The William Byrd Singers, from Budafok, Hungary
Dear Visitor, “Welcome to our new website.”
Dear Visitor, “Welcome to our new website.”
The William Byrd Singers - otherwise known as ‘The Byrd Choir’ - are a Hungarian choir, formed in 1992, and now of over 30 years standing.
The choir has an extensive repertoire from Gregorian to the Barok era; in addition to having concert programmes which showcase contemporary music. Amongst other achievements are: Kodály Choir competition, Budapest, 1st place, (1999); Arezzo Choir competition, 2nd, (2000); Kodály Choir competition, Budapest, 3rd, (2003).
Festivals and other invitations: Chamber Choir Festival, Pécs; Millennial Competition, Budapest, (1st); The Hungarian Catholic church, Prague (invited twice); Savigliano Choir Festival, Itali; City Church, Győr; Benedictine Abbey, Badacsonytomaj; Gödöllő (frequently over last 10 years). Also, regular choir involvement in Budafok at: the Wine Festival; Christmas concerts; and Tétény-Promontor events/openings/promotions.
2024 January 6th
As with previous years, the choir had a festive Christmas concert in Szent Lipót Church, Budafok. Besides music by William Byrd - from whom the choir takes its name - there were also uplifting pieces by Victoria, and Palestrina amongst others composers.
2024 January 14th
This year’s New Year charity concert by the William Byrd Singers.
“Kick the New Year off to an unbelievable start with a seasonal concert by this acclaimed choir … it’s choral music at its best!” /www.godollo.lutheran.hu/
2024 April 21st
This year we again accompanied the Presto Chamber Orchestra, the Ars Nova Sacra choir, and professional soloists, in performing the B minor Mass, by Bach.
You can watch and listen to the whole concert at this link here
We would like to particularly thank the XI. district of Budapest for their financial support in helping us to be able to perform Bach’s B minor Mass in a ‘full church’ setting.
2024 June 20th
On 20th June at 18:00 (6PM) in the Rock Church, Budapest
…just two short reviews:
“Thank you for the experience. I sang along with you, to myself, many times. You were flawless … and, I was delighted to hear you sing in French at the end” (Zsófia)
“We greatly enjoyed the quality and setting of the concert. Many thanks!” (Ágnes)
...from its start, in 1992, until the present day...
many concerts, places, and photos (with more to come)
the work with the reward afterwards. Or the relaxation combined with the work?
selection of videos, music and photos on the Choir’s YouTube channel.
Many decades of community activity have provided ‘The Byrd Choir’ with an ability to develop their musical literacy and to hone the quality of their concert performances. Whoever the audience - children, adults, the elderly - music has the power to unite and to uplift.
With the choir frequently participating in events which are focused on community involvement - be that a church congregation, children’s home, or residential home for the elderly - we collectively feel that we are able to fulfil a very evident social need.
For those children, the elderly, the church goer, who for various reasons must now live apart from their families and alone, we look to be able to shine a light into their lives: not only with candles at our Christmas concert; but also, within the institutional setting of a home for children, or the elderly - and as such, for over 15 years now, ‘The Byrd Choir’ has visited these institutions in Gödöllő, as well as numerous churches, of different Christian denominations, in Buda and way beyond Pest.
Our choir, though not being professional, is neither amateur as 80% of its members were music teachers at one time, or another. Most of choir are presently actively employed and attend choir rehearsals, twice per week, in order to be able to conscientiously prepare for our upcoming concert programme.
For over 30 years the members of the William Byrd Singers have been practicing, preparing and performing concerts from a joy of singing and in sharing choral music. As a voluntary choir, its members give up their time for free; but our music comes at a cost other than our time, so please now consider donating your annual 2023 tax return to help support our choir with 1% of your tax return.
The William Byrd Musical Fund
tax number is: 18041576-1-43.
Johanna Winnington-Ingram was born (1959) in Budapest, from where she was a graduate of the Academy of Music - firstly as a music teacher/chorus-master; then, in church music (2008). As a cantor, she was secretary of the Schola Hungarica Gregorian choir; and as a conductor, she has participated with Professor Jan Brooke, in Sopron; and at Dartington (UK), in Gregorian music.
She’s been a music teacher at the Nádasdy Kálmán Elementary Art School, in Budafok, since 1987; when in that year, she founded the school's Szent István Children's Choir.
In 1989, she was the founding conductor of the Budafoki William Byrd Vocal Ensemble - formed at the time from her former students and colleagues - and, still very active to this day. In 1992, she founded the St. Lipót schola, in Budafok, a liturgical choir - again, still going today.
In 2022, after the death of its founder, dr. Dénes Répássy, she was invited to lead the Ars Nova Sacra Vocal Ensemble, in which she was a member for 33 years.
She has sung and conducted on more than 20 CD recordings with her choirs, and has also appeared at numerous Hungarian and foreign music competitions and festivals.