The Bartók Choir was founded in 1967. During it’s long history the choir was led by many successful and famous conductors such as Pál Kardos, Éva Rozgonyi and Péter Ordasi. The choir has wide repertoire but the highest priority is given to classical Hungarian composers including Béla Bartók, Zoltán Kodály and Lajos Bárdos. Contemporary Hungarian music is also high on their agenda, with several pieces dedicated to the choir or its leaders. The choir has won many awards: First place (female) in Debrecen, 2008 at the 23rd Béla Bartók International Choral Competition. First place (female) in Prague, 2009 at the Petr Eben Competition at the Advent Choir Festival. Special prize for the highest score and Special Conductors’ Prize to Éva Rozgonyi in Poeldijk, 2010 at the TONEN 2000 Choral Competition.

Dávid Valkai has been leading the ensemble since 2018. He was born in Kecskemét, Hungary in 1990. He graduated from the University of Debrecen Faculty of Music in 2015. His major study subjects were conducting, solfeggio and music theory. He also studied liturgical music. During the university years he took part in the competition of conductors three times where he won a special award and the third place. Since graduating he has been working as a teacher in Kodály Music School of Kecskemét.

Szeged is the third largest city of Hungary and regional centre of the Southern Great Plain, also the county seat of Csongrád county. The Hungarian frontier with Serbia is just outside the town. The University of Szeged is one of the most distinguished universities in Hungary. Thousands of students study here, many of whom are international students.