New York-based accordionist Kevin Friedrich has registered the first event in celebration of the newly established CIAWorld Accordion Day. Kevin Friedrich will perform as soloist in “Gem of the Kaipara” composed by the New Zealand composer and conductor, Gary Daverne. The performance, with the UMKC Community Accordion Orchestra conducted by Joan C. Sommers, will take place on May 31st, at 2:30 PM, at the White Recital Hall at the University of Missouri-Kansas City Campus, 4949 Cherry Street.

Kevin, who is president of the CIA, the world accordion association which sponsors the yearly Coupe Mondiale for accordionists, will perform the “Gem of the Kaipara” by Gary Daverne on May 3rd and May 10th with the Auckland Symphony Orchestra in Auckland, New Zealand. All the performances are in celebration of World Accordion Day(May 6). “Gem of the Kaipara” was written in honor of long time accordion and arts supporter and lifetime member of the New Zealand Accordion Association, the late Mrs. Jenny Maioha Cocurullo. A respected and loved citizen of Dargaville, Jenny always promoted the Kaipara region of New Zealand as the ‘Gem of the North’, however, she, in turn, was considered ‘The Gem of the Kaipara’ thus the title of this new work by Gary Daverne. Kevin asked Gary to write this work for solo accordion with string orchestra and percussion to serve as a musical tribute to his long time friend and mentor Jenny Cocurullo.

Born and raised near Dargaville, New Zealand, Kevin began playing the accordion at the age of nine. Mesmerized by the visual appeal and unique sound of the accordion during a performance of the Ben Emmett Accordion Orchestra (BEA), Kevin took advantage of group lessons being offered by the late Ben and Doreen Emmett at the Dargaville Primary School. Kevin progressed quickly through the ranks, and after the passing of Mr. Ben Emmett in December 1976, Kevin began the weekly six hour round trip drive to Auckland to study with the late Mr. Alan Jones and his son, Harley.

After earning the title of New Zealand Solo Accordion Champion for two years, and representing New Zealand at the Confédération Internationale des Accordéonistes (CIA) World Championships three times (the last time attaining 5th place) Kevin moved to the United States to study accordion with Joan C. Sommers at the University of Missouri, Kansas City where he obtained his Bachelor of Music. Kevin has also competed in competitions such as Klingenthal in Germany as well as competitions hosted by the Accordionists and Teachers Guild, International and the American Accordionists’ Association. In addition to the piano accordion, Kevin has mastered the Bayan (Button accordion), and it is with this instrument that he furthered his studies at the Conservatoire Paul Dukas in Paris, France studying with CIA World Accordion Champion, Max Bonnay and also participated in Master Classes with the famous Russian accordionist, Friedrich Lips.

Kevin has performed in concert, on radio and on television in many countries as a soloist, with Symphony Orchestra and as a member of The International Trio, the Air New Zealand Accordion Orchestra (formerly the North Shore Accordion Orchestra) and the Musicale Accordion Orchestra from Auckland, New Zealand and as concert master of the University of Missouri, Kansas City (UMKC) Accordion Orchestra.

After serving as a Vice-President for eight years, Kevin was re-elected to his second four year term as President of the Confédération Internationale des Accordéonistes (CIA), the umbrella organization for member accordion associations worldwide. Since the CIA formed in 1935, this is the first time ever that a non-European has held this title and only the 3rd President elected in more than 40 years, with the last President having held office for over 20 years. Hosting the annual World Accordion Championships, the CIA meets twice a year in various countries around the world. Acknowledging the ability of the Internet to keep accordionists in touch with each other and informed of worldwide activities, his association with the world wide web includes being the USA Manager for Accordions Worldwide, the largest accordion site on the Internet. He was also the editor of www.accordionusa.com for ten years.

On two occasions, Kevin was invited by the Finnish Ministry of Culture to report on the Sata-Häme Soi Accordion Festival in Finland. Additionally, he has been invited to adjudicate and appear at International accordion festivals, competitions and TV productions in various countries around the world including the 2006 Shanghai Spring International Accordion Festival in China and the Norske Trekkspilleres Landsforbund (NTL) National Festival held in Bodø, Norway. His accordion activities also include serving on the Board of Directors for the American Accordionists’ Association (AAA) and the Accordionists and Teachers Guild, International (ATG).

The CD with ‘Gem of the Kaipara’ is available for purchase. For further info: Kevinfriedrich@hotmail.com