The Győr International Frigyes Hidas Wind Orchestra Conducting Course was held for the tenth time at Széchenyi István University between 20 and 24 March. The professional programme, attracting international participants as well, supported the development of conductors through orchestral rehearsals and theoretical lectures, and was crowned by a closing concert.

The course is named after Frigyes Hidas, a prominent figure in 20th-century Hungarian composition, whose work is also highly significant in the wind orchestra repertoire. This legacy is carried forward by the conducting course jointly organised by the Hungarian Wind Music and Majorette Association and the Faculty of Design and Performance Arts of Széchenyi István University, which was held for the tenth time this year.

Launched in 2007, the programme returns to Győr every two years and has since attracted steadily growing national and international interest. This year, around 35 participants arrived from countries including the United States, Germany, Austria and Italy. The course has developed into a professional forum where participants can encounter different musical approaches, exchange experiences and develop through direct feedback. During the anniversary edition, conductors took part in orchestral rehearsals and attended theoretical lectures, before presenting their skills at a concert at the end of the course with the participation of the Győr Symphonic Band.

As the closing event of the multi-day programme, a concert was held in the University Concert Hall, where conductors participating in the course led the programme, showcasing the experience they had gained during the week (Photo: András Adorján)

Dr László Marosi, conductor and one of the artistic directors of the course, is a recognised expert in the international wind music scene. He has lived and worked in the United States for many years, while also regularly contributing to Hungary’s musical life. “Work with an orchestra is indispensable in conducting education, as gestures and musical ideas receive immediate feedback. This course provides an opportunity that cannot be created without musicians,” he emphasised. He added that interest in the programme continues to grow year by year, and it now attracts participants on an international scale, many of whom return as regular attendees.

Conductor Richard Greenwood (pictured left) arrived from the United States. As a music educator, he contributed to the programme with lectures presenting the structure and repertoire of American instrumental music education, offering new perspectives to participants. Also pictured are the artistic directors of the course: conductor Dr László Marosi and Ferenc Szabó, choir director and master instructor at Széchenyi István University. (Photo: András Adorján)

Ferenc Szabó, choir director, the programme’s other artistic director and a master instructor at Széchenyi István University, noted that the course not only supports the development of conductors but also strengthens the Győr Symphonic Band. “This is inspiring for all of us and contributes to meaningful progress year after year. Over the past nearly two decades, a professional community has taken shape in which knowledge sharing, the acquisition of practical experience and international connections all play a decisive role,” he said.

For the tenth edition of the Győr International Frigyes Hidas Wind Orchestra Conducting Course at Széchenyi István University, around 35 participants arrived from countries including the United States, Germany, Austria and Italy (Photo: András Adorján)