Music/Folklore paper by Gábos, Judit
Children Philharmonic at the Foot of Hargita (Accepted)
Type of Abstract (select): Paper presentationAbstract (max. 250 words):
To understand a nonpareil as the Children Philharmonic, I decided to travel to Szentegyháza, and meet Haáz Sándor. The "Fili" has always represented for me a natural miracle. Still, as for every miracle, a cluster of specific conditions, an immense amount of work and commitment had to merge; first to create it, then to keep it vibrantly alive, for more than 40 years now.
- The place: a small town, Szentegyhaza, at the Hargita mountains' foot, with a culturally homogenous community, with the ideal number of 7000 members, which – however with no music school - is suitable to create and supply with always-new members both the choir and the orchestra.
- Haáz Sándor, a very good music teacher – maybe even more than that - who created the Philharmonic in 1982 and leads it ever since. He was the spark and the one who takes care of the fire.
The main effort is directed to building a community - a true society of „philies”- with singing, playing, performing folk music, preserving the best of the whole of folk traditions. The approach is syncretic: the Philharmonic weaves through everyday life, it is part of the festivities, it breathes together, and collaborates with local societies. The members not only rehearse and give concerts, play festivals at home and abroad, or even overseas, but also know how to build typical székely houses and estenas together, plant pine trees, collect folk songs, organize camps for furniture painting, participate in the village tourism.
Once a „filis”, always a „filis”. Once a member, the parents’ aspiration is that their child also follows on their path.
In May 2022, on the festivities celebrating their 40th anniversary, five generations played concerts together, in front of plenty of enthusiastic audiences.
The maestro and his Szekely-dressed pupils became undoubtedly a treasure of the regional and national Hungarian culture. They became our heritage.
Brief Professional Bio (max. 100 words):
Hungarian concert pianist, piano professor at the Music Institute of Eszterházy Károly Catholic University of Eger. In 2003 received DMA in piano performance from the Liszt Academy of Music in Budapest and in 2012 obtained a habilitation also in piano performance from the Liszt Academy.
In 2000-2006 – as artist of the Hungarian Radio – played numerous live solo and chamber music recitals; has been performing regularly at the Liszt Museum in Budapest, played at the Spring Festival of Budapest, Pecs and Eger.
In Europe gave solo and chamber music concerts in Belgium, Finland, Serbia, and Spain. In Romania has been frequently a soloist of the State Philharmonics of Targu-Mures. In the United States played Bartók (Concerto no.3 for piano and orchestra, the Sonata for two pianos and percussions) and also all-Bartók recitals in New York (2013, 2015), Canada (Ottawa, Toronto, Vancouver). In 2011, as a Fulbright grantee, she played concerts and recitals honoring the Liszt bicentenary.
Outside Europe and the North American continent, also toured Indonesia, Brazil, India, and New Zealand.