The XXXVI “Bayan & Bayanists” Festival grand Opening Concert was held from December 11 to 15, 2024. Featured on the Opening Concert of the festival was Cao Ye, as the first Chinese accordionist invited to perform a concerto at this prestigious event.

The performance, in collaboration with the Russian National Orchestra presented E. Podgaits’ second accordion concerto “Viva Voce”, which was met with a very warm audience response and was a well received success.

In this news, let’s get to know Cao Ye a little better and recognize this active force in the Chinese accordion performance and education stage, through his impressive concerto premiere at this important art festival.

Cao Ye, a renowned Chinese accordionist, currently serves as principal of the Shenyang Conservatory of Music Affiliated Secondary School, professor of accordion at the Piano Department, and master’s supervisor. He has won the Silver Award in the accordion competition of the 2015 China Music Golden Bell Awards and second place in the adult pop group of the 49th International Accordion Competition in Klingenthal, Germany, in 2012. Professor Cao Ye has not only achieved excellence in teaching, being named a famous teacher in undergraduate education at Shenyang Conservatory of Music, but also has been honored with the “Thousand Level” of Liaoning Province’s Hundred Thousand Talents Project and Shenyang City’s high-level top-notch talents.

“Bayan & Bayanists” Annual International Festival, Moscow – Russia
Since its inception in 1988, the Festival has become the largest scale and highest performance level international accordion professional competition and art festival in Russia. The festival is hosted by the Gnessin Russian Academy of Music in Moscow, Russia, with the famous Russian accordionist and educator Professor Friedrich Lips serving as the artistic director. Cao Ye graduated from the Gnessin Russian Academy of Music in 2012 with a master’s degree, under the tutelage of Prof Viatcheslav Semionov.

This performance not only affirms Cao Ye’s international reputation but also wins widespread attention and high recognition for Chinese accordion art on the world stage. We look forward to seeing more Chinese accordion artists shine on the international stage in the future, continuing to contribute to the development of world music culture.