On the evening of April 5, the 2026 "Shanghai Spring" 8th International Accordion Culture and Art Week – "Best Hongqiao • Wind Rises from the Sea" Yangtze River Delta and National Outstanding Accordion Program Showcase took place at the Hongqiao Art Center in Changning District. This accordion-based art feast brought together outstanding performing ensembles from the Yangtze River Delta and other parts of the country. Performers spanning four generations – children, youth, middle-aged and seniors – shared the stage, delivering an audiovisual experience that combined artistic excellence and human warmth through diverse playing styles and moving melodies. The performance vividly illustrated the open and dynamic nature of Shanghai-style culture, as well as the deep bonds of artistic exchange within the Yangtze River Delta region.

As an important part of the International Accordion Culture and Art Week, this showcase, themed "Best Hongqiao • Wind Rises from the Sea," leveraged Hongqiao’s hub advantage to build a musical bridge connecting north and south, east and west.

The evening was a full display of the accordion’s diverse charm. Eleven wonderful programs took the stage one after another. The repertoire included classic folk songs, world-famous melodies, and original works, with performance forms ranging from duets, ensembles, and chamber music to cross-genre "accordion+" fusions, allowing the audience to immerse themselves in the instrument’s boundless expressiveness. The Keyboard Orchestra of the Pudong New Area Youth Activity Center performed “The Youth Chasing the Peak,” playing the melody of youth with youthful vigor. Tang Chengyu and Zhu Yueying of the Firefly Accordion Orchestra at Shanghai School for the Blind, with less than two years of learning experience, performed “Sail The Ocean,” interpreting their deep love for music through pure notes, touching the audience’s hearts with the warmth of art. The Sunflower Accordion Orchestra of Minhang District Experimental Primary School reimagined the classic children’s song “Little Swallow” with a multi-part ensemble, evoking childhood memories for everyone. The Xingyun Accordion Orchestra of Jing’an District Youth Activity Exchange Center performed “Sunshine,” using rich layers and vivid colors to create a unique musical atmosphere.

A highlight of the showcase was the artistic collaboration among performers from the Yangtze River Delta and beyond. The performing team from Changzhou, Jiangsu, brought “Viva la Vida,” demonstrating the fruitful results of accordion education in the Yangtze River Delta under the guidance of the Shanghai Musician Association. The Accordion Team of Shanghai University for the Senior joined hands for the first time with the Accordion Orchestra of Haishu Community College in Ningbo, performing the classic Russian folk song “The Red Cranberry Blossom” to convey the artistic passion of middle-aged and older performers, allowing the friendship between Shanghai and Zhejiang to blend in the music. The event also featured a cross-regional artistic encounter. Jin Chengxi, a student from the Middle School Affiliated to Sichuan Conservatory of Music, collaborated with the Orchestra of the Shanghai Huangpu Youth Art Activity Center to present the original piece “Dance of Boundaries,” breaking down geographical and sonic boundaries. The Flower Impression Accordion Orchestra of North Minzu University brought the original northwestern ethnic work “Flower Capriccio,” blending the style of the northwestern region into accordion melodies, allowing ethnic culture to shine on stage.

The collision of innovation and tradition made the evening even more compelling. Taking the opportunity of its tenth anniversary, the Shanghai Xuanjing Art Center presented “Souvenir of Orlov,” a piece with Russian flair, showcasing the depth of Shanghai-style accordion education. The Minhang District Youth Activity Center created an innovative "accordion+" stage, blending the accordion with piano, violin, and other instruments in a reimagined performance of the Broadway classic “The Phantom of the Opera,” interpreting the artistic concept of teacher-student collaboration and cross-boundary cooperation. As the grand finale, “Revival,” composed by young accordionist Tan Jialiang, was performed jointly by four Shanghai-based ensembles, weaving the spirit of the times and the aspiration for national rejuvenation into the melody, playing an uplifting movement.

The audience’s enthusiasm was ignited by each wonderful program. Many were immersed and frequently burst into warm applause. Ms. Chen, a Changning resident who brought her child to watch the performance, said: "The entire show was so wonderful, from the innocent performances of children to the heartfelt playing of the elderly – all were moving. Especially the performance by the blind children’s orchestra, it made my child feel the power of music and the meaning of persistence." Mr. Zhou, an accordion enthusiast, said: "I never imagined the accordion could have so many forms of expression. The cross-boundary fusions and ethnic original works were particularly innovative. Having so many top performers from the Yangtze River Delta and the whole country gathered here also shows us the vibrant vitality of accordion art."

On the day, 20 renowned Chinese and international expert judges were invited to form a professional jury. They evaluated the performing teams on site and announced the results at the end of the showcase.

In the future, Changning will continue to use accordion art as a link to promote the deep integration of culture, tourism, and commerce, allowing the charm of Shanghai-style culture to blossom continuously in Hongqiao and letting the beauty of art permeate every aspect of urban life.