General Assembly 2011

General Assembly
Brisbane, Australia, Friday July 8th 2011
Queensland Conservatorium of Music, Griffith University
(Summary of the Minutes)

There was a short overview of the past working year. The challenges of the transition period following the retirement of Executive Secretary Lili Vandulek, the installation of her successor Boróka Bodacz-Nagy and the physical relocation of the IKS office to Csengery u. 53 were mentioned.

Reports were given by delegates of National Institutional Members: Celia Waterhouse for the British Kodály Academy, Dafu Lai for the Kodály Society of China, Darlene Ngo for the Kodály Society of Canada, Chantal Bigot for La Voix de Kodály en France, Michalis Patseas for the Greek Kodály Society, Judit Hartyányi for the Hungarian Kodály Society, Takao Nakamura for the Kodály Society of Japan, Joy Nelson for the O.A.K.E. and Tess Laird for K.M.E.I.A. The President also spoke about the other National Institutional Members.

A brief update was given on the membership and the necessity to keep the attention on extending the membership. It was also pointed out that although the number of individual member is not very high, the IKS is an “umbrella” organization for 15 National Organizations and from that perspective the IKS has a much larger membership representation that works for the dissemination of Zoltán Kodály’s vision.

Mr. De Greeve spoke about publications and said that a Second Songbook is being considered and hopefully will be ready for the next International Kodály Symposium in 2013.

The next Symposium will take place in Kecskemét, Hungary, from July 29^th till August 2^nd, with the Opening Ceremony on the eve of the 29^th. Because Dr. László Norbert Nemes, responsible organizer of the Symposium 2013, could not be present, a DVD was prepared with information about the forthcoming Symposium. The DVD was shown.

Then it was mentioned that a letter was received form the Chinese Kodály Society asking for the organization of the 22^nd International Kodály Symposium in Beijing. The membership will be updated on the developments.

The Board of the IKS granted Honorary Membership to Dr. Deanna Hoermann who was the first President of the IKS and was very instrumental in its legal organization and in bringing Zoltán Kodály’s vision to Australia. Also Dr. Mihály Ittzés received Honorary Membership for his exceptional contributions to Kodály research and to the IKS.

The President thanked the two retiring Board members, Dr. Jerry Jaccard and Professor Takao Nakamura. Thereafter he welcomed the new members, Mme. Chantal Bigot and Dr. Ardelle Ries (not present). Finally he called upon Mr. Michalis Patseas, President Elect, to take over the G.A. and Mr. De Greeve retired as President of the IKS.

Mr. Patseas honored the retiring Board members and thanked once more Dr. James, Cuskelly, Mr. Daniel Crump, and their team of collaborators, for the excellent organization of the Symposium.

The next G.A. will be in Budapest, Hungary, on Friday October 6^th 2012 at 2 pm. The location is to be decided. The Agenda will be posted in due time on the IKS website.