Hi Everyone. I hope you are well and enjoying your music.

August Clubnite The August clubnite, at Goldenhill WMC on August 18th, is a theme night. This month’s challenge is to learn a new piece of music and play one that you haven’t played for us before. It is a challenge – but for people listening it makes a change from hearing the same thing month after month, year after year, and once you can play something in your sleep you don’t really progress. So rise to the challenge and surprise us!!

There are strong rumours that the Beginners/Improvers Group will be playing and there will be circle playing too.

JULY CLUBNITE Kyiv Duo Concert

Igor and Oleksiy, the Kyiv Classic Accordion Duo, were on a three week tour of the UK (16 gigs) when they performed at our club on Tuesday 21st July. Both musicians hail from Ukraine and Igor’s home town, Chernihiv, is about 50 miles from the Chernobyl nuclear disaster area. The legacy of this nuclear disaster lives on, so there are many children in Ukraine with very serious health problems. These children don’t get much help from the state, so Igor and Oleksiy try to help by touring the UK to

raise money for Felsted Aid for Deprived Children (a registered charity formed in 2003 to help child victims of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster).

As always, our North Staffs Accordion Club members were very generous and, after we’d paid the Kyiv Duo’s charity fee and all the related club night expenses, we were still able to donate £300 to Felsted Aid for Deprived Children. Well done everyone and thank you for your generous support of our charity concert.

If you'd like to read more about the work done by Felsted Aid, view their website at www.felstedaid.org

Igor and Olekskiy are both professional Ukraine based musicians. They both studied at the National Music Academy of the Ukraine and, as you’d expect, their playing is immaculate. The Kyiv Duo gave us a real treat at our concert on the 21st and

their mastery of their Jupiter bayan accordions was just amazing. How they kept together with such precision was just mindboggling.

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TThhee NNoorr tthh SSttaaff ffss AAccccoorr ddiioonn CClluubb welcomes all accordion enthusiasts playing or non-playing.

We hold a ‘Clubnite’ at at 8 p.m. on the third Tuesday of each month

where entertainment is provided by club members or guest artists. We have a band rehearsal all other Tuesdays

and a beginners’ class every Monday at 7.30 pm and a class for schoolchildren on Mondays 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Phone 01782 823668.

They were supported on the night by our very own North Staffs Accordion Band – who were not quite as polished as the Kyiv Duo but, nevertheless, enjoyable to listen to.

Igor and Oleksiy began their first set with Widor's Toccata and they followed with some wonderful Bach and Vivaldi before treating us to a lovely selection from Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Suite, namely March of the Toy Soldiers, Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy and Waltz of the Flowers. To celebrate band member Greta’s birthday during the second set, they delighted us with Happy Birthday to You, performed in the style of various composers (Mozart, Bach etc.) Finally to end the evening they played a very stirring accordion classic, Montes Zardas. Although language was a challenge, Igor, as he did two years ago, made good contact with the audience and took every effort to announce and add comment with each piece.

The evening started at about 8.00 pm and finished with an encore from the Kyiv Duo at about 10.40 pm. A great night was had by all and during the interval we raffled twelve prizes - all donated by our very generous club members. The raffle raised £81 and the ‘bucket collection’ raised £86.82. Well done everyone!

Mike Richards.

Accordions @ Market Drayton Following a request to the club by Age UK for some accordion entertainment for the old folk at Market Drayton, on the 16th July ten members of the club did just that. Ten was a larger group than they expected, especially as it included Phil and his drums, but there was enough space for us and the old folk really lapped it up joining in singing and swaying with a few of them getting up for a dance.

They also enjoyed Geoff Millward’s jokes. At the end of what was expected to be a 60 minute session but extended to 90, the organisers could not thank us enough and we have been warned to expect another invitation. Steve Hughes

The Forthcoming AGM The 2015 Annual General Meeting will be held on the September clubnite. We will be seeking nominations for committee membership. If you would like to nominate a member for committee membership or any of the officer positions, please put his or her name forward either by letter or email (addresses on the back of any newsletter) or to any of the current committee members, by or on the August clubnite, making sure that the person nominated is prepared to do the job.

The committee usually meets at Bradwell WMC between 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. once a month, on the 4th Tuesday of the month. We are after people with new ideas who enjoy working as part of a team. Failure to come up with new names will mean that you will be stuck with the same ‘old lot’! Who are the ‘old lot’? – Names are on the back of each newsletter and mug shots are on our website.

