The Confédération Internationale des Accordéonistes, a member of the International Music Council (IMC), an NGO official partner of UNESCO, will hold their 67th CIACoupe Mondiale and 132nd General Assembly of Delegates in Salzburg, Austria from 27th October – 2nd November 2014. The event will be hosted by the CIA member in Austria – the Austrian Accordion Association – Harmonikaverband Österreichs (HVÖ).

In terms of tourism, Salzburg is brand of worldwide repute. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, the Salzburg Festival, the baroque old town, the spirit of the Sound of Music and numerous famous visitors and residents, have all contributed to Salzburg’s profile on the world stage. The city is, and always has been, a magical place for music lovers, romantics and connoisseurs. Nor has the city lost any of its congeniality over the years. On the contrary, tradition is accompanied by modern points of contrast, creating a fascinating combination in both the city’s architecture and cultural offerings.

Since it was opened in 2001, the Salzburg Congress Center, the Coupe Mondiale venue, has established itself as a popular and internationally recognised venue for seminars, congresses, trade fairs and events of every kind. The Congress Center features the “Europe Hall” seating 900 – 1,300 seats, which will be used for competitions, the Opening, evening and Awards Concerts as well as “World Accordion Orchestra VIII” (WAO) and the smaller “Karajan Hall“ with 300 seats which will be used for competitions and the General Assembly meetings. The facility also will be used for Exhibitors (in the Foyer), practice rooms for the competitors and an office for the CIA Executive Committee. Located in the center of Salzburg, the Congress Center is a six minute walk from the main railway station in Salzburg.

It is anticipated that many attendees from the USA will travel to Austria to enjoy this annual International accordion extravaganza in their role as officers of the CIA (Joan C. Sommers – Vice President, Kevin Friedrich – Ambassador) as well as Delegates, members of the International Jury, performers in the World Accordion Orchestra, and as contestants in the various categories of competitions.

Joan C. Sommers will conduct the World Accordion Orchestra VIII. In its eighth year, the World Accordion Orchestra will perform at the Gala Prize Giving Concert.

The Austrian Accordion Association is honoured to host the Coupe Mondiale for a forth time (after Vienna 1960, Salzburg 1970 and Linz 1983) under the auspices of the Confédération Internationale des Accordéonistes (CIA, IMC-UNESCO). The event will coincide with the 60th Harmonikaverband Österreichs (HVÖ) Anniversary Celebration!

The event will be organized under the direction of Werner Weibert CIA Honorary Vice President 2014 with the event featuring seven categories of competition
– Coupe Mondiale,
– Junior Coupe Mondiale,
– Masters Coupe Mondiale,
– Virtuoso Entertainment
– Junior Virtuoso Entertainment
– International Competition for Digital Accordion
– International Competition for Ensemble Music
as well as important meetings of the CIA Executive Committee, CIA Music Committee, the General Assembly of Delegates, where members will decide the business and future plans of the CIA including the election of officiers (2014-2018).

For full details including, category requirements, hotel infomation, a tentitive schedule which highlights the exciting array of guest artists who will be featured in concert, various attractions visitors can enjoy while in Salzburg and all other information, please visit www.coupemondiale.org

Picture below: Organizing Team in Austria from left to right: Dr. Leopold Dercsaly, Werner Weibert, Dr. Herbert Scheibenreif, Friederike Steiner and Jacob Noordzij, and below the Salzburg Congress Centre main auditorium.