CIA - Accordions Worldwide

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SOUTHERN
Bob Downer
31 st October 2009
Phone: 01202 885192
NORTH WEST
Gina Brannelli
8 th November 2009
Phone: 01253 778764
NORTH CENTRAL
Harry Hinchcliffe
6 th February 2010
Phone: 01535 635074
National Accordion Organization of the United Kingdom (NAO)
NAO AREA FESTIVAL SEASON 2009/2010
WEST SCOTLAND
Brian Laurie
6 th February 2010
Phone: 0141 887 9827
MIDLANDS
Pauline Noon
24 th January 2010
Phone: 0116 278 4094
EAST ANGLIA
Elaine Beecham
February 2010
Phone: 01206 866615
(NAO story continued) The newly formed NAO
continued holding its annual festival in London until
1963. From 1964-1970, the event was held in Leicester
under the direction of Francis Wright and from 1971-
1992, the UK Accordion Championships were held in
various locations including: Southampton (1971), Perth
(1973), Brighton(1974), Margate (1978), Troon (1981),
Buxton (1984), Blackpool (1987). The UK Accordion
Championships were then annually held at the
beautiful seaside resort of Scarborough until 2008. In
1987 the NAO changed its name to become “The
National Accordion Organization of the United
Kingdom” to include competitors from Northern Ireland.
In 2001, Jack Emblow was appointed the Third
Honorary NAO President in honor of his contribution to
the accordion in the UK. In May 2009 Raymond Bodell
was elected Chairperson again for a record 13th time,
becoming the longest serving Chair of the National
Organization in its history.
The NAO has hosted the prestigious Coupe Mondiale
for the CIA five times. These were held in Brighton -
1955, Leicester - 1968, Folkstone - 1984 - London in
2001 and most recently in Glasgow Scotland in 2008.
The NAO festival network is currently experiencing
good times. With all eight regional Area Festivals being
held in the period October 2008 – February 2009
attracting good support and again over 400 entries in
the various classes at the UK Championships 2009,
this competition has really established itself as the
Premier Accordion Competitive Festival in the United
Kingdom.
United Kingdom National Championships 2009:
The National Accordion Organization of the United
Kingdom (NAO) celebrated their National annual
competition and festival at the end of April, at the
Metropole Hotel, Blackpool, UK.
The weekend featured competitions for all levels
including solo, duo, ensemble and orchestra as well as
trade shows with music and instruments, a Ceilidh
dance (with Gary Blair and his Celidh Dance band) and
SOUTH EAST THAMES
John Cumiskey
January 2010
Phone: 020 8546 1767
NORTHERN IRELAND
Clyde Johnston
February 2010
Phone: 028 2827 2258
For more information:
NAO Secretariat - Gina Brannelli,
17 Marsh Mill Village, Thornton, Cleveley,
Lancashire, FY5 4JZ, United Kingdom
Welcome to the
NAO UK CHAMPIONSHIPS 2010
The Metropole Hotel on the famous North Pier
Blackpool, United Kingdom
Friday 23rd - Sunday 25th April, 2010
for information, please visit: www.accordions.com/nao
on Friday evening the National Roland UK Competition
with Archie Main going on to represent the UK at the
International Final in Rome.
The NAO COMPOSERS’ Competition for professionals
and amateurs was held for the first time at the UK
Championships 2009 – this competition was founded
by the North Staffs Accordion Club who approached
the NAO to give it a truly national input and attracted
numerous entries - winner of the senior category was
Martina Schwarz (below with International guest Mirco
Patarini) with her composition Rapid Eye Movement.
The International Jury included now CIA President
Raymond Bodell, Mirco Patarini, Romano Viazzani,
Gina Brannelli, Elaine Beecham, Angelina Britain,
Larysa Bodell, Karolyn Broadhead, Ken Farran, Alistair
Gillespie, Raymond Jones, Graham Laurie, Frederick
Parnell, Sarah Smith and Douglas Ward.