Magyar News, 1998. szeptember-1999. augusztus (9. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1998-09-01 / 1. szám
MAGYARS who live up to their name From the title one could forsee something unusual, probably something outstanding to be discussed. Well, there is no mistake about it. We are going to talk about people whom we have known for some decades. They have been around, they gave us many enjoyable times, we applauded them and asked these people to come back at some other time too. There was hardly any Hungarian gathering or patriotic event that went by without them, including friends, lifting the Hungarian spirit high. We saw them at the Gardenstate Art Center and on stages in our area making music and dancing. This family is the Magyars. Kálmán and Judith Magyar, and their two children, Ildikó and Kálmán, Jr. They all do the same; they play music, sing and dance. Their every breath and move is filled with the love of Hungarian heritage. Let us take them one-by-one. Kálmán Magyar. He is an outstanding chemist with a heart filled with love for his native folk culture. He had a good start among the traditions of southern Hungary, Kiskunhalas where he was bom, and Szeged, his second home. By the time he was ten years old, he was introduced to Budapest, and he was enrolled in the National Ballet Institute to learn dancing. During these studies, Kálmán, received his first experiences on the stages of the Hungarian Opera and the Erkel Theater. In the public school he became an agricultural oil industry technician. He finished his schooling in the USA as a chemist, then went for an other diploma in Pharmaceutical Marketing. After serving big corporations, now he is a sought after expert in registering new products. Performing with spoons, water jug and the gitár Three members of the Életfa, at the Hungarian Reformed Church Kálmán’s wife, Vamossy Mikecz Judit. She was bom in Budapest and despite the studies in the technical field, she was deeply influenced by the family’s art and social activities. Judit immigrated to the States just about the time that Kálmán came here. She studied interior decoration at the New York School of Design After working with some of the largest department stores, she acquired a diploma in Bachelor of Arts. Doing research work among the New Jersey Hungarian population, she ended up becoming Curator of the Hungaraian Museum in Passaic and of the Hungarain Exhibits at the State Museum. We also find her at the IBUSZ and the MALÉV offices in New York. Playing the “stick gordon ” It was in New York where Judit and Kálmán met. Both joined the HUNGÁRIA Folk Dance Ensemble that eventually became the most outstanding dance group in North America. The ensemble had a long list of shows in this country, they also performed in Hungary at the Festivals of Hungarian Dancers. The main inspiration that catapulted Kálmán into the Hungarian folk culture happened when the Hungarian State Folk Ensemble performed here during their American tour. This happened a few years after Kálmán landed here. Later, as a second influence, came the Budapest Ensemble. This was widened by the contacts made with the intellectual circle at Sándor Püski’s bookshop in Manhatten. The Magyars didn’t wait for the payback time. Wherever and whenever there was a possibility to spread the Hungarian spirit or offer a helping hand, they were there. Organizing and establishing the PONTOZÓ was a great step towards pulling together the the scattered Hungarian dance groups in North America. As a phenomena this grew far beyond the borders of the country. Now they have a publication, the KARÚCAZO, that teaches, informs and hold the participants together. With friends they established the HUNGÁRIA RECORDS and produced many CD-s on folk music. The list seems to be endless. We started out by saying a family of four. So this would be the time to talk about the two children Judit and Kálmán have. Ildikó, the first bom, as an apple, stayed very close to the tree. So did Kálmán, Jr. It was amazing to see them play music, sing and dance as they were Kálmán, Jr. making music with the “tekerő”, or “nyenyere” Pge 4
