Annual Liszt Concert in the Hungarian Cultural Garden
Annual Liszt Concert Hungarian Cultural Garden June 22, 2025
The Hungarian Cultural Garden is one of over 40 ethnic gardens in the Cleveland Cultural Gardens. Each year the Hungarian Cultural Garden puts on a free performance for the community featuring the music of Franz Liszt and others. Despite sweltering heat, the performers did a great job.
Hungarian Cultural Garden immediate past president Carolyn Balogh welcomed the crowd and introduced new Garden president Ron Kovach.
Carolyn Balogh
Carolyn Balogh and Ron Kovach
Ron introduced Dr. Balasz Martonffy, Consul General of Hungary in Chicago, who gave welcoming remarks.
Ron Kovach
Consul General Dr. Balasz Martonffy
Carolyn then introduced the event MC Andrea Lazar who gave some history of the Hungarian Garden which was dedicated in 1934 to Franz Liszt.
Andrea Lazar
She then introduced Vera Holczer-Waroquet from the Aurora School of Music to begin the program.
Vera Holczer-Waroquet
Watch a video of the above remarks.
The concert began with Maggie Johns performing Hungarian Rhapsody #6 by Liszt. Watch.
Maggie Johns
Next was Liszt's A la Chapelle Sixtine by Allison Hillier.
Allison Hillier
Brian Harper then performed Waldersrauschen by Liszt.
Brian Harper
Brendan Bennett then performed Liszt's Liebestraum and then selections by Bartok.
Brendan Bennett
Next, 7 year old Freddie Wong performed two children's selections by Bartok.
Vera Holczer-Waroquet with Freddie Wong
10 year old Michelle Kim then performed selections by Bartok.
Michelle Kim
Ethan Yoder then performed a selection by Bartok.
Ethan Yoder
Then Vera Holczer-Waroquet from the Aurora School of Music performed Brahms Hungarian Dance #5.
Vera then accompanied Carlie Geyer who performed Monti Czardas on the violin.
Vera Holczer-Waroquet and Carlie Geyer
Vera then introduced 17 year old Abigail Becker who learned 5 verses of the Hungarian song "Ha en rozsa volnek' by Zsuzsa Koncz in one week. She was accompanied on guitar by Vera's husband Christophe Waroquet.
Christophe and Vera Waroquet and Abigail Becker
Christophe Waroquet and Abigail Becker
New Hungarian Garden President Ron Kovach presented flowers to Vera Holczer-Waroquet from the Aurora School of Music and then his predecessor Carolyn Balogh.
Flowers for Carolyn Balogh
Carolyn and Jim Balogh
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