The 17th World Cimbalom Congress in Seoul: six days of tradition and innovation

I recently returned from the 17th World Cimbalom Congress in Seoul, South Korea. From 3 to 8 November, this six-day event offered a valuable opportunity for players of struck-string instruments from around the world to gather.

An international celebration of music

Around 100 performers from 13 countries took part, including the host country, South Korea, Hungary—the home of the cimbalom—as well as Switzerland and Iran. It was a truly international music festival bringing together the musical cultures of many countries.

A varied programme

The congress offered a rich programme, including:

• A festive opening concert
• National concerts highlighting each country's distinctive character
• A closing concert to bring the congress to a finale
• A series of lectures by leading performers

I performed in the Japanese concert and the closing concert, accompanied on the piano by Masako Okoshi, an accomplished pianist.

A new initiative: an international competition

One notable new initiative was an international competition held alongside the congress. I served on its jury and had the opportunity to hear enthusiastic performances by young musicians from around the world. The winner received a prize of one million won, and I hope the competition helped discover and nurture the next generation of talent.

Looking ahead

The next congress is planned for two years from now. Building on this successful gathering, I look forward to the World Cimbalom Congress developing further. I hope to bring this valuable experience into my future performances.