Wuhan-made Violins Win High Praise at 2025 National Music Education Conference

On July 13, 2025, the National Music Education Conference—China (Wuhan) Violin Art Symposium was held at the Wuhan Conservatory of Music. Esteemed violin makers and national first-grade performers from across China gathered to appreciate Wuhan-made violins and discuss topics including domestic violin craftsmanship, performance art, and global expansion strategies. 

Zhao Gencheng, Vice President of Wuhan Conservatory of Music, emphasized that violins transcend being mere instruments to serve as vehicles for civilizational dialogue. He advocated cultivating the next generation of musicians with a global perspective, urging adherence to the original aspiration of "educating for the future" through three dimensions: global vision, technological empowerment, and cross-disciplinary collaboration. Sun Ruiyong, Executive Vice Chairman of the China Musical Instrument Association, encouraged domestic violin brands to seize industry opportunities precisely. He called for innovation in product development, rigorous quality control through testing, talent-focused team building, and dual-track market expansion—both domestic/international and online/offline.

After two decades of development, China has become the world’s largest producer of musical instruments, manufacturing over half of the global violin output. Chinese violin products are progressively reaching world-class standards through the innovative integration of traditional craftsmanship and modern technology. Concurrently with the symposium, the PHOENIX Violin Brand Expert Appraisal Session showcased intelligent instruments from Wuhan INNEO Technology—a major cultural enterprise in Jiang’an District. Their agile performances drew inquiries from international experts at the exhibition booth.

Zhu Li, Chairwoman of INNEO International Group, introduced the company as an enterprise integrating smart instrument R&D, string instrument manufacturing, and technology exports. Headquartered in Wuhan’s Jiang’an District, it operates three specialized factories in Huangpi (Wuhan), Taixing (Jiangsu), and Shenzhen. With strong recent export momentum, its products reach 52 countries and regions. In 2024, subsidiary INNEO Cloud Technology achieved sales exceeding 200 million yuan, contributing to the group’s total revenue of over 400 million yuan.

For smart instruments, digital sound sources act as the "heart," determining acoustic quality and nuance. However, China long relied on imported high-end sound sources, incurring high costs and supply constraints. To resolve this core challenge, INNEO International collaborated with Wuhan universities on a three-year R&D project, launching domestically developed premium sound source circuit boards in 2023. Using digital simulation technology, these boards digitize the timbres of hundreds of instruments. Their exceptional cost-performance ratio has enabled exports to European and American markets, with related service outsourcing rapidly exceeding 100 million yuan in scale.

Last year, responding to overseas demand, the company launched the "Pulami" foldable smart piano—weighing merely 5.5 kg (portable in a backpack) and capable of simulating 36 instrument sounds. Upon release, it received bulk orders from Poland and Italy. "Future products will integrate AI to create more diverse and intelligent music product lines while expanding domestically," stated Qian Junjian, President of INNEO International Musical Instrument Group. He revealed that R&D teams are incorporating the ancient bianzhong (chime bells) sound into premium products, potentially introducing Jing-Chu region’s musical heritage to the world.

(Correspondents: Shang Dayuan, Chen Fangfang; Communications Officer: Yang Qing from Changjiang Yun News)