Internationally acclaimed cellist and professor Ildikó Szabó shares her insights on the deep connection between life on stage and life in the teaching studio.

Praised by legendary cellist János Starker and described by conductor Iván Fischer as "an artist who performs at her absolute best in front of an audience," Ildikó has built an outstanding international career as both a performer and an educator. In this interview, she reflects on the artistic and pedagogical influences of renowned teachers, including László Mező, János Starker, Jens Peter Maintz, and Wolfgang Emanuel Schmidt, and explains how these traditions continue to shape her own teaching philosophy.

The conversation explores how performance experience enriches pedagogy, what she listens for when meeting a new student, the importance of balancing technical confidence with artistic authenticity, and her perspective on international music competitions.

An inspiring interview for cellists, teachers, conservatory students, and anyone interested in the lifelong relationship between performance, education, and artistic growth.

Topics covered:

The influence of great pedagogical traditions
From concert stage to teaching studio
Developing artistic identity
Technical security versus musical freedom
Sound production and musical expression
The value of international competitions