Fraternity-Testvériség, 1986 (64. évfolyam, 1-3. szám)
1986-01-01 / 1. szám
FRATERNITY Page 5 It has won first prizes at the Hungarian “Choir Podium” and “Singing Youth” competitions. Their qualification as a choir is of the highest possible in Hungary, acquiring the designation of “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 Mid- dleborough International Choir Festival in England in 1984. Further, there were 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. One more important note. After the Second World War, a great loss befell the Hungarian nation. A foreign power with an alien, at times hostile ideology occupied the nation. The Reformed Church suffered greatly by 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 self-consciousness of the nation. Our Catholic brethern are in a better position, since they have kept all their seminaries. We now 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 a 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 when I was able to extend our invitation to this exceptional group of young singers, who in fact are 120 altogether. The invitation was received with a spon- tanious rising ovation of great joy! Unfortunately, only 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. I look forward to their visit and I know that the entire North American Hungarian community does too. The Concert Tour of the KANTUS was endorsed and made possible by a generous gift of the HRFA. In fact, the Tour is part of the celebrations commemorating the 90th Anniversary of the Federation. The President of the Federation, Rev. Imre Bertalan, is Chairman of the Organiz40 members of the Kantus selected for the North American Tour. Sándor Bcrkcsi Choir-Master. A Debreceni Kollégiumi Kántus negyven tagja, akik hozzánk készülnek, kikre a választás esett. Középen Berkesi Sándor karnagy.
