Aurin Girls' Choir

The Aurin Girls' Choir was founded in September 1998 by László Durányik. The choir is comprised of young women over fourteen years of age selected from the Miraculum Children’s Choir of the Kodály School in Hungary. The predecessor children’s choir was awarded first place in the 18^th Béla Bartók International Choir Competition in Debrecen, Hungary and  first place at the 52^nd International Choir Competition in Llangollen, England. The members of the present Aurin Girl's Choir were instrumental in both successes.

The aim of the choir is to organically integrate in the “blood circulation” of the Hungarian choirs, to participate successfully at concerts both in Hungary and abroad, as well as to take part in international choir competitions and to make recordings. The choir intends to humbly represent Kecskemét, the native town of world renowned Hungarian composer, Zoltán Kodály. It is also one of their aims to become active participants of the musical life of their hometown, Kecskemét. The choir seeks to be an instrumental force in the cultural life of Kecskemét, and thus continue to pursue their aims up until now. The choir believes that their most important task lies in promoting the traditions of Hungarian culture, bringing up young people who are dedicated to choir singing, and thus interpret and accept both classical and modern choir literature. The choir intends to enlarge its repertory from renaissance music to 20^th century choral works, emphasizing especially the pieces by Kodály, Bartók, Bárdos and Kocsár.

László Durányik (Kodály) is a graduate of Teacher’s Training College in Nyíregyháza, Hungary and of the Franz Liszt Academy of Music in Budapest with degrees in music, mathematics, musicology and conducting. Following his tenure as the conductor the Cantemus Boys’ Choir in Nyíregyháza he took up his current position as solfège teacher and choir director at the Kodály Music School in Kecskemét, Hungary. He is the founder of three award winning choirs at the original Kodály School; Miraculum Children’s Choir, Aurin Girls’ Choir and Aurin Female Choir. László has given lectures at a number of international Kodály seminars and has worked as a guest conductor in Australia, South-Korea, Scotland, England, the USA, Estonia, China and Hong-Kong. His work was rewarded with a Kodály prize in 2005, a Csokonai prize in 2007, a Talents Managements Award and a County Art Award in 2013.

-GG