About us
"For those whose life is art, art is their life."
(Johann Sebastian Bach)
Budapest Academic Choir Society
The Budapest Academic Choral Society was founded in 1957 as the Central Choir of Budapest Universities and Colleges (later the KISZ Central Artistic Ensemble University Choir) and has borne its current name since 1990. It is one of the busiest amateur oratorio choirs in Hungary and is a regular partner of the Budafok Dohnányi Orchestra.
The choir's musical directors
Ildikó Balassa
Choir director Ildikó Balassa has been associated with the choir since 1992. Initially working as a répétiteur, since 1998 – with a brief interruption – she has been responsible as assistant conductor for rehearsing pieces, harmonizing the expressive styles of singers with different levels of skill and talent, and shaping the choir’s unified sound.
Gábor Hollerung
The choir’s principal conductor and artistic director since 1980 is Gábor Hollerung, winner of the Liszt Ferenc and Príma Primissima awards, conductor, choir director, Honored Artist, who is the executive music director of the Budafok Dohnányi Orchestra, artistic director of the Zemplén Festival, founder and artistic director of the Budapest International Choir Competition, and honorary citizen of Budafok Tétény.
Katalin Joó
She joined the choir in 1999. Initially, she participated in the work as a choir member and vocal coach, accompanying the choir on the piano when necessary. She has been the choir’s répétiteur since 2012.
Repertoire
The choir’s repertoire includes almost all of the major oratorios in music history, but it also enthusiastically performs contemporary music. Its program includes the recently successful Cinefonic film music concerts, the Gamer Symphony, and the music from the super concerts of Igazából Karácsony (Actually Christmas).
Our successes
The choir continues to be a major player in the Hungarian concert scene and has enjoyed numerous international successes.
They sing in joint season ticket series with the Budafok Dohnányi Orchestra at the Liszt Academy of Music, MÜPA Budapest, and the Budafok Klauzál House.
Festival performances
The choir is also a regular performer at the Zemplén Festival.
International successes
They have performed with renowned ensembles and artists in some of the world’s most famous concert halls.
Europe
Israel
Sydney
Taiwan
Our awards
The choir has won numerous choir competitions, the most significant of which are listed below.
1984 Béla Bartók International Choir Competition, Debrecen
grand prize
1989 International Eisetddfod Llangollen
First prize in the mixed choir category and grand prize, winning the title of “Choir of the World”
Concert recordings
Several recordings have been made of performances by the Budapest Academic Choral Society, for example with Hungarian Radio, RAI and ZDF television channels, and TELDEC and Hungaroton record labels.
Relaxed atmosphere
In addition to high-quality musical work, the choir enjoys an excellent community and social life, which is immortalized by lifelong events and relationships. The choir places great emphasis on ensuring the next generation and rejuvenation. It is the founder and has been a permanent participant in the ÉNEKEL AZ ORSZÁG (The Country Sings) project since 1986.