Michael Bridge: Ladom Ensemble, Saskatoon Symphony and Esprit Orchestra
On September 21st, Michael Bridge performed with Ladom Ensemble at Hugh’s Room Live in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They were chosen by the Ludwig van Toronto, CRITIC’S PICKS | Classical Music Events You Absolutely Need To See This Week. They screened four music videos they had the pleasure of working on over the last two years with some inspiring collaborators. Ladom Ensemble is made up of 4 musicians: Michael Bridge (accordion), Adam Campbell (percussion), BethSilver (cello) and Pouya Hamidi (piano). They draw from Balkan, Persian, South American, Turkish and European influences and blends it all in a unique instrumentation that is passionate, sophisticated, & wild. Their original repertoire and arrangements have hints of folksongs, classical, Latin, and a little progressive rock. Ladom doesn’t pretend to represent any specific tradition, but rather expresses an authentic artistic fusion, reflecting the beautiful new Western world.
In October, Michael did improv work with the Saskatoon Symphony (Saskatchewan, Canada) accompanying the orchestra on Phantom of the Opera. He said “It was a pleasure to work with the Saskatoon Symphony; we filled up the Roxy Theatre two nights in a row”.
Click on link for a short taste: https://www.facebook.com/reel/1707080573423805
On November 27th, Esprit Orchestra and accordionist Michael Bridge present the North American Premiere of Bent Sørensen’s “It is pain flowing down slowly on a white wall” for accordion & string orchestra.
Mary Ann Covone Performed Two Benefit Concerts
Mary Ann Covone, immediate past president of The Accordionists & Teachers Guild, International, performed two benefit concerts in November. The first, in Napa, CA, on November 10, was a collaboration with her daughter, a soprano, and her brother, a bass baritone, and it was a fund-raising event for the Napa Valley Community Choir. The second concert on November 23rd, in Western Springs, IL, was also a benefit concert, in memory of Rachael Schopp (a dear family friend).
Rachael Schopp, a dear friend of Anne Marie Carden, Mary Ann’s daughter and Mary Ann, passed away in 2020, at the age of 24, after a 3-year battle trying to regain consciousness after being hit by a car in 2017 while crossing the street. She was a young woman full of life and love — a bright spark of a soul who briefly illuminated this world with her voice, laughter, and beautiful spirit. Rachael grew up in Chicago’s western suburbs, where music played an integral role in her life. At the time of her accident, Rachael was a pre-med student at St. Louis University. Rachael’s parents have created a scholarship fund, “Rachael’s Voice,” to keep Rachael’s spirit alive and provide scholarships for students studying music and the healing arts.
In both concerts, Mary Ann performed works by Scarlatti, Khatchaturian, Astor Piazzolla, Gorka Hermosa and Karen Fremar. Mary Ann and her daughter, Anne Marie, presented the world premiere of a piece commissioned by Mary Ann for soprano and accordion, “The Recipe of Life,” composed by Gorka Hermosa. The Western Springs program opened with Mary Ann performing Astor Piazzolla’s Ave Maria with strings followed by soprano, Anne Marie Carden performing Schubert’s Ave Maria. The program concluded with Karen Fremar’s “Irreplaceable” for accordion and flute which brought many in the audience to tears. One highlight of the program was The Chicagoland Accordion Academy Ensemble accompanying Ron Dake, saxophone soloist from Kansas City, in Concert Samba, a piece originally arranged by Liz Finch for the UMKC Community Accordion Ensemble. Mary Ann was thrilled with the outcome of the concert, welcoming over 300 audience members and raising funds far exceeding expectations.
If you wish to make a donation to “Rachael’s Voice,” a nonprofit scholarship fund, please visit www.rachaelsvoice.org.
Stas Venglevski: Active in Wisconsin and Michigan
In the month of September, Stas Venglevski (bayan) and Tatyana Krasnobaeva (dulcimer) performed eight concerts in Wisconsin (6) and Michigan (2). About these concerts, Stas writes Tatyana Krasnobaeva and I will bring international acclaim to the dulcimer and bayan this fall as we make our way throughout the beautiful midwestern cities of Wisconsin and Michigan. This program is an exciting array of eclectic musical selections from composers worldwide, from John Williams, Manuel de Falla, Gaetano Donizetti, Caude Thomain, and folk music from Russia, Ukraine, Moldova, and Romania.
