"Music is a language that needs no translation; it connects generations, crosses national borders and unites diverse communities in a single musical motif.” This was a thought announced at the opening of the concert concluding the International Summer Academy for Young Musicians, where the Zoltán Kodály World Youth Orchestra took the stage of Kölcsey Center after thirteen days of intensive rehearsals. The young musicians then performed the greatest classical works while also paying homage to founding conductor Tamás Vásáry.
Hírek Music címkével
Nearly two hundred outstanding young talents from fourteen countries are coming to the 25th International Summer Academy for Young Musicians. At this large-scale professional gathering organized by the Faculty of Music at the University of Debrecen, thirty-five master instructors from Hungary and abroad will share their expertise with the students. In keeping with tradition, the Zoltán Kodály Youth World Orchestra will once again be formed from among the summer academy’s participants under the baton of conductor Zoltán Bolyky, paying tribute to the memory of Tamás Vásáry, who passed away in February.
The Mixed Choir of the Faculty of Music at the University of Debrecen and the Bárdos Girls’ Choir—one of the country’s most successful and longest-standing women’s choirs—both received gold ratings at the Concorso Corale International Choir Competition held in Riva del Garda, Italy. In addition to earning the highest rating, the women’s choir won first place in its category, while the Mixed Choir also received a special award.
Groups of researchers, teachers and artists, who work in the fields of music education, musicology and musical performance, discussed their experiences and professional achievements in order to be able to define the tasks for music education in the coming years at the sixth international conference titled “Music and Society.” The conference participants also had a chance to learn about the latest research findings in this specific field.
The international jury of International Classical Music Awards has recently selected Péter Zombola, professor at the Faculty of Music at the University of Debrecen, as Composer of the Year for 2026. Through this title and award, the jury aims to support musical achievement and creativity at the highest level as well as to promote classical music.
Students from the Faculty of Music at the University of Debrecen performed outstandingly in a prestigious international percussion competition with a background of decades of professional tradition. Levente Szabari and Áron Karácsony came first and third in the Italy PAS Competition online contest in Pescara.
In accordance with the idea of international mobility, Anna Zsófia Nagy, who currently specializes in pop music singing at the Institute of Pop Music of UD, will get a chance to take part in a training program offered by Loyola University in New Orleans. She will be the first ever pop music student in Hungary to participate in an international scholarship program, making it possible for her to pursue her studies for almost six months in one of the key hubs of the music industry.
An internationally recognized and successful saxophonist from France, Nicolas Arsenijevic, was the guest lecturer at the 16th Debrecen SaxFest. This world-famous performer held master classes for students from the Faculty of Music (ZK) at the University of Debrecen and from other educational institutions, while he also gave a highly successful concert in the venue called Liszt Hall with a saxophone orchestra consisting of ZK students and teachers within the Universitas-Debrecen concert series.
More participants than ever before attended the twenty-fourth Summer Academy masterclasses at the Faculty of Music of the University of Debrecen and Zoltán Kodály World Youth Orchestra also gave a concert of extraordinary quality. According to Judit Váradi, the artistic director of the related series of events, this success is yet another confirmation that the Summer Academy is much needed and its prestige is growing both nationally and internationally.
The 5th Music Pedagogy Conference in Debrecen provided an opportunity for researchers, performers and teachers of music, musicology and music education to exchange ideas, learn about and discuss new research.