Roland Partners with Coupe Mondiale to Support Accordionists Worldwide

For Immediate Release

Rebecca Genel
Global PR/Media Relations Manager
Roland Corporation
(323) 890-3718
Rebecca.Genel@roland.com

Los Angeles, CA, July 11, 2013 — Roland Corporation U.S. is pleased to announce participation in the 7th International V-Accordion Festival. The qualifying rounds for the U.S. V-Accordion Festival are some of the summer’s most anticipated contests for accordion enthusiasts in the United States. Both amateurs and professionals are eligible and encouraged to participate. The winner of the U.S. crown will receive two amazing prizes: a new FR-8x, Roland’s latest flagship V-Accordion, and a trip to the international festival in Rome on October 19, 2013. The U.S. champion will then compete with regional winners from around the world for the international title.

U.S. contestants may enter the contest one of two ways: YouTube® video submission or participation within the 66th Coupe Mondiale. Audition videos will be accepted online through August 18, 2013 for the U.S. “pre-selection round,” and entrants may perform on either an acoustic or digital accordion during this round. Three U.S. contestants will be chosen from among the top U.S. video submissions to move on to the “final selection round.” The three top-placing U.S. contestants within any category at the Coupe Mondiale are also automatically entered into the U.S. “final selection round” and will be awarded a $300 individual scholarship.

Since the stakes are much higher during the “final selection round,” these six U.S. finalists will be loaned FR-7x V-Accordions and tasked with creating their musical submission for this final round using the instrument exclusively. Roland’s FR-7x combines the familiar nuances of a traditional accordion with the versatility of a modern digital musical instrument and faster response, higher sensitivity and precision. Contestants will have only a few weeks to create their new masterpieces for the “final selection round,” and the U.S. winner will be announced in September.

With the growing number of accordion enthusiasts in the U.S. and around the world, competing in this one-of-a-kind event sponsored by Roland gives unique musicians a chance share their music across borders. For more details, please visit www.RolandUS.com/V-AccordionFestival.

The Coupe Mondiale is an international competition for accordionists held under the auspices of the Confédération Internationale des Accordéonistes (CIA) and is considered the most prestigious and respected international accordion competition in the world. Every year, the Coupe Mondiale attracts the finest accordionists from around the globe to compete and perform. This year, the 66th Coupe Mondiale and 130th CIA International General Assembly of Delegates Congress will be held in Victoria, B.C., Canada, August 17-25, 2013 and hosted by fellow CIA member the BC Accordion Society. Roland Corporation is a proud sponsor of this event and is happy to invite the top ranking U.S. contestants to compete in the U.S. V-Accordion Festival “final selection round.”

About Roland Corporation
Roland Corporation is a leading manufacturer and distributor of electronic musical instruments, including keyboards and synthesizers, guitar products, electronic percussion, digital recording equipment, amplifiers, audio processors, and multimedia products. With more than 40 years of musical instrument development, Roland sets the standard in music technology for the world to follow. For more information, visit http://www.RolandUS.com.