The 9th edition of the International Accordion Festival in Theater Geert Teis in Stadskanaal was a success. The contracted artists were all present and that is always exciting. This is especially true for foreign artists. The organizers Jac & Jeanne Puts, in collaboration with the board of the international accordion festival foundation, once again managed to put together a varied and fascinating program with excellent accordionists and top musicians from home and abroad. The program was from 1.30 pm to 5 pm with one break for 30 minutes. Below you see some pictures made by Albert Engelse, grapho, Nieuw-Buinen.

Mathias Rugsveen from Norway.
The 18-year-old Mathias opened the festival with Konzertstück Op.79 (Final) - Carl Maria Von Weber and Barber in Seville - Giaochino Rossini, arr. Alexander Dmitriev. He plays both classical and virtuoso entertainment music. In his 1st set of 20 minutes he played solo and in his 2nd set he played together with the rhythm section. From the age of 10, he has participated in many competitions, both national and international, winning many awards to name a few: 1st place Coupe Mondiale 2021 in Munich, Germany, Junior Virtuoso Entertainment and 2nd place Tropée Mondial 2021, junior variety show. We will be hearing a lot more from him in the future. Mathias can be found on facebook and he also has a youtube channel.

 Jean Louis van Dam from the Netherlands.
Jean Louis van Dam comes from a musical family and he learned to play the accordion from his grandfather Coen van Orsouw. Jean Louis is a jack of all trades, he plays the piano and accordion, he is a composer and arranger and he is a producer in his own home studio and he has his own CD label "I Say Music". In his 1st set he played songs like Love in Rhytm, my grandpa, La Mer and Bei mir bist du schon. He also played the musette waltz by Piet Verzijde with the title "Coen".
In his 2nd set he played some medleys of well-known Dutch songs such as Oh Johnny, What have you changed in those years, In a carriage and deep in my heart. These medleys invited the audience to sing or hum along, and they did.
Website: https://www.jeanlouisvandam.nl/

Dantong Wang from China.
Dantong Wang was appreciated by the audience for her subtle virtuoso playing and her singing beautifully combined with her accordion. In the first set she played with the combo of Bert van Erk and Rene van Astenrode, including Minor Swing by Django Reinhardt and Bossa Dorado by Dorado Schmitt. The sensitive song Hymne à l'amour by Edith Piaf with vocals by her French friend Maeva Araci was also highly appreciated. She played her second set solo from her competition repertoire with a beautiful Medley de vales de Paris by Claude Thomain and La marche de Radetsky by Johann Strauss (Vater) in an arrangement by Dimitri Saussard. In 2021 she won the 74th Coupe Mondiale in Munich and the 58th Internationaler Akkordeon wettbewerb Klingenthal both in the category virtuoso entertainment.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Dantong-Wang/100033950850241/

 Maaike Bosscher and Gertie Bruin (NL).
Maaike and Gertie played one set of 20 minutes and this was well received by the audiance. These kinds of performances also make the program wide and varied, with short sessions so that it doesn't become boring. These two acoustic instruments also go well together. It has been a wish of my wife Jeanne Puts-Leenaers for many years to get a harpist on stage. Thanks in part to Gertie Bruin's search, this was finally successful. They opened their performance with the song "Nocturne" by Rolf Løvland, which won the 40th Eurovision Song Contest in Dublin in 1995. They closed their set with the song Ach Margrietje by Louis Neefs.
Website Maaike Bosscher: http://www.harpuithethart.nl/
Website Gertie Bruin: https://www.gertiebruin.nl/

Jan Timmer (NL).
The now 18-year-old Jan Timmer from Coevorden has been on stage in Stadskanaal before, to be precise in 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2020. In the beginning with one song and then slowly to two songs. But we thought it was time to let Jan play one set of 20 minutes. And with that he was also pontifically on the flyer, poster and in the program booklet. He played, among other things, El Caballero by Jules Vasseur and Hungarian dance by Johannes Brahms. But his portrayal of Aster Piazzolla's Adios Nonino was most impressive. We can speak of a very successful performance, congratulations Jan!

Bert studied classical guitar at the conservatory in Amsterdam. After switching to the double bass, he played with various artists, including the accordionist Harry Mooten. He currently plays in the Groningen Drie Sterren Trio with Gertie Bruin (accordionist) and Don Hofstee (guitarist) among others. Every Monday on Monday in the concert hall of the Vrijdag arts center in Groningen, he leads the "Open Jazz Session", where a mixture of advanced musicians and beginners sit down. This is the street football in music.

Both Bert and Rene once again provided excellent rhythmic and musical support, making good use of the space that the accordionists offered them to solo every now and then.

Closure.
This beautiful musical afternoon was concluded around 5 pm with all participants on stage. Traditionally, the song We'll meet again by Vera Lynn was used by the musicians. Mary Veldkamp from Assen was again prepared to sing this song, thank you Mary.

 Organisation and Presentation:
Jac & Jeanne Puts m.m.v. de Stichting Internationaal Accordeonfestival.

It is always a great relief for the organizers when everything has gone smoothly, because anything and everything can go wrong with such an event. In July 2017 we established the International Accordion Festival foundation with a board consisting of 5 people, including accordion teachers Gertie Bruin and Henk Puister, and we found Gina Verhoeven willing as treasurer. We hope to ensure the continuity of this unique accordion event in the future. And hereby a friendly request to bring at least one person from your family and/or acquaintances for the 10th edition, which will take place on Sunday, April 16, 2023, so that we can fill the room downstairs.

Thanks to all sponsors and funds and everyone who helped make this wonderful accordion event possible.

In life and well-being, we hope to welcome you again in the Geert Teis theater on Sunday 16 April 2023.

Jac & Jeanne Puts
Grootzeil 17
9501 JL Stadskanaal (The Netherlands)

For questions or comments: Telephone 06-83014316
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