In January 2025, as part of the 10th anniversary season of Virtuosos, selected Hungarian contestants from beyond Hungary’s borders had the opportunity to participate in a special masterclass. Held at the Tóth Aladár Music School in Budapest, this event allowed young talents to meet the Virtuosos jury members and mentors in person.
Our Masterclass Instructors:
- István Kohán – Clarinetist
- Gábor Eckhardt – Pianist
- Éva Ácsné Szily – Violinist
- Tamás Bátor – Opera Singer
- Ákos Dratsay – Flutist
Throughout the day, participants not only received valuable professional guidance but also gained lifelong experiences.
An Inspiring Role Model
One of the contestants, Anna Raknov, was so deeply inspired by Éva Ácsné Szily, that she decided she wanted to become a teacher just like her. Zita Melánia Antal also received meaningful advice from her during the masterclass: ‘Follow the flow of the notes, capture their essence, and phrase accordingly!‘
Musical Discovery & Playfulness
Fanni Pallagi performed a piece by Haydn, where Gábor Eckhardt not only shared insights about the composer but also introduced a playful approach to exploring piano sounds. Since Fanni is still very young, they used animal characters to bring the music to life: ‘How do you imagine this piece? Like a dog? A cat? A bird? And if a bird, what kind? What are its characteristics?‘
This imaginative method helped her understand the character and dynamics of the music on a deeper level.
Vocal Techniques & Expressive Performance
Tamás Fazakas and Dávid Vorák worked on vocal techniques and pronunciation with Tamás Bátor. The master encouraged them to focus more on articulation and the meaning of the songs, enhancing the expressiveness of their performances.
This masterclass once again proved that Virtuosos is more than just a competition – it is a supportive and inspiring family, where young talents can learn, grow, and be motivated both on and off the stage.
Thank you to the State Secretariat for National Policy of the Prime Minister’s Office for their support in making the masterclass and cross-border selections possible!