Calvin Synod Herald, 1986 (86. évfolyam, 1-6. szám)
1986-02-01 / 1. szám
CALVIN SYNOD HERALD — 4 — REFORMÁTUSOK LAPJA and travels. The superintendent of the choir is annually selected from the staff of the Secondary School and the Theological Academy, alternately. In the past, the Kantus was a male choir, but since 1954 it is both male and female. Students of theology and schoolboys and girls volunteer for the often difficult and demanding, but rewarding and beautiful work of the choir. Each member of the choir has to be qualified: each of them having to sing a given piece. This qualification determines who will sing in the more demanding and representative concerts. Every member of the choir has to sacrifice his/ her time and do extra work, and it is this “extra” work that is one of the secrets of the Kantus. The Kantus is a congenial and spiritual community that is capable of spreading the good news of Jesus Christ wherever it performs, and thus it maintains our hope in the religious revival of our youth. These young people are also the conscious heralds of a troubled nation. The gift of such a calling gives exceptional power to their singing, and it is often the Kantus that makes the Kollegium appealing to students entering it. The Kantus has often won first prizes at the Hungaian “Choir Podium” and “Singing Youth” competitions. Their qualification as a choir is of the highest possible in Hungary: “Eminent Concert Choir”. It has also won international prizes: First Prize at the Bela Bartók International Choir Competition of Debrecen in 1982, in the category of youth choirs, and the first prize also in the category of youth mixed choirs at the Middlesborough International Choir Festival in 1984. The Kantus has also gone on concert tours in Austria in 1975 and 1985, in West Germany in 1975, 1979 and 1985, in East Germany in 1980, in Yugoslavia in 1983, in Great Britain in 1984, and in Holland in 1985. The Kantus is often broadcast on Hungarian radio and television, and regularly sings at the services of the Reformed Church of Hungary. The repertory of the Kantus includes pieces of old and contemporary church and secular music, and it has especially dedicated itself to the interpretation of the works of Kodály and his school. The regular task of the Kantus is to sing at the special occasions of the School, the Theological Academy and College, the Church District and the National Church as well as singing in near and far away congregations on Sundays. Happy is the student who has had the chance to be a member of the Kantus, since a choir with a calling has some very special experiences to offer. Apart from getting closer to understanding the secret of music, apart from the excellent community brought up in the best traditions of the Kollegium, apart from friendships, and apart from the tide of memories of the tours, he/she learns to know what itmeans to have a calling - a two-fold one. The students, having experienced the bliss in singing to the Glory of God may even have changed the motto of the Kollegium from ORANDO ET LABORANDO to CANTANDO ET LABORANDO, for they are probably aware of the profound secret that singing is in fact praying. One more important note. After the second World War, a great loss befell the H ungarian nation. A foreign power with an alien, at times hostile ideology took hold of the nation. The Reformed Church suffered great losses in losing to the State of Godless ideology — its entire religious and educational system. 1,400 parochial schools, about 30 high schools, and the ancient sister colleges of Sárospatak and Papa — a loss that threatened the very soul and selfconsciousness of the nation. Our Catholic brethern are in a better position, namely they have kept all their seminaries. We have only two: one in Debrecen and one in Budapest. They have eight gymnasiums (high schools) and we have only one in Debrecen. This shows the uniqueness of the Debrecen Kollegium. As long as there is Kollegium, there is hope that more schools may be returned to the care of the Church. In the meantime, as we jubilantly prepare for the welcome of the Kantus, let us not for a moment ever forget our loss. It was a great experience for me in December to extend an invitation to this exceptional group of young singers, who in fact are 120 altogether. Self-discipline suffered a momentary collapse when the invitation was received with rising ovation on their part, so great was their joy. On the other hand, ony 40 out of the 120 will be selected for this tour. Let us rejoice with these young people and extend our warmest welcome to them. Rev. Imre Bertalan HRFA President American Hungarian Foundation Dr. Tibor Fabian, former president of Mathematica, Inc., in Princeton, NJ; Dr. György Kepes, founder of the Center for Advanced Visual Design at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology; and Raoul Wallenberg, Swedish diplomat and humanitarian, received the George Washington award Medallions of the American Hungarian Foundation at its 24th annual dinner December 5, 1985, at the Waldorf- Astoria in New York City. Raoul Wallenberg served in Hungary during 1944—45 and has been called “hero of the Holocaust” and “righteous gentile.” He is credited with saving 100,000 Jews and others from the Nazi death camps. He and his staff of 400 provided shelter and food for over 20,000 people in protected houses flying the Swedish flag in Budapest, Hungary, while 10,000 more benefitted from the protection and care under the flag of other neutral diplomats there. The award honored Raoul Wallenberg in absentia and was presented to the Wallenberg family Dr. Tibor Fabian of Princeton, NJ was recognized for his eminent professional leadership in America and on an international level to business, government and other institutions through his role as president Mathematica, Inc. for much of the firm’s 25 year existence before his retirement in 1983. The firm since then has been acquired by the Martin Marietta Corporation. Bom in Hungary and trained as an economist. Dr. Fabian’s leadership and skill has opened up uncharted areas of research and technical services in the public and private sector. He is president of the Hospital for Joint Diseases — Orthopeadic Institute. Hungarian-born Dr. György Kepes of Cambridge, Mass, is a distinguished and internationally honored artist, designer, painter, educator and author. His public and private commissions are viewed in exhibits, collections and museums as well as architectual settings. He has applied his exceptional wealth and diversity of skill and talent in an effort to resolve the ever increasing dichotomy between art ■ and science. He is recognized as the “Grandfather of Environmental Art” world wide. Serving as honorary chairman for the George Washington Awards dinner former President Gerald R. Ford;-as chairman Maestro Antal Dorati and the cochairperson is Mrs. Elisabeth Kassér, who worked with Raoul Wallenberg in Budapest during 1944—45. The awards dinner also celebrated the 30th anniversary of the American Hungarian Foundation.
