Frequently asked questions
Application Process
You can join the Young Musicians' Summer Academy by filling out the online application form on our website.
After your submission the system automatically sends your completed application form in .pdf format to the email address you gave. Please sign and return it to us by post (YMSA, Debrecen, Nagyerdei krt. 82., 4032, Hungary) or by e-mail (ymsa.debrecen@gmail.com) together with the proof of payment of the registration fee.
Your application is valid only together with the signed application form and the paid registration fee!
Attention! If you are under the age of 18:
- on the application form your parent’s/guardian’s signature is also required!
- if you consent to making and publishing of unique photo and video records of you, the original declaration of consent signed by you and also your parent/guardian is required, too! (link)
It could happen that you have gave wrong or deficient data on the application form or some of them has changed since then, so a correction is required. As you can't change the application form after submission, please email us in this case (ymsa.debrecen@gmail.com). Please, don’t fill out another application form with the changed data!
The application deadline both for mastercourses and for orchestral work is 31st May, 2024. In some mastercourses, the number of applicants may reach the maximum before the application deadline. This will be published on our website, and the application of the relevant mastercourse will be closed.
Teacher's recommendation is not obligatory, however you may send it if you would like to ymsa.debrecen@gmail.com.
Sending demos is not required, but for those who (also) apply for the orchestral work it can be an advantage during the selection. You can send files or a link. We suggest your demos should not be more than one year old, and preferably of different genre.
All the available information you provided will be taken into consideration, especially your educational background, orchestral experience and demos.
You will be informed by e-mail as soon as you’re accepted.
The decision about your acceptance for mastercourse will be made within 2-3 weeks from the moment your registration fee and your signed application form has arrived.
The decision about your acceptance for orchestral work will be made until 15th June, 2024.
You can see the fees on our website in advance.
As soon as the decision is made about your acceptance, we will inform you about your participation fee and the details of transfer by e-mail, too.
- In case of your cancellation arrives until 15th June, participation fee that has already been paid will be fully refunded. Registration fee is non-refundable.
- In case of your cancellation arrives between 16th–25th June, 70% of participation fee that has already been paid will be refunded. Registration fee is non-refundable.
- In case of your cancellation arrives after 30th June, no refund is possible.
- In case of Young Musicians’ Summer Academy cannot be held due to vis maior, participation fee (as well as registration fee) that has already been paid to us will be fully refunded.
Just in case you apply only for a mastercourse. In this case, let us know by email the starting and closing dates which you will participate in the event. Your participation fee will be calculated based on these info.
We can't accept for orchestral work the applications of those, who can participate in YMSA for a shorter period only.
Artistic Issues
Each active participant will have 4 individual lessons during the mastercourses of YMSA. The duration of these lessons can be different by mastercourses. There will be able to work with accompanists, too. At some sections there will be group lessons as well. Students will be informed about this at the first teacher-student meeting.
On the first day of your mastercourse professors and students will have a meeting to discuss when will be the individual lessons – considering the time of orchestral rehearsals.
Each student has the opportunity to perform at the sectional closing concert. Apart from this the professors may offer students some extra performing possibilities.
Yes, in addition to your individual lessons, you can take part on the Musicality of Movement and the Practice Methodology – the ultimate attention training for performers additional mastercourses. To participate in one or both additional mastercourses registration is needed on the application form. The additional courses have extra costs.
A chamber mastercourse can also be provided if required in advance, it’s free of charge. But you can choose to focus on your individual lessons only.
The members of the orchestra will be selected from the applicants of the orchestral work, considering the data given on the application form, especially their educational background, orchestral experience and demos. In case of over-application, unfortunately we may not be able to welcome everyone to the orchestra, but this will not affect the acceptance of the application for the individual mastercourse. Another important fact is that we can accept for orchestral work only the applications of those, who participate in the whole event, from the first rehearsal until the last concert.
Yes, you can choose your teacher on the application form.
During YMSA all classroom that isn’t being used or hasn’t been reserved in the building of Faculty of Music may used for practising from 6am to 10pm. The keys to the classrooms can be asked at the reception. To get a key legible name and signature are required. You can practise also in the dorm room (except for the night).
Based on your program given on the application form, piano accompanists will decide about it. If it is required, the accompanist will contact you.
The music sheets will be sent by e-mail before the start of YMSA, so you will have enough time to prepare and practise.
Yes, on the first day there will be auditions for the orchestral sections, where you will have to play from the program of the orchestra picked by the conductor. The audition will serve as a basis for the decision about the assignment of parts in the case of the wind instrument players and that of the desks in the string section.
