Magyar News, 1996. szeptember-1997. augusztus (7. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1997-04-01 / 8. szám
We are familiar with people of all sorts of talents in our area. Sometimes we also get an insight into the life and talent of those who are well known to other parts of the country. There are many outstanding Hungarians who don’t live far away from us but we don’t have the opportunity to meet them. Fortunately from time to time for a short shining some join us at times when we are celebrating our Hungarian holidays or traditions. Among these welcomed visitors is Tamas Siklós. We enjoyed his piano playing with Rozsika, accompanying our young singing talent Reka Leszay, playing Hungarian folk music for the fancy steps of the New Jersey dancers, and above all when he performed piano solos by leading Hungarian composers. Tamas Siklós is a soft spoken person, doesn’t talk much about himself. But, when he puts his fingers onto the keyboard the whole world changes. His performance goes far beyond entertainment, he is a true artist with powerful expression. His music takes one out of the seat and carries one onto the the clouds of unbelievable experience. Though he doesn’t hand out his resume easily, we were lucky to put our hands on one. From that we find out that there is a lot more to Tamas Siklós than what we first thought of him. He has a long list of accomplishments on a long sheet of paper. To begin with, he had a good start. His father, Arpad, an architect, was the only person in Hungary who was awarded the Knighthood of Saint Sylvester. This was given by Pope Benedictus the 15-th. Then Tamas was lucky to be able to study under the great Hungarian musicians at the Franz Liszt Conservatory of Music in Budapest, like Zoltán Kodály, Bela Bartók and Emst von Dohnanyi. His first real recognition happened in 1943 when he won first prize at the Franz Liszt Piano Competition. A year later he graduated with Master Degree as piano major. After the turbulent years of World War II., Siklós ended up in the United States and by 1952 he became a citizen. His first couple of decades in this country was filled with studies and teaching. Naturally he had to obtain certificates besides his Cum Laude Degree from Hunter College in New York. At one occasion he was presented with a list of classic composers and asked if he plays their music. It was an unreasonable question with his background, so he said the he plays them in Hungarian. So somebody on the panel jokingly remarked that here he has to play it in English. As a devoted musician he lead a very active life. He taught at schools in New York. At Seaton Hall University in New Jersey he started voice and choral instruction. Later he founded the Regina Pacis Choral Society. He expanded his studies into organ playing. Following, he was organist and music director with churches, mostly in Brooklyn. During his time with Regina Pacis Church he played in masses attended by many Italian dignitaries. Among them the President of Italy, and other cabinet members. Tamas Siklós loved the opera and continuously worked on voice and operatic coaching. He started out as a pianist and assistant conductor with the Blue Hill Troup, the Gilbert and Sullivan Opera Co. Followed by the Long Island Opera Co, The Staten Island and the Rufino Opera Companies. Finally arriving to the Hungarian part. Beside participating in traditional and heritage events he has an impressive list. It wasn’t an easy job to be music director for the well known companies promoting the Hungarian language. Siklós was director of Jávor Pal’s Theater, Petri László’s Operetta Company producing the Merry Widow, Land of Smile, Csardaskiralyno, Countess Marica and Janos Vitéz. As a pianist and music director ha was in Frank Valu’s several productions at the Broadway’s Town Hall Theater in New York also music director in Cserey Erzsi’s Hungarian Art Theater. As the director of the Bela Bartók Hungarian Male Choir he conducted the Choir in the Rotunda of the Capitol of the United States in Washington D.C. in 1990 at the unveiling of the statue of Kossuth Lajos. Presently Tamas Siklós is the organist and director at Church of the Holy Family in Staten Island. Recently Frank Valu handed over to Tamas Siklós the Artist of the Year Award for the very impressive achievements in the music world and for his participation in the Hungarian community affairs.We join Frank Valu saying thanks to Tamas Siklós and wish him the best in Health and further success. Joseph F. Balogh Page 3 Frank Valu, Tamas Siklos with the plaque and Joseph F. Balogh WITH THE SOUNDS OF MUSIC A HUNGARIAN MUSICIAN IS Artist of the Year in America
