Arpad Darazs
Encyclopedia
Arpad Darazs was a Hungarian
-American
music educator
who was widely known as one of the few in the Western hemisphere as an authority on the Kodály
method of choral instruction. Before he gained wide acclaim for his work at the University of South Carolina
, he garnered acclaim with the success of the St. Killian's Boychoir of Farmingdale, New York
. The boys' choir not only sang on the Sonny Fox show, but also on a Christmas album with Andre Kostelanetz
, as well as the with Leonard Bernstein
at the 20th Anniversary Celebration of the United Nations
.
Arpad Darazs graduated from Franz Liszt Conservatory in Budapest
and was the conductor of the Hungarian State Ballet Chorus and Orchestra, as well as choirmaster for the Hungarian Radio Network.
While at the University of South Carolina (1966–1986) he founded the USC Concert Choir. He also conducted the Columbia (SC) Boychoir, as well as the Columbia Barbershop Chorus, and the First Presbyterian Church Choir. Later he was also conductor of the Columbia Philharmonic Orchestra. In 1981 he founded the Palmetto Mastersingers, which is an all male chorus that went on to win critical acclaim at competitions in Hungary and Wales
(1984). In 1976, the Concert Choir became the first choir from the United States to win the first prize in the International Béla Bartók
Choral Competition in Hungary. They repeated this in 1980.
In 1985 he was awarded the Elizabeth O'Neill Verner Government Award for his contributions and achievements in and to the arts in South Carolina.
He died in 1986 from leukemia
at the age of 64. He left behind his two sons Bert Darazs and Des Darazs
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
-American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
music educator
Music education
Music education is a field of study associated with the teaching and learning of music. It touches on all domains of learning, including the psychomotor domain , the cognitive domain , and, in particular and significant ways,the affective domain, including music appreciation and sensitivity...
who was widely known as one of the few in the Western hemisphere as an authority on the Kodály
Zoltán Kodály
Zoltán Kodály was a Hungarian composer, ethnomusicologist, pedagogue, linguist, and philosopher. He is best known internationally as the creator of the Kodály Method.-Life:Born in Kecskemét, Kodály learned to play the violin as a child....
method of choral instruction. Before he gained wide acclaim for his work at the University of South Carolina
University of South Carolina
The University of South Carolina is a public, co-educational research university located in Columbia, South Carolina, United States, with 7 surrounding satellite campuses. Its historic campus covers over in downtown Columbia not far from the South Carolina State House...
, he garnered acclaim with the success of the St. Killian's Boychoir of Farmingdale, New York
Farmingdale, New York
The Village of Farmingdale is an incorporated village on Long Island within the Town of Oyster Bay in Nassau County, New York in the United States...
. The boys' choir not only sang on the Sonny Fox show, but also on a Christmas album with Andre Kostelanetz
Andre Kostelanetz
André Kostelanetz was a popular orchestral music conductor and arranger, one of the pioneers of easy listening music.-Biography:...
, as well as the with Leonard Bernstein
Leonard Bernstein
Leonard Bernstein August 25, 1918 – October 14, 1990) was an American conductor, composer, author, music lecturer and pianist. He was among the first conductors born and educated in the United States of America to receive worldwide acclaim...
at the 20th Anniversary Celebration of the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
.
Arpad Darazs graduated from Franz Liszt Conservatory in Budapest
Budapest
Budapest is the capital of Hungary. As the largest city of Hungary, it is the country's principal political, cultural, commercial, industrial, and transportation centre. In 2011, Budapest had 1,733,685 inhabitants, down from its 1989 peak of 2,113,645 due to suburbanization. The Budapest Commuter...
and was the conductor of the Hungarian State Ballet Chorus and Orchestra, as well as choirmaster for the Hungarian Radio Network.
While at the University of South Carolina (1966–1986) he founded the USC Concert Choir. He also conducted the Columbia (SC) Boychoir, as well as the Columbia Barbershop Chorus, and the First Presbyterian Church Choir. Later he was also conductor of the Columbia Philharmonic Orchestra. In 1981 he founded the Palmetto Mastersingers, which is an all male chorus that went on to win critical acclaim at competitions in Hungary and Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
(1984). In 1976, the Concert Choir became the first choir from the United States to win the first prize in the International Béla Bartók
Béla Bartók
Béla Viktor János Bartók was a Hungarian composer and pianist. He is considered one of the most important composers of the 20th century and is regarded, along with Liszt, as Hungary's greatest composer...
Choral Competition in Hungary. They repeated this in 1980.
In 1985 he was awarded the Elizabeth O'Neill Verner Government Award for his contributions and achievements in and to the arts in South Carolina.
He died in 1986 from leukemia
Leukemia
Leukemia or leukaemia is a type of cancer of the blood or bone marrow characterized by an abnormal increase of immature white blood cells called "blasts". Leukemia is a broad term covering a spectrum of diseases...
at the age of 64. He left behind his two sons Bert Darazs and Des Darazs