About the BBCM
Click here to read more details about the philosophy of the BBCM.

The BBCM was established in 1992. Professional, amateur and children's classes focus on comprehensive music education including the Kodály system and the Sáry system, history, analysis and performance skills. Emphasis is placed on those aspects of aural and history studies which are not covered elsewhere. The curriculum and concerts include folk-songs of many nations as well as European art music from the past 1000 years or so. Instrumental playing is an optional but integrated part of the classes.

The BBCM provides regular weekly classes for young children from age 2 as well as for highly trained professional musicians. Musical literacy at its ultimate is a high priority: the sight of a musical score (however complex) translates into full sound in the mind without the aid of any instrument; the sound in the mind can be transferred to paper without mechanical help. Aspects of musicianship tackled include expressive intonation and overtones; extensive polyphonic exercises; the development of musical memory; aural awareness in pentatonic, modal, tonal and atonal music; sight-singing and music dictation; the application of aural studies on various musical instruments; transposition in all clefs on all instruments; performance skills through the ages.

Very young children learn musicianship skills through songs and constructive games. Children from a young age learn about musical genres such as opera, symphony, chamber music but also jazz and all other musical genres with the exception of pop. In spite of its high aims, BBCM training is enjoyable and it is suitable for all ages.

The public educational concerts given by the BBCM aim to unite young and old, performers and audiences, various nationalities. In the spirit of Béla Bartók, so eloquently expressed in his Cantata Profana, BBCM classes and concerts draw their material "only from the clear spring".

The BBCM exists to:

In order to

  1. continue with its Scholarship Fund
  2. secure high standards for its public educational concerts
  3. implement far reaching new projects both in terms of musicology and public access

the BBCM - not receiving funding from any public bodies - has to rely on donations and grants. The BBCM will be pleased to submit any or all of its projects to potential donors. Click here to find out how to contact us.


Director: Dr Agnes Kory
DipRAM, BMus, MMus, MPhil, PhD

Agnes Kory is a graduate of the Béla Bartók Conservatoire Budapest, Royal Academy of Music London (DipRAM), the University of London (BMus, MMus, MPhil) and the University of Manchester (PhD). She is a teacher, performer (cello, baroque cello, viola da gamba, tenor violin) and researcher in historical musicology.

Agnes Kory's MPhil thesis on Bartók and Ethnomusicology was highly praised by the examiners for the University of London in December 2004. They deemed the thesis far reaching in importance for future Bartók scholars and they urged publication.

Agnes Kory's scholarly publications include:

Agnes Kory's pedagogical publications include:


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