The international music event that everyone had been looking forward to for such a long time proved to be a big success between August 5 and 18, hosted by Debreceni Egyetem Zeneművészeti Kar [Faculty of Music of the University of Debrecen] and Conservatory Foundation. Apart from Hungarian students, participants came to the academy from the neighboring countries as well as from Taiwan, China, Japan, Greece, Croatia, Montenegro, Mongolia and Germany.
Judit Váradi, Artistic Director of Ifjú Zeneművészek Nemzetközi Nyári Akadémiája told hirek.unideb.hu the following: in addition to the fact that the evening concerts held in the Big Forest area of Debrecen attracted huge crowds, the performers also enjoyed the possibility to perform on stage after a one-and-a-half-year break.
“These two weeks are very important for our students because the world opens up for them thanks to the arrangement that an international group of professors assists them to develop their skills even further. This time they could display their skills at the individual master courses as well as during the orchestra and chamber music practices in addition to the concerts. During the course of ten days, these productions could be built up from zero level to the extent that we could give great and impressive concerts. It was an immense experience for our students to perform in front of a full house of spectators, and we could also present the Hungarian music repertoire to the international students,” said the artistic director.
There were almost 30 professors from six different countries offering their guidance to young musicians in the instrumental and singing master courses. Judit Váradi highlighted that, during the time of the academy, it was possible to demonstrate what values a music event of this kind generates, through which both national and international cohesion and solidarity could be established. The summer academy was also presented by Emberi Erőforrások Minisztériuma [Ministry of Human Capacities] in the program series of the Council of Europe, which further enhanced its significance.
The 88-year-old Tamás Vásáry, conductor of Zoltán Kodály World Youth Orchestra, was officially congratulated on the occasion of his birthday at this year’s Young Musicians’ Summer Academy. The academy program series ended with a sensational concert of the world orchestra given in Debrecen’s Kölcsey Központ [Kölcsey Cultural Center] and another one in Budapest, in front of Szépművészeti Múzeum [Museum of Fine Arts]. Find the video version of the Debrecen concert of Zoltán Kodály World Youth Orchestra at this link.
Press Office
