2 WORLD TITLES FOR

ACCORA ORCHESTRA

The World Music Festival was held in Innsbruck, Austria from May 30th to June 2nd, where 387 ensembles and orchestras competed to be crowned the best in the world. The Accora Youth Orchestra led by musical director Yvonne Chilton scooped the top prize in the Akkordeon-Orchester Schuler Elementarstufe (Accordion Orchestra Kids Elementary Level), while the Accora Senior Orchestra led by musical director, John Chilton, were awarded 1st with an Outstanding standard in the Akkordeon-Ensemble mit Dirigent erwachsene Oberstufe (Accordion Ensemble with Conductor Adults Advanced Level).

The Accora Youth Orchestra performed Suite Contraire by Hermann Illenberger on Saturday morning in Messe Theatre. The young musicians, ranging in age from 9-19 years, performed 4 movements of the piece without sheet music. The jury complemented their musical director Yvonne Chilton on tutoring these young children to such a high standard and were blown away by the way they followed her direction to such perfection.

The Senior Orchestra performed Variations on an Original Theme by Eddie Harris and arranged by their musical director John Chilton. The Jury was again very complimentary of the standard and in particular John Chilton’s arrangement of this very well-known piece and the way it was executed to perfection.

40 people including musicians, families and supporters travelled to Innsbruck, Austria for this prestigious event that included competing orchestras from Germany, Switzerland, Netherlands, Denmark, Poland, Croatia, Austria, Moldova, United Kingdom, and Spain.

Here is a link to the Senior Orchestra's winning performance from the World Music Festival June 1st 2019

https://youtu.be/NFb08_J8bto

Here is a link to our Youth Orchestra's winning performance from the World Music Festival June 1st 2019

https://www.facebook.com/AccoraOrchestra/videos/2274118202842346/

About Accora orchestra

Accora Orchestra, originally known as the Castletown Accordion Orchestra, was formed in 1981 as a marching band. In 1993, the current musical director, John Chilton, took over and changed the band to an accordion orchestra. The name was changed to Accora Orchestra in May 2018 as a result of a change of location. We were looking for a name that wasn't geographical and that could be used worldwide. The name was developed by the children, committee and a design company. Accora is taken from the first 5 letters of the word 'accordion' and it's a play on a chara, a chairde, a chorus, which the children felt was the ethos of the orchestra.

The Orchestra has won numerous titles at All Ireland level and at other national events held throughout the country, including the Northern Ireland Open Accordion Championships. Individual members of the orchestra have won numerous solo, duet and ensemble competitions.

There are currently 5 Accora Accordion Orchestras.
- The Beginner Orchestra, conducted by Karen Smyth
- The Preparatory Orchestra, conducted by Sara Brennan
- The Junior Orchestra, conducted by Yvonne Chilton
- The Intermediate Orchestra, conducted by Sara Brennan
- The Senior Orchestra, conducted by John Chilton.

The Orchestra has travelled to Scotland, England, Spain, Italy, France, Germany, Croatia, Czechia and Austria taking part in various festivals.

To date, their most impressive achievements have been at the World Music Festival, May 2025 in Innsbruck, Austria:

1st prize: Akkordeon-Orchester Jugend (Youth Orchestra)

2nd prize: Erwachsene Oberstufe A (Adults Advanced Orchestra) out of 24 orchestras.

4th prize: Akkordeon-Orchester Schuler Elementarstufe (Accordion Orchestra Kids Elementary Level).

The orchestra has also competed at the World Music Festival in Austria in 2007, 2010, 2013 and 2019 and have been awarded:

2019: 1st prize: Akkordeon-Orchester Schuler Elementarstufe (Accordion Orchestra Kids Elementary Level)

1st prize: Akkordeon-Ensemble mit Dirigent erwachsene Oberstufe (Accordion Ensemble with Conductor Adults Advanced Level)

2013: 3rd prize: Akkordeon-Orchester Jugend (Youth Orchestra)

4th Prize: Akkordeon-Orchester Schuler Elementarstufe (Accordion Orchestra Kids Elementary Level)

2010: 5th prize in 2 sections and 9th prize in the Adult Section.

2007: 2nd prize: Erwachsene Mittelstufe (Adults Intermediate) out of 30 orchestras

3rd prize: Akkordeon-Orchester Schuler Elementarstufe (Accordion Orchestra Kids Elementary Level out of 11 orchestras.

Other notable achievements have been:

2016: International Accordion Days Festival in Prague

1st Prize: Under 19 Orchestra

1st prize: Light Music Section

2014: 39th International Competition, Pula, Croatia, 1st prize, 2nd prize, 3rd prize in the Under 15 and Under 19 orchestral section and the Chamber Ensemble.

2008: 2nd prize: Junior Section European Accordion Festival, Prague

5th prize: Light Music Section

2006: 1st prize: European Accordion Festival, Prague.

5 Orchestras and over 75 Musicians

There are currently 5 Orchestras.
- The Beginner Orchestra, conducted by Karen Smyth
- The Preparatory Orchestra, conducted by Sara Brennan
- The Junior Orchestra, conducted by Yvonne Chilton
- The intermediate Orchestra, Conducted by Sara Brennan
- The Senior Orchestra, conducted by John Chilton.