Skip to main content

Himara Masterclasses • 22–24 August 2025

Cello and chamber music

Registration deadline: June 25, 2025

The cultural heritage and the summer atmosphere of Himara create an inspiring atmosphere for building a high level factory for the developement of young musicians. For this reason, the Himara International Music Festival is launching a series of masterclasses which are offered by renowned artists and lecturers from prestigious international music universities. Their organization within the framework of the festival gives aspiring professionals the opportunity to get to know in a practical way the contemporary developments in the world of music and to perform alongside well-known musicians.

Disciplines

Cello and chamber music

Lecturer

Ildikó Szabó - Cello (teacher at the Universität der Künste Berlin and at the Hochschule für Musik FRANZ LISZT Weimar)

Period

22–24 August 2025

Venue

Neço Muko Hall of the Municipality of Himara

Photo by Marco Borggreve

Ildikó Szabó

“A true artist who on stage manages to perform to the fullest of her abilities in front of an audience” – Iván Fischer

Acclaimed for her musical intellect and imagination coupled with technical virtuosity, Ildikó Szabó is a laureate of the Casals Cello Competition where she was the winner of the 2nd Prize, the Audience Award, and 7 Special Prizes.

Ildikó has appeared as a soloist with the Budapest Festival Orchestra under Iván Fischer, the Concerto Budapest, the Magdeburgische Philharmonie, the Hamburger Symphoniker, and the Chamber Orchestra of Europe. Festival invitations included the Festspiele Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Rheingau Festival, BBC at Hay Festival, OCM Prussia Cove, Krzyzowa Music, Verbier Festival, and Piatigorsky Cello Festival. She has appeared in prestigious concert halls such as the Wigmore Hall, Mariinsky Theater II, Concertgebouw Amsterdam, Elbphilharmonie, Konzerthaus Berlin, and the Walt Disney Hall. Szabó has a particular passion for Hungarian and Transylvanian repertoire – she has developed personal relationships with György Kurtág and Péter Eötvös. Her solo album “Heritage” (2020) was nominated for the German Record Critics’ Award. The next recording project came about at the suggestion of her mentor Alfred Brendel: the complete works for cello and piano by Beethoven were released in March 2023 with long-time chamber music partner István Lajkó.

Ildikó stems from a family of great musical traditions. From the age of 11, she studied with László Mező at the Liszt Academy in Budapest and attended master classes with János Starker before she began her studies with Jens Peter Maintz at the UdK Berlin. She later continued her studies with Wolfgang Emanuel Schmidt in Weimar and at the Kronberg Academy.

From October 2023, Ildikó is an associate professor for chamber music at the University of Music Franz Liszt Weimar, and a lecturer for cello at the Julius-Stern-Institute – UdK Berlin. She has been actively involved in educational and outreach projects such as TONALi’s school concerts and the Konzerthaus Dortmund’s Community Music. Ildikó is a Larsen Strings artist.

Participation and conditions

The masterclasses are open to all cellists and chamber music ensembles who aim for a professional career. The works must be prepared at a performance level. Students enrolled in the masterclasses will receive three private lessons and play in one of the concerts of the festival.

Course fee: cello: € 350 registration fee included, the chamber music ensembles course fee is the same as the instrumental course fee.
Registration Fee: € 50 The registration fee is non-refundable, but will be included in the course fee upon participation.
Participation fee for passive students for the whole masterclasses: € 50

The application and course fees must be transferred in EUR to the following bank account:

  • Vibrant Project Association
  • Bank name: United Bank of Albania
  • Address of the Bank: Rruga Dritan Hoxha, Nd. 11, H. 3, NB Nr. 7, 1023 Tirana, Albania
  • Bank account number: 17-01-0016000287.94 (008/978)
  • IBAN: AL55203110031701001600028794
  • SWIFT: AAISALTRXXX
  • ACCOUNT CURRENCY: EURO
  • Note: Name – Himara Masterclasses

Participants are responsible for their own travel, food and accommodation expenses. If needed we can support you in finding an accommodation at preferential rate.

Registration deadline: June 25, 2025

Fill out the form / Google account required

Apply now!