Our Brass Band

You can contact our brass band by phone or e-mail:

Telephone: +36 (30) 455 33 03
E-mail: janaszekferenc@freemail.hu

Address: H-9761 Táplánszentkereszt, Fő utca 12.
Apáczai Csere János Általános Iskola

The Táplánszentkereszt Youth Brass Band was established in 2002 and with a steady growth in 2019 it became a brass band of 58 musicians. Apart from some exceptions, the members of the brass band are or were once students of the local Apáczai Csere János Primary School. Two years of learning to play the recorder is a precondition for the membership accompanied by a performance for the local community. The 24^th December is a particularly special day for the brass band since at that night the new members make their debut on the Midnight Mass as Christmas presents by Jesus Christ.

The brass band takes part in local events and ‘village days’ on a regular basis. Every summer they bring music to each street of the village. The brass band also participates in its members’ wedding ceremonies and organizes its own concert on Whitsunday.

The brass band, which provides outstanding music experience to its audience, receives support from the residents of Táplánszentkereszt including the members’ friends, parents, grandparents and relatives as well as the primary school’s teachers lead by Principal Ilona Kissné Nagy. Besides them the brass band is also backed by the local government with the leadership of Mr. János Perl. Mr. Perl has supported the brass band many times from his own fortune so the brass band could spend weeks in summer camps and travel abroad.

The brass band experienced numerous special events and anniversaries. One of its most important days was the 5^th anniversary of its foundation in 2007 when they hosted a concert given by a common orchestra built up members of all brass bands from County Vas. In 2011 at its traditional Whitsunday’s Concert the brass band was given an “A” level golden top Wind Music Qualification.

Keeping the united band’s precious memory, they organized a festival on the 10^th anniversary of their foundation in 2012 for which they invited County Vas’ brass bands. The next unforgettable moment is connected with setting a Hungarian Record on 30^th April, 2017. On this day 1596 participants, who were officially registered, were singing hymns at the same time, same place while the brass band’s 50 members were playing. Moreover, barely 2 months later the brass band celebrated the 15^th anniversary of its foundation with a large-scale event.

The brass band has always liked to participate on festivals and music events inside and outside of the borders of County Vas. One of the most memorable events among these was taking part in the ‘Retro May Day’ organised by Szombathely in 2013 where, after being transported by a vintage bus, the brass band was marching during the vintage car parade. In the same year the brass band gave concert in Szombathely’s Bartók Concert Hall which was followed by performing at Kőszeg’s Harvest Festival. In the summer of 2016 they played together with The Brass Band of Kőszeg, which celebrated the 150^th anniversary of its foundation with a Music Festival where a thousand musicians played together at the Main Square. The brass band was also invited to the celebration of Szentgotthárd’s Brass Band’s jubilee. They accepted the Savaria Youth Concert Band’s invitation for a spring concert in Bartók Concert Hall. In 2019, among the brass bands of Körmend, Kőszeg, Letenye, Sárvár, Szentgotthárd and Szombathely, the Táplánszenkereszt Youth Brass Band gave a sparkling performance at Szentgotthárd’s 22^th Wind Music Fest.

Throughout Hungary the brass band took part in numerous international music events: they gave concerts at Sopron’s International Brass Band’s Festival in 2014, in 2015 at Zalaegerszeg’s, Szentgotthárd’s and Szombathely’s International Brass Band’s Festival. In the autumn of 2016 they also participated in the 10^th International Choir Festival in Sátoraljaújhely.

The brass band places great importance on noble gestures. As a first step, in 2014 they gave a charity concert in Vép. For the Markusovszky Hospital’s Department of Pediatrics and Alpokalja Children’s Cancer Charity (Alpokalja a Daganatos Gyermekekért Közhasznú Alapítvány) they hosted another charity concert, with the slogan “The Young For The Young”, which took place on 30^th April, 2016.

The brass band had plenty of opportunities for giving performance abroad. Their first foreign concert was in 2004 in Germany. In the following years their excellent performances continued in Transylvania, Slovenia and Austria. Besides these, the brass band’s trip to Rome in 2010 has an outstanding importance. Thanks to Priest Dr. Gyula Perger’s great help the brass band was able to participate in an audience with Pope Benedict XVI where they could give performance in front of His Holiness and 7200 believers from all corners of the world. The next stop of their foreign performances was 2014 when they took the stage in Krakow, Poland at the II. Summer Arts Festival. The brass band’s calm stay in Krakow was ensured by the Embassy of Hungary and Consulate of Krakow. The brass band also took part with 7 members in Austria at Markt Allhau 1 Jungmusikertag where they played together with Burgenland’s brass band’s selected members. 2019 brought another foreign journey since the Táplánszentkereszt Youth Brass Band attended the X. Arts Festival in Prague between 20-23^th July where they presented several successful concerts. The travel and the 4-day-trip were basically financed by the participants. The financial burden carried by the members’ parents was significantly reduced by donations raised at Táplánszentkereszt’s village ball and provided by the Head of County Vas’ General Assembly. In accordance with the concerts of Prague it’s worth mentioning that the Embassy of Hungary and Prague and the Institution of Hungary in Prague ensured their support for the brass band in advance. Táplánszentkereszt’s mayor, Mr. János Perl, who’s one of their enthusiastic supporters back at home, also attended their concerts in Prague.

Finally, we need to say a few words about Ferenc Janászek, the above mentioned successes’ promoter. Not only does Mr. Janászek conduct the brass band and its rehearsals, but he also teaches every single musician to play their instruments. Moreover, he organises the brass band’s performances. It goes without saying that this great care and devotion have contributed to being awarded the Magyar Ezüst Érdemkereszt by The President of Hungary on 20^th August 2017. Mr. Janászek received this award for his work on the field of music pedagogy and his indefatigable community building.
Considering these facts and success each member of the brass band are rightfully proud of their teacher, conductor and their good friend.