2024 7Th International Liszt Ferenc Piano Competition
2024 International Liszt Ferenc Music Festival and 7Th International Piano Competition (Hungary)
Liszt Ferenc, born in Raiding, Hungary, is a renowned Hungarian composer, pianist, and conductor. A great master of Romanticism, he stands as one of the most prominent figures of the early Romantic period. Liszt was the shining star among pianists in the 19th century.
The Liszt International Music Festival and Piano Competition, held in Hungary, is dedicated to advancing the development of musical culture. The competition, conducted through preliminary rounds, semifinals, and an international grand finale, embodies the principles of “fairness” and “justice.” Under the scrutiny of an international panel of judges, both professional and non-professional students have the opportunity to participate in this competition. The event serves as an international platform for musical students and teachers, fostering global exchange and promoting academic discussions in the field of music—an important celebration in the realm of international culture.
The Liszt International Music Festival and Piano Competition’s judging committee comprises seasoned international experts. Throughout various country-based semifinals and the international grand finale, the competition offers master classes by piano maestros to guide contestants in their preparation. With multiple categories such as the non-professional group, professional group, four-hand ensemble, Liszt group, and more, the competition aims to cater to diverse talents. The international grand finale is set to take place in Hungary, featuring a series of events including pre-competition master classes, teacher seminars, piano competitions, award ceremonies, and concerts. This comprehensive program seeks to attract enthusiastic participants, nurturing the musical interests of young talents. It also aims to facilitate the learning of professional musical knowledge, broaden international musical perspectives, and realize the beautiful dreams of music.
Organization
Hungarian Liszt International Music Festival Organizing Committee
Co-organizer/support:
Liszt Center – Hungarian Cultural Center
Hungarian Liszt Conservatory of Music
Astraassociates
THNN VIET HAM SMART
MAKL INNOVATIONS LD
Jury Committee
GÁBOR ECKHARDT
He graduated in piano at the Liszt Ferenc Academy of Music as a student of Edit Hambalkó, Sándor Falvai and György Kurtág, then continued his studies at the Tchaikovsky Conservatory in Moscow with Dmitri Bashkirov. He currently teaches at the Ferenc Liszt University of Music, the Béla Bartók Conservatory and the Collegium Musicum in Pommersfelden (Germany). The XX. founding member of the Intermodulation Chamber Ensemble, which plays 19th and contemporary music, and pianist of the Trio d’Echo. He received the Artisjus award on several occasions for his outstanding contribution to Hungarian contemporary music, and in 1996 he won the Liszt Prize.
IMRE HARGITAI
He began his teaching career in Kecskemét: from 1982 to 1989, he was a teacher at the Kodály Zoltán Secondary School of Music, from 1984 he headed the piano department, from 1982 he worked as a tutor at the ZTI Budapest Branch. Between 1983 and 1985, he taught piano and accompaniment – sheet music at the Győr Department of ZTI. From 1987 to 1994, he was a teacher at the Debrecen Department and then the Conservatory of the Liszt Ferenc Academy of Music. Since September 1989, he has been a piano teacher at the Béla Bartók Academy of Music in Budapest, and since 1995 he has been the head of the piano department. Since 1993, he has been an assistant professor at the Budapest Teacher Training Institute of the Liszt Ferenc University of Music, and since July 1997 he has been a college associate professor.
