As reported by sokszinuvidek.24.hu, on Thursday the UN awarded the prestigious UNESCO City of Music title to Veszprém. With this, Veszprém is amongst cities like Liverpool, who are represented by The Beatles.
Veszprém Mayor Gyula Porga believes that the city was given this award due to Veszprém’s love for music; not just for hosting grand festivals such as VeszprémFest and Auer Fesztivál, but for the important role music plays in residents’ everyday lives. In his words, music helps build communities in Veszprém and is a crucial element in local education.
Music can be heard everywhere in Veszprém – whether performed by professionals or amateurs – as it is part of the cultural fabric of the city.
During Veszprém’s Utcazene Fesztivál, musicians take to the city’s streets to perform all sorts of musical genres – from classical to hip-hop, from folk to rock.
According to a statement by the local government, the city was able to achieve this award by being the European Capital of Culture in 2023 and being part of the UNESCO Creative Cities network.
Veszprém is amongst cities such as Liverpool, the home of The Beatles, and Kingston in Jamaica, where the roots of reggae can be found. Other notable cities include Sevilla for being the hotspot for flamenco. London and New York are also UNESCO Cities of Music, as their theatres host world-famous musicals.
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