The Rt. Rev. Dr. Attila Kocsis
Pastor of the Reformed Church at Perth Amboy, New Jersey, in recognition of his activities in maintaining and preserving the Hungarian identity of the American-Hungarian communities in the United States, and in broadening the relations between Hungary and the United States

Mr. George Jellinek
expert on classical music and of classical music program host at 96.3 WQXR – The Classical Station, in recognition of his activities for enhancing better appreciation and understanding of Hungarian classical music internationally and particularly in the United States

"In 1945 the great Hungarian composer Bela Bartok spent the last summer of his life in Saranac Lake, writing two pieces, his Third Piano Concerto and Viola Concerto." >>> read more about Bartok in a great article by Mary B. Hotaling: Bartok's creative last summer in Saranac Lake in 1945

The Bartók Quartet's tonal beauty, clarity, directness and exceptional ensemble playing has caused critics and audiences alike to acclaim it as one of the most distinguished chamber groups on the international scene. "It is clearly one of the great quartets of the world" (The New York Times). In 1997-98 the quartet celebrated its 40^th anniversary season.

Formed in 1957, the Bartók Quartet rose to worldwide fame as winner of the 1959 International Haydn Competition in Budapest, and International Schumann Competition in Berlin the following year. In 1963, the group captured first place at the Budapest competition and the prestigious International String Quartet Competition in Liege, Belgium. The Kossuth Prize - Hungary's highest award - was conferred upon the quartet in 1970 and again in 1997, the first time the prize had been given twice to any ensemble. Further awards: Unesco Prize 1981, Bartók Prize 1986.

The quartet members first came together at the Franz Liszt Academy of Music in Budapest, where they began playing chamber music under the tutelage of the renowned teacher and composer Leo Weiner. Inspired and encouraged by Weiner, they formed a professional ensemble, calling themselves the Komlos Quartet, from 1963 to be renamed the Bartók Quartet in honor of their great countryman, Béla Bartók. The musicians perform on fur of the finest instruments of the eighteenth century (Péter Komlós plays the famed "Hamma" Stradivarius, built in 1731).

The Bartók Quartet has performed over 3,500 concerts throughout the world, and its frequent tours of North America have taken them to virtually every major music center, including New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Boston, Cincinnati, Dallas, Denver, St. Louis, Baltimore, New Orleans, Quebec, Toronto and Montreal. Its recent schedules have taken it to such major festivals as Tanglewood, Spoleto, Salzburg, Edinburgh, Aix-en-Provence and Lucerne.

The Bartók Quartet is equally at home with repertory from the classical throughout the contemporary eras, but may be best known for performances of works by its illustrious denominator.

Source: Concert Program by the Hungarian Consulate