Financial Issues
We are asking applicants to pay registration fee. Paying the registration fee tells us that you really want to participate in YMSA. Registration fee is non-refundable.
Payments can be made by bank transfer, you can find the related data on our website.
We will issue an invoice about your payment after its arrival to our account, and it will be sent within a few days to the email address provided during application.
You can see the fees on our website in advance.
As soon as the decision is made about your acceptance, we will inform you about your participation fee and the details of transfer by e-mail, too.
Definitely yes. In those cases where the sender is different from the participant and there are no details sent with the payment, it is extremely hard, sometimes impossible to identify which applicant is the beneficiary of the payment.
You are free to decide whether you want to pay in one lump sum or in instalments. Please email us if you choose the possibility of the payment in instalments (ymsa.debrecen@gmail.com).
The final deadline for paying registration fee is 10th June, 2024.
Please pay attention to the deadline, if the registration fee does not arrive in time, your application will be canceled!
The final deadline for paying participation fee is 30th June, 2024.
You can choose to pay in one lump sum or in instalments. However if you cannot pay the whole amount until the deadline, please email us, and we will negotiate a new deadline.
Practical Issues
The official languages of YMSA are Hungarian and English. In the mastercourses and during the orchestra rehearsals are taught in these languages.
We can offer our programs from the first day of YMSA to the last day of YMSA only. In case your plane arrives earlier or departs later, we suggest you to book accommodation in Budapest. It is a beautiful city, you shouldn't miss when you visit to Hungary anyway.
Booking your accommodation is your business.
You can choose our dormitory in our building. (The rooms are not air conditioned, 2 and 4 bedded, equipped with a refrigerator. Shared bathrooms and kitchens are on each floor.) Gross price is 3600 HUF/night + Tourist tax (400 HUF/night). Contact person is Ferenc Zákány dormitory administrator: zakany.ferenc@unideb.hu
Deadline for dormitory reservations: 30th June, 2024.
Besides our dormitory you can choose from a wide range of hotels and guesthouses in Debrecen:
For the nights of the first and second concerts (17-18 July) you have to book accommodation in Debrecen. On the next day the orchestra will perform a concert in Slovakia, we will arrange and finance accommodation in Slovakia for that night. We also will arrange and finance the travelling and three meals during the days of the concerts in Budapest and Slovakia (breakfast, lunch and dinner).
Organizing your meals is your business.
There is a buffet in our building, where hot meals are available for lunch and dinner. The campus has a canteen, where you can choose a menu or a’ la carte for lunch on weekdays. There are many restaurants in our neighbourhood offering lunch menus or food delivery at any time of the day. There are several supermarkets near us (Coop, Interspar, etc.), so the daily shopping can also be arranged.
Pizza, food order and delivery, restaurant search:
We will arrange and finance travelling, accommodation in Slovakia for the nigh of 19 July and three meals during the tour (breakfast, lunch and dinner).
If you are an orchestra member and you have a food allergy / food intolerance, you are a vegetarian / vegan, or you reject some sort of food for religious reasons, please let us know by email before the event. This is the only way we provide you the right food for your needs on the days of the concerts.
Travel Information
In case your application has been accepted to YMSA and you need a visa to travel to Hungary, please write to ymsa.debrecen@gmail.com, giving your personal data and we will send you an official invitation letter.
PLEASE NOTE: You can apply for the visa not earlier than 90 days before your arrival, therefore you can send us your request with your personal data from the beginning of May.
The following information is needed to prepare the necessary documents:
- Your full name (as presented in your ID/passport) / Your mother's name / Date and place of your birth / Nationality / ID/Passport No. / Address in ID/passport.
Please also send us your planned arrival day to Hungary and departure day from Hungary (in case you would like to spend a few days for sightseeing).
For additional info please visit:
What to definitely bring with you:
- the original, signed application form (if you sent it back only by email) Attention! If you are under the age of 18, on the application form your parent’s/guardian’s signature is also required!
- the original declaration of consent signed by you and also your parent/guardian, if you are under the age of 18 and you consent to making and publishing of unique photo and video records of you
- valid passport / identity card (see visa requirements info above)
- EHIC (European Health Insurance Card) and/or medical insurance for tourists
- personal medicines
- instrument, accessories (strings, extra bow, reeds, etc.)
- scores, piano accompaniment scores, orchestra scores...
- clothes for concerts
For gentlemen: black shoes, long black pants, any kind of single-coloured shirt (it can be short-sleeved)
For ladies: black shoes, long black dress, or long black skirt with any kind of single-coloured blouse - casual summer wear and comfortable shoes
- towels and shower shoes
- toiletries
Budapest-Debrecen by train
There are three railway stations in Budapest: Déli, Keleti and Nyugati. Trains to Debrecen depart mostly from Nyugati and some of them from Keleti.
