World-renowned Hungarian pianist Tamas Vasary, who was awarded the UNESCO Mozart Medal in 2012, gave a master class at TNUA on September 19.

Mr. Vasary last gave a master class at the Department of Music in 2007. During the second master class in September, the 83-year-old pianist gave one-on-one instructions to three students playing Mendelssohn's "Phantasie Op.28," Schumann's "Fantasiestücke Op. 12 No.5-8," and Liszt's "Legend No.2 / St. Francois de Paule marchant sur le flots," respectively.

The maestro noted that a musician not only performs the piece of music as he or she knows it, but also has to let the audience feel the message that the performer wants to convey.  

He said the performer has to work on details in the interpretation of a piece of music, and he or she must not be "too shy" in its overall presentation.

Vasary made his stage debut at the age of 8, performing Mozart's "Piano Concerto in D major, K.107." Shortly afterwards he gave a solo recital and then held concerts regularly as a child prodigy.

At the age of 14 he won first prize in the Franz Liszt competition at the Academy of Music in Budapest.

Throughout his career, he has performed with many of the world's top orchestras and conductors, such as Ernest Ansermet, André Cluytens and Paul Kletzki. He also has often performed in major music festivals of the world.