Today we started the 10th MasterclassBudapest with the legendary Maestro Jorma Panula and the Máv Symphony Orchestra. This year we had a record high number of applications: over 70 conductors applied from all over the world. Also the repertoire is very colorful this year, including Dvorak, Nielsen, Grieg, Sibelius, Schubert, Smetana and Liszt. 

Interview with Maestro Panula about his teaching methods and about the Masterclass (in Hungarian):  here.

"New Edition" is the title of this blogpost: the Corona virus has changed MasterclassBudapest a bit - as did many things in our life in 2020.
Shortly before the launch, we have received the news, that due to the increasing Covid-19 cases internationally, Maestro Panula is not recommended to travel by airplane, by his doctor. Luckily, technology came to our help, and we established a video link between Budapest and Veikkola: the rehearsal hall of the MÁV Symphony Orchestra and the home of Maestro Panula (who just turned 90 years old, by the way).
Thanks to the cameras, microphones, speakers and projector, it is almost like he would be here with us, however, it will never be the same as the "real", 3D edition...missing you, Maestro!
​We are still very lucky though: the orchestra is allowed to play, all participants have arrived successfully, and we can invite the public to the final concert. Stay tuned!

...in the lobby of the Celebration Hall. We do believe, that all the participants, the audience and the orchestra left with nice memories. See you in 2019!

For the final concert today at the National Museum.

Enjoying pancake (palacsinta) in between rehearsals. Merja and Jorma Panula.