Renovated Kodály Institute Officially Opened

Dr. Csaba Kutnyánszky, Vice President of the Franz Liszt Academy of Music, recalled that in the fifty years since the founding of the Kodály Institute, nearly 2,000 students from almost 60 countries have attended courses there, and around 5,000 music educators have participated in summer seminars at the institution. The institute's mission is to promote the Kodály legacy internationally, to adapt Kodály's educational principles globally, and to serve as a methodological knowledge center for Hungarian music teachers. He emphasized that, perhaps more than ever, Hungarian music educators need professional support in today’s changing world and altered social environment, especially in light of the radically changed learning attitudes of children.

He highlighted that accredited professional development courses will provide excellent opportunities for such professional support and community-building. The vice president added that the institute meets all professional criteria for conducting high-level research in the fields of music pedagogy and musicology, publishing research results, playing a role in internationalization, and offering innovative solutions in the area of digitalization. In this context, he also mentioned that, over the decades, graduates from the institute have created a unique, global network of music educators, which has contributed to professional collaborations, community-building, and the international adaptation of the Kodály philosophy.

He also pointed out that, through its high-quality programs, the institution is directly and organically connected to the cultural life of the city of Kecskemét. The vice president emphasized that the modernization and expansion, along with the renewed and expanded infrastructure that offers 21st-century technological capabilities, all contribute to the Kodály Institute continuing to play a key role on the international stage. Dr. Csaba Kutnyánszky expressed his gratitude to the government, the mayor and the municipality of Kecskemét, to Ybl Award-winning architect István Mányi, who designed the renovation, and Horváth Építőmester Zrt., the construction company responsible for the project.

Zoltán Nyul, Deputy State Secretary for High-rise Construction at the Ministry of Construction and Transport, emphasized the importance of functionality and cost-effective operation, both of which the renovated building meets, providing a fitting environment for the institution. He highlighted that the project involved significant planning and construction efforts, during which he witnessed excellent collaboration among all participants.

Gábor Csaba, Deputy State Secretary for Cultural Diplomacy at the Ministry of Culture and Innovation, highlighted that the Kodály Institute, a key part of the Franz Liszt Academy of Music, serves as a bastion and knowledge base for music education. He emphasized that the international presentation and promotion of the Kodály legacy enhances Hungary's prestige worldwide, and for nearly half a century, the Kodály Institute has contributed to this effort at the highest level.

Klaudia Szemereyné Pataki, the mayor of Kecskemét, emphasized that the city utilized support from the Modern Cities Program for significant heritage restorations, including the Town Hall, the Monarchy-era Rudolf Barracks, and the former monastery that now houses the Kodály Institute. The mayor also pointed out that the renovation yielded important archaeological findings, ranging from traces of an Árpád-era dwelling to remnants of a medieval tower, which have added new chapters to the history of Kecskemét. She expressed special thanks to Dr. Andrea Vigh, former president of the Liszt Academy, and Judit Rajk, director of the Kodály Institute, for their work and cooperation during the renovation. Finally, the mayor promised to do everything in her power over the next five years to ensure the continued renovation and expansion of the Kodály Institute's remaining parts.

In her closing remarks, Judit Rajk recalled the invaluable contributions of Péter Erdei, the first director of the Kodály Institute, in the flourishing and decades of success of the institution. She emphasized that the current renovation began under the directorship of László Norbert Nemes, who coordinated the work for five years. She highlighted that the development started during the presidency of Dr. Andrea Vigh at the Liszt Academy, who, in collaboration with Mayor Klaudia Szemereyné Pataki, played a significant role in ensuring the successful completion. Rajk also expressed her gratitude to Ybl Award-winning architect István Mányi, and the construction company Horváth Építőmester Zrt. for their work.

The decision to modernize and expand the Kodály Institute was made in 2018 as part of the Modern Cities Program. In the first phase of the multi-stage project, the complete reconstruction of the monastery building, which is under heritage protection, was completed by the fall of 2024. The renovation, funded by both domestic and European Union sources, was designed by Mányi Architect Studio, with the construction carried out by Horváth Építőmester Zrt. In addition to the existing facilities, the building, now obstacle-free and equipped with modern mechanical systems, gained 12 new classrooms and the most advanced educational technologies.

According to old records and the Franciscan order’s Historia Domus, the former monastery building that now houses the Kodály Institute was constructed in multiple phases in the early 18th century, embedded within the medieval city center of Kecskemét. As a result, the building incorporated the remnants of a medieval tower with arrow slits, which once served to protect the famous markets and the collection of road tolls for the Queen. The monastery does not feature the decorative elements or artistic relics typical of the Baroque era, with the exception of a Rococo-style stone carving around the door of the former dining hall, which dates back to 1761. There were no stucco decorations or frescoes in the interior spaces, and the exterior façade also lacks architectural elements that would create a sense of depth or shadow effects.

The building was converted for educational purposes between 1973 and 1975 by the Bács-Kiskun County Council, with architectural plans designed by József Kerényi and custom furniture designs by Gábor Mezei. In the early 1980s, a new building was constructed in the rear courtyard of the Institute to house the music library and audiovisual studio, also based on plans by József Kerényi.

The thorough and lengthy archaeological excavations related to the reconstruction have also rewritten the history of the city of Kecskemét. Under the Kodály Institute, a partially subterranean, large-sized residential house was found, along with additional pits and post holes, from which an Árpád-era residential house was clearly identified. During the archaeological work, experts found ceramics dating back to the 1200s, coins (the most recent coin is from the reign of Franz Joseph, from 1859, and the oldest find dates to the late 1300s and early 1400s), three bricked-up windows of the ground floor of a tower that once stood in the medieval center of Kecskemét, as well as the city's oldest cemetery. A small portion of this excavation will be displayed in the basement of the building and can be visited occasionally with guided tours.