The History and Mission of the Szent István Philharmonic Orchestra
The Szent István Philharmonic Orchestra was founded in 1954 by József Záborszky at the then István 1st Secondary School, under the name István 1st Secondary School Orchestra. Just two years after its establishment, the ensemble gave a concert at the Liszt Ferenc Academy of Music, and from 1958 onward it appeared there every year with its own independent seasonal subscription series.
Outstanding artists contributed to the orchestra’s development—among them János Ferencsik, who, from 1965 until his death, regularly worked with the ensemble as a guest conductor. From the very beginning, the orchestra’s artistic standards were supported by renowned conductors such as Dénes Kovács, András Kórodi, and later Zoltán Kocsis and Yuri Simonov.
Following the retirement of József Záborszky, his son Kálmán Záborszky took over the artistic leadership of the orchestra and continued its value-based traditions with a strong focus on youth education. In recognition of their work, the orchestra received the Hungarian Heritage Award in 2000 and continuously held the title “National Youth Orchestra” between 2011 and 2017. Since December 2020, the ensemble has been active in Hungarian musical life under the name Szent István Philharmonic Orchestra, maintained by Filharmónia Magyarország Nonprofit Ltd.
Uniqueness and Mission
One of the orchestra’s most distinctive features is its exceptionally high-quality children’s and youth programs, which represent a unique national value within Hungarian classical music education. A central element of the orchestra’s identity is education through the arts. The ensemble has achieved outstanding results both in talent development and orchestral training, particularly through its “On a Journey of Discovery” (Felfedezőúton) program series, operating since 2011 and aimed at the cultural development of younger generations.
Within this framework, all senior kindergarten groups in Zugló, as well as students aged 6 to 18, are able to attend one of the age-specific concerts each year. These events offer not only musical experiences but also high-quality educational content and interdisciplinary artistic programs. Since 2022, the series has expanded to include the 15th and 16th districts of Budapest, and from autumn 2025 students from the 13th district will also be able to participate.
Talent Development and Artistic Continuity
The orchestra works in close cooperation with the Szent István King Secondary School of Music and Music School. The most talented students have the opportunity to perform as soloists or orchestral members at concerts of the Szent István Philharmonic Orchestra, ensuring a smooth transition from school-based training to a professional artistic career. Today, there are very few professional symphony orchestras in Hungary where members do not include musicians educated in the “Istvános” tradition.
Present and Future
With a history spanning more than 70 years, the Szent István Philharmonic Orchestra holds a distinguished position in Hungary’s musical life. Alongside talent development and youth education, the orchestra considers the preservation of classical music traditions to be a core mission. It maintains three permanent subscription series, hosted at Müpa (Palace of Arts, Budapest), the Liszt Ferenc Academy of Music, and the Ceremonial Hall of the Pesti Vigadó.
The orchestra’s activities are characterized by forward-looking thinking, innovation, and cooperation. Its goal is to continuously raise artistic standards while preserving its community-oriented, family-like spirit—in keeping with the enduring “Istvános” tradition.