One of the biggest dreams of my life came true when I joined the Hungarian National Choir. There has been a lot of work, perseverance, joy, failure, starting over, learning, realisation and acceptance on the long journey that has brought me here. But I have come to realise that this place is not only the end of a journey, but also the beginning of another one: the knowledge, musicality, extraordinary personalities, humour and humanity of my colleagues constantly urge me to improve. Breathing and vibrating together, and shaping and experiencing music remind me every day of Friedrich Nietzsche’s statement: ”Without music, life would be a mistake”.
The idea that music would define the rest of my life must have germinated sometime in the 2nd grade of primary school in the village of Olaszliszka. Mrs Ferenc Séra, my singing teacher, asked us a question, to which I enthusiastically gave her the answer from behind her back without raising my hand. She turned around, looked at me and said, ”Tell your mother to enroll you in music school!”
I went home and I told her. The next school year I was in music school, and from then on there was no stopping me. Solfège, flute, piano and finally clarinet. I also graduated as a clarinet teacher and chamber musician.
I had already taught clarinet in several music schools during my college years and had the privilege of playing in various symphony orchestras, but there was still an untapped area that kept me busy. Singing.
Of course, in addition to learning to play the instrument, I always had this in mind: in Miskolc, I sang in the Forrás Chamber Choir in addition to studying at the conservatory, and I took private voice training classes during my years in college. But I only started singing seriously when I became a student in singing at the music school where I was a clarinet teacher.
My teachers were Lujza Németh, then Júlia Bikfalvy, Gábor Jelinek, and Kornélia Bakos. I am grateful to all of them.
Even after my college years, teaching remained my main activity, but I very often played in symphony orchestras, chamber ensembles and klezmer bands. For years, I went to Germany to sing with a five-member group, with whom we gave several concerts a week, and they were very happy when I sang an aria or a song as well as playing the clarinet. I was a student singer at the Summer Academy in Sárospatak and Balassagyarmat, as well as in Katalin Pitti’s master classes.
After my child was born, I received more and more invitations to perform in choirs and to sing solo, so I no longer had time for active clarinet playing. During these years, I have had the opportunity to perform with both amateur and professional choirs, and to get to know and immerse myself in the vast world of choral literature.
When I think about my life so far, I have to say that I have experienced and tried many facets of music making, I have been involved in fantastic productions, but by joining the Hungarian National Choir, I have come home.
