Daily Reports - Friday 1st June 2007

Other Daily Reports: Saturday 02 June, Sunday 03 June

NZAA Committee members come in the afternoon to set up in the venue. Campbell Bettridge and Marie Jones.

On the door, Marie Jones (NZAA Secretary) Margaret McArthur of Wellington assisting.

Rien Will (Competitions Co-ordinator) with Larry McWalter

Some of the ASA orchestra members relaxing before a rehearsal.

Campbell Bettridge has the difficult job of organising the return
of trophies each year. He is displaying them ready for the prize
giving ceremonies during the weekend.

NZAA President and compere John Statham
officially opening the 2007 South Pacific Accordion
Championships and Festival.

Opening performance of the event was the North Shore Accordion Orchestra conducted by Lionel Reekie. This orchestra is going to the Coupe Mondiale in Washington in August and part of their trip is to promote the 2009 Coupe Mondiale in New Zealand. Here you can see part of a slide show which they will use to show the nautral beauty of New Zealand.

Grayson Masefield returned from Europe to perform his Virtuoso Entertainment program and qualify

as a New Zealand contestant for
the 2007 Coupe Mondiale Virtuoso category.

Australian Society of Accordionists NSW Youth Orchestra with Musical Directors Elizabeth Jones and Ross Maio (not present).
Players left to right:

The draw for playing order for the South Pacific Button Accordion Championship category. Jiang Yin (China), Yan Xue (China)
and Nick Shcherbakov (Australia).

The draw for playing order for the South Pacific Piano Accordion Championship category. Jessica Chen (New Zealand),
Daisy Huang (China / New Zealand), Grayson Masefield (New Zealand).

Harley Jones, Director of Accordions Worldwide internet sites (www.accordions.com) was given a special award
by the New Zealand Accordion for his contribution
to the accordion world using internet.

Harley Jones making a thank you speech.

2006 Coupe Mondiale Piano Accordion World Champion Vladimir Anikin (Russia) performed to an audience that clearly enjoyed his fine performance.