Kalman Magyar (born 1973) is a North America-based Hungarian folk musician and lawyer, recognized with the for his role in promoting Hungarian folk culture in North America.
Early life Magyar was born November 26, 1973, in Boonton, New Jersey to Hungarian immigrant parents who were involved in the perpetuation of Hungarian folk culture in the United States.
He studied violin and viola at the Manhattan School of Music's Preparatory/Precollege Division, graduating in 1991, and learned Hungarian folk music from village music masters such as and Sándor "Neti" Fodor."Fergeteges táncház az éterben", Kanadai-Amerikai Magyarság, December 15, 2020.
Magyar attended Duquesne University on a performance scholarship with the Tamburitzans between 1991 and 1995.
Folk music career and cultural work In 1987, Magyar co-founded the Életfa Hungarian Folk Music Band, the first band in North America specializing in authentic Táncház Hungarian village dance music repertoire.Javorszky Bela Szilard, "Táncház 50", Published 2022. Available at https://dn720006.ca.archive.org/0/items/7-book-javorszky-tanchaz-50/7%20-%20Book%20%28Javorszky%29%20-%20Tanchaz%2050.pdf"Az Életfa együttes – Muzsika az Újvilágból", folkMAGazin, 2000. Available at https://lapozo.folkmagazin.hu/mag00_2/23.html
Since 2007, he has primarily performed with the Canada-based Gyanta Hungarian Folk Band, which has been honored by the Ambassador of Hungary to Canada as representing "an invaluable asset in Canadian cultural life not only as performers, but also as faithful guardians and transmitters of the traditions of the Carpathian Basin.""A Successful Lawyer Teaching the Traditions of Hungarian Folk Music and Dance in an American Podcast", Hungarian Conservative, January 14, 2024. Available at https://dn710201.ca.archive.org/0/items/8-20240114-hungarian-conservative-interview-w-kalman-magyar-jr/8%20-%2020240114-Hungarian-Conservative-Interview-w-Kalman-Magyar-Jr.pdfLetter from Ambassador Lengyel to Gyanta Band, November 19, 2025. Available at https://dn721800.ca.archive.org/0/items/9-ambassador-letter/9%20-%20Ambassador%20Letter.pdf
The venues Magyar has performed at include Lincoln Center, Smithsonian Folklife Festival, Epcot, The Town Hall (New York City), Folklorama, Library of Congress, Symphony Space, National Cowboy Poetry Gathering, and Old Mill Toronto."I Do, Hungarian Style”, “The New York Times”, March 11, 2011. Available at https://ia601508.us.archive.org/19/items/101-saying-i-do-hungarian-style-the-new-york-times/101%20-%20Saying%20I%20Do%2C%20Hungarian%20Style%20-%20The%20New%20York%20Times.pdf ”Magyar Orokseg Washingtonban; Hungarian Heritage: Roots to Revival - The Hungarian Program of the 2013 Smithsonian Folklife Festival, Washington, D.C.”, Published 2014. Available at https://ia601509.us.archive.org/15/items/105-book-smithsonian-2013/105%20-%20Book%20-%20Smithsonian%202013.pdf“Stepping Stones follows a global path”, “The Norwalk Hour”, January 24, 2012, Available at https://www.thehour.com/entertainment/article/Stepping-Stones-follows-a-global-path-8129596.php”Here are the pavilions running during the second week of Folklorama”, “CTV News”, August 11, 2023. Available at https://www.ctvnews.ca/winnipeg/article/here-are-the-pavilions-running-during-the-second-week-of-folklorama/”Library of Congress’ 1990 Neptune Plaza Concert Series Collection,” Prepared November 1995. Available at https://ia601907.us.archive.org/3/items/103-collection-1990-neptune-plaza-concert-series-collection-library-of-congress/103%20-%20Collection-%201990%20Neptune%20Plaza%20Concert%20Series%20Collection%20%7C%20Library%20of%20Congress.pdf ”Stage: ‘Christmas Revels’ for Solstice”, “The New York Times”, December 12, 1987. Available at https://ia601502.us.archive.org/10/items/102-revels-stage-christmas-revels-for-solstice-the-new-york-times/102%20-%20Revels%20-%20Stage%3A%20%27Christmas%20Revels%27%20for%20Solstice%20-%20The%20New%20York%20Times.pdf ”Two Countries, One Love: Hungarians Perform at Poetry Gathering”, “Elko Daily”, 2011 (Obtained February 6, 2025). Available at https://ia903207.us.archive.org/14/items/104-performance-two-countries-one-love-hungarians-perform-at-poetry-gathering/104%20-%20Performance%20-%20Two%20countries%2C%20one%20love%3A%20Hungarians%20perform%20at%20Poetry%20Gathering.pdf ”Rákóczi Gala Ball in Toronto”, October 9, 2025. Available at https://rakoczi.ca/rakoczi-gala-ball-in-toronto/
