I am pleased to present to you the 2016 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 support and contribution to the promotion of the accordion. Following is a summary of the major accordion activities that our members have been involved in during the past year.

In October 2015, the 68th Coupe Mondiale championships were held in Turku, Finland. This year, the official New Zealand delegation consisted of myself, Harley Jones, Grayson Masefield and Tony Davies-Jones. Harley Jones was also attending in his capacity as CIA Public Relations officer along with Grayson Masefield in his capacity as CIA music committee member and member of the international jury. Other Kiwis in attendance were Kevin Friedrich as CIA ambassador and Alison Worthington as part of the UK delegation. There were no New Zealand entries this year. Delegates enjoyed a really well-organised event by our Finnish hosts. Following the championships, all the Kiwis took the opportunity to partake in the 24 hour cruise across the Baltic Sea from Turku to Stockholm which was a great way to cap off the trip.

Grayson Masefield returned to New Zealand in December 2015 and held lessons and a masterclass for our members. The masterclass was very well attended. Grayson had held the same masterclass along with other masterclasses earlier in the year at the Las Vegas International Accordion Convention in the United States. Other international concerts were performed by Grayson in Canada, USA, France, Switzerland, Italy and Belgium. In January 2016, Grayson travelled to Santiago, Chile to perform as a soloist, Piazolla’s Concerto Aconcagua with the Orquesta Sinfonica de Chile, the national orchestra conducted by Francois Lopez-Ferrer. Grayson performed three concerts in Chile receiving impressive reviews.

Eddie Giffney gave an accordion performance for the London Chamber Music Society in February 2016 as the pre-concert artist for the renowned Chilingirian String Quartet at Kings Place, London. Kevin Friedrich returned to New Zealand to hold his 9th annual concert in Dargaville Prior to the concert, a Vaudeville concert was held in Auckland featuring Kevin Friedrich and the Emmett sisters supported by all the North Shore Accordion Orchestra groups. All funds received at the concert were donated to the accordion exhibition at the Dargaville museum. This year’s Dargaville concert was as always very popular with the locals and accordionists travelling from Auckland. The North Shore Music Makers conducted by Christine Johnstone performed at the concert. Other Auckland accordionists to perform were Lionel, Alexandra and Alina Reekie, Maurice and Alanah Jones.

In May 2016, Lionel Reekie travelled to the World Music Festival in Innsbruck, Austria. This is the largest accordion orchestra competition in the world and is staged every three years. Lionel subsequently gave a very informative talk to our members at our annual championships of his experiences at the festival. Former NZAA committee member, Alison Worthington performed in the London Accordion Orchestra at the event. This orchestra achieved a second placing in their category.

Sadly this year, we lost a prominent Auckland accordionist Trevor Taylor. Trevor passed away in May. He was a very well known teacher and performer. He performed as the resident musician in many venues across Auckland for a number of years. In 1996, Trevor was awarded the Accordion Examination Board annual merit award for outstanding services to the accordion.

Our annual competitions and festival were held over Queen’s Birthday weekend. Over the last three years, we have been fortunate enough to obtain funding to cover the cost of our venue hire from Pub Charity and the Four Winds foundation. This financial assistance has proven to be invaluable. We thank both organisations for their support.

As part of our music printing programme, a new composition Tender Tango composed by Andrew Glover and first performed at the 2015 competitions was typeset and was the test music for the 15 years and under class at this year’s competitions. You can view a sample page and purchase online at mfa8051.

A further reprinted work was the first piece of accordion music printed in New Zealand. Loganolo was composed by Clarrie Bruce in the 1930s which has the bass written in the treble clef. This was on display at the 2016 competitions and was the test piece for the 16 years and under class. The original copy of this music was donated to the Dargaville Museum Accordion Gems display by Titano Accordion director, Maurice Jones. This has been typeset by MusicForAccordion.com. This is a promotion by the NZAA in an effort to preserve original New Zealand accordion music.

It was very pleasing to see a strong Christchurch contingent in attendance this year with the Christchurch Accordion Orchestra performing their large repertoire over two competitive classes and a festival item.

The farewell concert featured the South Pacific and New Zealand solo accordion championship winners, other memorable performances from the weekend, the Christchurch Accordion Orchestra, the Auckland Accordion Symphonietta and a performance by the specially formed Massed Orchestra conducted by Lionel Reekie featuring a vocal solo by Alanah Jones.

The weekend was completed with a dinner at Aubergine restaurant in Takapuna. We thank our wonderful entertainers for the night, Steven Cope, Heather Gladstone, Maurice Jones and Lionel Reekie together with a number of other impromptu performers for making the night very memorable.

• 12 years and under – Jessie Chen;
• 15 years and under – Catrina Lin;
• Junior Virtuoso – Alexandra Reekie;
• Junior Solo – Alanah Jones.

• Samantha Rutherford Memorial Trophy – Jack Skelton;
• Cecil Smith Trophy – Lisa Yelavich;
• Cocurullo Family Trophy – Sven Balvan;
• Doreen and Ben Emmett Memorial Rose Bowl – Catrina Lin;
• Ben Emmett Accordion Orchestra Commendation Trophy – Christchurch Accordion Orchestra.

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 participate in the Australian Accordion Teachers’ Association’s (“AATA”) competitions and festival. Congratulations to our New Zealand competitors, Owen Fan and Alanah Jones. Owen won the International Pacific Junior Virtuoso Piano Accordion Championship 20 years and under category. Alanah was placed second in the International Pacific Piano Accordion Championship 15 years and under category. Elena Reekie presented a workshop on improvisation and aural development. The guest artist at the gala concert was Lionel Reekie with Lionel and Maurice Jones providing the entertainment at the farewell concert.

For a small membership, our members remain very active both in New Zealand and internationally. It is important that we maintain this but also look at fresh ways in which to grow our membership. We welcome feedback from our members as to how this can be achieved and also any ideas to further develop our association.

Sonja Palinich
President
New Zealand Accordion Association