My last article introduced Xu Xiaonan, a young and outstanding accordionist and teacher from the Central Conservatory of Music in China. He also belongs to the excellent young generation who has made many contributions in composition, composing and arranging for the accordion. Xia Gang, who will be introduced to you in this episode, is from the Sichuan Conservatory of Music. He has achieved very important accomplishments in the exchange and development of youth music art of accordion.

— Foreword of Crystal Wang

Xia Gang: A promoter of Chinese youth accordion art exchanges

Xia Gang, with his outstanding artistic talent and profound performance skills, has made significant contributions to the development of Chinese youth accordion art. He is not only an excellent accordionist but also an associate professor at the Sichuan Conservatory of Music, Member of the Chinese Accordion Association, and an organizer of various international music competitions and accordion festivals.

Educational Background and Career

Xia Gang graduated from the St. Petersburg Conservatory in Russia with a perfect score, becoming the first Chinese accordion graduate to achieve this honor in the school’s history. His performance career has been rich and varied, having performed at numerous significant events both domestically and internationally, and collaborating with top orchestras such as the St. Petersburg National Symphony Orchestra. His repertoire is extensive, including classic Chinese works and Western pieces, showcasing his exceptional artistic talent.

In the field of education, Xia Gang is dedicated to the teaching of the bayan accordion, having edited textbooks such as the “Bayan Accordion Advanced Tutorial,” providing valuable guidance and resources for learners of the instrument. Many of his students have won awards at important competitions like the PIF, fully demonstrating his achievements in the teaching field.

International Exchange and Cooperation

Xia Gang also enjoys a certain reputation in the international accordion community. He has represented the Chinese Accordion Association on visits to countries such as Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, New Zealand, and others, promoting international exchange and cooperation in accordion art. He has also been invited to give concerts and lectures in the United States and other places, further expanding the influence of Chinese accordion art internationally.

Founding Chengdu Jiadi Community Concert Hall

As the artistic director of the Chengdu Jiadi Community Concert Hall, Xia Gang has played a significant role in the establishment, operation, and promotion of public welfare music performances. In 2019, with the support of the Party Committee and the Office of the Shuanggui Road Subdistrict in Jinjiang District, Chengdu, he collaborated with the Jiadi Music Research Institute to create the first community concert hall in China with real significance. This has provided the public with high-quality public welfare music performances, greatly enriching the cultural life of community residents. Xia Gang has also actively promoted music education and outreach through the concert hall, including the accordion, bringing high art into the community and giving more people the opportunity to come into contact with and learn the accordion and other instruments and music knowledge.

Developing International and Domestic Accordion Art Projects and Competitions

1. Chengdu Youth Accordion Art Week

Xia Gang is also one of the founders of the Chengdu Youth and Children’s Accordion Art Week, taking on the main planning and organizational work. The art week began in 2023 and has successfully held two sessions.

It aims to promote the development of accordion basic education, cultivate young and children’s accordion performance talents, and serve grassroots teachers to improve teaching levels. Through numerous concerts, accordion education forums, and public welfare performances and educational activities, the art week not only enhances the performance level of young and children’s accordion but also promotes the popularization and development of accordion art.

2. The ZhongSin International Music Competition

The ZhongSin International Music Competition, founded in 2007 by educators Xia Gang (China), Oleg Sharov (Russia), and Ng Kimsoon (Singapore), has held 19 editions. It aims at connect Singapore’s arts and provide a global musicians’ platform. Advocating for innovative art education, it strives to be the top international music competition. With categories like piano, vocal music, and more, it attracts over 1,000 finalists from nearly 20 countries annually and over 60,000 participants from the Chinese division attending the finals in Singapore after preliminary rounds. Beyond competition, it fosters cultural exchange through concerts and forums. Supported by Singapore’s National Arts Council, it obtained the world’s first ISO9001 certification for arts event management in 2017.

Social Influence and Art Popularization

As a new generation of young accordionists, Xia Gang’s contributions are not only reflected in his personal achievements but also in his efforts to promote and popularize the development of Chinese youth accordion art.

His efforts have allowed more people to understand and appreciate the accordion as an instrument, making significant contributions to the cultivation of more accordion performance talents. At the same time, through music education and outreach, he has also strengthened community cultural development, bringing the accordion into the cultural life of citizens.