On January 26, Dimash Qudaibergen arrived in Budapest, Hungary, to take part as a jury member in this special season of “Virtuosos.”
This exceptional competition for young talents, designed to introduce classical music to a wide television audience, promises viewers an unforgettable experience. The program features four talented musicians each from Hungary, Austria, Slovenia, Serbia, and Montenegro.
In the semifinals, participants from each country compete against one another in pairs. The finalists then face off, with five winners ultimately being selected—one from each participating country.
The high standards of the competition are reflected in its distinguished jury, made up of globally renowned professionals in the music industry. They will assess not only the virtuosity of the performances but also the contestants’ stage presence and emotional resonance with the audience.
The jury for the final of this anniversary season includes the following esteemed members:
Plácido Domingo: One of the greatest opera singers in history and a celebrated conductor. He has long supported the “Virtuosos” project as a star guest and judge.
José Carreras: One of the world’s most renowned tenors, known for his over 60 operatic roles and thousands of performances across diverse musical genres.
Veronica Bocelli: The general manager of Andrea Bocelli, recognized for organizing the iconic artist’s participation in prestigious global events.
Dimash Qudaibergen: A Kazakh musician with a classical education in vocal performance and composition. He is adored by audiences worldwide for his sold-out concerts and is celebrated for his humility, dedication to family, culture, and peace.
Erika Miklósa: A Hungarian opera singer and coloratura soprano. She is a soloist with the Hungarian State Opera and a longtime judge on both national and international editions of “Virtuosos.”
Hauser: A Croatian cellist whose magnetic performances connect classical, crossover, and contemporary music, captivating listeners of all generations.
András Keller: A violinist and prominent figure in Hungarian classical music. The Keller Quartet, which he founded, has received numerous international awards. Since 2007, he has served as the music director of the Concerto Budapest Symphony Orchestra.
Elena Dudinich: An American soprano renowned for her iconic stage performances and global advocacy for the importance of culture. She has performed at venues such as Carnegie Hall and the Mariinsky Theatre.
Mikko Kodisoya: A Finnish entrepreneur, co-founder of Supercell, and founder of Fireframe Studios, which specializes in revolutionary in-camera visual effects for film and television.
Kazakh musician Dimash Qudaibergen is participating in the “Virtuosos” project for the second time. He joined the jury for the first time last year.
In last year’s finale, Dimash performed a duet with the legendary voice of the 20th century, Maestro Plácido Domingo. Together, they sang Nadir and Zurga’s duet, “Au Fond du Temple Saint” from Georges Bizet’s opera “The Pearl Fishers.”