The Musicians

Csűrös Band (pron’d Chew-rersh)

Csongor László (violin), Rudólf Tóni (viola) & Levente András Nyilas (double bass) are the three founding members of this extraordinary band of authentic village musicians. They come straight from the source in Kalotaszeg with music passed down through generations.
For the past 20 years, Csűrös Band has been among the most popular Transylvanian ‘táncház’ bands. Their musicians had the privilege of learning from - alongside archival recordings - some of the region’s legends, including Sándor ‘Neti’ Fodor, the Árus family and the Csipás family.
As well as at Transylvanian camps and parties, the band regularly appears at táncház in Hungary. Their 2011 album ‘Folk Music from Kalotaszeg’ was produced by The Hungarian Heritage House Győr.

The Transylvaniacs

Our own Sydney-based band, The Transylvaniacs will be on hand at the music camp to teach players with less experience and facilitate the ensemble workshops. During the dance camp they will accompany the dance classes along with Csűrös Band. Throughout the whole ten days they will be playing for táncház and parties well into the wee hours. Mark Richards (violin), Sally Corry (viola), Anti Stopic (viola/accordion) and József Kanti (double bass).

Sofia Chapman, Accordion workshops

In this music camp Sofia passes on techniques and tunes learnt directly from folk and Roma musicians in Eastern Europe, as well as tips and tricks gleaned and devised over 30 years of accordion playing. In Transylvania, Sofia has learnt from Berki Béla in Mera amongst others, and will be focussing on accompaniment styles, harmonic variations, form and the role of the accordion in this region. Sofia Chapman trained as a classical pianist until discovering and running away with the piano accordion in 1993. In 1998 she joined the band VARDOS and has made seven study trips to Eastern Europe with Alana Hunt as well as performing internationally and appearing in film and television. Sofia also writes and composes for theatre and film and her compositions are published through Wirripang. Sofia has given workshops at the Illawarra, National and Port Fairy Folk Festivals as well as Turramurra Music Camp and the Balkans and Beyond music camp at Queenscliff 2023.

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