Reviving a sound from the past

Mao with his professor Cao Xiaoqing (right) after winning the first place in May in Germany.[Photo provided to China Daily]

The competition, an annual event, attracts accordion players from all over the world. It is open to soloists as well as duos and bands.

One of the winners is Mao Junhao, 20, who is in his third year at the Central Conservatory of Music.

His repertoire at the competition comprised Danish conductor and composer Ole Schmidt's Toccata No 1, Italian composer Dominico Scarlatti's Sonata in f minor and Russian composer Eferm Podgaits' Concerto No 1 for Bayan and Chamber Orchestra.

The winners in each category also performed at the Berliner Philharmonie after the competition. They recorded an album, in which Mao performed Finnish composer Paavo Korpijaakko's third movement of Sonata No 1, Ultra.

"I was the second to perform in the final round, and after my performance, I returned to my room which is near the competition venue. About three hours later, I was told that I had won," says Mao, who bagged the first prize at the contest in 2013. In May, he won the first prize again in the competition.

"I was excited about the prize but I also felt the pressure. The next time when I compete or perform, the audience expectation will be high."

Mao, who was born and raised in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, started learning the accordion at the age of 6 after a relative gave him the instrument.

The young man, who learned the instrument faster than his peers, says he never felt bored practicing.