How Concert Accordionists Are Trained: Degrees, Soloist Programmes and Competitions in Europe

Professional classical accordionists study at conservatories across Europe, often completing a Bachelor’s, a Master’s and an advanced soloist diploma. Scandinavia, and the Royal Danish Academy of Music in Copenhagen in particular, has shaped much of today’s concert accordion scene.

The training path

1. Bachelor’s degree: technique, repertoire, chamber music and theory.
2. Master’s degree: artistic specialisation, often with a focus on solo or chamber music.
3. Advanced soloist programme: the highest performance diploma at many Nordic and German-speaking conservatories (Solistklasse or Konzertexamen).

Why Scandinavia matters

The Nordic countries have a long tradition of treating the accordion as a concert instrument. Teachers there have worked closely with composers, so students grow up playing new music alongside the classical canon. Copenhagen’s academy attracts students from around the world for this reason.

Credentials promoters can check

• The teacher and institution.
• International competitions, especially those open to all instruments.
• Recordings on established labels and independent press reviews.

An example: Gemini Duo

Wanchen and Wanxu Zhao of Gemini Duo completed their Bachelor’s, Master’s and Advanced Postgraduate Soloist studies in chamber music at the Royal Danish Academy of Music, with Geir Draugsvoll, one of the most influential figures in the accordion world. As a duo they have won first prizes at five international competitions in chamber music categories:

They record for the French label Evidence Classics.

Explore

Read the full biography and listen to Morning Echoes.