Sergei Teleshev Advances to International V-Accordion Festival in Rome

For Immediate Release

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

Los Angeles, CA, September 20, 2013 — Roland Corporation U.S. is pleased to announce that Sergei Teleshev of Eugene, Oregon is the winner of the 2013 Roland U.S. V-Accordion Festival. The talent showcased by this year’s contestants was strong, and Roland applauds all who participated. As the U.S. champion, Sergei advances to compete with regional winners from around the world during the 7th Roland International V-Accordion Festival, taking place in Italy on October 19, 2013. Sergei also received two prizes: a new FR-8x, Roland’s latest flagship V-Accordion, and a trip to the international festival in Rome.

Accordionist and 2009 U.S V-Accordion Festival winner Alicia Baker was one of this year’s U.S. judges and called Sergei to share the good news with him. “I was so honored to be the person to tell Sergei he’d won. I remember how inspired I was, and delivering that same good news to him was extremely cool,” said Alicia.

U.S. contestants entered the contest one of two ways: YouTube® video submission or participation within the 66th Coupe Mondiale. Both amateurs and professionals were eligible and encouraged to participate. Audition videos were accepted online this summer for the U.S. “pre-selection round,” and entrants performed on either an acoustic or digital accordion during this round. U.S. contestants chosen from the top U.S. video submissions and the top-placing U.S. contestants at the Coupe Mondiale then advanced into the “final selection round.” $300 individual scholarships were also awarded to the top U.S. contestants at the Coupe.

Since stakes were much higher during the “final selection round,” the U.S. finalists were loaned V-Accordions and required to use the instrument exclusively during this round. Roland V-Accordions combine the familiar nuances of a traditional accordion with the versatility of a modern digital musical instrument and faster response, higher sensitivity and precision.

With the growing number of accordion enthusiasts in the U.S. and around the world, competing in this one-of-a-kind annual event sponsored by Roland gives unique musicians a chance to share their music across borders.

For more details, please visit www.RolandUS.com/V-AccordionFestival.

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.