About the IKS

The International Kodály Society is active on six continents where may be found a growing number of Affiliated National and Local Organizations. The IKS was founded in 1975 in Kecskemét, Hungary to promote the musical, educational and cultural concepts associated with Zoltán Kodály for the benefit of music generally and in particular for the educational advancement of youth and the cultures that will nurture them. The Society serves as an international forum for all who are active in the spirit of the Hungarian master composer, scholar, educator and humanitarian.

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Key Features of the IKS

  • A world-wide organization with affiliated national organizations in many different countries.
  • Directed by an international Board with an Executive Office is in Budapest, Hungary.
  • The IKS publishes a Bulletin twice a year with a compilation of scientific articles about music education, and organizes biennial symposia.
  • The IKS offers scholarships for foreign students to study the Kodály concept at the Zoltán Kodály Pedagogical Institute in Kecskemét, Hungary. An application form is available on this website.

Our Values

  • Individuals should be afforded the right and the opportunity to develop their musical gifts;
  • Music education is an integral part of the normal school curriculum;
  • The need for musical expression, inherent in every human being should be satisfied;
  • Room should be made for authentic musical material that has educational value;
  • As a step towards understanding between people, school song books, in addition to indigenous musical heritage, should contain songs selected from all over the world.

The IKS is aware that many are striving for the same goals, even if the ways of achieving those goals vary. We are convinced that musicians can play a unique role in shaping future generations by creating the necessary, but too often lacking, balance between intellectual potential and emotional growth.

At a time when governments around the world are reducing budgets for education and in particular for arts education, the task is not easy. Fortunately, we have the example of Zoltán Kodály and we are witnesses of what he realized through his unique personality and work. The IKS tries to keep his example as a source of strength to which we can turn at all times.

Board of Directors

Honorary Life President

Mrs. Sarolta Kodály

Hungary

President

Dr. Jerry-Louis Jaccard

USA

Immediate Past President

Dr. James Cuskelly

Australia

Vice President

Dr. Zsuzsanna Polyák

Hungary

Vice President

Ms. Susanna Saw

Malaysia

Secretary-Treasurer

Dr. Shinji Inagi

Japan

Director

Ms. Lucinda Geoghegan

United Kingdom

Director

Dr. Miriam B. Factora

USA

Philippines

Executive Secretary

Ms. Mariann Varga

Hungary

Distinguished Patrons

Vladimir Ashkenazy
Emanuel Ax
Pierre Boulez †
Jean-Claude Casadesus
Sir Peter Maxwell Davies †
JoAnn Falletta
Árpád Göncz †
György Kurtág
György Ligeti †
Kurt Masur †
Ko Matsushita
Miklós Perényi
Lady Solti †
János Starker †
Tamás Vásáry †

Honorary Members

Jean-Pierre Amann
Switzerland
Chantal Bigot-Testaz
France
Susan Brumfield
USA
James Cuskelly
Australia
Gillian Earl
United Kingdom
Péter Erdei
Hungary
Gilbert De Greeve
Belgium
Judit Hartyányi
Hungary
Ildikó Herboly-Kocsár
Hungary
Deanna Hoermann
Australia
Jerry L. Jaccard
USA
Wojciech Jankowski
Poland
Judith Johnson
Australia
Anne Laskey
USA
Michalis Patseas
Greece
Miklós Perényi
Hungary
Christiane Pineau
France
Éva Rozgonyi
Hungary
Géza Szilvay
Finland
Lili Vandulek
Hungary
Lorna Zemke
USA