Stories: Abigél Králik

Every classical musician has dreamed of starting their own festival – a space entirely dedicated to the performers and composers they admire. It wasn’t until Covid – when a friend I was tutoring in New York offered to sponsor the idea – that it became a reality and Tara was born. The idea was to create something that not only makes the genre more accessible and welcoming but, most importantly, makes it fun.  

The concept started as a series of concerts in Brussels, dotted throughout the year. We took the usual classical concert format and completely reimagined it. Instead of a conventional hour and a half of music, we kept it to just 30 minutes. Each concert began with one big, monumental piece followed by a beer break, and then a non-classical music group for the second half. It might seem like a small adjustment, but it actually made a huge difference for first-time concertgoers. Not only is it more digestible but you also get to experience more than just classical music, you get a taste of something else, like jazz. The result is a vibrant mix of generations and interests, all coming together in a really cool way, fully entranced by the music.  

At the core of the project is a deep admiration for the next generation of talent, and a big part of that means recognizing the financial struggles many young musicians face. I don’t think artists get paid enough anywhere in the world, but especially Belgium. So, we try to do as much of the planning and preparation as we can ourselves to ensure most of the funding goes directly to the artists. The academy portion of the festival, although a common feature, is still a super important part of what we do, and a wonderful way for young people to come and mix with senior artists.  

The future of Tara is incredibly exciting. After traveling around and selling out every venue we visited this year, my partner and I decided to focus on creating a true community of people we could really get to know. As a result, we’ve decided to condense the series into a one-week festival held every September, with the first one scheduled for 2025. Taking place in a beautiful 11th-century abbey in Belgium, the festival will be a celebration of the highest-quality musicians from all different genres, classical to jazz to Eastern European – a true haven for all the arts. A place that still contains the high quality of classical music without all the stuffiness.  

Find out more about the Tara Concerts 2025 festival program at taraconcerts.com