On the agenda this year will be a discussion about the venue situation – do we continue at the Goldenhill WMC or return to the Holditch, or adopt some other option? The committee has maintained that the members should contribute to this decision and for this purpose it is important that you attend this AGM to have your say.

P.S. After swiftly dealing with the AGM business the rest of the evening will be devoted to members’ playing. This will be a theme night. You are challenged to play pieces with a place name contained in the title.

Accordion treats… Are you struggling to know what to buy for someone who has got everything? This is just what you have been looking for… An accordion mug, this is a lovely colourful mug, priced £9.50. To order one of these mugs just go to the Café Press website. http://www.cafepress.co.uk/mf/80095559/accordions_mugs?productId=1194298369 £9.50

If mugs are not going to appeal, you can find some lovely accordion related tee-shirts on the Spreadshirt website. The black tee-shirt is perfect for our chairman, Mike Richards…. with accordion being one of his daily essentials! £18.52. See table for selection of colours of tee shirts http://www.spreadshirt.com/accordion+gifts

For the more sophisticated men out there, why not treat him to some accordion cuff links? £9.99

http://www.giftedmusician.co.uk/accordiongifts.php Also available at the Gifted Musician is the less expensive PVC keyring only £2.99

The beautiful handbag is available through eBay and Amazon. The price will vary, however this particular bag is priced at a mere £42.00. A less expensive canvas bag… £9.92 from https://www.etsy.com/listing/233420179/accordion-gift-keep-calm-and-play-the-accordion

So there is your Christmas shopping taken care of!!

Helen Brown

Monday Groups Get Together On Monday the 13th July, the two Monday groups held a get together event at the Holditch club to socialise and entertain one another. The

senior ‘Beginners Group’ and the ‘Young Players’ showed the fantastic progress they have made under their dedicated tutors. This was one of the most successful events we have held and was thoroughly enjoyed by parents and all those present.

We tried a new playing format, with soloists from one group alternating with band pieces played by the other group. Other soloists and duettists representing the beginners included, Geoff

Millward, Greta, Geoff Capewell, Graham Butler, Moira and Graham Hughes.

The mid-time break was highlighted by lovely cakes generously provided by Helen, Gill, Greta and Moira. As part of the young players’ Monday classes, graded practical and music theory tuition is provided. To

encourage progress, music awards are presented when suitable progress has been made. Congratulations to Jade, Scarlette, Hollie and Tilly who have received awards (see photo above left).

When the senior group took centre stage (first picture), the young player soloists showed off

their talents on accordion and other instruments. In total, eight different instruments put in an appearance including Hollie (accordion and trumpet), Scarlette (clarinet and tenor sax), Grace and Gill (accordion), Jade (flute), Tilly (accordion and classical guitar), James (accordion and violin) and tutors Helen (accordion) and Tony (harmonica).

Events like this make all the hard work worthwhile. We look forward to another similar event later in the year.

Tony Britton

Picture : previous page bottom right Rosie Galley and John Corden from the beginners’ group.

Calling All Youngsters Ella Strad’Ella , the North Staffs Accordion Club’s glamorous mascot, is looking for some young players to join her on Monday afternoons between 5-6pm. Each week the young players meet and develop their playing skills with the help of Mike, Tony, Helen and Gill.

If you know any children - grandchildren, friends of grandchildren, neighbours etc who may like to join us, please ask them to come along. Tuition is absolutely free and accordions are provided for a very small loan fee. Children of all abilities are welcome.

For the more studious young people out there, there is also the chance to work towards grades. Some of our young players have already received awards for music theory, and are working on pieces that go towards exams. This is made possible with help and support from Mike Richards.

For more details please call Mike on…… 01782 642101.

Tony Britton

Ticket Events We have three events coming up for which entry will be by ticket, i.e. the John Stuart Band in October, the Christmas/Anniversary Party in December and the Harry Hussey/Lily's Weepers Jazz night in January.

For these events we will not be sending tickets to you with the newsletter as we have been doing in the past, but they will be on sale from Steve Hughes. Those of you attending the Youth (via Tony), Beginners/Improvers, or band rehearsal can purchase them there and they will be on sale at the preceding clubnite if not before. You can also order tickets from Steve by phone or email (details on back page).

As an incentive for you to buy tickets in advance, thereby helping the committee in its awareness of the numbers to expect, they will be £1 cheaper than paying at the door on the night (an option not available for the party).

