The Hungarian Folk Singing Circle ("Népdalkör" in Hungarian) teaches Hungarian folk songs through ongoing class series, one-time workshops, private lessons, professional coaching, lectures and presentations, and at cultural events in various locations around the world as well as in interactive online classes.
Founder and leader Zina Bozzay is known for her friendly, accessible teaching style and academic rigor. Our classes are primarily held in English (as well as in Hungarian) and unless otherwise indicated are open to participants of all backgrounds, with no previous experience required. Hundreds to thousands of people participate every year, with participants on every continent, in dozens of countries.
Materials include a wide range of beautiful village songs from across the Hungarian language area, crafted over generations of unbroken oral tradition. These are not composed songs or modern arrangements, and they are taught directly from village source recordings. They include grieving songs to uptempo dance songs, love songs to lullabies, old style and new style, simple and highly ornamented, with beautiful song words and unique regional scales and rhythms. Participants receive village source recordings, Hungarian pronunciation guides, ethnographic maps, song word sheets (lyrics), English translations, and background information on the songs and regions. Classes also often include information about vocal technique, traditional instruments, seasonal practices, and the traditional lifestyle and cultural context that these songs come from.
Founded in San Francisco, California in 2010, the Singing Circle is now based in Budapest, Hungary.
Click here to view our current public class offerings.
Click here to view our other offerings and to request a class.
Click here to support our work.
Select Past and Present Teaching Locations (Class Series, Workshops, Lectures)
In Hungary:
Liszt Academy of Music (Zeneakadémia), Budapest
Óbuda Folk Music School, Budapest
Hungarian Heritage House, Budapest
Eötvös Loránd University (ELTE), Budapest
Magyar Zene Háza (House of Music Hungary), Budapest
Fulbright Scholars Hungary, Budapest
Károli Gáspár University, Budapest
Corvinus University, Budapest
Central European University (CEU), Budapest
Táncház50 conference, Institute for Musicology, Budapest
Balassi language programs, Budapest
Rákóczi Szövetség camps, Sátoraljaújhely
Háló Community and Cultural Center, Budapest
Marczibányi Téri Művelődési Központ, Budapest
Egyszólam music camp, Váralja
Visszidens gathering, Budapest
American International School, Budapest
Greater Grace International School, Budapest
Szabó Lőrinc Általános Iskola, Budapest
Pesthidegkút Waldorf Iskola, Budapest
Közép-Budai Waldorf Iskola, Budapest
Other locations:
ICTMD World Conference, New Zealand
IASA Conference & ICTMD Forum, Türkiye
Liszt Institute Zagreb, Croatia
Liszt Institute Ljubljana, Slovenia
University of Ljubljana, Slovenia
AHEA conferences (in both US and HU)
Knack Cordial Folk Group (Japan, Hong Kong, etc)
In the US:
Csipke Tábor, Michigan
Oberlin Conservatory of Music, Ohio
Cleveland State University School of Music, Ohio
Clevelandi Magyar Iskola, Ohio
Jalopy, New York
Tisza Ensemble, Washington DC
The Kitka Institute, Oakland, CA
Freight & Salvage, Berkeley, CA
Ashkenaz Music & Dance Center, Berkeley, CA
Hungarian Heritage Festival, Belmont, CA
Magtár Hungarian Cultural Alliance, Los Angeles, CA
Hungarian Art & Culture Festival, Walnut Creek, CA
Hungarian Culture Week, Walnut Creek, CA
Dunava, Seattle, Washington
Intersection for the Arts, San Francisco, CA
Rod Poppy Art House, San Francisco, CA
Hungarian Scouts, Woodside Priory, Portola Valley, CA
United Magyar Ház, Los Angeles, CA
East European Folklife Center Music & Dance Workshop, CA
Zhena Folk Chorus, Los Angeles, CA
Kárpátok Hungarian Folk Ensemble, Los Angeles, CA
Eszterlánc Hungarian Folk Ensemble, Bay Area, CA
Hungarian folk dance classes, Bay Area, CA
Zambaleta World Music & Dance School, San Francisco, CA
SF Community Music Center, San Francisco, CA
HATOG conference (US)
Coaching for members of KITKA, Janam, Cancioner, Stellamara, VOCO, Dunava, Wild Honey Trio, and other choruses.
Celebrating 15 years of the Népdalkör!
What began as a small weekly singing class in the Bay Area has grown to reaching thousands of people each year on six continents through folk singing classes, workshops, presentations, performances, private lessons, and more. From a San Francisco living room, to Ashkenaz and Freight & Salvage in Berkeley, CA, to the Hungarian Heritage House and Óbuda Folk Music School in Budapest, to virtual classes several times a week to meet the demand of participants in various time zones. Participants range from young children through older adults, with enormously diverse cultural, linguistic, and musical backgrounds - including many who are reconnecting with lost family heritage.
THANK YOU for your support and participation!
Donate now to support our continuation of this work for the next 15 years! We are committed to continuing our village song collecting, teaching, and performing, enriching lives people's lives with music, language, culture, and meaningful learning. There are many non-monetary ways to contribute as well!
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Also contact us here if you're interested in scheduling a class, workshop, or presentation for your community, chorus, or event.
