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ABOUT US
Cricket Chamber Orchestra was founded in 2014 by Mate Szigeti and Anita Hiripi Szigetiné. The purpose of establishing the orchestra was to bring students together and allow them to experience what it is like to play with others. Our music selections cover all the essential musical areas such as Baroque, Classical, Romantique, and 20th-century contemporary and entertaining music like move and Latin American dance and allow students to perform solos while accompanied by the orchestra. We have also worked with professional musicians in solo and accompaniment opportunities.
Students who have been playing for a few years can join the orchestra since we offer programs for all levels. This way, they can grow as musicians and people, where social skills, musicality, a sense of responsibility and teamwork are all developed. Students are also able to establish friendships that will last them a lifetime.
Meet the Team
Meet our Artistic Directors, Conductor and Founders !
Artistic Director and Conductor
Máté Szigeti
Máté Szigeti received his training at the University of Debrecen (97 B.A. and `09 M.A.). After graduation, Mr. Szigeti spent several years with the Debrecen Symphony, where a familiarity with the standard operatic and orchestral repertoire was firmly established.
From 2000-2010, Mr. Szigeti was affiliated with the Lebanese National Symphony Orchestra as principal flautist and soloist and was on the Lebanese National Higher Conservatory faculty.
Students from his studio were hand selected on three occasions to join the West-Eastern Devine
Orchestra under the baton of Daniel Barenboim, while others were successfully prepared for entrance exams with such institutions as the Damascus Conservatory (Syria), the Music Hockschule Basel (Switzerland), and McGill University (Canada).
Mr Szigeti moved to Canada with his family in 2010. Since then, he has been involved in Hamilton's musical
life. He was a featured soloist with the Dundas Valley Orchestra, York Symphony Orchestra, and
Burlington Concert Band. Organized and performed many chamber concerts from Niagara on the Lake to Toronto, Japan (2013) and Mexico. Mr Szigeti is a Music Director of the Hamilton City Ballet Orchestra, Cricket Chamber Orchestra and a principal flautist of the Oakville Symphony Orchestra.
Mr Szigeti is teaching at the Hamilton Academy of Performing Arts and the PEN Education
Centre, Oakville
"Throughout my career, I have focused on empowering my students to succeed by encouraging them to develop their strengths and to grow both academically and personally."
Violin Coach
Anita Hiripi Szigetine
Hungarian violinist Anita Hiripi was born in Debrecen, Hungary. She was involved with
music and dance from an early age. She awarded many times in the Hungarian Latin-American
Dance Championship before discovering a genuine love for the violin. Ms Hiripi graduated
from the Béla Bartók University of Music, Miskolc(Hungary). After graduation, Ms. Hiripi spent several years with the Debrecen Symphony, where a familiarity with the standard operatic and
orchestral repertoire was firmly established. As an orchestra member, Ms Hiripi appeared in
Germany, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, Luxemburg, Vatican, France, Austria, Tunisia, Denmark, Italy, and Nederland.
From 2000-2010, Ms Hiripi become a member of the Lebanese National Symphony Orchestra violin
section and on the faculty of the Lebanese National Higher Conservatory. In Lebanon Ms Hiripi played many times with the L.N.S.O concerts at the famous Baalbeck, Boustan and Tyre festivals, sharing the stage with such renowned soloists and conductors as Placido Domingo, Roberto Alagna, Angela Gheorghiu, Barnabás Kelemen, Boris Berezovsky, Gert Albrecht, Sergio Croce, Paolo Olmi,
Marco Parisotto, Eugene Kohn, Joseph Wilkomirsky, Alain Paris, Wojciech Czepiel, and Eraldo Salmieri,Robert Lehrebaumer, among others.
Since Ms Hiripi arrived in Canada in 2010 she has been involved in the Hamilton musical life. She became a second principal violin player at the Hamilton City Ballet Orchestra and participated in many chamber and orchestra concerts from Niagara on the Lake to Toronto. Ms Hiripi teaches at the HWDSB strings program, at the Hamilton Academy of Performing Arts and Anita`s Music Studio. She established with her husband the Cricket Chamber Orchestra in 2014. In the summer of 2017, the Cricket Chamber Orchestra was invited to the Szentendre Summer Music Festival in Hungary. 2020 Cricket Chamber Orchestra won a Bronze award at the World Orchestral Festival.
