Akkordeonale 2025

In the organizer's words:

Akkordeonale 2024 - International Accordion Festival

Innovative, exhilarating and refreshingly different - the Akkordeonale is a unique homage to a much-loved but often underestimated instrument.
Here the accordion shows itself with all its charm, temperament and esprit as a soloist or portable orchestra on a strap.
Every year since 2009, Dutchman Servais Haanen has brought together musicians from a wide variety of countries to create a surprising ensemble mix across all styles. This year's program:
Island sounds from wild Sardinia with organetto and launeddas, classical-contemporary treasures, Scottish high-speed folk, refreshing vocals to accordion from all points of the compass as well as Dutch sound aesthetics, unconventional cello and a moderator with cult status.
Pulsating alternations of solos and ensemble pieces and exciting interactions between the musicians are at the heart of every Akkordeonale.
As different as the personalities, cultural backgrounds and playing styles may be - the common language of music creates a lively understanding that does not care about boundaries and divisions.
A talent for improvisation, spontaneity and the fun of performing together combine the musical wealth of the individuals in the ensemble to create something new, something that has never been heard before.

A feast of sounds! Adrenaline and balm for the soul!

This year's program:

Helena Sousa Estevez (Spain) - Classical-contemporary treasures

Galician accordionist Helena Sousa Estevez has undergone a full classical education with a master's degree, master classes and numerous national and international competitions.
With her openness to all styles of music, she eventually specialized in contemporary classical music and acquired an enormous repertoire. As a soloist, orchestra or ensemble member, Helena is in continuous collaboration with composers, which has led to the premieres of many works at various projects and festivals worldwide.
She is a member of the Spanish chamber ensemble "Vertixe Sonora" (contemporary music) and has her own "Inner Duo."
In addition to her work as a soloist and ensemble artist, she also works as a music lecturer in the Netherlands. For all her discipline, having fun with music is an essential part of her life!

Andrew Waite (Scotland) - high-speed folk

Scotsman Andrew Waite was infected with a love of the accordion by his grandfather as a small child. So much so that he practiced the accordion for two hours in the morning before school. Of his own accord!
At the age of 13, he performed in the Royal Albert Hall at the first BBC Folk Proms. Andrew's music has traditional Scottish, Irish and English roots mixed with influences from various other genres such as jazz, gypsy jazz, bluegrass, funk and classical.
He has toured with various bands, including Dallahan, played with Sting and the Royal Scottish National Orchestra and has expanded his solo career in recent years.

Franziska Hatz (Austria) - Wild Styrian cheerful nature

Franziska Hatz from south-east Styria began her musical career at the age of six with classical accordion lessons, and by the age of 16 she was already leading youth choirs and gospel workshops. Music, movement and social commitment are her talent, joy and calling.
To promote the connection between amateurs and professional musicians, she founded an amateur choir and an amateur accordion ensemble.
Franziska is intensively involved in world music, especially in the klezmer and Balkan scene. As an accordionist, dancer and singer, she is the wild heart of Großmütterchen Hatz Salon Orkestar. She also works in the music department of the Vienna Burgtheater, has been the acting program curator of the Vienna International Accordion Festival for years and took over the co-festival management in 2024.

Peppino Bande [nbsp](Sardinia) - Sardinian specialties

It is the sound of his native Sardinia that Peppino Bande has been accompanying with his accordion since the age of four.
Only a few years later, he was playing for folklore groups on the island and over time developed into an accomplished multi-instrumentalist and composer.
He is considered one of the most important Sardinian artists with an original and musically mature style.
Whether solo, in duos, with a band or in an ensemble orchestra for the theater - Peppino has performed in a wide variety of musical constellations.
Together with Roberto Tangianu and his Launeddas, he has been touring Italy and Europe for many years with a joint music project.

Servais Haanen (D/NL) - The master of fine sounds

As the musical mastermind, Servais Haanen is the mastermind and organizer of the Akkordeonale. He composes and arranges the festival's ensemble pieces and leads the program. His moderations, peppered with bone-dry humor, have cult status.
Servais has long been working on pushing the boundaries of the accordion and integrating elements from new music, minimal structures and other unusual sounds. Thanks to his diverse band work (including Appellation Contrôlée, Quatro Ventos, KlangWelten-Festival) and composing work for musical theater productions and documentary films, Servais brings a wide variety of musical material into play.
In addition to the Akkordeonale and his teaching activities for accordion, ensemble work with unusual to impossible instrumentation is one of his favorite pastimes.

Accompanying musicians:

Roberto Tangianu (Sardinia), Llauneddas

Sardinian Roberto Tangianu was practically born with the archaic sound of the launeddas: His great-grandfather and father shared a passion for this traditional wind instrument, which is considered to be the oldest polyphonic musical instrument in the world.
Although Roberto prefers his "solo" path, he works successfully with various Sardinian formations and various Italian singers.
With the "Cuncordia a launeddas" he has performed on the world's most important stages and taken part in renowned international festivals and cultural events.
He is also a journalist, presenter and editor for television programs about Sardinian music and culture, history, traditions and tourism.

Johanna Stein (Germany), cello

The multi-stylistic cellist and singer Johanna Stein from Cologne feels at home on every stage, in every line-up and in every studio: whether classical, jazz, rock, pop, fusion or world music - no style is alien to her.
In addition to her solo program, she also plays in the avant-garde string quartet 'Badz', the chamber pop duo 'SteinMays', the quinteto non-tipico 'Tango de Minas' and the big band 'été large'. Many people know Johanna den from past years. With her passion for the unconventional use of the cello, she has become an integral part of the Akkordeonale.