Current and former teachers of the Liszt Academy received Order of Merit and Cross of Merit

János Csák, Minister of Culture and Innovation, Péter Hoppál, State Secretary for Culture and Eszter Vitályos, Parliamentary State Secretary, presented the awards at the Pesti Vigadó on Friday.

At the ceremony, the Minister has said that the Hungarian Order of Merit and the Hungarian Cross of Merit are awarded in recognition of outstanding and exemplary work in the service of the nation, in promoting the development of the country, in advancing the interests of the homeland and in enriching universal human values. He stressed the importance of preserving and cherishing the heritage and values of the past, adding that the way to ensure human well-being is paved through culture. "Without identity, a community cannot control its destiny, its self-determination and its capacity to act. Without culture, a community will fall apart, like a string of pearls from which the silk thread has been pulled, the pearls roll apart and are buried in dust", added János Csák.

Eszter Vitályos has said that the awards presented on the occasion of the founding of the state prove that the Hungarian state, dreamed up by King Saint Stephen, still knows where it is going and has citizens who carry our nation on their shoulders.

Péter Hoppál has stressed that this day helps us compare ourselves with our predecessors. "Saint Stephen's task was man-testing, yet he left behind an apostolic kingdom, a chosen people. His chosen values and his tenacious as well as persistent work helped him and the whole country to look back on his legacy with pride a thousand years later," he added. He has also stated that, although the difficulties of a thousand years ago and a hundred years ago may be repeated now, with a war raging around us, and there may be an economic crisis, owners of Saint Stephen's heritage here in the heart of Europe carry the knowledge to protect, preserve and enrich national heritage.

Éva Kollár, Liszt Ferenc Prize-winning conductor, former head of department at the Liszt Ferenc Academy of Music, member of the Hungarian Academy of Arts, honorary president of the Association of Hungarian Choirs, Orchestras and Folk Music Ensembles, has been awarded the civilian branch of the Commander’s Cross of the Hungarian Order of Merit.

Zsuzsanna Gráf, Liszt Ferenc Prize-winning conductor, meritous artist, teacher of Liszt Academy’s School for Exceptional Young Talents, founder and leader of the Angelica Girls' Choir, founding head of the music department of the Városmajori High School and Béla Lattmann, jazz bass-guitarist and artistic teacher at the Jazz Department of the Liszt Ferenc Academy of Music received the civilian branch of the Officer’s Cross of the Hungarian Order of Merit.

Sándor Horányi, jazz guitarist and assistant professor at the Jazz Department of the Liszt Academy, received the civilian branch of the Knight's Cross of the Hungarian Order of Merit.

Judit Hartyányi, conductor, teacher, former lecturer of the Conducting Department at the Liszt Academy, member of the board of the Association of Hungarian Choirs and Orchestras, chairman of the board of trustees of the "Music Education" Foundation of Székesfehérvár, former co-president of the Hungarian Kodály Society and Katalin Kiss, conductor, retired associate professor of Liszt Academy’s Kodály Zoltán Musical Pedagogy Institute, received the civilian branch of the Hungarian Silver Cross of Merit.