The 14^th World Music Festival and Tag der Harmonika was held in Innsbruck, Austria on May 29^th to June 1^st 2025. London composer, conductor, teacher and solo accordionist Ian Watson, was recognized at the Awards Ceremony of the accordion category Erich Moser, Tag der Harmonika, for being the most performed composer.

The Legend of King Arthur was played 9 times through out the weekend, which is the first in a trilogy of works about the history of the United Kingdom.

A total of 12 pieces were played over the weekend. There was also two World Premieres of his pieces performed on the grand stage of Saal Tirol – Congress.

From the forward of ‘Rising Phoenix’:

“There are many various legends around the Phoenix, from the Egyptians to the Greeks, ‘Here I make my own story – where the Phenix gets over confident and flies too close to the sun. The Phoenix catches fire and crashes to Earth from a great height. There is then a solemn requiem to mourn the dazzling creature. As the requiem ends, sparks start to bind together the ashes of the Phoenix until finally, the Phoenix is reborn and can fly once more.”

On the Saturday at the Gala Concert the BunderAkkordeonOrchester (BuAkkO) World Premiere the 2^nd piece in the trilogy of works called ‘The Kingdoms’. The piece was commissioned by Silke D’Inka for the orchestra after being the conductor in 2022. This piece draws on the folk melodies and rhythms for each Kingdom (England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland) and for the slow movement ‘Wales’ the oldest known Welsh folk song.

Ian was also the guest conductor for a project orchestra ‘Schwabenstreiche – Why Not?’ who competed in the Adults – Oberstufe 1 – Advanced Level 1.

The Global Accordion Project Orchestra (GAPO) also started by Ian Watson and Sam Cullen (principal bass player) of the London Accordion Orchestra looked to join Accordion Players from around the World virtually during the period when we were unable to come together in person. This project was used to commissioned three new pieces which were premiered online – Horizon, The Challenge of Time and Towards the Light. GAPO will be forming once again to celebrate ‘The Year of the Accordion’ with more details being shared in September.

Editor: A number of the performances listed below, plus many other orchestras who performed at the World Music Festival can be viewed on the Accordions Worldwide YouTube channel.

List of World Music Festival Performances

Gala Concert
BunderAkkordeonOrchester (BuAkkO) – Silke D’Inka – The Kingdoms

Adults – Hochstrufe – Concert Level
London Accordion Orchestra – Ian Watson – Phoenix Rising

Adults – Oberstufe 1 – Advanced Level 1
Akkordeon-Orchester 1938 Roßdorf e.V.: 1. Orchester – Kerstin Schmidt – The Legends of King Arthur

Akkordeonorchester Aichhalden-Rötenberg – Mario Nortmann – The Legends of King Arthur

AkkordeonKlangReise – Yannick Fuher – Space Rock

Akkordia ’73 Crumstadt e.V. – 1, Orchester- Mac Fischer – Buchner Variations

Datastico e. V. – Tobias Dalhof – Space Rock

2. Orchester der Harmonika-Gemeinschaft Ludwigsburg – Wolfgang Matt – The Legends of King Arthur

Akkordeon Brittnau Hauptorchester – Julien Tudisco – The Legends of King Arthur

Harmonika-Verein e.V. Grobbottwar-Oberstenfeld: 1. Orchester – Patrick Stein – Totems

Harmonika-Orchester Jockers Kork e.V. – Patric Jokers – The Legend of King Arthur

Akkordeonorchester Maisach – Florian Lang- Flight

Orchestre des Jeunes Accordeonistes de Suisse Romande – Jerome Courbat – Clowns

Adults Oberstufe A – Advanced Level A
Akkordeon-Orchester Fischingen 1993 e.V. Dieter Lau – The Legend of King Arthur
1. Orchester Harmonika-Spielring >>Platte<< Wiernsheim e.V. Uwe Muller – The Legend of King Arthur
Akkordeon-Orchester Recklinghausen e.V. Tobias Dalhof – Flight
Easy Listening – Danica Guhl – The Legend of King Arthur
Akkordeon-Orchester Berlin e.V. – Rupert Fisher – The Legend of King Arthur

Senior Mittelstufe – Intermediate Level
Akkordeon-Orchester Frohsinn von 1952 – Leonid Klimaschewski – Song without Words

Adults Mittelstufe – Intermediate Level
1. Orchester des Harmonika-Vereins Ramscach e.V. Christoph Muller – Festival!
Akkordeonorchester ZAV kirchheim-Teck – Claudia Petrow – One Tango
Akkordeon-Spielring Rielasingen-Worblingen e.V. Kain Berger – Peace

Adults – Hochststufe – Concert Level
Nϋrnberger Akkordeion-Ensemble – The Ice Forest of Inari