Following the selection process, 48 young soloists were invited out of the two hundred musicians who applied for the competition from 45 countries. The opening concert of the Zoltán Kodály International Music Competition was held at the University of Debrecen on 17 June. Violin, viola and cello artists aged between 18 and 30 competed in the four rounds of the classical music contest.
- Musical education has been provided and continuously improved at the University of Debrecen for almost 20 years. The Faculty of Music offers a broad range of courses for young musicians. The town and the university have strong links in terms of musical traditions, as UD has been part of the musical heritage of Debrecen and is also an important place where musical values are created. The competition is not just about artists who perform musical works. It is about transferring values that may significantly affect the audience – pointed out László Csernoch, vice rector for academic affairs at the opening event.
The young artists will first compete as soloists, then with piano accompaniment. The finalists will play their instruments as solo artists accompanied by the Kodály Philharmonic Orchestra.
- Debrecen is an apt choice for hosting the competition, which is a completely new musical endeavour of the town. It is an international contest, which we would like to have in the range of our cultural events for a long time. This event is important for Debrecen, as besides enjoying the cultural and musical values of the competition, visitors may also experience the beauty and unique atmosphere of the town, and can promote us among their friends and families – highlighted István Puskás, vice mayor for cultural affairs of Debrecen in his welcoming speech.
Those interested may attend all rounds of the Zoltán Kodály International Music Competition for free. The first two rounds will be held at the Debreceni Zenede between 18–22 June, while the orchestral finals will take place at the Kölcsey Centre on 24–25 June. The detailed programme is available at the official website of the competition.
The nine-member international jury is chaired by György Pauk, 85, professor at the Royal Academy of Music in London, Kristóf Baráti (violin, Budapest), Anne Shih (violin, Mainz), Denis Severin (cello, Geneva, Bern), Wilfried Strehle ( viola, Berlin), Máté Szűcs (viola, Geneva), István Várdai (cello, Vienna), Quirine Viersen (cello, Amsterdam) and Dániel Somogyi-Tóth, chief music director of Debrecen.
Sajtóközpont – BZ
