Alexander Sheykin / Courtesy of @spurs_graphy
Let's face it, the accordion just isn't a popular instrument in Korea, laments accordionist Alexander Sheykin.
"The accordion is an instrument that resonates well with the Korean sensibility but it is not a very popular instrument here," he told The Korea Times. "Most people here have never seen a live accordion performance and have very limited knowledge about what the accordion can do."
Adding that he is one of the only professional accordionists — if not the only one — in the country, Sheykin says he is kept busy with musical activities including performances, teaching and recording sessions. Still, he says, unlike in many other countries, there is no professional education for the accordion in South Korea.
To promote the instrument, Sheykin is actively engaged in various solo activities and has founded the Quartet Coamorus and Trio AccordionArt. He participates in diverse events across concert halls, cultural centers, local festivals and even street performances, bringing the accordion to a broader audience. His efforts have resulted in collaborations with prominent local artists, including vocalists, composers, singers and actors.
"Bringing people's attention to this instrument is the first step toward changing this situation," he said. "My dream is to raise the status of the accordion in Korea by providing professional-level accordion education and performing on stages all over the country."
Sheykin was born in Uzbekistan and started studying the accordion there. The musician also studied in Kazakhstan and Russia for 15 years, before graduating from the Ural State Conservatory and ending up in Korea in 2002. He has won awards in various music competitions, performed in major concert halls around Korea and appeared on TV programs produced by KBS, EBS and MBC. His two albums, "Here & There" and "Accordion Cinema" (Sony Korea), were released in 2009 and 2012, and his arrangement of Korea's popular folk song "Arirang" won first prize at the 2019 Eagon Music Contest. Sheykin added that he is also an official model for the Naver Musical Instruments Encyclopedia.
Sheykin announced two concerts he will participate in this month. On Sunday at 2:30 p.m., he will be at Gwangcheon Literary Arts Center in Hongcheon, South Chungcheong Province, for a concert organized by Lee Young-hee, the representative of the Hongseong branch of the Korea Living Music Association. The association was founded in 2010 to spread living music to all citizens, improve their quality of life and promote the development of living music through mutual exchanges.
For the past 14 years, the organization has held Poetry, Music and Love Sharing Concerts, raising funds for students being fostered by their grandparents because they had lost their parents. The organization claims to have provided scholarships totaling 28 million won, selecting 10 students annually in over 12 years, helping a total of 120 students. But Sheykin said the corporate sponsor is facing financial difficulties, and fears this may be the last year of the program.
He will perform with a multicultural team of five members coming from Russia, Ukraine and North and South Korea.
"We hope that people from various backgrounds will come together for this event, allowing for ongoing scholarship support from generous companies and enabling continued assistance for students from single-parent families," Sheykin said.
On Nov. 21, Sheykin will play a major concert at the Pyeongtaek Southern Arts Center in Gyeonggi Province, titled "Rhapsody in Tango."
This will be a concert of the Alex Band, his sextet made up of two accordionists, one bassist, two violinists and one pianist, joined by a guest vocalist for a couple songs. The members hail from South Korea Russia, Ukraine and Uzbekistan, showcasing a unique musical blend of various cultures.
Sheykin said that tango is recognized in Korea "as a passionate and artistic dance that resonates with the sentiment of the Korean word 'han,' influenced by the Nuevo Tango (Spanish for New Tango) of Astor Piazzolla."
Also performing will be the Compañía Tango Vida, a dance team consisting of three couples, including the country's top Tango dancers, Pelin and Miguel Calvo from Argentina.
"Their passionate tango will captivate the audience ... providing the citizens of Pyeongtaek with warmth and a special experience that will linger long after the show," Sheykin said.
He added that tango events in Korea usually feature either dance-oriented performances without musicians or concert hall performances featuring primarily instrumental music. However, "Rhapsody in Tango" combines both, offering a rare and unique experience in Korea.
Follow Sheykin's management agency Acco Entertainment, @acco_ent on Instagram, for more information.