The history of the Kecskemét Symphony Orchestra

“In the issue of Kecskeméti Lapok of 1 June 1879 we read: ‘The Amateurs’ Orchestra has been formed and has already begun rehearsals of a few spirited Hungarian songs under the direction of Mihály Baktay.’ This was the beginning of “adult” orchestral music-making in Kecskemét /at school level it had existed for a long time, in the Piarist Grammar School/. A turning point in the ensemble’s history was the arrival of Pongrác Kacsóh and Pál M. Bodon in Kecskemét /1909 and 1910 respectively/. From then on, serious symphonic music-making took place in our city. The golden age came in the 1930s: the orchestra also played works by Beethoven, Tchaikovsky, Grieg, César Franck, Kodály and others under the baton of Pál M. Bodon.

After the Second World War a period of “foundings and dissolutions” began. Essentially the same ensemble operated under different names. In 1946 the Kecskemét Concert Orchestra was founded under the direction of conductor Rezső Jatzkó. From July 1948 the city’s orchestra was called the VAOSZ orchestra. The conductor became Géza Dankó, and Pál Kóbori also lists the members in his excellent little book. On 27 October 1949 the correspondent of Kecskeméti Lapok already wrote that “the Kecskemét Workers’ Symphony Orchestra has begun its rehearsals under the direction of conductor Lajos Nemesszeghy.” Soon after, the “city orchestra” appeared as the Medical Health Orchestra, with Dr. Aladár Réthy as conductor, Dr. Zsigmond Csoó as concertmaster and Dr. Béla Szelei as orchestra secretary.

Pál Kóbori reports that the founding of the Kecskemét Symphony Orchestra was declared on 3 February 1956. From then on the city’s orchestra was variously the “Medical Orchestra”, the “city symphony” or the SZMT Symphony Orchestra, until in 1966 today’s Kecskemét Symphony Orchestra began its work. A decisive role in organising it was played by Mrs Lajos Nemesszeghy, the headmistress of the Music Primary School, as well as conductor Lajos Nemesszeghy and orchestra secretary János Lukács. Let us remember the orchestra’s conductors! Lajos Nemesszeghy conducted for a few years, then Endre Kemény led the ensemble from 1968 to 1985. Then László Martos took over the leadership of the orchestra. From 1990 to 1996 Péter Dóbiás was the conductor, then from 1996 to 2019 the pianist-conductor László Gerhát was conductor and artistic director. Since August 2022 the orchestra’s artistic director has been Huba Hollókői.”