Joseph Hustzi

Joseph Huszti is Professor of Music and Director of the Choral/Vocal areas in the School of the Arts. During his tenure at Irvine, twelve international concert tours have included prize winning performances at the International Musical Eisteddfod, Llangollen, Wales (1979, 1986, 1992, 1997), Béla Bartók International Choral Competition, Debrecen, Hungary (1988, 1994, 2000) and the Koorfest, den Haag, Holland (1979). The choirs have performed concerts in the cathedrals of York, Sterling, Westminster, Coventry, Canterbury, Ely, Burgos, Liverpool and Boston as well as presenting formal concerts in Tokyo, Hong Kong, Seoul, Taipei, Budapest, Warsaw, Prague, and Vienna. The California Chamber Singers were one of five international choirs invited to perform at the World Choral Festival in Seoul, Korea in 1992 and the Alava Festival in Spain, 1995. The National ACE (Achievement in Cablecasting Excellence) award was presented to the Chamber Singers for their Madrigal Dinner Festival. The Chamber Singers are also credited in the IMAX production "To the Limit". Seven choirs currently form the nucleus of the Choral Organizations at Irvine and includes singers from every major discipline in the university.

Before coming to California, Huszti headed the choral activities at Boston University's School for the Arts and directed Tanglewood's Young Vocalists Program from 1972-1977.

During his tenure as director of the choral and voice programs at the University of Delaware, the Concert Choir toured nine European countries and competed in two international choral festivals. At the Koorfest in Holland, the choir was awarded second prize and in the International Musical Eisteddfod in Llangollen, Wales, the choir placed second in the Adult Mixed Choir Division.

In 1965 the Bakersfield College Choir, under Huszti's direction, won first prize in the International Musical Eisteddfod at Llangollen, Wales. This winning award was the first by an American choir in the Adult Mixed Choir Division and brought the coveted International Trophy to the United States. President Lyndon B. Johnson held a special White House press Conference upon their return to the United States. Pope Paul VI presented Huszti the Ecumenical Medal, both the choir and he were given a private audience by His Eminence.

A native of Ohio, Joseph Huszti received performance degrees from Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois. Advanced studies were undertaken at the University of California at Los Angeles, Occidental College, the University of Southern California, the Ohio State University and the State University of New York (SUNY) at Binghamton. His principal teachers included Howard Swan, William Vennard, Ewald V. Nolte, Helmuth Rilling and Todd Duncan. Active as a guest conductor and clinician, and has conducted performances in over 30 states and 25 foreign countries. A life member in the American Choral Director's Association, Huszti served as state president in Delaware and Massachusetts and as Western Division president.

Huszti is one of 30 outstanding American choral conductors featured in the book, In Quest of Answers. He received the Distinguished University Service Award, "Lauds and Laurels" in 1991. In 1995, Huszti was selected as the Favorite Professor in the School of the Arts. In 1996, Professor Huszti was inducted into Golden Key, National Honor Society and delivered the keynote address. He founded the Men in Blaque in 1997, the eclectic ensemble singing literature from all eras and styles. He received the Associated Students Teaching Award in 1998. The Men in Blaque have accepted the unprecedented invitation by the Alava Festival to perform in Spain in 2001. Huszti received the Outstanding Professor in the School of the Arts Award by the 2001 senior class. The Chamber Singers have accepted the invitation to join seven international choral groups in Puebla., Mexico in 2002.