Szönyi, Erzsebet (1924–)

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Szönyi, Erzsebet (1924–)

Hungarian composer, choral conductor, pianist, and lecturer. Name variations: Szonyi or Szoenyi. Born in Budapest, Hungary, April 25, 1924.

Known worldwide for work in music education, studied at Liszt Academy with Janos Viski and Ernö Szegedi (1942–47); won a scholarship to Paris Conservatoire to study with Nadia Boulanger, Tony Aubin, and Olivier Messiaen, then won the conservatoire's prix de composition (1948); returned to Budapest and taught at Ferenc Liszt Academy, becoming director of its school of music (1960); also won the Liszt (1947) and Erkel (1959) prizes; began composing opera, beginning with Dalma (1952); a prolific composer with over 100 works for orchestra, voice, piano and theater, also composed works for children, such as the ballets Garden Tale (1949) and The Cricket and the Ants (1953); collaborated with Hungarian composer Zoltan Kodaly, in order to implement his ideas for music education in Hungary's schools; was soon known as an international expert on musical education for children; became supervisor of Hungarian music conservatories (1951) and served on board of directors of International Society for Music Education; also wrote several volumes translated into English, German, and Japanese about teaching music to young children.

See also Women in World History.