Dargaville Museum, 30 November 2024, New Zealand, in support of Accordion Gems by Kevin Friedrich, …A Master Collection of Accordions through Time…

November 30 and December 1st saw the Dargaville Museum become the epicenter of accordion activities as dignitaries, performing artists and guests assembled from as far afield as Italy, China, the United Kingdom, Australia, the USA and across New Zealand.

Hosted by Music Wing curator Kevin Friedrich (right), special guests attending and speaking at the Opening Ceremony of the updated and expanded Music Wing were Grant McCallum (Member of Parliament, Northland, National Party), Craig Jepson (Mayor of Kaipara District), Mirco Patarini from Italy (President of the Confédération Internationale des Accordéonistes, Member of the International Music Council, an Official NGO partner of UNESCO), Professor Li Cong from China (President – Accordion Association of Chinese Musicians Association and Vice President – Confédération internationale des Accordéonistes), Cong Yu (Crystal) Wang from China (Director – Accordion Professional Comm., Shanghai Musicians Assoc., Dean – Dept. of Western Music at Shanghai Normal University), Marcel Riethmann (Chairman of the Accordion Examination Board of New Zealand), Sonja Palinich (President of the New Zealand Accordion Association), Ross Newlove (President of the Dargaville Museum). Speeches were alternated with a spectacular variety of musical items. After the ribbon cutting attendees were piped up to the Music Wing for the official blessing given by Rex Nathan followed by a champagne reception and music wing tour.

Read the full report at: https://accordions.news/kevin/museum/reports/2024/open.htm