The Master\u2019s in Conducting (Orchestra conductor) programme at Sz\u00e9chenyi Istv\u00e1n University was launched in September 2024 on the initiative of internationally renowned conductor Professor Gy\u00f6rgy Gy\u0151riv\u00e1nyi R\u00e1th. The Faculty of Design and Performance Arts\u2019 programme attracted significant domestic and international interest, and only a few talented students were admitted this year. Over the course of two years, they will specialise in orchestral conducting. The programme aims to train artists whose high-level expertise contributes to both Hungarian and universal musical culture, and who, through their knowledge of orchestral arts, are able to practise their profession at an international level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Second-year Orchestral Conducting student Bernadett Vida recently achieved remarkable success by being the only Hungarian to reach the semi-finals of the 4th Antal Dorati International Conducting Competition. Among the top six, she represented both Hungary and Sz\u00e9chenyi University with excellence. This result is particularly impressive given that nearly 400 talents applied for the competition, with the best candidates selected through auditions held in Florence and Richmond, USA. Based on these rounds, 36 contestants \u2014 including only two Hungarians \u2014 advanced to the final stage in Budapest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Bernadett Vida, second-year orchestral conducting master\u2019s student at Sz\u00e9chenyi Istv\u00e1n University, reached the top six in the 4th Antal Dorati International Conducting Competition<\/em> <\/strong>(Photo: M\u00e1t\u00e9 Dud\u00e1s)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe live orchestral round lasted five days. On the first two days, each of us had sixteen minutes to rehearse two pieces with the M\u00c1V Symphony Orchestra of Budapest. It was an interesting experience to have to speak English with Hungarian musicians, since most of the jury consisted of distinguished international experts,\u201d <\/em>said Bernadett Vida. She advanced to the next round, where her excellent performance earned her a place among the top six. \u201cIn the semi-final held at the Italian Cultural Institute in Budapest, we had forty minutes to conduct two assigned pieces and to demonstrate our abilities. I learned a great deal from this round \u2014 about how to block out distractions and about myself as well. It was a truly valuable experience,\u201d<\/em> she added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Bernadett Vida had to prepare from sixteen musical works and performed the assigned pieces with the M\u00c1V Symphony Orchestra of Budapest<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n She emphasised that beyond mastering the musical works, understanding instrumentation and the composers\u2019 stylistic characteristics were key to her preparation. The Gy\u0151r Philharmonic Orchestra provided her with rehearsal opportunities, while assistant lecturer and r\u00e9p\u00e9titeur \u00c1d\u00e1m Kir\u00e1ly and Professor Gy\u00f6rgy Gy\u0151riv\u00e1nyi R\u00e1th coached her for the competition, where she reached the semi-finals as the only Hungarian among six contestants. Her success earned her two special prizes: in the next cultural season, she will conduct one of the concerts of the Budapest Philharmonic Society, one of Hungary\u2019s most prestigious ensembles, and \u2014 at the invitation of chief conductor and music director Istv\u00e1n Sill\u00f3 \u2014 she will also lead the orchestra of the Gy\u0151r National Theatre in one of its musical productions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The young artist attended a music-oriented primary school, learning to play the clarinet and later the piano. \u201cWhat influenced me most was singing in a choir \u2014 that sense of community was my first step towards the conducting profession. It was clear to me that I wanted to study this further at the Liszt Academy of Music, where I earned a degree in orchestral and choral conducting. Then came a detour: I started playing jazz piano. Those were three wonderful years, but I still wanted to complete a master\u2019s degree. At the last moment, a friend told me that Sz\u00e9chenyi University in Gy\u0151r was launching a conducting course taught by Professor Gy\u0151rgy Gy\u0151riv\u00e1nyi R\u00e1th. After brief discussions, I knew immediately that this was where I wanted to study \u2014 and it has turned out to be an excellent decision,\u201d<\/em> she recounted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Bernadett Vida with her mentor, Professor Gy\u00f6rgy Gy\u0151riv\u00e1nyi R\u00e1th, supervisor of the Master\u2019s in Conducting (Orchestra conductor) programme at Sz\u00e9chenyi Istv\u00e1n University<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n According to Professor Gy\u00f6rgy Gy\u0151riv\u00e1nyi R\u00e1th, the internationally acclaimed conductor and supervisor of the master\u2019s programme, his student displayed exemplary dedication even at the entrance exam and has since become a true model student. \u201cAt the Antal Dorati International Conducting Competition, all three of our students represented our institution admirably, with Bernadett Vida achieving an outstanding result. I was present as a jury member, and artists from all over the world participated \u2014 from the United States, Brazil, and even Cuba. There were no age restrictions, so pensioners and teenagers could also take part. Considering all this, Bernadett\u2019s achievement in reaching this far is even more remarkable,\u201d<\/em> the professor explained. He expressed his gratitude to Sz\u00e9chenyi Istv\u00e1n University \u2014 particularly to Dr Csaba Hontv\u00e1ri, Dean of the Faculty of Design and Performance Arts and the initiator of the programme \u2014 for believing in the strength of the academic programme. He added that this success greatly contributes to the international recognition of the department. He also revealed that the programme\u2019s reputation is further enhanced by the fact that one of its students, P\u00e9ter Boldoghy-Kummert, will have his diploma concert performed by the Hungarian State Opera, while another, Tam\u00e1s P\u00e1ncz\u00e9l, will collaborate with the renowned Budafok Dohn\u00e1nyi Orchestra for his final recital.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Created: 2025.11.11. 11:18 Bernadett Vida, a second-year master\u2019s student in orchestral conducting at the Faculty of Design and Performance Arts of Sz\u00e9chenyi Istv\u00e1n University, achieved excellent results at the 4th …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":22,"featured_media":9038,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[24],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9037","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\n![\"Bernadett](\"https:\/\/admissions.sze.hu\/images\/News\/2025_11\/karmester\/karmester_K%C3%A9p1.webp\" "\\"Bernadett")
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<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"Bernadett](\"https:\/\/admissions.sze.hu\/images\/News\/2025_11\/karmester\/karmester_K%C3%A9p3.webp\" "\\"Bernadett")
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