About the choir

Conductress, Valéria Szebellédi established the Magnificat Children's Choir in 1990. Choir members are students of the Erkel Ferenc primary music school and those, who already finished their study. Children's Choir is managed by the Magnificat Choir Foundation and the goal is to spread the loving of music and singing in Hungary and the entire world.

Children's Choir is the winner of several Festivals, three Grand Prizes (1997, 2000, 2007), Grand Prize of European Choirs (2001), Champion of Choir Olympics (2004). Magnificat Children's Choir participated in several countries in Festivals and festivals. (Countries are: Austria, Germany, Switzerland, France, United Kingdom, Spain, Italy, Greece, Romania and Slovakia.) Exchange contacts are developed with several children choirs of other countries (Japan, Germany, Finland, Italy, Britain, Spain, France and Canada), common concerts have been held in this country and also in abroad.

The choir plays an active role in the musical life of Budapest. Apart from its own concerts, choir participates also in programs of other orchestras or choirs, performs in several events, successful participant of national and international Festivals. (For example: Kodály and Bárdos Festivals, Kodály seminar in Kecskemét, Congress of Conductors, European Youth Festival, Hungarian- French Gala, Mini Festival, charity concerts, etc.) Apart from the separate church concerts, Magnificat Children's Choir gives performance annually in the Saint Stephan Cathedral at the holy mass of the Cardinal.

Conductress, Valéria Szebellédi develops the choir with a broad repertory; music of different ages is performed in the concert programs. Important task is to perform the compositions of present composers, choir introduced several new pieces. (For example: works of György Orbán, Miklós Kocsár, Miklós Mohay, Attila Reményi, and Levente Gyöngyösi.) In the program of the 15th Jubilee two world premiers have been performed. This concert was saved by the Bartok Radio.

Hungarian Radio saves records with the choir annually. Up to now 12 CDs are available. Choir sings on the Kodály-disc of the Festival Orchestra, conducted by Ivan Fischer, also in several oratorios, like Christ by Liszt, Psalmus Hungaricus by Kodály, Third Symphony and Thousands' Symphony by Mahler. On national level, KOTA prize is awarded from the national association of choirs in 2004, Csokonai prize is awarded from the Ministry of Cultural Heritage in 2005.