Altalena

Alexandra Balog is the artistic director and founder of the Altalena Artists Collective, an international community of musicians dedicated to artistic excellence, education, and well-being. She founded Altalena at the age of 19, shortly after finishing high school and moving to London, driven by a desire to stay connected with the musical scene of Budapest and the inspiring artists who shaped her. What began as a small summer camp in the Hungarian village of Bozsok has evolved into a thriving collective, organizing two annual festivals—one in Tuscany and one in Telki, Hungary—and bringing musicians together for concerts throughout the year. Altalena’s reach now extends beyond Budapest, with collaborations in London, New York, and beyond, continually expanding as its ambassadors, mentors, and associated musicians shape its artistic core. While leading this initiative alongside her career as a pianist has been a demanding journey, Alexandra has built a strong team and a dedicated board, ensuring the collective’s growth. Central to Altalena’s mission is the belief that well-being—mental, physical, and emotional—is fundamental to artistic excellence, a value deeply personal to Alexandra through her own experiences. She hopes to inspire others not to give up, believing that despite life’s difficulties, music remains the force that brings her the greatest joy. Committed to both her own major performances and nurturing this vibrant community, she continues to shape Altalena as a space where musicians can flourish together.

What is Altalena?

Altalena is a dynamic international artists collective and educational platform centered on classical music.
Operating at the intersection of artistic excellence, education and well-being, it connects emerging professionals who share an inspiring vision for the future of the Arts.
Through specialist masterclasses, collaborative projects, and interdisciplinary support from experts in health, sports and science, Altalena provides the next generation of performing artists with essential tools for a sustainable and fulfilling career.

About the Summer Academy

Altalena Summer Academy provides top-level music education in a welcoming, openminded environment. Curated by the musicians and visionaries of Altalena’s core team, the Summer Academy’s world-renowned professors and artists work intensively with the talented participants in two age categories, 18 and under, and 18 to 35 years old.
The academy is dedicated to shaping the next generation of musicians through a holistic approach to their artistry. In addition to exceptional specialised education, we engage students in the importance of well-being, providing vital tools for sustaining good health. We believe that lasting success on-stage is built upon a healthy, balanced foundation off-stage.

Our commitment to musical well-being:

Our program is designed to offer top-level music education while emphasizing the importance of holistic well-being as the foundation of artistic development. We believe that true excellence in performance is built on deep, focused practice, the mental and psychological readiness, and physical well-being of the artist, not merely by playing and performing repeatedly.
While we offer opportunities for performances, the goal of the festival is to give musicians the tools for deep practice and personal growth. We aim to guide you through processes that involve significant off-stage work, where the focus is on mental conditioning, physical preparation, and psychological balance.
Our course provides an environment where students engage in holistic well-being practices, including wellness seminars, yoga, sports, and tools for long-term musical development and learn about mental and physical sustainability of a musical career from working professionals.

Words of the Ambassadors

We aim to inspire the next generation of musicians by engaging them in a community that fosters artistic growth, well-being, and collaboration.

Mihály Berecz (pianit), Ariel Lányi (pianist), Rosa Hartley (violinist), Zsolt Vencel Kovács (ballett dancer)