Golden Diploma at the 10th Zoltán Kodály Choral Competition with the Mecsek Choir
On November 23, 2025, the Mecsek Choir won a Golden Diploma in the Mixed Choir category at the 10th Zoltán Kodály Choir Competition in Budapest. The choir's program included Antonio, Lotti, 1667-1740: Messa in Alamire – 1. Kyrie, Josef Gabriel Rheinberger, 1839-1901: Ex Sion, Levente Márton Horváth, born 1983: Beata nobis gaudia, József Karai, 1927-2013: The Grass, the River, You and Me, and Zoltán Kodály, 1882-1967: The Peaceful Prayer.
In terra pax performed at the Pueri Cantores congress in Vác
On September 25, 2025, Balatoni Sándor's composition In terra pax was also performed at the Pueri Cantores congress in Vác. The piece, which won 1st prize in 2023, was performed as the closing act of the congress by the united choir of several hundred people, conducted by Béla Melegh and accompanied by Attila László Almásy on the organ.
Concerts and masterclass with the Mecsek Choir in Beijing
The Mecsek Choir, led by Dr. Sándor Balatoni, was invited to Beijing between August 18-25, 2025, where they were the invited Hungarian choir of the Beijing Sino-Hungarian Choir Festival. During the trip, they gave two solo concerts and participated in a masterclass for Chinese conductors.
Golden Award with the Mecsek Choir at the World Peace Choral Festival in Vienna
The Mecsek Choir participated in a very prestigious international choral competition this year under the leadership of Dr. Sándor Balatoni, the World Peace Choral Festival in Vienna between July 18-22, 2024. As a result of the competition, the Mecsek Choir won the Golden Award, as the only Hungarian choir, and only seven choirs from the international field of more than forty choirs achieved this highest evaluation level.
New anthems of the European Winesong Festival in Pécs and the Pueri Cantores in Veszprém
In the past two weekends, two premieres of Dr. Sándor Balatoni were performed, as anthems for two outstanding festivals. On September 23, at the Kodály Center, the Pannon Philharmonic Orchestra and the Béla Bartók Men's Choir presented the new anthem of the 30-year European Bordalfestival, and on September 29, the 1st Prize winner composition In terra pax was premiered in Veszprém, which became the anthem of this year's Pueri Cantores International Children's Choir Festival.
Composers 1st Prize and scholarship of the Hungarian Academy of Arts
On June 10, 2023, Dr. Sándor Balatoni won 1st prize at the HangKELTŐ composition competition with his choral piece "Regina caeli", and on June 19, 2023, he won a three-year scholarship from the Hungarian Academy of Arts, where he is carrying out a critical publication of all organ works by Gábor Szabó Lisznyay, and will also hold concerts and recordings of the works.
