The Rector of the Liszt Academy Dr. Andrea Vigh's speech at the Opening Ceremony

Dear international students,

it is my utmost pleasure to welcome you at the Liszt Ferenc Academy of Music. Embracing the legacy of our founder, Ferenc Liszt, the university has always emphasized the role of international students, projects and cooperations. Following the streams of the world's musical higher education and participating in the shaping of international music culture has always been a high priority for us. I am confident that in 2014 and 2015 we will follow this traditional path and further broaden the multicultural character of the institution.

This year is exceptional in various ways: while organizing multiple international projects and events I am proud to say that we have an extraordinary number of international students as well. Japan, South Korea, China, Spain, the Czech Republic, Vietnam, Taiwan and even Colombia are all among the countries from where the majority of the students arrived to the Liszt Academy. For many years our university has been one of the universities with the highest percentage of international students in Hungary – it is already clear that this title is once again ours.

This year we will also have several international workshops with music academies such as the Cleveland Institute of Music, the Chicago Musical College of Roosevelt University, the Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance and so on.

I wish you to experience the unique atmosphere of the Liszt Academy of Music where widely renowned professors and artists learned and taught like Béla Bartók, Ernő Dohnányi, Leó Weiner, György Kurtág, György Ligeti, Annie Fischer and many more. I hope during your stay you will have the chance to acquire the inspiration and dedication of professional musicianship and you will return equipped with the means of a true artist.

I also wish you will enjoy exploring Budapest and its vibrating cultural life and you can get familiarized with the local cultural climate easily.

Thank you!