ImMusic Travels to Hong Kong with Aurin Girls’ Choir

This summer, the Aurin Girls’ Choir from Kecskemét, Hungary, crossed continents to take part in the World Choir Festival in Hong Kong – and they didn’t travel alone. Alongside conductor László Durányik, and often behind the scenes with a suitcase full of music sudoku and rhythm cards, was Edit Palinkas from the Aurin and Miraculum Foundation, helping carry not just music, but also the message of ImMusic.

More than a performance

For those who’ve followed the ImMusic project, you already know it’s not just about musical knowledge – it’s about how we play, connect, and grow through music. And in Hong Kong, these values came to life in the most joyful way.

A special workshop led by László Durányik brought together children and teachers – most of them local, many deeply familiar with Kodály’s solfa system – in a room filled with clapping, laughter, and discovery. Hungarian and Chinese children learned folk songs together, sang in different languages, played rhythm games, and mirrored each other’s solfa hand signs with bright eyes and beaming smiles.

Solfa, of course, goes deeper than most ImMusic games, it’s a language of its own, rooted in musicianship. But everything else about the workshop? Pure ImMusic spirit. Body percussion, rhythm patterns, playful repetition, shared creativity – all designed to make music learning fun, active, and social.

From east to west and back again

It wasn’t just about the children, either. Around the edges of the room, teachers and educators watched intently. After the music stopped, the conversations began. How do we teach music in different countries? Why do so many kids stop making music after school? What does classical music mean to a 10-year-old in Budapest and how does it compare to a 10-year-old in Hong Kong?

What we heard over and over again was this: music is universal, but the way we bring it to life matters. And motivation is the key we’re all searching for.

A shared song

The festival was a celebration, but for us, it was also a chance to share the heart of ImMusic, to plant ideas, and to build friendships through the universal joy of singing together. We’re proud that the Aurin Girls’ Choir continues to be more than just a performing group, they are living ambassadors of collaborative, playful, and thoughtful music education.

And we’re even prouder that through their voices, the values of ImMusic are reaching further than ever.