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.