Helena Sousa Estevez (Spain) — Classical contemporary treasures
Galician accordionist Helena Sousa Estevez has undergone a full classical education with a master's degree, masterclasses 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 constant collaboration with composers, which has led to her premiering many works at various worldwide projects and festivals.
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 as a young child by his grandfather. 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, 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 (Sardinia) — Sardinian specialties
It is the sound of his native Sardinia that Peppino Bande has been accompanying with his accordion since he was four years old.
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 (Germany/The Netherlands) — The Master of Fine Sounds
As a musical maverick, Servais Haanen is the mastermind and organiser of the Akkordeonale. The master of fine sounds composes and arranges the ensemble pieces of the festival and leads through the program. His moderations, peppered with bone-dry humour, have cult status.
Servais has long been working on breaking the boundaries of the accordion and integrating elements from new music, minimal structures and other unusual sounds. Thanks to his band work (including Appellation Contrôlée, Quatro Ventos, KlangWeltenFestival) and composing for music theatre productions and documentary films, Servais brings a wide variety of musical material into play.
In addition to the Akkordeonale and his work as an accordion teacher, ensemble work with unusual to impossible instrumentation is one of his favourite passions.
Begleitmusiker/innen
Roberto Tangianu (Sardinien), 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 (Deutschland), 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 from past years. With her passion for the unconventional use of the cello, she has become an integral part of the Akkordeonale.