Csengő Eekszó, the National Festival of Hungarian Children's and Youth Choirs in Slovakia, was held for the 18th time.

This year's Csengő Énekszó took place on June 8-9, 2022 in Érsekújvár, at the opening of which Mónika Novák greeted the participants and then gave the floor to Ottokár Klein, mayor of Érsekújvár, who was the main patron of the event. Klein Ottokár expressed his great joy that Érsekújvár can once again host this prestigious event, if only because three years ago no one could have guessed that the restrictions due to the epidemic would be the first to ban singing, and unfortunately it was the last to be allowed again. .

"I'm glad that they continue to use the most ancient method of communication and song, they talk by singing and talk to each other. I hope from the bottom of my heart that more and more people will always join the choir movement, since singing in the choir is an invisible but very close bond."

Gyula Bárdos , the president of Csemadok, explained: after the two-year epidemic situation, the choir leaders and members had a very difficult situation. It was a joy to hear the rehearsals, a joy to see the shining eyes, from which you can see that the children are singing with joy. Thanks to all those who ensure the continuity of the choral movement. According to Gyula Bárdos, singing brings joy to all of our lives, which is what the Hungarian community in the highlands needs.

On the evening of the opening day, Concordia Vegyeskar from Komárom gave a very successful concert.

Based on the jury's assessment, the choir of the Franz Schubert Elementary School of Arts in Zselízi received a silver band rating, the three choirs in Kassa achieved a gold rating, the children's choir of the Egyházi School Center in Komárom and the Janiga József Elementary School of Arts in Nagymegyer also received a gold band rating - the awards were received at the closing day's gala through the choir leaders.

Judit Hartyányi , the president of the jury, emphasized that everyone in the gala sang more freely, with shining eyes, wonderfully. He considers it important that not only professionals appreciate such events. The last two days gave me great joy, I saw at the gala that the children got into it and the singers started to bathe in this atmosphere, in which they would most like to stay.

"It is good to sing, nothing affects us as deeply as the human voice, the joy of singing, the joy of the soul, and in the home where music is played, there is love between father and son, and where the people also play music, harmony reigns among the people . Because music creates order out of chaos, rhythm unites the disjointed, melody turns the interrupted into continuous, harmony reconciles the incompatible," the president quoted the words of the great predecessors.

The organizers of the event, commissioned by the National Council of Csemadok, are the Érsekújvár Territorial Election of Csemadok, the Society of Hungarian Musicians in Slovakia and the Érsekújvár Basic Organization of Csemadok. The event was realized with the support of the Minority Cultural Fund and the city of Érsekújvár.

Szilvia Szalay: The highlight of the gala was when the children and young people who were present stood up and sang together under the direction of Hanza Rolanda, with the wonderfully ringing, clear voices of more than 500 singers. It was even more wonderful when the children and the audience sang the Hungarian national anthem together, it was the most wonderful feeling in the world, said the president of the Society of Hungarian Friends of Music in Slovakia.

Because we used to sing together, but for 500 children's voices to sing our national prayer together and ask for God's blessing on Hungarianness, perfectly as it is written and from the heart, there is no more wonderful feeling in our world surrounded by difficulties today.

We thank the organizers, several people said that it is good to sing together, this has now been proven in Érsekújvár, we can only wish that this goodness and wonder accompany everyone's journey. And in three years we will meet again at Csengő Énekszón.

Source, full article and featured image: Felvidek.ma