Make sure to choose a train that is marked IC intercity.
The easiest way to travel from one railway station to another one is to take the metro. You can buy a ticket for 450 HUF at a newspaper stand or from the purple ticket machines. Even if you travel on 2 different metro lines, you can use the same ticket provided that you change underground.
Metro Network map of Budapest | Detailed information of public transport in Budapest | Online route planner
Trains from Budapest-Nyugati to Debrecen
There are direct IC intercity trains from Nyugati railway station to Debrecen in every hour from 6:23 to 19:23. The journey takes 2.5 hours.
Trains from Budapest Keleti to Debrecen
There are direct IC intercity trains from Keleti railway station to Debrecen every two hours from 7:30 to 17:30. The journey takes 3.5 hours.
You can buy your train tickets online, or with your smartphone via the MÁV app, or at the train stations at the cashier. Reserving seats and replacement tickets are not available by ticket machines, so don’t use them.
If you have a Student Identity Card issued in the EU containing your photo and stating the name of your school, you are eligible for a 50% discount, and you can buy a student ticket.
Budapest Airport – Debrecen by train
There are two options to get to Debrecen by train from Budapest Airport:
1. Budapest Airport – Budapest city center – Debrecen
You can choose the following ways to get from Budapest Airport to Budapest city center:
- BKK Public transport shuttle bus (2200 HUF, tickets can be bought from purple coloured vending machines in the bus stop or at BKK Customer Center at the Airport Terminal.)
- Flibco Shuttle to the Budapest-Nyugati Station (from 22€, you might consider booking in advance) or
- MiniBUD Airport Shuttle (from 16€, you might consider booking in advance) or
- FŐTAXI to the Budapest-Nyugati Station (about 11000 to 13500 HUF, service desk at the entrance of terminal. Please make sure you take no other cab than FŐTAXI, beacuse others may cheat you by taking you at a much higher rate.)
There are direct IC intercity trains from Budapest-Nyugati railway station to Debrecen in every hour from 6:23 to 19:23. The journey takes 2.5 hours.
You can buy your train tickets online, or with your smartphone via the MÁV app.
If you have a Student Identity Card issued in the EU containing your photo and stating the name of your school, you are eligible for a 50% discount, and you can buy a student ticket.
2. Budapest Airport – Ferihegy railway station – Debrecen
The closest train station to Budapest Airport Terminal 2 is Ferihegy, with trains operating to and from the Nyugati railway station in Budapest. From Terminal 2, the Ferihegy train station is accessible by bus number 200E.
Train tickets are not available for purchase at Terminal 2.
Hungarian state railway company MÁV operates a domestic ticket office at the Ferihegy train station every day from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. In addition, train tickets can also be purchased from the ticket machines located on the platforms. Tickets for destinations not shown on the ticket machines and supplementary tickets for premium category trains are available from the conductor on board the trains, without a surcharge.
Passengers taking the train to the Ferihegy train station can purchase a discount bus ticket for their journey to Terminal 2. Discount bus tickets cost 300 HUF, and are only available together with the train ticket, from ticket offices at railway stations where tickets are sold from dispenser machines. Discount tickets are only valid
between the bus stop next to the Ferihegy train station and Budapest Airport Terminal 2, on bus number 200E.
For more information on train services in Hungary, please visit: www.mav-start.hu
Arrival to Debrecen by plane
To get from Debrecen Airport to the building of YMSA the easiest option is taxi. More info: https://www.debrecenairport.com/en/transport/taxi
To order the service our exact adress is required: Debreceni Egyetem Zeneművészeti Kar, Debrecen, Nagyerdei körút 82.
The cheapest option is using Airport Debrecen bus line (Airport bus timetable). With this bus you can get to Debrecen railway station („Nagyállomás”). To get from the station to YMSA please read the next point.
From Debrecen railway station („Nagyállomás”) to the building of YMSA
YMSA is housed in the building of the University of Debrecen Faculty of Music, the exact address is: Debrecen, Nagyerdei körút 82.
Take tram 1 at the train station. You will need 1 single ticket which pcosts HUF 460 in advance and can be purchased at the newsagents (Relay or Inmedio) or at DKV ticket office located opposite of the railway station.
Get off the tram at the stop "Nagyerdei körút" (9 stops), then turn left (Pálma Pub should be on your left) and go ahead approx. 600 meters. The building will be on your left. Map
From the railway station you also can go by taxi. The two biggest taxi companies of Debrecen are City Taxi (+36-52-555-555) and Főnix Taxi (+36-52-444-444).