Cluj-Napoca to host Zoltán Gárdonyi memorial conference

Cluj-Napoca will host a scientific and artistic conference from October 20–21, 2026, to commemorate the 120th anniversary of the birth of Zoltán Gárdonyi. The event, organized by the Transylvanian Reformed Church District, will take place at the Babeș-Bolyai University's Faculty of Reformed Teaching and Music Arts.

The conference aims to highlight Gárdonyi's diverse legacy as a 20th-century Hungarian musical figure, focusing on his compositions, musicological studies, and pedagogical works, particularly his hundreds of pieces involving Protestant church hymns.

The program includes a scientific session on October 20, followed by a musical devotion featuring his instrumental and vocal works, including choral and organ compositions. The second day will feature organ masterclasses and choral conducting training for cantors and interested professionals. Experts from various institutions, including the University of Debrecen, Károli Gáspár Reformed University, and the Kodály Institute, are scheduled to participate.