Top 20 News Stories Shaping the Chinese Musical Instrument Industry in 2022

　From January 18 to 22, the “Online Instrument Week,” co-hosted by the China Musical Instrument Association, Shanghai National Exhibition and Convention Center Co., Ltd., and Messe Frankfurt (Hong Kong) Ltd., was held virtually. The event attracted 174 exhibitors showcasing 664 products, with the online platform recording 321,000 visits. Integrating cloud‑based exhibition, product launches, marketing, matchmaking, and educational sessions, the initiative sought to overcome pandemic‑related constraints, facilitate domestic and international trade connections, advance technological progress within the industry, and stimulate growth in the consumer market. Its innovative, integrated audio‑visual marketing approach opened up new avenues for extending the China (Shanghai) International Musical Instrument Exhibition’s online services, supporting exhibitors’ digital business expansion, and enhancing the online viewing experience for attendees.

　　In February, the Beijing Winter Olympics were a resounding success, with numerous musical instrument companies lending their support through concrete actions and conveying the hopeful vision of “Together Towards the Future.” During the Games, Xinghai’s Olympic‑themed grand piano made its debut in the Olympic Village, its Chinese design elements earning high praise from the organizing committee; the Longfeng guzheng was selected as the official instrument for the National Youth Music Showcase of the Olympic Games; and Bösendorfer’s crystal piano appeared in the traditional‑style music video “Together Towards the Future,” showcasing the seamless fusion of piano artistry and cutting‑edge technology. Chasing dreams on the winter stage and savoring the joys of ice and snow, these instrument makers have composed a symphony of icy melodies, sharing China’s voice with the world and showcasing the nation’s unique charm.

　　In March, the Party branch of the China Musical Instrument Association convened an expanded meeting to study in depth the spirit of the Two Sessions. Wang Shicheng, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Committee of the China National Light Industry Council, Secretary of the Association’s Party branch, and Chairman of the Board, led the study session and emphasized that the Party branch must closely align its work with the realities of the industry, thoroughly study the important speeches of General Secretary Xi Jinping, and earnestly grasp the core principles of the Government Work Report. In implementing national strategies, serving the people’s pursuit of a better life, and promoting high-quality development in the musical instrument sector, the Party branch must steadfastly uphold the leadership of the Communist Party of China, elevate its political awareness, firmly uphold the Four Confidences, strengthen the Four Consciousnesses, and continuously enhance its capacity and standards of service.

　　On April 12, the third expanded meeting of the eighth council of the China Musical Instrument Association was solemnly convened online. The meeting reviewed and approved the 2021 Council Work Report, the Financial Report, and the proposal for personnel adjustments to the eighth council of the China Musical Instrument Association. It also recognized the Top 50 enterprises and outstanding collectives in China’s musical instrument industry for 2021, while representatives from three companies shared their experiences in talent development. Chairman Wang Shicheng outlined a comprehensive plan for the “Year of Talent Development” across five key dimensions—national strategy, talent cultivation, integration of science and education, enhanced services, and recognition and incentives—and urged member enterprises to deepen the integration of industry, academia, research, and application, remove bottlenecks in technological innovation, strengthen talent teams, promote the effective convergence of technology and music education, and build an innovative engine for high-quality development in the musical instrument sector.

　　On May 8, in order to thoroughly implement the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s congratulatory letter to the inaugural National Master Craftsmen Innovation Exchange Conference, the Musical Instrument Association launched a themed essay contest titled “Strengthening the Country through Skills, Innovating with My Contribution.” The China Musical Instrument Association’s official WeChat account and the journal China Musical Instruments have successively published 20 articles highlighting the exemplary stories of national master craftsmen, inheritors of intangible cultural heritage, and leading figures in scientific and technological innovation from the piano, violin, electric‑acoustic, traditional Chinese musical instrument, and arts‑education sectors. These efforts aim to inspire all industry professionals to take pride in their work, uphold the spirit of craftsmanship, and cultivate a collective “China brand” image on the global stage of musical instrument manufacturing. By elevating the dedication of national master craftsmen and the ethos of technological innovation to the dominant theme of industry development, the initiative seeks to firmly propel the sector toward rapid advancement into the mid‑to‑high‑end modern musical instrument manufacturing industry.

　　In June, the “June 21 International Instrument Day” instrumental music cultural showcase was successfully held in 180 cities across China. Nearly 800 organizing entities creatively planned and staged 2,500 themed performances, with direct participation reaching 300,000 people. During the event, more than 120 member enterprises of the Instrument Association actively took part in the cultural program, while online livestreams on Tmall and Douyin—featuring instructional sessions and performance showcases—attracted a total audience of 310,000, generating 240 million online views. In September of the same year, at the international online symposium marking the 40th anniversary of the “June 21 International Instrument Day,” representatives from the United States, Australia, and Kenya commended the scale and impact of China’s “June 21 International Instrument Day” initiatives, expressing their hope that, going forward, the event would serve as a platform to strengthen horizontal cooperation and exchanges in the field of instrumental music culture worldwide.