Rostov-On-Don, Russia was the accordion capital of the world for this year’s Coupe Mondiale. Competitors from all around the world met, made new friends, listened to new music, and celebrated the accordion!
Nathan Chapeton from Middletown, Connecticut (student of Mary Tokarski, AAA President) represented the USA-AAA in the Junior Virtuoso Entertainment Division performing “Divertimento” by Andre Astier, “Take Ten” by Frank Marocco, “Waltz” by Vladimir Mollov and “Sapphire” by Karen Fremar.
Several of the competition attendees were asked who their favorite performer in the division was – the answer – “the American”! Hooray for Nathan! You can hear Nathan’s performance on the Coupe Mondiale website.
The judges awarded 1st place in the Junior Virtuoso Entertainment to the competitor from Brazil – Gustavo Aliandre De Almeida, 2nd place to Alexander Bodell from the United Kingdom, and 3rd place to Radu Ratoi from Moldova.
In an interview for one of the Russian television stations, Nathan commented that he would love to live in Russia for a year and be privileged to study the accordion there as well.
From the Delegate and Jury standpoint, the Coupe Mondiale in Rostov-on-Don was outstanding. The hosting organization supplied each of us with a personal volunteer who translated for us, and made sure we got where we were supposed to be without any situations! Great thinking on their part.
The language was not an issue within the event, but for “life in general” in Rostov, we were a bit at a disadvantage. My volunteer, Dasha, was a young university language student, and was a joy to spend time with. She was intrigued with our “American” sayings . . . I happened to blurt out “fat chance” when some of our congress members were suggesting I cook dinner . . . Dasha immediately wanted to know what that meant? Try explaining that one!
The Russian experience was fantastic beyond compare. Concerts featuring the Russian Accordion Stars were nightly – each more spectacular than the last. Alexander Pouleuv, Yuri Shishkin and Viatscheslav Semionov were the celebrated artists throughout the week, with so many other students of Professor Semionov and formidable artists taking the stage with them. The music was amazing, the staging and dramatic presentations were outstanding. We saw accordionists featured with a bicyclist and tango dancers; a ballerina, and even a circus performer who put nails through a board with his hands! Ouch!
Now, back to the United States. Next up for AAA events is the Valtaro Celebration on November 26, 2016 at the Magnanini Winery, 172 Strawridge Road, Wallkill, New York 12589. The event will feature traditional Valtaro and French Musette Music with a special Guest Artist from Italy – Giangiacomo Bucella, along with a “star-studded” lineup including Mario Tacca and Mary Mancini, Dominic Karcic and Ray Oreggia, Beverly Roberts Curnow, Mary Tokarski, Gia, Joe and Reagan Ciccone, Emilio Magnotta, Fred Schwinger, Bruce Nielsen and Frank Toscano. Be there. Reservations are $73 per person (flyer is on the AAA website at www.ameraccord.com). We hope to see YOU there!
