The Confédération Internationale des Accordéonistes (CIA) held its annual Winter Congress and 153rd General Assembly of Delegates from 28th February to the 2nd March, 2025 in Plovdiv, Bulgaria.  Hosted by CIA member The Academy of Music, Dance and Fine Arts (Plovdiv) organized by Angel Marinov, the three day event comprised meetings, informal gatherings and cultural and social events.

CIA Executive Committee members Mirco Patarini (President – Italy), Jörgen Sundeqvist (Vice President – Sweden), Zorica Karakutovska (Vice President – North Macedonia), Kimmo Mattila (Secretary General – Finland), Kevin Friedrich (Ambassador – USA), Alexander Selivanov (Chairperson of the Music Committee – Russia) and Music Committee members Chairperson  Alexander Selivanov (Russia), Danijela Gazdic (Bosnia and Herzegovina), Ruedi Marty (Switzerland). Grayson Masefield (Vice Chairperson – New Zealand via Zoom) were joined by Delegates representing CIA member organizations from the USA (AAA-ATG), Sweden, Germany, Norway, Austria, North Macedonia, New Zealand, Hungary, Finland, Switzerland, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Lithuania, Estonia and Turkey. 

During the meetings, the CIA welcomed two new member organizations including from Romania, The National University of Music, Bucharest (contact: Fernando Mihalache and from Turkey, Beylikdüzü Belediyesi Kültür İşleri Müdürlüğü – Istanbul (contact: Zekiye Yilmaz).

Reports from the CIA Executive Committee were given by Mirco Patarini (President), Kimmo Mattila (General Secretary), Harley Jones (Public Relations Manager – presented by New Zealand delegate Alison Worthington), Alexander Selivanov (Music Committee) and Kevin Friedrich (Ambassador).  These reports outlined the activities of the Executive officers as they represented the CIA at numerous events around the world as well as the financial updates, budget planning and official business affairs of the CIA.

Danijela Gazdic gave an update on the upcoming 78th Coupe Mondiale to be held in East Sarajevo, Republic of Srpska, Bosnia & Herzegovina, hosted by the East Sarajevo Academy of Music Ues from the 23 – 28th September, 2025. Details are available at www.coupemondiale.org.

One of the main activities for the General Assembly was the adopting of the Internal Rules (formerly known as Statutes).  To conform to European Union guidelines, the CIA filed their official Statutes (adopted at the General Assembly in Castelfidardo, 2024) in Finland last year.  The CIA day to day modus operandi and rules previously known as Statutes, were then renamed as Internal Rules, updated and adopted at the Plovdiv hosted Winter Congress.

Two CIA Merit Awards nominations were received, recommended by the CIA Executive Committee and then unanimously approved by the General Assembly to be awarded to Stefan Hippe (Germany) and Nathalie Boucheix (France) in recognition for their contributions to the International Accordion movement.

The CIA future events have been updated with the 2026 Winter Congress being hosted in Finland, while the 79th Coupe Mondiale is now open again.  Details about the alternate 2026 Coupe Mondiale hosting are now being organized and details will be available soon.  The 2027 events will be held in Paks, Hungary (Winter Congress) and Disentis, Switzerland (80th Coupe Mondiale). 

The CIA is pleased to welcome its 2025 Honorary Vice President, Maja Žuža from East Sarajevo Academy of Music Ues, Rep. of Srpska, Bosnia & Herzegovina.  Each year a representative from the Coupe Mondiale host organization is nominated to join as an honorary member of the CIA team to help facilitate the organization of the event. In October 2020, she was appointed Dean of the Music Academy of the University of East Sarajevo, a position she continues to hold for a second term. 

During the ‘Member’s Voices’ section of the General Assembly, presentations were given by Anica Karakutovska from the Republic of North Macedonia, showcasing the numerous and varied activities of the Ljubiteli na Klasicnata Muzika in Skopje as well as  the team headed by Olga Papp,  Hungary who gave news of “Az Ifjú Harmonikásokért” Alapítvány – “For the Young Accordionists” Foundation activities.

The Bulgarian hosts provided detailed guided tours of their ancient city, one of the oldest historical sites in Europe, Plovdiv is a living archaeological city where on every street corner, you are met with incredible several thousand-year old ruins that will take you back to the Greek and Roman Empires. 

A highlight was the closing Gala concert featuring a lineup of renowned Bulgarian musicians performing a variety of Folk music, many on traditional instruments found in the Bulgarian culture.  The concert was followed by a traditional Bulgarian culinary experience.

2025 marks the incredible 90th Anniversary of the Confédération Internationale des Accordéonistes (CIA).  Information about the anniversary celebration will be forthcoming with plans to publish a yearbook showcasing highlights of the CIA history being published to coincide with the 78th Coupe Mondiale in East Sarajevo.

The competition categories and rules for the 78th Coupe Mondiale are now available on the www.coupemondiae.org website.  Information on the Hotel accommodations and other details are being updated continually as it becomes available.

The 154th CIA International General Assembly of Delegates Congress will be held in East Sarajevo, Republic of Srpska, Bosnia & Herzegovina on 24 September 2025.