Welcome

to the third edition of the Kodály International Music Competition which will be held between 5-13 July 2025 in Debrecen, Hungary.

Debrecen is Hungary’s second largest city, the home of not only a prominent symphonic orchestra and an exquisite theatre, but also of the world-renowned Kodály Choir.

A truly youthful and international city: the University of Debrecen has about 30,000 students, with the highest proportion of foreign graduates from the CEE countries.

As the cultural, educational and economic center of Eastern Hungary, it is easily reachable by all means of transportation, and it also has an international airport.

We believe that the tremendous cultural potential of Debrecen can be fully exploited by this new competition which is planned to be held every two years, each time in different categories. The first edition was a string (violin, viola, violoncello) competition held between 17-26 June 2022, and conductors were invited to apply for the second edition held between 20-28 August 2023.

News

Applications are open for the 3rd Kodály Competition

The Zoltán Kodály International Music Competition will take place in Debrecen for the third time between 5-13 July 2025, and this time brass players will have the chance to compete. After the strings (2022) and conductors (2023), horn, trumpet and trombone players are invited to apply for the 2025 Kodály Zoltán International Music Competition.

Prize winners of 2023

On 26 and 27 August, the 2nd Zoltán Kodály International Music Competition continued with the third, all-decisive round, during which young conductors competed. After the final the jury decided as follows: Special Prizes Jiří Habart won the following special prizes:  Eris Staiger won the following special prizes:  Dániel Erdélyi has been awarded the following special

List of contestants in the 3rd Round

KODÁLY COMPETITION – 3RD ROUND (PSALMUS HUNGARICUS) 25 AUGUST – REHERSAL DAY 14:00-14:30 Eric STAIGER – rehearsal with the orchestra and choir 14:30-15:00 Dániel ERDÉLYI – rehearsal with the orchestra and choir 15:20-15:50 Mateusz GWIZDALLA – rehearsal with the orchestra and choir 15:50-16:20 Jiří HABART – rehearsal with the orchestra and choir 16:40-17:10 Alexander Sinan

2nd Round – Schedule

23 August – Session 1 14:00-14:30 Maximilian OTTO Kodály: Dances of Marosszék (excerpts) Puccini: Messa di Gloria – I. Kyrie 14:30-15:00 Filip PALUCHOWSKI Kodály: Dances of Galánta (excerpts) Verdi: Quattro pezzi sacri – Stabat mater (excerpts)  15:00-15:20 interval 15:20-15:50 Omer SHTEINHART Kodály: Dances of Marosszék (excerpts) Vajda: Magnificat – Suscepit Israel (excerpts) 15:50-16:20 Eric STAIGER

Order of competitors in the 1st Round

21 AUGUST / SESSION 1 10:00-10:20 Yukuang JIN – Johann Strauss II: Die Fledermaus – Overture 10:20-10:40 Brian LIAO – Johann Strauss II: Der Zigeunerbaron – Overture 10:40-11:00 Paul MARSOVSZKY – Bartók: Dance Suite – I. Moderato, IV. Molto tranquillo, VI. Finale. Allegro 11:00-11:20 Yury MIKHAYLENKO – Johann Strauss II: Die Fledermaus – Overture 11:20-11:40

General information

The Competition is open to horn, trumpet and trombone players of all nationalities who were born on or after 5 July 1995 (maximum 30 years of age on the opening day of the competition).

The Competition takes place in four rounds: Qualifying Round, 1st Round, 2nd Round and 3rd Round. All the rounds, except for the Qualifying Round, are open to the public.

Horn, trumpet and trombone players will compete in the same category. The jury will advance max. 18 instrumentalists to the 2nd Round (at least 3 horn, 3 trumpet and 3 trombone player), and 6 to the 3rd Round (at least 1 horn, 1 trumpet and 1 trombone player).

Find out more about the competition rules by clicking on this link.

Application is open from 31 October 2024 until 31 January 2025.

Registration