Hungarian Scout Folk Ensemble 45th anniversary Gala Performance

The whirling of brightly colored and embroidered costumes, foot-stomping rhythms, enchanting melodies, and intricate harmonies are sure to captivate the audience at the Cleveland Hungarian Scout Folk Ensemble’s 45th anniversary Gala Performance, “From the Cradle to the Grave”. The Ensemble will showcase the living traditions practiced as a part of everyday life in the Cleveland Hungarian community on Saturday, November 10, 2018 at 7 p.m. at the Lakewood Civic Auditorium, 14100 Franklin Blvd. in Lakewood, Ohio.

A celebration that occurs only once every five years, the more than two-hour program will feature the Ensemble performing to live music by the combined members of Kalman Magyar’s band Gyanta from Toronto and Cleveland’s own Harmonia with Walter Mahovlich. Additionally, past and future members will join the current Ensemble in some of the dances.
This spectacular evening of song, dance, and music from the Hungarian homeland will be a testament not only to the richness of the Hungarian culture but also to the Hungarian youth of Cleveland who are preserving the customs and traditions of their ancestors.

The Ensemble, a group within the Hungarian scout troops of Cleveland, was organized in 1973 by Andrew and Mary Temesvary to study and teach Hungarian culture to its youth. The aim of the group is to preserve dying folk arts of the Hungarians living in the Carpathian basin, to search out the arts, make them their own, and present them to their viewing audiences. Folk dance, folk music, folk songs, folk costumes, folk art forms, ballads, instruments, and customs are areas explored in depth.

The scout troops are the sole source of membership for the Hungarian Scout Folk Ensemble co-directed by Mathias Tabor and Andrea Nadas. All members must be at least 14 years old, be capable of reading, writing, and speaking fluent Hungarian and also be active in their own troop’s activities. Disciplined hard work is the main entrée of the group. The Ensemble dances, makes their own costumes, sings as a choir, hand-paints eggs for Easter, and celebrates other holidays with traditional Hungarian customs, many of which will be showcased in the performance. Research, woodcarving, painting, and many dance performances during the year round out highly active and rewarding experiences for each member.

The Ensemble has performed in many places including Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ontario, Quebec, Washington, D.C., Hungary and Transylvania, as well as appearing locally at Cleveland State University, Kent State University, Canton Civic Center, Akron’s E.J. Thomas Hall, Cleveland’s Palace Theater, Blossom Music Center, and the Cleveland Museum of Art. Audiences have included many dignitaries, such as mayors, governors, ambassadors, President Ronald Reagan, and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban. During the summers of 2001, 2011, and 2016 the Ensemble toured northern Hungary and Hungarian minority areas of Transylvania, the Ukraine, Slovakia, and Serbia to perform ethnographic research and for the members to see folk culture firsthand in the villages.

Tickets for the 45th anniversary Gala Performance are $18 and $12 for children 12 and under. Tickets may be purchased online at www.clevelandregos.org.The performance is supported by a generous grant from the Bethlen Gábor Foundation of Hungary.