As a north-east Hungarian gipsy kid, I have dreamed great and I live that dream for 33 years now.

Even today, I still recall an image from my childhood, when my father’s singing made the bartender say, “Shut up, Yoka, stop making a noise”. I asked for a pencil and wrote the song in Hungarian and then the bartender apologized to my father saying: “I didn’t know how your folk had such beautiful ballads”.

At that moment I came to realize that such unforeseen differences in two different cultures within a nation could bring about negative feedbacks. Since then, I am working on to have my people accepted as equal citizens by the society. As a result of all this, I founded the Kalyi Jag (Black Fire in Gypsy).

Upon return from a world tour, all the members of the band reacted with a range of sentiments from pity to aversion to annoyance by the sight of teenagers aimlessly wandering on the streets and squares all day long. In 1993 I decided to establish a school. This school was designed to welcome those who have been turned away by other institutions. The sequence of events could well be a fairy tale, but the setting up of the Kalyi Jag Roma Minority Vocational and Technical Schools and Elementary Art Schools was no dream world by any means and the running of these institutions today after the past seventeen years is not one either.
Today there are specialized developmental Kalyi Jag Educational Institutions in three settlements in Hungary maintained by the Kalyi Jag Association (founded in 1991). Even the proceeds from our 4000 concerts are insufficient for allowing us to permanently cover the maintenance and operating costs involved in this difficult but noble mission. The Kalyi Jag Association undertakes a considerable role in the preservation of Roma culture and its dissemination as widely as possible across the world with dances and music taught by Kalyi Jag artistical, educational activities.

Mr. Gusztáv Varga
Founder&President
(distinguished with one of the highest Hungarian medals, the Knight’s Cross)

From a true friend, I’ve got a book recently, with the following words on the first page of his gift:

„To play music from the bottom of heart, without bridges, only for each other…”

These words and the 30 year success story of the Kalyi Jag inspired me to make the year 2009 a new milestone in the Kalyi Jag’s oeuvre.

We aimed to achieve new dimensions in the legendary Band’s success story.

The setting up the Kalyi Jag Arts Management and its new activity, was a logical follow-up of the devoted work of the Kalyi Jag Band, and of the Kalyi Jag Art High-School, as well. The schools bring up great talents year by year, feeling great responsibility for these students’ future, and for the realisation of their dreams. We strongly believe, that talent by itself is not enough in today’s world, and without due humbleness, diligence and consciousness even the brightest talents might fall flat.

The mission of the Kalyi Jag Arts Management is to preserve the authentic Hungarian Gypsy folklore by the songs and music, and to present this unique culture and its values to more and more people. Promoting gifted artists to live up to their talent and deliver the roma culture to open ears and hearts through the art.

Our aim is to develop long-term, conscious cultural programs, with responsibility and engagement for providing equal social opportunity .

We would like to prove, that on the stage there is no majority or minority, only talent and inspiration exist. Thus, anybody, who wishes to fulfil his or her dreams with perseverance, may proudly be engaged to serve culture with Kalyi Jag Arts Management professional background.

With the help of the Management arts actitivities, we would like to build the long needed bridge between different cultures, arts, and people. The only way to future is to preserve our cultural values, to know and respect them.

Ableda Ilona
Kalyi Jag Arts Management