The Bart\u00f3k B\u00e9la men’s choir was founded in P\u00e9cs in 1945 by members of P\u00e9cs choirs that had disbanded due to the war. At that time, it operated under the direction of Mrs J\u00f3zsef S\u00f3lyom until 1957.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The choir was supported by the Trade Union Committee of the P\u00e9cs Transport Company. The members were mainly employees of the company (tram drivers, conductors and bus drivers). The chorus initiated and launched the singing festival bringing together the choirs of the National KSZDSZ, which was held every year, always in a different city. During the tenure of their second conductor, Andor Ligeti, they even took part in the International Debrecen Choir Festival. It was during this period that the choir travelled abroad through its twinning arrangements with sister choirs, first to Osijek, then to Lahti, and later to Leipzig. Under the leadership of conductors Istv\u00e1n Hegyi, Val\u00e9r Jobb\u00e1gy and, subsequently, J\u00f3zsef Hergenr\u0151der, the choir achieved good results at national qualifying concerts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dr Tam\u00e1s Lakner, a Liszt Prize-winning conductor, took over the leadership of the choir from his predecessors in 1980. This youthful vigour set the choir on a new course, leading to premieres of new modern works, tours abroad and competitions. Following the change of regime, further opportunities opened up for the choir, bringing a series of international and domestic accolades.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They have taken part in numerous concerts, competitions and concert tours abroad, including in the United States and Canada (1998, 2010), Spain (1999, 2009), England (2003, 2012) South America (Uruguay, Brazil, Argentina, 2004, 2018), Turkey (2013) and China (2014, 2016, 2019).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In addition to the 32 prizes they have won at international choir competitions, their greatest successes came in 2006 in China and in 2008 in Graz, Austria, at the 4th and 5th Choir Olympics, where they were crowned Olympic champions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Also in 2006, they won the Grand Prize at the 4th Zolt\u00e1n Kod\u00e1ly Hungarian Choir Competition. On 22 January 2007, on Hungarian Culture Day, they were awarded the Csokonai Prize. They frequently perform oratorios with the Pannon Philharmonic Orchestra.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Of great significance in the choir\u2019s history are its numerous recordings (cassettes, CDs). The crowning achievement among these is the CD containing Kod\u00e1ly\u2019s works for male choir, released by Hungaroton in 2005, followed by a special double-CD version released in 2010. Also released by Hungaroton in 2011 was a unique complete edition of Ferenc Erkel\u2019s works for male choir, which was nominated for an International Choral Music Award (ICMA) in the choir category.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The choir is the main organiser and driving force behind the unique and highly successful European and World Choral Festivals, which have been held every year at the end of September since 1993.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The B\u00e9la Bart\u00f3k Male Choir celebrated its 75th anniversary in 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
1997 Zolt\u00e1n Kod\u00e1ly Hungarian Choir Competition, Category winner<\/p>\n\n\n\n
1997 Budapest International Choir Competition, Category winner<\/p>\n\n\n\n
1997 Apeldoorn International Male Choir Competition, 2nd place<\/p>\n\n\n\n
2002 International Choir Competition, Fivizzano, Italy, 1st place<\/p>\n\n\n\n
2003 1st International Male Choir Competition, Cornwall, England, 1st place<\/p>\n\n\n\n
2004 City of P\u00e9cs Pro Communitate Award<\/p>\n\n\n\n
2006 4th Choir Olympics, Xiamen, China \u2013 1st place in the chamber choir category (Olympic championship title)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
2006 Bart\u00f3k Memorial Award<\/p>\n\n\n\n
2006 Zolt\u00e1n Kod\u00e1ly Hungarian Choir Competition \u2013 1st place; special prize; grand prize of the competition<\/p>\n\n\n\n
2007 Csokonai Prize<\/p>\n\n\n\n
2007 Baranya County Assembly Excellence Award<\/p>\n\n\n\n
2008 5th Choir Olympics, Graz, Austria \u2013 1st place in the large choir category (Olympic championship title)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
2008 Pr\u00edma Award<\/p>\n\n\n\n
2009 KOTA Award<\/p>\n\n\n\n
2010 Ambassadors for P\u00e9cs \u2013 European Capital of Culture<\/p>\n\n\n\n
2012 Nomination for the ICMA International Record Award for the CD recording of Ferenc Erkel\u2019s choral works for male voice<\/p>\n\n\n\n
2013 Istanbul Choir Competition: First Prize in the Men\u2019s Choir category and Grand Prize<\/p>\n\n\n\n
2014 12th China International Choir Competition: First Place in the Men\u2019s Choir category<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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