In the case of the John Stuart Band, if you have any local Scottish friends or acquaintances could you please encourage them to buy a ticket.

Many thanks in anticipation.

Steve Hughes

ACCORDION VISIT TO CASTELFIDARDO ITALY 5 DAYS (4 NIGHTS) 17 - 21 MAY 2016

A holiday for the accordionist to Castelfidardo, Italy, the international capital of the manufacture of accordions, is planned for May next year. The 5 day package includes flights, hotel accommodation with breakfast, private luxury coach transport throughout, factory visits, places of interest, one group dinner with drinks and entertainment. Also included are accordions for the group members to play throughout the entire stay (on loan, compliments of a manufacturer and a local music shop).

The holiday sets off on Tuesday May 17th from Heathrow on a British Airways flight, arriving at Bologna, a two hour coach travel from Castelfidardo, with a stop en-route for lunch. The stay will be at Hotel Parco (4*) in Castelfidardo http://www.hotelparco.net/it/

During the holiday you can opt in or out of trips to the following - - an accordion museum - the local music shop - the Paolo Soprani factory. -Victoria Accordions showroom in the town centre to see the worlds’ largest working piano accordion

and also a huge chromatic model which has been added since last year.

- either Scandalli, Beltuna or Pigini factories (details to be advised)

- the seaside resort of Sirolo. - Dino Baffetti Accordions and Binci Reeds new factory, - Antonelli Reeds and Galassi Bellows factory. - ZeroSette/Bugari factory (both share the same factory). - nearby attractive religious pilgrimage town of Loreto - the new Carini accordion accessory shop.

- Marino Baldacci Music showroom for a Roland digital accordion demonstration

- Sightseeing.

Full package costs in twin/double room start from £498 for carry-on bag, and £525 for checked in bag. Supplement applies for single room.

Full details and price options from: Peter Le Geyt (A member of Guildford Accordion Club) PLG Marketing Associates Email: plg@plgmarketing.com Telephone: 020 8977 6680 (day)

Diary

Members’ Adverts

Pauline Hardwick Tel 01782 397248 accordion and/or piano Stefan Andrusyschyn Tel 07958261024 accordion and/or piano Mike Gibson Tel 01782 660865 piano John Romero Tel 01606 270148 accordion

For Sale

Roland FR-18 Diatonic V-Accordion for sale £1000 tel. 01625 432530

Barcarole Dominante 96 bass, 11 treble, 3 bass couplers. Includes case and is in good working order - only needs seeing. £250 (no offers). Phone 01782 323046

Fratelli Alessandrini modern accordion. Blue. 96 bass, 4 voice, musette, 9 treble couplers, 3 bass couplers, Hohner gig bag, full decoration, miked for amplification. Modern keyboard – black notes are blue. £1800. Tel. Rob Borrett 07428 079752

72 bass piano accordion in very good condition with carrying case....£150 H Singhal student model with 34 piano keys, 5 treble couplers including bandoneon and violin Tel: Mrs. Robinson on 01782 372281

President Brian Shufflebotham Chairman Mike Richards 01782 642101 Secretary Steve Hughes 01782 787935

Treasurer Mike Richards (acting) 01782 642101

Committee Tony Britton, Helen Brown, Graham Butler, Graham Hughes,

Lily Lynch and Greta Moseley.

Web address - www.northstaffsaccordionclub.co.uk

Editor Lily Lynch email - accordions@northstaffsaccordionclub.co.uk

Every Monday 5.00pm-6.00 pm Accordion classes for young players at the Holditch Every Monday 7.30 p.m. Beginners’/Improvers’ night at the Holditch Tuesdays other than 3rd 8.00pm Band rehearsal at Bradwell Workingmen’s Club Every 3rd Tuesday of month 8.00pm Clubnite at Goldenhill Workingmen’s Club 2nd Thursday of month 12 noon 2nd Thursday of month 1 p.m.

Chord Workshop reconvenes in October. Solo Session reconvenes in September....... both at Bradwell WMC

August 18th Theme Night - 'Music not played before’ September 15th AGM + Theme ‘Place name in title’ October 20th John Stuart Scottish Band Nov 7th to 9th Midlands Accordion Festival, Dudley December 15th Combined Xmas and 30th Anniversary Party January 19th 2016 Harry Hussey and Lily’s Weepers