October 2024
Rachael Xu, a long-time Global Friend of the International Music Council (IMC), continues to make significant strides in advocating for the Five Music Rights and promoting musical awareness among young children globally. Since the age of eight, Rachael’s accordion performances have taken her to more than 15 countries, and her passion for music continues to grow alongside her impressive international accomplishments.
Most recently, Rachael travelled to Castelfidardo, Italy, where she achieved remarkable success at two prestigious international competitions. She placed 5th in the Junior Virtuoso Entertainment Category at the 77th Coupe Mondiale International Accordion Competition, hosted by the Confédération Internationale des Accordéonistes (CIA). Additionally, she earned a/the second place in the Student Virtuoso Category and third place in the Student World Category at the 49th Premio Internazionale “Città di Castelfidardo” for accordion soloists and ensembles.
For Rachael, these achievements represent not only personal musical growth but also a deepening commitment to her role as an advocate for the Five Music Rights, especially among her peers. As a young musician, she is acutely aware of the importance of nurturing a love for music from an early age.
“The importance of music is often seriously neglected,” says Rachael. “If children do not have basic musical education while growing up, they lose out on a vital tool for self-expression. My question became, ‘How can I help raise awareness among my generation?’ I realized that the simplest approach is to play as much music as possible and encourage students around me to showcase themselves more frequently in any setting. Through this process, both students and parents can see that learning music is not a burden or a source of stress, but an enriching experience that enhances life.”
With this goal in mind, Rachael plans to use her performance opportunities to encourage greater student involvement with music. “Whether it’s instrumental, vocal, or musical theater, students gain confidence when they have the chance to perform in front of an audience,” Rachael stated. “I know my efforts alone may be limited, but with more people getting involved, we’re building a healthy music ecosystem, one community at a time. I truly believe that it’s the little things that ultimately make a big difference.“
Rachael’s dedication to the IMC Global Friends programme and the Five Music Rights is a testament to her belief in the transformative power of music. Her ongoing efforts aim to create a future where music is an integral part of every child’s life, fostering creativity, emotional growth, and cultural understanding; ensuring that remains a powerful force for connection and expression worldwide.
In the picture above: Harley Jones (Public Relations Manager, CIA), Rachael Xu (IMC Global Friend), Grayson Masefield (Vice Chairman of Music Committee, CIA), Antonio Spaccarotella (Music Committee member, CIA), Mirco Patarini (President of CIA), Crystal Wang (Music Committee member, CIA), Zhai Zhouyang (2024 Coupe Mondiale Champion), Jörgen Sundeqvist (Vice President CIA) recording a celebratory video for the International Music Council’s 75th Anniversary