ACAPELLART SINGERS
sacred and profane
OUR STORY
Choral Music and Community Building
AcapellArt Singers was founded in May 2013. Each of the 6 singers grew up as a student of the Kodály Zoltán Primary School and as singer of the choirs of the Cantemus Choir Family. So they have years of experience in choral singing, although none of them are exclusively artists in their profession. One of the hallmarks of the band's performance is that, like the traditions of the English King's Singers, they build exclusively on male voices. The similarity in the tone of the men in these harmonies gives a uniquely clear sound when performing choral works.
April 2016, the Ensemble performed with an independent concert on the stage of the Óbuda Society (‘The Faces of A capella’, 16/04/2016, Otto Till Hall).
The Ensemble finished 2nd in the vocal group category at the 15th Jacobus Gallus International Choir Competition in Maribor.
LÁSZLÓ LEÁNYVÁRI
countertenor
Founding member of Banchieri Singers (1989). Main experiences with the group (inter alia):
- International Choir Competitions: Coccaglio (Italy, 1991), Arezzo (Italy, 1994, Choir category 1st place), Tolosa (Spain, 1995, Choir category 1st place), Debrecen (Hungary, 1996, Choir category 1st place, Grand Prix)
- International Choir Performances: Helsinki (Finland, 1995), Tartu (Estonia, 1995), Japan (1996-2004, 6 tours), Malmö (Sweden, 1997), Novosibirsk (Russia, 1997), Beirut (Lebanon, 2004)
- Master classes: Alaister Thompson (The King’s Singers, 1997), Francis Steel and Sally Dunkley (The Tallis Scholars, 2001, 4 times)
- Recordings: 1996-2008 Production of 6 CDs
ISTVÁN MAGYAR
baritone
Participant in musical past, primary world choir performances, tours, competitions, festivals since primary school - Cantemus Boys’ Mixed Choir, Cantemus Youth Mixed Choir, Cantemus Mixed Choir (Tolosa 2008, Tours 2009), etc.
GÁBOR NAGY
bass
Participant in musical past, primary world choir performances, tours, competitions, festivals since primary school - Cantemus Boys’ Mixed Choir, Cantemus Youth Mixed Choir, Cantemus Mixed Choir, etc.
2004-2020 Deputy Director of Cantemus Choir Institute
Bass singer of Banchieri Singers. Main experiences with the group (inter alia):
- International Choir Competitions: Arezzo (Italy, 1994, Choir category 1st place), Tolosa (Spain, 1995, Choir category 1st place), Debrecen (Hungary, 1996, Choir category 1st place, Grand Prix)
- International Choir Performances: Helsinki (Finland, 1995), Tartu (Estonia, 1995), Japan (1996-2004, 6 tours), Malmö (Sweden, 1997), Novosibirsk (Russia, 1997), Beirut (Lebanon, 2004)
- Master classes: Alaister Thompson (The King’s Singers, 1997), Francis Steel and Sally Dunkley (The Tallis Scholars, 2001, 4 times)
- Recordings: 1996-2008 Production of more than 6 CDs
GÁBOR ESZENYI
baritone
Participant in performances, tours, competitions, festivals with several world-famous choirs since primary school - Choir of the Music Department of the Art Vocational School, Cantemus Children's Choir, Cantemus Boys’ Mixed Choir, Cantemus Mixed Choir, Cantus Decorus Singers etc.
Outstanding results (inter alia):
Béla Bartók International Choir Competition, Debrecen, 1996 3rd place
Béla Bartók International Choir Competition, Debrecen, 2004 3rd place
Gorizia International Choir Competition, Gorizia, 2006 1st places, special prize, audience prize, grand prize
Choir conducting experiences:
National Organization of Cancer Patients - Nyíregyháza Solstice Service Daisy Chamber Choir
2018- present Manager and singer at Cantemus Choir Institute
PÉTER MAGYAR
tenor, artistic director
Participant in musical past, primary world choir performances, tours, competitions, festivals since primary school - Cantemus Boys’ Mixed Choir, Cantemus Mixed Choir, Cantemus Children’s Choir, Cantus Decours Singers etc.
2018- present Manager and singer at Cantemus Choir Institute
ATTILA NAGY
countertenor, manager
2008-2009 Discantus Singers – countertenor (alto) (Budapest, International Choir Competitions Slovakia, Netherlands)
2007-2008 Banchieri Singers – countertenor (alto) (Nyíregyháza)
2003-2008 Cantus Decorus Singers – countertenor (soprano, alto), founding member, manager (Nyíregyháza, International Choir Competition Debrecen, 2004)
1998-2013 Cantemus Mixed Choir – baritone, countertenor (alto) (Nyíregyháza, International Choir Competition, Gorizia, 2006)
1993-1999 Cantemus Boys’ Mixed Choir – soprano, alto, tenor, baritone
(Nyíregyháza)
1994-1996 Cantemus Children’s Choir – soprano, mezzo, alto (Nyíregyháza)
ACAPELLART CULTURAL ASSOCIATION
creative & cultural projects, community building, music pedagogy
In May 2016, AcapellArt Cultural Association was founded with the participation of the band's
members, among others. The Association has been operating in a fully non-profit status since
autumn 2019.
The purpose of the association:
- Enhancing the diversity and values of vocal music
- Encouraging access to opportunities for lifelong learning, using non-formal, informal learning
tools in the field of performing arts and music pedagogy
Activities of the association:
- Bringing cultural performances and concerts to a wide audience
- Promoting the international presence of Hungarian singing music art and culture
- Maintaining the cultural memory of the European and, within this, especially the Hungarian
singing and music art, preserving the singing and music art cultural traditions
- Promoting the education of children and young people as receptive viewers of music,
- Developing and conducting music pedagogic sessions aimed at nurturing talent and developing
creative skills
- Disadvantaged social groups in performing arts and music education programs encouraging his
participation
- Encouraging domestic participation in international music education projects
In February 2019, the Ensemble, with the background support of the Association and the cooperation
of Philharmonic Hungary Nonprofit Ltd., Móricz Zsigmond Theater
Nonprofit Ltd. and Bencs Villa, held
a series of concerts (consists of 25 concerts) (February-March 2019).
In December 2019, the Ensemble contributed to the community development event on an informal,
non-formal music pedagogy occasion held in the framework of the project of the Nyírtelek Civil
Coordination and Social Service Association and the Nyírtelek Roman Catholic Parish, registered with
ID number EFOP-1.3.7-17-2017-00097.
In the month of May 2022, and during the rehearsals process before that, the Association
implemented the project titled "Boys among themselves..." in partnership with the Cantemus Boys’
Choir. The project was supported by the
Ministry of Human Resources (project identification number: EMT-TE-B-A-21-0507). The overall goal
of the project was to provide amateur boy and young male choir singers belonging to the child and
youth target group with community experiences that would establish their long-term commitment
and at the same time be based on the traditions of the values of the Hungarian choral movement.
Specific goals and expected results: implementation of innovative music pedagogic community
events and high-quality performing arts concert events of outstanding cultural value (6 in total, 3 per
choir).
During the period as of 22.07.2022-27.07.2022., AcapellArt Singers gave 5 all-night concerts in
France, at the 30th anniversary event series for the winning choirs of European international choir
competitions.
As of 03.11.2022 the Ensemble gave a successful concert with the support of the Wacław Felczak
Foundation and under the patronage of the Consulate General of Hungary in
Krakow, at the invitation of the Polish Triplum Ensemble (http://www.triplum.eu/), and participated
in a mass the next day.