He regularly holds continuing education courses for colleagues, but also held courses in Japan and Greece. In addition to his work as a teacher, he regularly performs concerts in various cities in Hungary and Europe, as well as in Japan. He primarily performs at chamber music concerts, his partners include, among others, Adrienn Csengery, László Polgár, Péter Fried, András Kemenes, Balázs Szokolay, Gábor Eckhardt, János Maczák, Susan Milan, István Matuz, Zoltán Gyöngyössy, Gergely Ittzés, Mária Zs. Szabó, Tímea Iván , István Kádár, Tamás Keszthelyi, Tamás Rónaszéki, Károly Botvay, György Déri, Péter Somodari, Károly Ádám, János Fejérvári, Sándor Papp and István Lukácsházi. In concert series, he performed all the violin-piano
David Ball
Acclaimed pianist David Ball is indisputably one of the leading representative of Hungary in his proclaimed field. He has already had performances at, Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires, the Lincoln Center in New York, Musikvereinsaal in Wien, Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, the Salle Pleyel in Paris, Festspielhaus in Salzburg, the Royal Opera House Muscat and the Kioi Hall in Tokio. He has gives concerts with musicians who are acknowledged worldwide, examples include Ivan Fischer, Heinz Holliger, Zoltán Peskó, Mikhail Pletnev, Gábor Takács-Nagy and Klaus Thunemann. He has also been invited five times up until now to perform with maestro Zoltán Kocsis and the Hungarian National Philharmonic (Beethoven 5th, Liszt 2nd, Prokofieff 3rd and Schoenberg op. 42., Strawinsky Petrushka).
Mr. Báll was born in 1982 in Budapest. He received his formal training at the Aelia Sabina Music School, Bartók Béla Conservatory and the Franz Liszt Academy of Music in Budapest. His professors were, among others, Ferenc Rados, György Nádor, András Kemenes, Zoltán Benkő and Karapetian Karin. In 2011 he earned his doctorate in Liberal Arts (DLA) at the Franz Liszt Academy where he is one of the professors of piano since 2013.
He has been awarded at nearly every major piano competition in Hungary (Budapest, Szeged, Pécs, Békés-Tarhos), and continues his triumphs in Spain, Italy, Norway, Wien and Japan. In 2013 he earned the Zoltán Magyary Postdoctoral Scholarship (National Excellence Program), and is a three-time Annie Fischer Scholarship winner, he was also given the Hungarian State Scholarship, the Universitas Foundation Award, Péter Robicsek and Ari Kupsus Award.
MELINDA BOZAY
She is piano professor at the Franz Liszt Academy of Music and BARTÓK CONSERVATORY.
Melinda Bozay was born in Budapest in 1979, the daughter of pianist Klára Körmendi and composer Attila Bozay. At the age of 8, she took his first piano lessons from Mária Hortobágyi, and after graduating from the Szent István Király Music Academy, she continued her studies at the Franz Liszt Academy of Music, where she graduated in 2004 as a student of István Lantos.
She perfected her piano skills in numerous domestic and foreign courses under the guidance of Pierre-Laurent Aimard, Florent Boffard and Mariŕn Lapšansky, among others. She likes to play the works of contemporary Hungarian authors, several premieres can be attributed to her; in addition, she is also happy to perform the pieces of the early German romantics (Schubert, Schumann). She is a recurring guest of several domestic festivals and has already performed in many major cities around the world (London, Vienna, Paris, Moscow, Amsterdam). Her interest extends to the different genres of chamber music; in addition to singing accompaniment, she also tried her hand in the genre of duo, trio and larger ensemble. As a result, she won prizes at several chamber music competitions, including the Weiner Leó National Chamber Music Competition III. special prize at the Caltanissetta International Chamber Music Competition. In 2004, she was awarded the Artisjus prize for her outstanding achievements in promoting contemporary music.
Date and Venue
Liszt Ferenc Academy of Music in Budapest
August, 2024
Groups
Open Group
Category A: 4-6 years old (max. 3min)
Category B: 7-8 years old (max. 3min)
Category C: 9-10 years old (max. 5 min)
Category D: 11-12 years old (max. 5 min)
Category E: 13-15 years old (max. 10min)
Category F: 16-18 years old (max. 15 min)
Category G: 19-26 years old (max. 20 min)
Category H: up to 35 years old (max. 25min)
Requirement: One own-choice piece.
Professional Group
Category A: 13-15 years old (max. 15 min)
Category B: 16-18 years old (max. 20 min)
Category C: 19-35 years old (max. 25 min)
Requirement:
1. one own-choice piece.
2. choose one of Liszt’s works
Four Hands Group
Category A: up to 13 years old (max. 5 min)
Category B: up to 24 years old (max. 10min)
Category C: No age limit (max. 15 min)
More information about the festival and competition will be announced soon.
Contact: info@piano-competition.org
Echoes of Elegance: The International Piano Journey
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