A top music school in the Hungarian capital Budapest has orchestrated a groundbreaking education initiative and embarked on a harmonious symphony of cultural exchange by partnering with an arts institution in the Chinese capital Beijing.

Launched between the Liszt Academy Secondary School - Bartok Bela Conservatory and the Beijing International Center for Music and Art, this inaugural pre-college program offers students a unique opportunity to immerse themselves in a rich musical environment.
The endeavor marks a new milestone in musical pedagogy and signifies the deep-seated collaboration between Hungary and China in nurturing young musical talents.
Founded in 1875 by Hungarian composer and pianist Franz Liszt, the Liszt Academy of Music in Budapest is an educational institution with a deep musical heritage. It houses the Liszt Collection, which includes invaluable books and manuscripts donated by Liszt himself.
Professor Gabor Eckhardt, a renowned pianist and one of this year's examiners for the program's entrance exam, is in Beijing to impart his knowledge through a series of masterclasses aimed at aspiring musicians.
"We can show them a lot of skills which belongs to the theoretical part of music. I think the Chinese students, are because of their very skillful, very attractive art of playing, this is what we can learn from China. But how to understand the music, especially the historical background, the meanings of the melody, the meanings of the harmonical background, these are very important if I would like to achieve higher goals," said Eckhardt.
Over the next three months, entry exams will take place for students aspiring to join the pre-college program, which is open to a wide range of musical talents, including those specialized in the strings, piano, wind, vocal, composition, conducting, and jazz genres. However, competition to grab one the coveted places is intense, with only 20 spots available in this inaugural year.
The program is ultimately aiming to prepare some of China's finest young talents to qualify for admission to the prestigious Liszt Academy of Music, one of the most highly-regarded music education institutions in Europe.
Through this collaboration, the two sides are forging a future where cultural and musical exchanges shape the global landscape of classical music.
"Hungary and China are connected because our roots are common, we understand each other without knowing the languages of each other. For Hungary, [it] is as important to have the Chinese students as [it is] for China to [have Hungarians] studying there. Because later when they come back, when they move forward, they can take this kind of music heritage and they can be diplomats of this cultural connection. So Hungary and China has a lot of roots, which is not discovered yet," said Eckhardt.