INTERNATIONAL MUSIC COURSE AND MUSIC FESTIVAL

The music course in Balassagyarmat takes place every year between 21-31st July since 1987. The teachers of the course are outstanding artists of the Hungarian musical education, teachers of the Liszt Ferenc Music Academy in Budapest, of music secondary schools and music schools as well as guest professors from several music colleges of Europe. The student (participants) are musicians aged 14-25, we accept the application of artist at the beginning of their career as well as that of students studying music only for some years. The tuition is adapted to individual needs. On the basis of the schedule discussed on the first day the classes are held between 830 and 13 every morning. Classes take place in the music school and in the student hostel, the orchestra works in the cultural centre of the city. It is advisable for a participant to take place at not more than 2 courses actively for the sake of high level work. Participants can visit the camber music course, the orchestra and the choir in addition to individual classes. Every year the choir and the orchestra work on new pieces discussed in advance and give at least two concerts. Participants usually play works already prepared at home, everybody brings his/her own notes. Don't forget the notes of the accompaniment either. Accompanist are provided. You can also use the music library of the music school, which has about 10.000 notes. Everybody gets at least five individual lessons and one opportunity to perform at a concert but there is possibility for more lessons (e.g. with accompanist), too. There are concerts every evening. The first one, the concert of teachers traditionally takes place on the 22nd July. On the second evening you can hear winners of international competitions, on the third one works of Hungarian contemporary composers. From the 4th evening on the students perform in and around Balassagyarmat. Concert usually take place in concert halls but there also open-air concerts. A video-record is taken of every concert. Balassagyarmat is situated 80 km to the north-east from Budapest, it is easily accessible by bus. The journey takes 2 hours, the fee is about 6 DM. Buses leave at the bus station near the stop "N‚pstadion" of the metro line every hour. The bus arrives in centre of Balassagyarmat, the student hostel is about 10 minutes on foot (we send a town map to every participant). On the basis of agreement in advance we organise the journey from Budapest. Students are put up in a student hostel in fourbed-rooms. Families and married couples are provided a private room. We can also provide a room in a small hotel for an extra fee. Besides tuition and accommodation the participation fee includes 3 meals a day. In your spare time there is possibility for swimming in an open-air swimming pool, tennis, fishing and horse riding. 3-4 hour trips are organised to visit the sights around in the country. For these programs you have to apply here and you also have to pay an extra fee.