Festival performance by North Shore Music Makers under the direction of Christine Adams.
If You’re Happy and You Know It
Angel Voices
Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
Hokey Tokey

The North Shore Music Makers Accordion Orchestra are an enthusiastic group of children aged between 6 and 12 years old. They rehearse weekly and are conducted by Christine Adams, with the help of assistant tutor Renee Jeffries. They play a variety of pieces that are popular with the players as the emphasis is on having fun while learning as well as being a valued member of the group. The players also like to take turns at playing the bass accordion, which is great experience for them.

Festival Performance by Queensland Accordion Ensemble (Australia)

Members: Marie McGuinness, Carmel Bonaventura, Cheryl Goodwin, Geraldine Morris, Karen Hankinson, Diane McIntosh, David Davis, Ross Russo.

The Queensland Accordion Ensemble is a dynamic group of accomplished accordionists from the Brisbane and the greater Gold Coast area of Australia.
This ensemble commenced as a sub group of the Ossie Mazzei Accordion Orchestra. In 1948, Ossie Mazzei, the maestro of the accordion in Queensland, started the Ossie Mazzei Accordion Orchestra. All members of this orchestra were taught by Mr Mazzei at his successful Accordion school in Fortitude Valley, Brisbane. The orchestra performed many concerts including a very successful tour of Europe in 1996, where they received standing ovations throughout their tour. In 2006 Marie McGuinness was asked to lead a ladies ensemble, as Ossie Mazzei was finding it increasingly difficult to continue his role as conductor of the Orchestra. This was understandable as Ossie had just celebrated his 93rd birthday. The ladies ensemble continued and now includes two male members, forming the current Queensland Accordion Ensemble.

This ensemble is conducted and led by Marie McGuinness playing Firsts along with David Davis; Diane McIntosh and Cheryl Goodwin play Seconds; Geraldine Morris and Karen Hankinson play Thirds; Carmel Bonaventura plays Fourth and Ross Russo plays Bass accordion. Coupe Mondiale 2009 will be an exciting showcase for the Queensland Accordion Ensemble. The group’s efforts have also been supported by The Queensland Accordion Club (Gold Coast) which have generously donated the groups registrations fees for Coupe Mondiale 2009 – otherwise the trip is self-funded.