley, President of the ATG and performing accordion artist from Minneapolis, Minnesota will present specialty ethnic music of the Balkan countries with its exciting mixed meters. From 9 AM until 4 PM there will be performances as well as an accordion market where anyone who has an instrument for sale, may display it. This must be pre-arranged. For further information contact: Stanley and Joanna Darrow 856-854-6628. This event is open to the public and free of charge. A Free Will offering is graciously accepted and will be placed in the ACME Scholarship Program. |
Florida Accordion Association 10th SMASHby Rita Barnea |
  The Florida Accordion Association is proud to announce their 10th Annual SMASH from November 19-21st in Orlando, Florida featuring Tony Lovello, William "Bill" Cosby, Nancy Leonard, Bruce Gassman, and Walter K, Lenny Feldmann, Joe Natoli, Carmine Vitanza, John Kolbrich, Nick Ballarini,Dick Richards, Jerry Tramontozzi, Donna Dee Ray and more. There will be dealer displays and the famous Friday night Cafe Accordion hosted by Alvaro Barsi.There will be an accordion orchestra, professional accordion performances, grand evening concert, 50/50 raffle and jamming! PHOTO OF TONY LOVELLO The Florida SMASH will be held at the International Palms Resort (formerly the Holiday Inn International Resort), 6515 International Drive, Orlando, Florida. For further information: President Karen Adam Kasprzyk FLACCASSOC@bellsouth.net or call 850-936-8722 |
Reports for Concerts, Masterclasses, Competitions, Festivals, etc. |
Charles Nunzio Passes Away - USA -Memorial Serviceby Kevin Friedrich, CIA Ambassador |
 Accordionist and teacher Charles Nunzio, the last surviving founding member of the American Accordionists Association passed away on October 17, 2010.A native of Cattafi, Italy, Charles immigrated to America at age eight in 1921. His family lived in Newark, New Jersey and in order to continue his accordion study with Frank Umbriaco in New York City, Charles and his father would travel for 2 hours every Sunday morning. A well known composer, artist and teacher, his own advanced study was with Pietro Frosini. He would sub on radio programs for Pietro Deiro, Charles Magnante, Joe Biviano and Frosini. At one time in the 1930's, Charles would do as many as 35 radio programs in a week, plus maintain his teaching schedule and evening appearances with orchestras. In 1938 Charles Nunzio became a founding Board member of the American Accordionists Association along with Pietro Frosini, Abe Goldman, Sydney Dawson, Anthony Galla-Rini, Charles Magnante, Pietro Deiro, Gene Von Hallberg, Joe Biviano, John Gart, Sam Roland and Byron Streep. A visitation and a memorial service will be held at Gallaway and Crane Funeral Home, 101 S. Finley Ave., Basking Ridge, NJ 07920. The visitation will be Friday, Oct. 29, 2010, 5-7 p.m. The memorial service will be Saturday, Oct. 30, 2010 at 11 a.m. For directions or more information call the funeral home at 908-766-0250 or on their website: http://gcfuneralhome.com/ |
Arlene Boddicker Passes Away - USAby Kevin Friedrich, CIA Ambassador |
 Accordion artist, teacher and former President of the Accordionists and Teachers Guild, International Arlene Boddicker passed away on October 17, aged 81.Arlene began teaching accordion in 1946, and in 1948 she and her husband, Jerry, established the Boddicker Schools of Accordion throughout Iowa. Later, the name was changed to Boddicker School of Music and offered instruction on all instruments. Teaching more than 1,600 students a year, the music schools employed more than 60 teachers and staff. During her career, Arlene taught many accordionists, toured in both the USA and abroad with her accordion orchestras and adjudicated and presented workshops at various accordion festivals. A memorial Mass will be held at 8 a.m. Sunday, November 21, at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, 120 Fifth St. SW, Cedar Rapids. A celebration of life will be held from 12:30 to 4 p.m. November 21 at the Ponderosa Ballroom in Walford. |
Gary Dahl’s Christmas Book for the Accordion, Missouri – USAby Rob Howard |
