Miklós Malek: Gizella Fanfare
The classical music competition of the Archdiocese of Veszprém, the Gizella Fanfare competition, was announced nationwide in May 2022, with the support of the Veszprém-Balaton 2023 European Capital of Culture programme and the cooperation of Filharmónia Hungary. The aim of the competition was to enrich the musical heritage of the city of Veszprém and the Archdiocese by commemorating, and relating to, the city's 18th and 19th century music period of unprecedented wealth, and by creating lasting cultural values. The competition helped to create music that evokes Queen Gizella's love for Veszprém, her commitment to faith, commemorates her work to consolidate the Christian Hungarian state, and is worthy of the motto of Archbishop György Udvardy of Veszprém: "The faith of our ancestors is the hope of the future."
The Gizella Fanfare Competition received 10 entries. The entries were judged anonymously by a Jury of music experts. The members of the Jury were Szabolcs Szamosi, Managing Director of Filharmónia Hungary; László Tardy, Liszt Ferenc Award-winning OMCE church musician and choirmaster; András Gábor Virágh, composer and organist; Pál Vikman, programme manager for classical music at VEB 2023, and Orsolya Horváthné Dr. Csomó, Chair of the Church Music Committee of the Diocese of Veszprém. The Jury was chaired by Dr. György Udvardy, Archbishop of Veszprém. Miklós Malek was awarded first prize in the Gizella Fanfare Competition, Ferenc Szilárd Kovács was awarded second prize, and Máté Balogh and Dávid Magda, composers, shared third prize. The first prize was awarded in 2023, the year of the European Capital of Culture Veszprém, on Gizella Day, in a solemn mass.
The nationwide announcement of the Gizella Fanfare competition helped to create a piece of music that can be performed on every feast day and become one with the Archdiocese's image. With the creation of Gizella Fanfare, the Archdiocese and the city of Veszprém have written themselves into the history of music, creating lasting cultural value.