On October 15th Stas performed with Greg Flint (horn) Ravenna Helson (cello), Stefanie Jacob (piano), Bernard Zinck (violin) at University of Wisconsin-Madison in a "CELEBRATION OF YEHUDA YANNAY” concert. About this concert Stas writes 30 years of collaboration with Yehuda Yannay have been the most productive of my career. Yehuda wrote about 20 compositions for the Bayan. He introduced me to many wonderful composers and musicians and also to the world of new music. I was lucky enough to perform many concerts and many premieres under his leadership. An unforgettable joint visit to Paris in 2012 for the world premiere of his 26 min work in four movements “Plus Aves Moins” (More from Less) for Bayan and 24 flutes. How touched I am that almost all the works he wrote for the Bayan are dedicated to me.
October 31st he performed Toccata & Fugue in D minor by J.S.Bach for the “Revenants A Vampire Ball” which takes place at The Cooperage MKE Premier Riverside Music Hall.
In addition to his performances, Stas also received official office space at University of Wisconsin-Superior. Congratulations Stas!
Mary Ann Covone Participates in 2024 National Accordion Festival in Chile
Mary Ann Covone recently participated in the 2024 National Accordion Festival in Chile via an online interview with organizer Joaquín Muñoz Donoso. Joaquín asked questions about the ATG and the state of the accordion in the United States. He also shared videos of the 2024 Festival Orchestra with his viewing audience. It was a very informative interview which might be of interest to all ATG members.
Here is a link to the interview in its entirety:
Kim and Dan Christian: 20 Oktoberfests and more
Kim and Dan Christian (Squeeze Play) have had a fantastic fall season with 20 Oktoberfest gigs and then a week at The Denver Botanical Gardens playing awesome Halloween music. This is such a huge blessing for Kim since last year, she was not able to play the accordion due to a serious episode with Afib and heart failure. After 2 convergent ablation procedures and lots of rehab, she is doing great! Dan and Kim helped start an annual Oktoberfest for towns in Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Missouri! Fun! They also presented a fantastic set of music at the Glow in the Gardens Event in Denver with Dan’s duet arrangements of big symphonic works including Danse Macabre, Star Wars, Superman and lots of fun Halloween tunes like Ghostbusters, Witchy Woman, and Spooky. There were 20,000 visitors during the event and they all loved the accordion! People were shocked at how versatile and cool the accordion really is! Dan is working on band arrangements of John Williams’ Raiders March and In the Stone by Earth, Wind and Fire for a future event in May!
Jane Christison stays busy performing
Jane Christison has had a very busy September and October with assisted living performances, Oktoberfest celebrations, and preschool shows.
In other news, Jane has a public performance at the Kristkindl Markt on Saturday, December 7, 2024, 11:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., at the Kansas City United Church of Christ, 205 W. 65th St., Kansas City, MO 64113. She’ll be playing German music, Christmas music, German Christmas music, as well as some of her Janie Next Door songs for the kiddos. There are crafts, German food (YUM!), gingerbread houses for the kids to decorate, and more at this fun, family friendly event.
Esther Lanting & Zach Grindle Featured in Two Local Events
September 6th found Esther Lanting and Zach Grindle at Maple City Market (Goshen, IN) during the city’s First Friday and the market’s Savor Summer wine tasting event. They played 2½ hours of music beginning with French, Italian and German solos and duets as wine from those countries was being presented. The second half of the evening, they offered jazz, popular and classical solos, and some of Dan/Kim Christian’s Gershwin duets.
On September 20th they played for Grace College (Warsaw, IN) School of Arts & Humanities September Soiree. The event, hosted by the college’s French Club, provided French food and music. Grindle and Lanting performed solos and duets for an hour, and then offered personal mini-lessons to students who wanted to give the accordion a try. Six accordions had been rounded up but there were a lot more than six students who wanted to try playing an accordion. Zach and Esther each worked with groups of three until the event concluded.
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