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20 Years Shanghai Accordion History

Visit to Shanghai School for the Blind Highlights Musical Talent

During a recent visit to the Shanghai School for the Blind, visitors were treated to a delightful performance by five student accordionists. The instruments they played had been donated by local Shanghai accordion teachers, underscoring a growing community effort to support music education for visually impaired students.

Also performing was Wang Xiao, a distinguished accordionist and one of the teachers involved in the donation initiative. Wang earned third place in the Virtuoso category at the 2023 PIF Castelfidardo International Competition, and her appearance added a professional flourish to the event.

The visit offered a vivid reminder of how access to instruments and mentorship can open new artistic pathways for young musicians.

The blind school concert program – click to enlarge:

The Shanghai School for Blind Children Chinese Orchestra delivered a striking performance featuring a rich blend of traditional Chinese instruments supported by five accordionists. The ensemble impressed with its finely judged balance and cohesion, reflecting the high calibre of its musical training and orchestral leadership.

The orchestra was joined on stage by accordion teacher Wang Xiao and guest artist Konstantin Riabin for a special collaborative piece. The morning programme concluded with a spirited rendition of Friendship Forever, performed by accordion and chorus, earning warm applause from the audience.

After departing the school and lunch, the international guests and some Shanghai accordion teachers travelled to Nine One Nine Zhongshan Park for a Cultural Heritage Dough Figurine Exchange. The event, led by renowned dough‑figurine artist Zhang Shujia, offered a lively introduction to the traditional craft. Zhang had created personalised dough figurines of several visiting accordionists from pictures she was provided. These figurines were then displayed in clear perspex cases and presented to the guests as keepsakes.

The afternoon program featured a leisurely cruise along the Suzhou and Huangpu Rivers, offering passengers a front‑row view of Shanghai’s waterways in full spring bloom. Guests enjoyed live accordion music on deck as the vessel glided past stretches of vibrant, blossoming trees and some of the city’s most picturesque riverfront scenery.

Festival Guiding Organization
Confédération Internationale des Accordéonistes (CIA), Member of the International Music Council (IMC), an official NGO partner of UNESCO
Festival Host Organizations
• Shanghai Musicians Association
• Shanghai Changning District Bureau of Culture and Tourism
• Shanghai Changning District Federation of Literary and Art Circles
Festival Organizers / Organized by
• Shanghai Changning District Cultural and Tourism Management Center
• Accordion Professional Committee, Shanghai Musicians Association