2006 Shanghai Spring International Accordion Festival
1st to 6th May, 2006

International Accordion Symposium Speech
Prof. Li Cong
4th May 2006

This text has been made from notes taken at the Symposium, based on the English translation of the speech by Prof. Li Cong. Li Cong spoke about the accordion in China and its accordionists with reference to how they were connected with the major world competitions like Castelfidardo, Klingenthal and the Coupe Mondiale as well as some major regional accordion competitions. A lot of Chinese students were actively competing and Chinese teachers were in the juries, and the Chinese competitors were having success - the Chinese flag was flying high and he was very proud of that. Many foreign artists were now coming to China to make concerts, seminars and masterclasses and the Chinese students and teachers now had access to the very best of materials for teaching. This is all very good but it is just the beginning. It looks on the surface, like we are very close to the international accordion community but Li Cong said, "I am not satisfied". Chinese competitors normally do not get the highest marks. We also do not see Chinese accordionists in the popular categories. In our own society, we don't really have a very good base for the accordion and it is not helped by the fact that our teachers are quite weak in certain types of tuition. Accordion in China once had a lot of famous accordion stars. Not today. We have Chinese competitors who have won big awards at international competitions but then, we don't hear from them in the future. So for all these reasons, the development of the accordion in China still has a long way to go. If we think of the future, it may not be very good unless changes are made. I believe that we should use the old Chinese saying "get out and welcome in" and welcome more guests to come here. I hope the already very successful Shanghai Festival will be a positive start for this process. We need to encourage different styles of performers to come to China. We also need to ensure, that citizens who have studied overseas are encouraged to return to China and are able to obtain good accordion jobs. China must also occupy a seat at the major international events so we have a say in the international affairs of the accordion. China is currently, only a CIA Corresponding Member without a vote and Chinese Accordion Association must move towards being a full CIA Voting Member. Chinese teachers and accordionists must learn different styles of music. There is too much of one kind of music, the young players are not using different types of accordion, and the different styles of music that the accordion can achieve are very important to expand the accordion system. We don't have a sufficient base in cheap, young learner instruments of many different styles/types at this time and that is very important for the future. Li Cong related, that when he was in the jury in Portugal, he saw a lot of people in the audience who had enthusiastically purchased tickets to hear the performances. Ensemble playing (multiple accordions or accordion with other instruments) was currently a weak point in the Chinese accordion structure - for example, Piazolla sounds very good with an ensemble and groups, fun, different styles of music, will all help spread the base of the accordion. An expansion of the different styles is important to increase the popularity of the accordion in China. Accordion has lost the ace star. Piano and some other instruments have stars but unfortunately, not the accordion. It is very important, that the accordionists of China do not "dig a well and all play together in it". Accordionists cannot afford to ignore society - instead they must be a part of the greater world of music, as to do anything else will be unhealthy for the future growth of the accordion in China. China accordion as an excellent base to grow with a very bright future if care is taken to encourage the best directions for the growth of the accordion in China. If we can only do that, I have every confidence the accordion in China can achieve wonderful success for the accordion. Thank you. Prof. Li Cong