The Kodály School recently hosted a very special professional event: a two-day international choral workshop led by Mat Wright MBE, founder and Artistic Director of the world-renowned Barnsley Youth Choir. Invited by the Aurin and Miraculum Foundation, the British conductor has been a close professional partner of our choir family for many years. This was, however, the first opportunity for him to lead an extensive workshop in Kecskemét for our singers and members of the Hungarian choral community.
The partnership between the Aurin–Miraculum Choir Family and Barnsley Youth Choir goes back nearly twenty years. During our concert tours in England, we regularly visit Barnsley, where we present workshops based on the Kodály Concept and take part in joint rehearsals and concerts. This long-standing exchange reached another important milestone as, this time, we had the pleasure of welcoming our friends to Kecskemét.
Throughout the two-day workshop, participants gained valuable insight into Mat Wright’s rehearsal techniques, vocal training methods and artistic approach. The sessions covered a wide range of musical styles, from the foundations of vocal technique through English Renaissance choral music and contemporary British repertoire to gospel, spirituals and African arrangements. The focus was not only on learning new repertoire, but also on discovering how to build a musical community, lead inspiring rehearsals and make music with freedom and joy.
One of the workshop’s greatest strengths was Mat’s continuous personal feedback and encouragement. During both individual and group consultations, conductors and singers had the opportunity to discuss their own questions with him, creating a genuine atmosphere of professional dialogue and exchange.
The programme concluded with a joint concert featuring the workshop participants alongside the Aurin Girls’ Choir and the Aurin Mixed Choir. The performance not only showcased the results of the two days’ work but also demonstrated once again how inspiring international artistic collaborations can be for both performers and audiences.
We are deeply grateful to Mat for accepting our invitation and for sharing the knowledge, experience and enthusiasm that have helped make the Barnsley Youth Choir one of the world’s most successful youth choirs. We are confident that this workshop marked another memorable chapter in the friendship and professional partnership we have built over many years. We are already looking forward to continuing this collaboration during our summer tour to England, when we will once again meet our dear friends in Barnsley.
