The first Pécs Cantat event was organized in 2010 in the framework of the European Capital of Culture programme, in which Dr. Tamás Lakner (Professor Emeritus of the PTE MK ZMI) and his organizing team showed the organizers of the Europa Cantats that Pécs could be an ideal venue for large-scale choral programs in 2015, after 1988. And so it was.
In 2024, the city administration supported the realisation of the event, which was indeed made possible by the cooperation of a community, as the choirs were addressed in partnership with the Pécs-Baranya Choral Association and for one afternoon we filled the squares and streets of Pécs with choral music again. Zsolnay Örökségkezelő NKft. was the co-organiser of the venues and technology of the event.
The Made in Pécs Award is a niche opportunity for the communities of Pécs. I come from a small town where the role of private individuals and locally organised NGOs is clearly shaping public life. Only by working together can we achieve our common goals. The Made in Pécs Award in an urban environment confirms and strengthens this process, which has long been a defining feature of human society. This event is one of the highlights of the year for active civic activists in the city of Pécs, as it not only puts their own work in the spotlight, but also allows them to turn to each other and make friends, which undoubtedly strengthens the urban community and joint thinking about the future.
For Pécs Cantat, the 2024 event of the year award is an important milestone, as the event has been validated through the people of Pécs, thus facilitating the possibility of future events. Prof. Tamás Lakner, the artistic director of the event, would like to organise the Pécs Cantat again to create a tradition, but we consider it important to make the event international, so we are already organising the possibility of foreign choirs to participate.
See you in 2025!
PÉCS CANTAT 2025 program plan
Folk Music Choir Festival
June 26-29, 2025.
June 26
Arrival of participants 80 people!
Welcome dinner with the dean of the Faculty of Art Pécs University, Male Choir Fundation president and Pécs City Government
June 27
PTE Faculty of Arts – Liszt Hall
10.00-11.30 Workshop – rehearsal of Zoltán Kodály: Kállai’s Double dance for the chienese singers with prof. dr. Tamás Lakner
11.30-12:30 Folksong workshop with dr. Tibor Hoffner
13:00 Lunch
PTE Faculty of Arts – Liszt Hall
16:00-17:30 Workshop – rehearsal of Zoltán Kodály: Kállai’s Double dance for the chienese and hungarian choirs with prof. dr. Tamás Lakner
18.00 Dinner
19.30 Opening concert -Presentation of the choirs of the festival
max. 15 minute show each choir
June 28
Free time
13.00 Lunch
Zsolnay Cultural Quarter – Panorama Room
14.30 Round table discussion with the choir representatives – Panorama Room – Zsolnay Cultural Quarter (condocturs and managers)
Pirogranit Square
16:00-17:30 Choirs Rehearsal and Zoltán Kodály: Kállai's double rehearsal with the orchestra and choirs rehearsal at the Pirogranit Square
18.00 Dinner
19.00
Folklore Night by the choirs
Performance of choirs and Joint performance: Zoltán Kodály: Kállai double
20:30 Folk dance program – Learning to dance with Zengő Ensemble
June 29
City tour in the morning with a guided tour!
12.30 Lunch
16.00
Outdoor concerts in downtown squares – 15 minutes each choir
18.00
Joint singing - Open Singing on Dom Square
20.00 Final Dinner
June 30
Departure