 ‘A Christmas Tradition. A Celebration With The Accordion’ is the title of a new Mel Bay book of 19 Christmas carols and songs, arranged by Gary Dahl. All titles are specially arranged for the accordionist with one advanced version and one single note version that is accessible for all skill levels. There is also advice from Gary Dahl about registration and performance. The titles are: O Little Town of Bethlehem, O Holy Night (Cantique de Noel), I Saw Three Ships, O Christmas Tree (O Tannenbaum), God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, Away in a Manger, Angels We Have Heard On High, It Came Upon the Midnight Clear, Deck the Halls, The First Noel, Auld Lang Syne, Silent Night, O Come All Ye Faithful (Adeste Fideles), Hark the Herald Angels Sing, We Three Kings, Joy to the World, Jingle Bells, Gesu Bambino, and What Child Is This? For further information email: garydahlmusic@msn.com |
Future events |
Dr William Schimmel's Autumn Schedule, New York – USAby Rob Howard |
 Dr William Schimmel's autumn diary dates include:October 30th/31st - Kid's Eurofest, Finnish Embassy, Washington DC - with singer/flutist Ulla Soukko November 4th/5th – recording of Jorge Martin's ‘Ropa Vieja’ for accordion, cello and percussion, American Academy of Arts and Letters, New York November 11th/12th/13th – performance and recording of ‘In Vain’, by George Friedrich Haas, with The Argento Ensemble – EMPAC – Troy, New York Dr. Schimmel can be heard of the following new and recent CDs and DVDs: ‘Portrain in Seven Shades’, by Ted Nash, with The Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, directed by Wynton Marsalis – JLCO Records – Bill Schimmel appears as guest soloist ‘Gay Marshall Sings Piaf’ - GM Records ‘Weatherwatch/Free Jazz’ – with pianist Dr Mark Birnbaum – IPS/STUDIO MUSE Records ‘Accordion/Piano/Piano/Accordion’ – IPS/STUDIO MUSE Records ‘Ever/Never’ – DVD, with Micki Goodman, director and choreographer – can be seen on www.billschimmel.com - and You Tube - an IPS/STUDIO MUSE Production Soon to be released: ‘Accordion/Piano/Piano Accordion II’ - IPS/STUDIO MUSE Records ‘In Orbit’ – with Dr Mark Birnbaum – IPS/STUDIO MUSE Records William Schimmel is a virtuoso accordionist, author, philosopher and composer. He is one of the principle architects in the tango revival in America, the resurgence of the accordion and the philosophy of Musical Reality (composition with pre-existing music). He received his diploma from the Neupauer Conservatory of Music and his BM, MS and DMA degrees from the Juilliard School. He has taught at the Juilliard School, Brooklyn College CUNY, Upsala College, New School University, Neupauer Conservatory (dean) and has lectured on accordion related subjects at Princeton, Columbia, Brandeis, University of Missouri, Duke University, Manhattan School of Music, the Graduate Center CUNY, Santa Clara University, The Janacek Conservatory in Ostrava, Czech Republic, and at Microsoft. He now heads the Neupauer Conservatory Order of the Shield program, a private studies program for gifted students on a graduate and post graduate level. He conducts a successful annual three day master class and concert series in New York, sponsored by the American Accordionists' Association. The Confédération Internationale des Accordéonistes (CIA) has awarded Dr Schimmel the distinguished merit award for the AAA Master Class and Concert Series as well as his contribution to the international accordion scene. He received the AAA ‘Distinguished Service Award’ for Fifty Years of Accordion activity and his work as Lecturer in Residence. He is listed in Who's Who in America and Great Minds of the 21st Century. |
Austin Celtic Festival, Texas – USAby Rob Howard |
 The annual Austin Celtic Festival takes place in Austin, Texas, on November 6th and 7th, noon until 7.30pm. This festival mainly features Irish and Scottish music song and dance, and the guest list includes Ireland’s 2-row button accordionist James Keane, the band Beyond the Pale, and button accordionist John Williams, 5 times All Ireland Champion. On Sunday, at 4pm James Keane delivers a lecture, ‘Walking With Giants’, and at 4.30pm, John Williams leads a workshop for button accordion. |