During our annual Hungarian Festival, held on the first weekend of March, we offer world-class entertainment, including traditional Hungarian folk songs and dances, contemporary Hungarian music, and music inspired by the Hungarian folk songs and countryside.
Performers
Our performers range from our local school and a popular local band, to others coming from New York, California, and Hungary.
Through the selection of this repertoire, we wish to represent the multifaceted nature of our music, from folk music and dance with roots in ancient times, music inspired by these centuries-old sounds and the sounds of nature in Hungarian-inhabited areas of Transylvania, to modern Hungarian music.
Besides inviting world-class musicians, our own Napocska School is going to present several children’s songs and dances.
Fészer Banda
Fészer Banda comes from New York/New Jersey and presents traditional Hungarian folk music and dances.
They play authentic Hungarian folk music, and their goal is to cultivate and pass on the musical traditions of Hungarian folk culture by preserving the original sound.
This original sound of traditional Hungarian folk culture relies on the use of three main instruments: the violin, viola and double bass, with occasional additions of cimbal, tárogató, and gardony. (You can learn about these traditional instruments specific to the Hungarian culture at the MIM).
Fészer Banda uses these instruments in their performance, thus showcasing the original sound, while treating our audience to a big-energy, entertaining tour of Hungary’s folk music, song, and dance culture.
Fészer Banda also showcases and teaches Hungarian folk dances. The dance circle they lead helps you learn some basic steps you can rely on at any Hungarian party where folk music is played.
Traveler
Scott Jeffers, the lead player in the popular local band Traveler was also in search of this original sound he heard in traditional Hungarian folk music. His search led him to the mountains of Transylvania, where it wasn’t just the music, but also the sounds of birds in the Székely mountains that inspired him.
Similar to the traditional Hungarian folk music, he also uses his violin to reproduce these sounds.
Part of the band’s Travel Global series, Traveler will perform at our Annual Hungarian Festival, showcasing the way a traveler perceives and includes Hungarian folk music sounds in the band’s repertoire.
Noémi Sárog- Sinha Robert Duo
Returning to our stage, Noémi Sárog (singer and actress from California), and Robert Sinha (jazz musician and composer from Hungary) bring modern Hungarian sounds to our audience.
Both performers have often been our guests for different shows and festivals over the years, so we know them well. We also had the opportunity to see them perform as a duo last winter, when they brought the poetry of Sándor Petőfi to our audiences.
Outstanding artists on their own, Noémi and Robert bring something special to the stage when they perform as a duo. Robert’s guitar complements Noémi’s voice (and vice-versa), so the resulting sound stays with you long after they stopped playing/singing.
Their performance will be a great addition to our show.
The Children of Our Own Napocska School
A family-friendly festival like ours can not miss a performance for children, by children. All dressed in traditional Hungarian folk costumes, the students of our Napocska School will perform Hungarian children’s songs and dances.
With their performance we wish to demonstrate the continuity of our traditions, as you will see that even our young children born and raised here, in Phoenix, enjoy our traditions, continuing our legacy.
HUNGARIAN FESTIVAL ARIZONA 