Myron Floren Dies aged 85, California - USA
CIA 70th Anniversary Gala Banquet, Castelo Branco - Portugal
Yuri Shishkin and Yuri Medianik
New Attempt at Guinness World Record, Newfoundland - Canada
New Renzo Ruggieri CD, Castelfidardo - Italy
New Materials for Developing Jazz Skills, Darwin - Australia

Translation Arrving Soon
Myron Floren Dies aged 85, California - USA
Contributed by Rob Howard

The accordion world mourns the passing of Myron Floren, at the age of 85. Although he will always be remembered for his long association with Lawrence Welk, and Welk's long-running television show. Myron Floren was in fact an accordionist who performed on public stages throughout his life. After performing professionally for many years and presenting his own radio show, and entertaining the troops during World War Two in the European theater of the war, Myron Floren joined the Lawrence Welk troupe in 1950.

He remained with Lawrence Welk until Welk disbanded in 1982. For most of these years, Myron Floren was seen every week on American television, making him the most televised accordionist in history. Floren performed solo and with bands after 1982, and was elected into the Polka Hall of Fame in 1990 as well as receiving honors from national and international accordion organizations..

Myron Floren never grew tired of entertaining with the accordion, and once commented: "I'm going to keep squeezing this thing until nobody calls any more". He did indeed perform throughout his life.
See Memorials for further information.
  

CIA 70th Anniversary Gala Banquet, Castelo Branco - Portugal
Contributed by CIA President - Kevin Friedrich

The Confédération International des Accordéonistes (CIA) will celebrate its 70th Anniversary with a Gala Banquet to be held in conjunction with the 58th Coupe Mondiale World Accordion Championships to be held in Castelo Branco, Portugal from October 25th to 30th.

This magnificent formal attire celebration will be hosted by CIA Member and 2005 Coupe Mondiale host the Conservatorio Regional de Castelo Branco. The Gala Banquet will take place on Tuesday October 25th from 5pm to 7pm and will be a great opportunity to reflect on the many wonderful activities and rich history of the CIA, as well as look forward to many exciting future events.

The CIA Executive Officers are honored to invite all CIA Members, all former CIA Champions, Officers, Merit Award Recipients, Honored Friend of the Accordion Recipients, members of the International Jury, all International Delegates, Guests, International Press as well as their spouses and partners.

For further information, an on-line RSVP form and additional information on the 2005 Coupe Mondiale, please visit www.coupemondiale.org
   

Yuri Shishkin and Yuri Medianik
Contributed by Holda-Paoletti-Kampl

Bayan accordionists Yuri Shishkin and Yuri Medianik are planning to tour Russia in February 2006, and this will be the first time they have performed together. They will be performing together with various chamber orchestras.

The first part of their concerts will feature Yuri Medianik as a violinist, performing Vivaldi's 'Concerto for Violin, Organ and Strings', with Yuri Shishkin playing the organ part on bayan.

After this, Yuri and Yuri will perform on bayans Poulenc's 'Concerto for Organ', transcribed for two accordions by Yuri Shishkin. More details of the concerts will follow in due course.
   

New Attempt at Guinness World Record, Newfoundland - Canada
Contributed by Rob Howard


The 29th Newfoundland and Labrador Folk Festival, held in Bannerman Park in the town of St John from August 5th to 7th, will be the scene for an attempt to set a new world record for the number of accordionists playing together. On July 7th of this year, Kimberly BC set a new world record of 644 players, breaking the one established by a festival in the Netherlands in 2000. The latest attempt will take place on Saturday August 6th, at 4.30pm, and the Guinness Book of Records will verify the result.

Folk Arts Council President Jean Hewson hopes so. "When the idea of trying for the record first came up," says Hewson, "I contacted O'Brien's Music Store just to see how many accordions they thought might be in the St. John's area. 'Hundreds?" I asked. They said 'absolutely, maybe even thousands'. That gave us the encouragement we needed to say 'let's try!'"

Dave Penny, a member of the St John Folk Art Council Board of Directors, will be the lead accordion player, and has made an arrangement for all the assembled accordions to play. A number of some of Newfoundland's finest accordion players will help with the event and several are already slotted for other performances at the festival.

For further information email accordions@gmail.com

New Materials for Developing Jazz Skills, Darwin - Australia
Contributed by Rob Howard

Dutch-born, Australian-based, jazz accordionist Michael Furstner has developed a range of educational material for developing and extending jazz skills on the accordion.

For further information email mfurstner@ozemail.com.au
 

Mika Väyrynen Guest Stars with the Tallin Chamber Orchestra - Estonia
Contributed by Kevin Friedrich

Finnish accordionist Mika Väyrynen will be the guest soloist in Estonia on August 8th and 9th, when he performs with the 'Tallinn Chamber Orchestra'. Peforming Aulis Sallinen's 'Chamber Music 5 - Barabbas Variations', the orchestra is under the direction of Tonu Kaljuste.

The Tallinn Chamber Orchestra has performed in many prestigious music festivals: Bach Cantatas Festival in Milan (1996, 1997), Bremen Music Festival (1998) and the Huddersfield Festival of Contemporary Music (1998). Their concert tours have taken them to Canada, USA, Japan and to many European countries.
 

5th International Golden Accordion Competition, Benevento - Italy
Contributed by Holda-Paoletti-Kampl

Thanks to the large number of entries last year from Italy, Russia, Greece, France, Austria, Poland, Serbia and the USA, this year's festival is expected to include several international categories.

These include: Under 13 years old (Student), as well as the Junior (up to 16 years) and Senior (over 16 years), a section for Jazz accordion, and the institution of a prize devoted the best interpretation of compositions (or arrangements) of Peppino Principe; all categories have prizes of notable value.

In addition to the Classical and Jazz sections, this year is added a section for compositions in Variété (virtuoso entertainment) style. The best prize is the 'Fisarmonca d'Oro' (an artistic trophy with a substantial prize) assigned to the candidate (or group) that have distinguished themselves amongst all the categories. There is no entrance fee for any category, and there are no test pieces.

The festival this year widens to involve collaborations with other competitions in Canada and Australia, with a strong cultural exchange among the respective events. The Competition will take place in Benevento (Italy) on July 16th and on 17th September.

For further information email info@fisarmonicadoro-benevento.com or see the website www.fisarmonicadoro-benevento.com

The Coupe Mondiale website by the Confédération International des Accordéonistes (CIA) offers updated information about the 58th Coupe Mondiale to be held in Castelo Branco, Portugal from October 25th to 30th. Site includes on-line entry and registration forms, competition venue and hotel accommodation information, schedule and details on the 70th CIA Anniversary Banquet.