ATG International Ambassador Reports
- atgaccordionistste
- 7 days ago
- 8 min read
Updated: 6 days ago
Dr. Herbert Scheibenreif
75th Trophée Mondial in Montargis (France)
Since its founding in 1951, the Confédération Mondiale de l’Accordéon (CMA) has organized the Trophée Mondial de l’Accordéon annually in various countries. Today, more than 60 national delegations from all continents participate in this top-level competition, for which the best candidates from each country are selected through national preliminary rounds. The Trophée Mondial aims to contribute to the development of international standards by continuously improving pedagogy, repertoire, and instrument quality.
Due to the pandemic and the geopolitical situation, the CMA also had to adapt to the prevailing circumstances to ensure the Trophée Mondial could continue from 2020 to 2023 under the best possible conditions. During this challenging time for everyone, travel was impossible, which is why the CMA decided to utilize modern communication technologies and organize an online version of the Trophée Mondial. This format, with its easy worldwide access, proved very popular and set a new participation record in the last five years, as it allowed numerous candidates from around the globe to compete in the various categories.
Since many accordionists worldwide cannot reach this highest level for a variety of reasons, the Trophée Mondial introduced age categories as part of an "International Open Trophy," ranging from the youngest (up to 7 years old) through teenagers and adults to seniors over 80, giving them the opportunity to showcase their considerable skills to a wider international audience. Categories were also offered for diatonic accordion, variety, chamber music, musette, world music, jazz, accordion with vocals, ensemble, and orchestra. Thus, the Trophée became a meeting place for more than 500 accordionists from all over the world.
The 2025 Trophée Mondial was held in three stages.
March – July: national competitions of individual countries September – October: Trophée Mondial Online November, 25th-30th: Trophée Mondial Offline in Montargis
The following first-prize winners were determined in the individual categories of the "Trophée Mondial":
Senior Classique: Serhii Sapun (Ukraine)
Junior Classique: Djordje Kristivojević (Serbia)
Masters: Hazim Mehmedić (Bosnia & Herzegovina)
Senior Variety: Danijel Piller (Serbia/Austria)
Junior Variety: Jaroslav Pokuta (Czech Republic)
Senior Chamber Music: Gogol & Kowalczyk Duo (Poland)
Junior Chamber Music: Duo Perić-Kalajdzić (Bosnia & Herzegovina)
World Music: The Pillers (Serbia/Austria)
Jazz: Florin Emanuel Pana (Romania)
Detailed results for all categories of the International Open Trophy, diatonic accordion, and orchestras can be found at:
Official CMA website: www.CMA-Accordions.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/@TropheeMondial
CMA Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@CMAChannelLIVE
International Forum for Contemporary Bayan and Accordion Art
VIII International Competition for Bayan and Accordion
XXXVII International Festival "Bayan and Bayan Players"
Organized by the Gnessin Russian Academy of Music in Moscow from December 7-14, 2025, the "International Forum for Contemporary Bayan and Accordion Art" brought together renowned masters and promising young artists, creating a unique platform for professional dialogue and artistic growth. Through the VIII International Competition for Bayan and Accordion and the XXXVII International Festival "Bayan and Bayan Players," talented young musicians had the opportunity to showcase their abilities and explore their path to professional development. Preserving and developing the rich tradition of the Russian school of bayan and accordion playing, as well as forging and strengthening international cultural ties, were also considered essential aspects of the event.
In the "Academic Category," a total of 25 candidates presented their performances to the rigorous jury, chaired by Friedrich Lips (Russia), and including Nikolay Sevryukov (Belarus), Damir Sultanov (Kazakhstan), Cao Xiaoqing (China), Oleg Sharov, Yuri Gurevich, Aleksandr Gataullin, Vyacheslav Bondarenko (Russia), Radomir Tomic (Serbia), Max Bonnay (France), and Herbert Scheibenreif (Austria). The competition consists of three rounds, with the third round requiring the performance of Efrem Podgaits' Concerto No. 4 "Rhymes of Time" for bayan and orchestra. Technical perfection has long been an indispensable prerequisite for successful participation in this prestigious competition, which focuses primarily on the art of interpretation: "expressive virtuosity," as Michael Bridge termed it in his widely acclaimed doctoral dissertation. The focus is on the artistry of expression, not only for each individual piece but for the program as a whole. It was only logical that, given these conditions, Olzhas Nurlanov (Kazakhstan), the candidate with the most experience and personal maturity, ultimately prevailed. But the other finalists from China, Serbia, and Sweden also have promising futures. The outstanding level of this competition is further evidenced by the participation of several prizewinners from international competitions in recent years (CIA, CMA, Castelfidardo, Trossingen).
The following participants qualified for the final:
1st Prize: Olzhas Nurlanov (Kazakhstan)
2nd Prize: Lin Jinghan (China), Luka Simić (Serbia)
3rd Prize: Leonid-Florin Muravyov (Sweden), Zhouyang Zhai, Naixin Zhang (both China)
The level of performance in the "Entertainment Music" category was also remarkably high. The 13-year-old Chinese musician Wu ZuoPeiEr particularly shone, not least because of his impeccable style, complete with blue hair and matching suit (designed specifically for this category). His technique and gestures, perfectly suited to the end of each piece, astonished both the jury and the audience. Nevertheless, he ultimately had to concede defeat in the final to the Russian Nikita Kuznetsov, who impressed in his own unique way. Even Lev Solomonovich from Moldova, winner of the Coupe Mondiale in Sarajevo in September, had to settle for third place. Ruslan Galkiev (Kazakhstan) and Anastasiya Grevtseva (Belarus) completed the five-person final.
