The Bartók Béla International Choir Competition concluded in Debrecen on 5 July with a major international success: Indonesia’s The Resonanz Children’s Choir, conducted by Avip Priatna, won the Grand Prix of the 30th edition of the prestigious Hungarian choral event.

Indonesian success at the Bartók Béla International Choir Competition

The jubilee edition of the Bartók Béla International Choir Competition was held between 2 and 5 July in Debrecen, eastern Hungary, bringing together choirs from several continents for one of the most demanding choral contests in Europe.

According to bartokcompetition.hu, four ensembles qualified for the Grand Prix round, where The Resonanz Children’s Choir earned the competition’s highest recognition.

The Indonesian ensemble had already stood out during the category rounds, winning first place in both the Children and Youth category and the Free category. Its conductor, Avip Priatna, also received the Gulyás György Conducting Special Prize, further underlining the choir’s strong overall performance in Debrecen.

Category winners and key results

In the Children and Youth category, The Resonanz Children’s Choir took first place, while Hungary’s Kodály Zoltán Youth Mixed Choir, conducted by Vasné Katona Adrienne, finished third. The Vántus Boys’ Choir, conducted by Valkai Dávid, received a certificate of recognition for its participation.

The Resonanz Children’s Choir also won the Free category. Coralia from the University of Puerto Rico, conducted by Dr Carmen Acevedo-Lucío, came second, while Latvia’s Babīte Cultural Education Centre Mixed Choir “Maska”, conducted by Jānis Ozols, placed third.

In the Sacred Music category, first prize went to the Babīte Cultural Education Centre Mixed Choir “Maska”. Riverside City College Chamber Singers, conducted by Jonathan Talberg, finished second, and Coralia from the University of Puerto Rico came third.

Several choirs also received recognition for their performances, including Cape Town Camerata, Jazzberry Tunes, Alegria Choir, Santinig-Bonn and the Bartók Béla Women’s Choir.

Special prizes highlighted contemporary choral music

The 2026 competition placed strong emphasis on contemporary choral repertoire, a long-standing hallmark of the Debrecen event. The international jury was chaired by Georg Grün, with members including Hungarian conductors Gráf Zsuzsanna and Somos Csaba, Tristan Caliston Ignacio, and Greek composer Philippos Tsalahouris.

Among the special awards, the Szesztay Zsolt Conducting Special Prize went to Valkay Dávid. Coralia from the University of Puerto Rico received the Editio Musica Budapest special prize for the best interpretation of the compulsory work.

Riverside City College Chamber Singers was recognised for the best interpretation of a contemporary work composed after 2018, while Cape Town Camerata received a special award for outstanding performances of works by Trotta and Sariola. The Papageno Special Prize was awarded to the Vántus Boys’ Choir.

Why the Debrecen competition matters

For international readers, the Bartók Béla International Choir Competition is one of Hungary’s most important classical music events. Founded in 1961, it has built a reputation as a high-level meeting point for choirs, conductors and contemporary composers.

The competition is held in Debrecen, Hungary’s second-largest city, which has a strong musical identity connected to the Kodály tradition and to choral education. Events took place at major local venues including the Kölcsey Centre and St Anne’s Church, while the official opening was held in the city’s landmark Great Church.

The programme began on 2 July with the traditional choral procession, followed by several days of competition rounds, concerts and public performances. A gala concert titled “Vivat, crescat, floreat!” was also held on 3 July, featuring Hungarian and international works as well as new compositions written for the occasion.

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Grand Prix winner heads towards European stage

As Grand Prix winner, The Resonanz Children’s Choir will again receive an invitation to the European Grand Prix for Choral Singing, a major international contest organised in rotation by cities including Arezzo, Debrecen, Jūrmala, Maribor, Tolosa and Varna.

The organisers have already announced the next major musical events in Debrecen. In 2027, the Kodály Zoltán International Music Competition will be held between 26 June and 4 July for young flute, oboe and clarinet players. The 31st Bartók Béla International Choir Competition is scheduled to take place in Debrecen from 6 to 9 July 2028.

The 2026 result confirms the global reach of the Debrecen competition: this year, a children’s choir from Indonesia took the highest prize at a Hungarian contest named after one of the country’s greatest composers.

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