Popper Cello Academy 2026
David Popper: The Art of High School of Cello Playing and Preparatory Studies
Where technique and music unite.
Dates
October 17–22, 2026
Location
Thury Castle, Várpalota, Hungary
A historic and inspiring environment supporting focused artistic work.
Apply Now
Join us in Várpalota and become part of an international community dedicated to the art of cello playing.
The Popper Cello Academy 2026 invites young cellists to rediscover the High School Etudes of David Popper not only as technical exercises but also as a gateway to artistic performance and musical imagination.
Program in 2026
The Popper Cello Academy 2026 is an international cello program built around a unique artistic idea: transforming the étude from a technical exercise into a powerful artistic language.
Centered on David Popper’s High School of Cello Playing, we invite participants to rethink the role of études in modern cello playing — not as a technical challenge, but as performance.
Through an intensive four-day program, participants engage in both deep technical work and high-level artistic exploration, connecting tradition with their own individual musical voice.
At its core, the Academy bridges the gap between technical mastery and musical expression — where discipline meets imagination, and technique becomes artistic identity.
Program Structure
The program structure allows each participant to benefit from both shared artistic exploration and individualized guidance at the highest level.
Each day combines intensive individual work with collective artistic sessions, creating a dynamic balance between personal development and shared musical experience.
Evening programs include informal musical sessions, discussions, and community-building events, offering a unique and inspiring artistic atmosphere.
Program Highlights
Free Repertoire Selection
In-Focus: Popper Études
Open Masterclasses
Thematic Étude Workshops
“Popper Étude Challenge”
Daily Individual Lessons with renowned professors
Piano accompanists from the Liszt Academy of Music
Cello ensemble
Performance opportunities
“Popper Étude Challenge”
A central highlight of the Academy, the “Popper Étude Challenge” reimagines the étude as a concert experience.
Participants will present selected etudes in a performance, focusing on character, technical perfection, and artistic identity.
Finally, the Challenge celebrates creativity, individuality, musicality, and technical knowledge.
Artistic Concept
At the heart of the Popper Cello Academy lies a clear artistic vision: to bridge the gap between technical mastery and musical expression.
Here, the etude serves as a focal point—a place where discipline and imagination converge, and where instrumental technique is transformed into a vehicle for artistry.
Alongside the study of Popper’s etudes, participants explore their own repertoire in individual lessons, allowing them to apply technical insights within a live musical context immediately.
This dual approach ensures that the learning process remains structured, deeply personal, and artistically meaningful.
Who Can Apply
The Popper Cello Academy welcomes young, talented cellists from Hungary and abroad.
To maintain the highest quality of instruction, the number of active participants is limited to 15–20.
Applicants may join the Academy as:
Active Participants
Auditors (Passive Participants)
Professors
Professors at the Academy represent the distinguished traditions of European cello schools, bringing diverse artistic perspectives and pedagogical approaches together on a common platform.
🇭🇺 Csaba Onczay
Professor Emeritus, Liszt Academy of Music, Budapest
A defining figure of modern cello playing, he has built an exceptional international career as both performer and teacher. He is the recipient of Hungary’s highest artistic distinction, the Kossuth Prize, and has also been awarded the Liszt Prize and the Bartók–Pásztory Prize.
Professor Emeritus at the Liszt Ferenc Academy of Music in Budapest, he has served as visiting professor at the Hochschule für Musik Freiburg (Germany), the Oberlin Conservatory (USA), and the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music in Bloomington. For fifteen years he was a regular guest professor at the IU Summer String Academy. Through his masterclasses and dedicated teaching, he has profoundly influenced generations of cellists worldwide.
🇦🇹 Martin Rummel
President, Bruckner University, Linz
A distinguished Austrian cellist with a broad international career. Since 2021, he has served as President of the Bruckner University in Linz, where he is actively engaged in shaping contemporary approaches to higher music education.
Alongside his academic leadership, he remains active as a performer and teacher, giving masterclasses worldwide and inspiring a new generation of cellists.
He has recorded the complete High School of Cello Playing by David Popper, offering a unique and comprehensive artistic perspective on one of the most important pedagogical works in the cello repertoire.
We will announce the names of the additional professors soon.
Participation Fees
Registration / Administration Fee: 25.000,- Ft*
Participation Fee: 240.000,- Ft
*The registration fee is payable upon application, is non-refundable, and will be deducted from the total participation fee.
What the Masterclass Fee Includes
Participation in all masterclass sessions
Accommodation (double rooms with private bathrooms)
Full board (meals throughout the course)
Application Requirements
Applicants are required to submit:
Completed online application form by June 15, 2026
Payment of the registration fee and proof of payment between May 25, 2026 and June 30, 2026
Payment of the participation fee and proof of payment by September 15, 2026
Payment Details
Account Holder:
Popper Dávid Örökség Nonprofit Kft.
(David Popper Heritage Nonprofit Ltd.)
Registered Address:
1027 Budapest, Varsányi Irén u. 26–34., Hungary
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Bank Details
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