Hungarian Catholic School Choir to Perform at CPAC Hungary, Not a Political Event Says Director
In a surprising turn of events, the director of a Hungarian Catholic school revealed plans to have the school choir perform at CPAC Hungary, only after parents inquired specifically about the nature of the event.
The Kodály Zoltán Hungarian Choir School’s decision has sparked a divided reaction among parents.
The choir director informed the seventh and eighth-grade girls that they would soon be performing in front of Donald Trump. The school choir, which has participated in external events before, found the notion of singing for the controversial former American President, who expresses intentions of returning to office, somewhat unexpected for parents, according to reports by Radio Free Europe.
Parents discovered the choir's upcoming performance at a gala dinner at the Opera House, part of the CPAC Hungary event - an initiative seen by some as imitating American governance under the Orbán administration. This information was disclosed only after multiple parents pressed for details about the secretive event.
In response to parental letters, School Director Attila Friedrich clarified that the performance was not intended to be political but cultural, emphasizing the choir's role in showcasing Hungary’s rich musical heritage to international guests. The event, being private and not open to press coverage, involved no speeches, and the children were to leave promptly after their performance.
Friedrich assured that the choir would receive an honorarium for their participation, funding new choir dresses for the girls. Despite acknowledging the general principle that schools should avoid political involvement, Friedrich defended this decision by highlighting the request came from a "civic organization" aiming to present Hungarian musical culture. This organization, however, is closely tied to governmental funds and is led by Miklós Szánthó of the Center for Fundamental Rights.
Known for organizing the CPAC Hungary event featuring American republicans and speakers like Geert Wilders of the Netherlands and Santiago Abascal of Spain, the Center for Fundamental Rights has faced criticism for excluding journalists from non-Fidesz-aligned media, branding them as "woke".
Some parents expressed outrage, fearing the potential use of their children and the school for campaign purposes, leading to a pushback against the mandatory nature of the event. Consequently, participation was made optional, with the choir director retaining the authority to accept performance invitations.
Out of 44 parents consulted, 42 approved their children's performance at the Opera, with only two objections. However, concerns of implicit pressure were raised by some parents, worried about possible repercussions for their child if they declined participation in what they feared could be a politically charged event.
The choir’s artistic director, Ferenc Sapszon, and the school’s management, along with the overseeing body, the Esztergom-Budapest Archdiocese's Catholic School Authority, have not yet responded to inquiries from Radio Free Europe regarding the controversy.
The choir director informed the seventh and eighth-grade girls that they would soon be performing in front of Donald Trump. The school choir, which has participated in external events before, found the notion of singing for the controversial former American President, who expresses intentions of returning to office, somewhat unexpected for parents, according to reports by Radio Free Europe.
Parents discovered the choir's upcoming performance at a gala dinner at the Opera House, part of the CPAC Hungary event - an initiative seen by some as imitating American governance under the Orbán administration. This information was disclosed only after multiple parents pressed for details about the secretive event.
In response to parental letters, School Director Attila Friedrich clarified that the performance was not intended to be political but cultural, emphasizing the choir's role in showcasing Hungary’s rich musical heritage to international guests. The event, being private and not open to press coverage, involved no speeches, and the children were to leave promptly after their performance.
Friedrich assured that the choir would receive an honorarium for their participation, funding new choir dresses for the girls. Despite acknowledging the general principle that schools should avoid political involvement, Friedrich defended this decision by highlighting the request came from a "civic organization" aiming to present Hungarian musical culture. This organization, however, is closely tied to governmental funds and is led by Miklós Szánthó of the Center for Fundamental Rights.
Known for organizing the CPAC Hungary event featuring American republicans and speakers like Geert Wilders of the Netherlands and Santiago Abascal of Spain, the Center for Fundamental Rights has faced criticism for excluding journalists from non-Fidesz-aligned media, branding them as "woke".
Some parents expressed outrage, fearing the potential use of their children and the school for campaign purposes, leading to a pushback against the mandatory nature of the event. Consequently, participation was made optional, with the choir director retaining the authority to accept performance invitations.
Out of 44 parents consulted, 42 approved their children's performance at the Opera, with only two objections. However, concerns of implicit pressure were raised by some parents, worried about possible repercussions for their child if they declined participation in what they feared could be a politically charged event.
The choir’s artistic director, Ferenc Sapszon, and the school’s management, along with the overseeing body, the Esztergom-Budapest Archdiocese's Catholic School Authority, have not yet responded to inquiries from Radio Free Europe regarding the controversy.
Translation:
Translated by AI
