Steadfast Original Aspirations: Artistic Heritage Rooted in Public Welfare
“When over 130 children, including Wang Yinuo, Wang Renyin, Cai Yuqi, Hou Siyi, Zhang Yuchen, Shi Yixiao, Du Xinyue, Yang Yibo, Gao Qihang, Zhang Yixuan, Wang Haoyu, Jin Chengxi, Xu Nuo, Xiang Yanxi, and Li Yijin, performed Singing for the Motherland in unison at the closing ceremony, I saw tears glistening in many audience members’ eyes,” recalled an emotional organizer.
This grand event was co-hosted by the Chengdu Cultural Center, Jinjiang District Bureau of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, the Accordion and Modern Instruments Department of the Sichuan Conservatory of Music, the Shahu Subdistrict Committee of Jinjiang District, the Shahu Subdistrict Office, the Chengdu Gade Music Research Institute, the Jinjiang District Media Center, and the Sichuan Education Foundation’s Aesthetic Education Fund. It was jointly organized by the Jinjiang District Cultural Center, Golden Cup Angel Instruments, the Sichuan Accordion Association, Shanghai Xuanjing Art Center, Tianjin Baidi Instruments, Liu Zhao Accordion Studio, Zhong Kai Accordion Studio, Langlang Youth Music Exchange Center, Fujian Fengyu Bayan Accordion School, Hebei Tangshan Phoenix Accordion Studio, and Chengdu’s Wufuqiao Community.
Since its inception, the event has maintained a public welfare focus, growing over three years into one of China’s most influential accordion education initiatives.
This year’s Art Week surpassed previous editions in scale, content, and international participation. Eight core segments—Artisan Workshops, Pride of Chinese Brands, Champion Youth Performances, Themed Concerts, Artist Showcases, Roundtable Discussions, Master Classes, and Creative Stars—formed a multidimensional accordion art ecosystem. The “Jinyi International Accordion Competition” was also held, attracting 195 contestants.
Notably, the roundtable discussions saw participation surge from 20 teachers in the first year to 40 in the second, and now 75 this year—hailing from China, Russia, Serbia, New Zealand, and Canada, representing 27 cities across 23 Chinese provinces. This exponential growth reflects the Art Week’s expanding influence.
Breaking Boundaries: Commercialization Sparks Intellectual Debate
“Exploring the Commercial Applications of the Accordion”—a topic never before addressed at the Art Week—became this year’s most striking discussion. Though organizers humbly called the concept “not yet mature,” it struck at the heart of survival and development for modern accordionists. Over three days, educators, performers, and manufacturers engaged in heated yet constructive debates on commercial pathways such as accordion schools, performances, and music production. Accordion educator Wang Congyu shared, “In Shanghai, accordion music has successfully integrated into dining and tourism experiences—a model worth emulating.” New Zealand’s Grayson Masefield emphasized personal branding in the digital age. The intellectual sparks mirrored the fiery energy of the concert Spark, where Zhong Kai, Grayson Masefield, and Luka Šimić improvised together, blending Eastern and Western musical traditions into a mesmerizing fusion.
Passing the Torch: China’s Future in Young Hands
Fifteen award-winning young accordionists, including Wang Yinuo, Wang Renyin, and Cai Yuqi, gathered in Chengdu, dazzling audiences with their virtuosity. Their performances, mature beyond their years, showcased the fruits of China’s accordion education. “Seeing these children on stage, I’m convinced that the future of Chinese accordion art is boundless,” remarked renowned accordionist Zhong Kai. Group performances by the Fujian Fengyu Bayan Ensemble, Shanghai Xuanjing Accordion Ensemble, and Tianjin Langlang Youth Accordion Ensemble further highlighted the magic of collaboration, embodying the artistic truth: “Soloists shine like stars, but together, they flow like rivers.”
Pride of Chinese Craftsmanship: Artistry in Every Detail
In the Artisan Workshops and Pride of Chinese Brands exhibition zones, domestic brands like Golden Cup, Baidi, and Phoenix showcased China’s manufacturing excellence. Shi Jianming, Chairman of the China Musical Instrument Association’s Accordion Committee, noted, “After years of refining Bayan accordion reed technology, our tonal quality rivals the world’s best, and we now contribute to industry standards.” This relentless pursuit of perfection mirrors the rise of China’s accordion industry. Meanwhile, the world premiere of Dance on the Border, a chamber piece by Japanese-based composer Gu Xun, fused modern composition with folk elements, performed by Xia Gang, Wang Mai, Yang Yang, Shen Yue, Zhao Sizhi, and Evgeny Gulenkov. Sichuan Conservatory musicians like Liu Shanshan, Cheng Lu, Shi Cheng, and Yi Lian also delivered stunning performances.
Rooted in Community: Art Enriches Urban Life
A defining feature of this year’s Art Week was its deep community engagement. At the Gade Music Hall in Wufuqiao Community, masters interacted with residents; at the Cultural Center’s public classes, local teachers received free training. “Bringing art out of concert halls and back into daily life” was realized beautifully. A music teacher from Liangshan, Ayi, shared, “Wang Xue’s accordion workshop and these cutting-edge teaching methods are invaluable for educators in remote areas.” Over four days, the Art Week hosted 15 events, directly engaging over 1,000 participants and reaching 100,000 online viewers. Behind these numbers were countless moments of musical magic: elders swaying to the tunes, parents guiding curious children to touch the keys, students scribbling notes in fervor—the accordion’s charm quietly weaving into the city’s soul. As 130 young performers united in Singing for the Motherland at the closing ceremony, the thunderous applause was more than a tribute to the nation—it symbolized the unbroken chain of Chinese accordion artistry. As Li Cong, President of the Chinese Accordion Association, urged: “Bold innovation, unwavering original aspirations.” By pushing boundaries while staying true to art’s essence, China’s accordion scene embraces unprecedented opportunities. This May, Chengdu shone brighter with every dancing keystroke. And the future of Chinese accordion music? With these dream-chasing youths, it has never looked brighter.