To give young talent a chance to shine, a competition for students from music schools and colleges has long been a tradition. Many showcased their talent and demonstrated their promise for the future of the Russian school of bayan and accordion playing. There were separate rankings for players of button and keyboard instruments.
The festival once again featured five interesting concerts, highly diverse in their programs and ensembles. Semyon Shmelkov, together with the Orfei Radio Symphony Orchestra under Sergey Kondrashev, performed Alexander Kholminov's Concerto in commemoration of the composer's 100th birthday. The Gnessin Academy's Bayan and Accordion Orchestra, under Ruslan Kaneev, played Michael Bronner's "Palm Sunday" and accompanied soloists Michael Gorobtsov (alto domra), Aleksey Sysoyev, and Maria Vlasova (both accordion) in works by Gubaidulina, Chondo, and Nekrasov. The second concert featured soloist Vyacheslav Bondarenko and the ensemble "Russian Timber." The first part of the following concert was dedicated to up-and-coming duos: Aleksey Loganov and Dariya Zakharova, Duo "Fusion" (Nikita Ukrainski and Ilona Savina), and the "Appassionato Duo" (Anastasiya Tatarina and Kseniya Gawwa). Afterwards, Iosif Puriz premiered Michael Bronner's "Six Poems by Igor Severyanin 'Moonshadow'" before bringing the house down with his "Puriz Band," a Klezmer ensemble, at the Gnessin Concert Hall. In the fourth concert, Sergey Osokin and his jazz ensemble first presented their own works and arrangements of pieces by composers including Charlie Parker and Richard Galliano. The second part featured the finals of the popular music category. Following the awards ceremony, all 11 finalists from the two categories, "Academic Music" and "Popular Music," performed in the winners' concert. Finally, the “Russian Silver Discs” for special achievements in the art of bayan were awarded to Vyacheslav Bondarenko, Vyacheslav Naumo and Sergey Meshheriyako.
The International Music Council (IMC) Elects New Leadership
From November 24 to December 15, 2025, the members of the International Music Council (IMC) met online for the organization's 41st General Assembly, elected new leadership, and adopted an ambitious work plan for the next two years. The IMC will further strengthen its three pillars: as a values-driven advocacy organization, as a network of networks, and as a project-based organization. It will expand its activities to create a world where everyone has access to music, where they can learn, experience, create, perform, and express themselves through music, and where artists of all kinds receive recognition and fair compensation.
Jesse Boere (Netherlands/UAE) was elected President.
Jesse Boere is an internationally active music expert and strategy consultant from the Netherlands with over 15 years of experience at the intersection of culture, education, and policy. Since the early 2010s, he has been active in international music organizations and networks, contributing to governance, project development, fundraising, organizational reforms, and youth participation. In doing so, he has acquired expertise in cultural policy and administration.
“Music is one of the strongest bonds between humanity, and the IMC has championed this truth for over 75 years. It looks back on an impressive past and deserves an equally impressive future. To meet the realities of a rapidly changing world, our organization must continually evolve. Its structures, networks, and approaches must reflect today's global landscape. I firmly believe in the IMC's mission to promote the value of music in everyone's lives. As president, I am committed to ensuring that the organization has the necessary structures and capacities for the coming decades,” said Jesse Boere.
The IMC General Assembly also elected a new board, which, for the first time, includes CIA President Mirco Patarini (Italy), representing the International Accordion Association (CIA). Other members of the new IMC board are Ruben Binam (Cameroon), Alessandra Fernandez Alves Da Costa (Brazil), Keld Hosbond (Denmark), Benon Kigozi (Uganda), Emily Kuo Vong (China-USA-Portugal), Bo-Wah Leung (China/Hong Kong), Obeida Madi (Jordan) and Bertalan Temesi (Hungary).
Graz International Accordion Festival – 10 Years
Prof. Slaviša Perić is the founder of the festival and a world-renowned educator whose students have already achieved great success in international competitions. The festival's main goal is to foster young talent and promote the development of the accordion in Austria. The Accordion Festival features concerts, masterclasses, and a competition for soloists and chamber ensembles, encompassing categories from the youngest participants to students of music academies. Artists, teachers, and candidates from various countries come together for friendly competition and extensive exchange of ideas. The positive development of recent years validates Slaviša Perić's work. Young talents are discovered and nurtured, and the accordion is brought to the attention of a wider public. Many renowned international artists have participated in previous festivals, and the president of the International Accordion Association (CIA), Mirco Patarini, has been a guest of the festival on several occasions.
Twenty-seven participants from seven countries (Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Finland, Slovenia, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina) showcased their remarkable talent in ten categories (classical accordion, accordion with chamber music, and virtuoso light music). As part of the opening ceremony, Djordje Perić (this year's winner of the PIF competition in Castelfidardo, the Coupe Mondiale in Sarajevo, and the Trophée Mondial in Montargis) gave a short concert. Among the competition's standouts were the youngest candidate, Nikola Jovanovic (BIH), and Csanád Orgyán from Hungary (winner of the highest category), as well as the Slovakian duo Lívia Hudáková & Dorota Ostrolucká (accordion/cello) in the ensemble category. The jury consisted of Slaviša Perić (Austria/Bosnia and Herzegovina), Herbert Scheibenreif (Austria), Marko Miličević (Slovakia/Bosnia and Herzegovina), Maria Budzakova (Slovakia), and Zoltán Szokolai (Hungary). Herbert Scheibenreif hosted the program and moderated the awards ceremony and the winners' concert.
Special thanks go to the Graz Cultural Office and Mayor Elke Kahr for their continued support. With their help, the Accordion Festival could become one of the most important festivals in Europe.
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