I am delighted to present to you the 2014 annual president’s report. Our newsletters, website and Facebook page have detailed the numerous performances and other achievements of many of our accordionists both in New Zealand and overseas. Thank you all for the ongoing huge contribution you have made in continuing to support and promote our instrument. Following is a summary of significant accordion activities that our members have been involved in during the past year.

In August 2013, the American Accordionists Association celebrated their 75th birthday in New York City. I attended the festival together with Lionel, Elena, Alexandra and Alina Reekie. Kevin Friedrich who resides in New York City also attended. Lionel performed at the festival as a guest artist both as an accordionist and vocalist. At the gala dinner, he performed Bring him Home from Les Miserables as a tenor soloist with the massed orchestra to a hugely appreciative audience. Alexandra Reekie competed in three categories at the event and we congratulate her on achieving two first placings and a second placing. Alexandra also performed in the junior festival orchestra.

Immediately following the festival, the 66th Coupe Mondiale championships were held in the picturesque town of Victoria, British Columbia in Canada. The official New Zealand delegation consisted of myself, Lionel Reekie, past NZAA Treasurer Carol Yan (who resides in Vancouver) and Harley Jones. New Zealand had one contestant this year, Alexandra Reekie. Alexandra was a contestant in the Junior Virtuoso Entertainment category for under 18 year olds. Alexandra did a magnificent job and performed to a standard we can all be proud of. She placed 10th in this category. A fine achievement for someone so young at only 12 years of age and bearing in mind that most of her fellow competitors were aged between 16-18 years of age. The World Accordion Orchestra VII performed during the championships. Carol Yan and I performed in the orchestra. Guest artist, Lionel Reekie again sang Bring Him Home with the orchestra. The performance receiving a well-deserved standing ovation.

In October, I together with Heather Masefield attended the 2013 Benny Awards dinner in Auckland. These awards hosted by the Variety Artists Club are the highest awards given to entertainers across all genres in New Zealand. Lionel Reekie was nominated for the top musician award and his daughter Alexandra Reekie was nominated for the rising star award. We congratulate them both on their respective nominations.

Also in October, Lionel Reekie performed the top charting international hit of Royals by Kiwi pop sensation Lorde at the Apra Silver Scrolls Awards evening at Vector Arena in Auckland. Lionel played accordion and sang together with Wellington based soul singer Bella Kalolo and beat box artist Phillip Fan in an unique rendition of the song. The Silver Scrolls are an annual event attended by the biggest names in the music industry which attracts a lot of media attention so it was great to see the accordion up on stage at the event.

The North Shore accordion orchestras have had a busy year. The Auckland Accordion Symphonietta held two concerts last year in July and November playing varied programmes at each and combining these concerts with other local musical groups. The Music Makers played at the Auckland Santa Parade and their music was used as the background music for the official One News report for the 6pm news. Both orchestras together with Musicale performed at a concert in March with the Christchurch Accordion Orchestra in Auckland. Following the concert, the Christchurch Accordion Orchestra travelled to Dargaville to perform at the always popular, Kevin Friedrich and friends annual concert.

The annual Mercer accordion day was held in March. Noteable Soundz performed at the event showcasing the composition Impact composed by one of its members, Dan Robinson. This performance was uploaded to screen via the internet as part of New Zealand’s contribution to World Accordion day on 6 May 2014.

Eddie Giffney performed the second and third movements of the Chaikin accordion concerto as part of the concerto competition at Auckland University’s School of Music in March.

Our annual championships and festival were held over Queen’s Birthday weekend and attracted overseas competitors from Australia and Russia. We were very fortunate this year to have some financial assistance from the Pub Charity and the Four Winds foundation to assist with our venue costs. We thank both organisations for their support.

We congratulate one of our own composers, Dan Robinson whose composition Introducing the Squeezebox was premiered as the Test piece for the 15 years and under championship class.

The impressive farewell concert featured the South Pacific and New Zealand solo accordion championship winners, the Auckland Accordion Symphonietta with their conductor Lionel Reekie, Eddie Giffney performing the Chaikin concerto accompanied by pianist Sarah Watkins and our special guest artist from Italy, Mirco Patarini. The weekend was completed with a dinner at Aubergine restaurant in Takapuna. We thank our wonderful entertainers for the night, Maurice Jones, Alanah Jones, Steven Cope and Dan Wrightson for making the night memorable.

• 12 years and under – Catrina Lin;
• 15 years and under – Alanah Jones;
• Junior Virtuoso – Alexandra Reekie;
• Accordion Solo – Arseniy Strokovskiy.

• Samantha Rutherford Memorial Trophy – Helen Wang;
• Cecil Smith Trophy – Perry family;
• Cocorullo Family Trophy – Dan Robinson;
• Doreen and Ben Emmett Memorial Rose Bowl – Patrick Liu;
• Emmett Family Classical Ensemble Trophy – Noteable Soundz;
• Ben Emmett Accordion Orchestra Commendation Trophy – Auckland Accordion Symphonietta.

Thank you to everyone for your contribution towards making this event a success and an enjoyable experience for all.

The following week, a Kiwi contingent travelled to Sydney to compete, perform and adjudicate at the Australian Accordion Teachers’ Association’s (“AATA”) competitions and festival. The AATA was celebrating their 20th birthday so it was a great opportunity for a number of us to travel there. Kevin Friedrich also joined us from New York City. Congratulations to our New Zealand competitors, Alanah Jones, Alexandra Reekie and Corey Jeffries who all did well with Alexandra winning the 15 years and under Pacific Piano Accordion solo championship. A massed festival orchestra was organised for the event conducted by Lionel Reekie. Most of our contingent played in the orchestra at the gala concert. The orchestra premiered Gary Daverne’s Silver Fern March with Gary seated in the audience. This was the largest accordion orchestra ever massed in Australia with approximately 56 players. Lionel was also recognised by the AATA with a certificate of merit for all his support and contributions to the organisation.

I would like to make special mention of a committee member who is stepping down from her role this year. Jenna Murray has served for a number of years on our committee. Jenna was a member of the organising committee for the Coupe Mondiale in Auckland in 2009. In recent years, Jenna acted as the adjudicators’ coordinator at our competitions. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Jenna for all her efforts and contributions to the committee and to the accordion which have been greatly appreciated.

It certainly feels like it has been a very busy and productive year and it is fantastic to see the accordion being promoted in the manner which it has been. Music presents wonderful opportunities for us all. However, I would like to particularly urge our younger members to use all these opportunities to their best advantage to reap lifelong rewards.

Sonja Palinich
President
New Zealand Accordion Association