Imagine a place where the ancient sounds of Hungary come alive. That place is the Óbudai Népzenei Alapfokú Művészeti Iskola. It is located here in Budapest. This school is dedicated to teaching authentic Hungarian folk music.
The Óbudai Népzenei Iskola was founded in 1990. However, its history stretches back further. It began as a folk music department in another music school in 1972. This was during the Táncház movement.
The Táncház movement sought to preserve Hungarian folk traditions. The Óbudai Népzenei Iskola became a key part of this revival. It is the only state-funded music school in Hungary. Here, you can learn only authentic folk music and singing.
Kobzos Kiss Tamás founded the school. He envisioned a place where rare instruments could be taught. Students can learn to play the citera, koboz or hurdy-gurdy. These instruments represent a rich musical heritage.
Many well-known teachers have taught here. Budai Ilona, Fábián Éva, Ökrös Csaba and Turi András are among them. They are all experts in Hungarian folk music.
In the beginning, the school taught only three instruments. These were cimbalom, flute and citera. Later, the Muzsikás ensemble’s member ifj. Csoóri Sándor joined the faculty. He introduced teaching of folk string instruments, bagpipes and hurdy-gurdy.
By the 1980s, the Óbudai Népzenei Iskola had become a model. Other music schools started their own folk music departments. The school helped to preserve folk music.
The Óbudai Népzenei Iskola moved to Mókus utca in 2014. The building provides an excellent environment for teaching folk music.
The school has participated in many national and international conferences. It also has extensive international relationships. It works with various organizations. These include the Észak-Budapesti Tankerületi Központ and Óbuda-Békásmegyer Önkormányzata. They also include the Magyar Művészeti Akadémia and the Hagyományok Háza.
The Óbudai Népzenei Iskola received the Prima Award in 2008. It won the Hungarian Art Academy’s Arts Education Certificate of Recognition in 2017. In 2024, it received the Hungarian Heritage Award.
Around 220 students enroll in the Óbudai Népzenei Iskola each year. The school offers individual development. It also provides band classes and group art programs. The school also focuses on nurturing talent.
Many students achieve excellent results in national competitions. Some continue their studies at specialized institutions. The school also participates in teacher training. University students complete teaching practices here. Mentors support them.
Four Kossuth Prize winners have been faculty members. One colleague became the Artist of the Nation. Six are members of the Hungarian Academy of Arts. Six have won the Junior Prima Award. Many have received other high state honors.
The Óbudai Népzenei Iskola enriches community and family events. It also promotes Hungarian culture. Since 2016, the Kismuzsika program has taken place in Óbuda’s kindergartens. This program features live folk music.
The Zenei Anyanyelv Alapítvány supports the Óbudai Népzenei Iskola’s work. The foundation helped to renovate the institution’s entrance in 2022. It also created a chamber room and exhibition space.
The ONI Gallery hosts exhibitions of folk artists. These exhibitions take place with the support of the Hungarian Academy of Arts. Master courses, chamber concerts and professional conferences also happen here.
The Óbudai Népzenei Iskola is open to the public. Many people attend master courses, events and exhibition openings. They include students, family members and folk music enthusiasts. The school ensures that folk music thrives in Budapest.