Magyar created and hosted Tanchaz Talk, an English-language podcast focusing primarily on Hungarian folk music."Magyar népzene és néptánc angolul - ifj. Magyar Kálmán módszere a fiatalok kulturális bevonzására", Folkradio, October 5, 2020. Available at https://dn710806.ca.archive.org/0/items/19-20201005-folkradio-cikk-magyar-kalman-3/19%20-%2020201005-Folkradio-Cikk-Magyar-Kalman%203.pdf
Magyar is a co-founder and Co-Executive Director of the Hungarian Folklife Association, a charitable non-profit organization that connects organizations and individuals dedicated to preserving and promoting Hungarian folk dance and folk music, and provides information to the wider public about Hungarian folklore in the United States, Canada, and worldwide."Egy sikeres ügyvéd amerikai podcastben tanítja a magyar zene és tánc hagyományait", Magyar Nemzet, November 8, 2023. Available at https://dn710806.ca.archive.org/0/items/20-20231108-magyar-nemzet-cikk-magyar-kalman-4/20%20-%2020231108-Magyar-Nemzet-Cikk-Magyar-Kalman%204.pdf
Reviews According to The New York Times, Magyar has "stood out for his warmth and musical versatility"."In Performance: Dance", New York Times, November 2, 1994. Available at https://ia800601.us.archive.org/15/items/10-stage-dunning-review-in-performance-dance-the-new-york-times/10%20-%20Stage%20-%20Dunning%20Review%20-%20IN%20PERFORMANCE%3A%20DANCE%20-%20The%20New%20York%20Times.pdf Attitude (The Dancer's Magazine) called him a "violin virtuoso"."Dance Briefs... Oroksegunk", Attitude (The Dancer’s Magazine), Fall 1998. Available at https://ia600406.us.archive.org/20/items/11-stage-review-in-attitude-the-dancers-magazine-about-oroksegunk/11%20-%20Stage%20-%20Review%20in%20Attitude%20The%20Dancer%27s%20Magazine%20about%20Oroksegunk.pdf Pittsburgh Post-Gazette wrote that he "displayed his mastery of many ethnic instruments rarely heard in concert"."Tammies tour Eastern Europe - effortlessly", Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, December 31, 1994. Available at https://dn710801.ca.archive.org/0/items/12-stage-pittsburgh-post-gazette-review-1994-12-31-page-13/12%20-%20Stage%20-%20Pittsburgh_Post_Gazette%20Review_1994_12_31_Page_13.pdf The Plain Dealer stated that Magyar "proved to be an excellent showman as well as a versatile player of five different instruments.""Informative show missing spark", The Plain Dealer, June 17, 1997. Available at https://dn710906.ca.archive.org/0/items/13-stage-review-in-the-plain-dealer-1997-06-17-48/13%20-%20Stage%20-%20Review%20in%20The_Plain_Dealer_1997_06_17_48.pdf
U.K.'s fRoots called Magyar a "skilful, experienced player, particularly on violin" and his playing "quite refreshing".Review of Exposed, March 2004. Available at https://ia903100.us.archive.org/34/items/14-review-froots-march/14%20-%20Review%20-%20FRoots%20March.pdfReview of Crossing Paths, December 2003. Available at https://ia601509.us.archive.org/23/items/15-review-froots-december/15%20-%20Review%20-%20Froots%20December.pdf Trad Magazine wrote: "" (His qualities as a violinist are undeniable: great precision and cleanness of playing).Multi-CD Review, July/August 2004. Available at https://ia601604.us.archive.org/2/items/16-review-trad-mag/16%20-%20Review%20-%20Trad%20Mag.pdf Dirty Linen stated that Magyar's "one-man-show aspect is secondary to the excellent musical results."Review of Exposed and Crossing Paths, April/May 2004. Available at https://ia903106.us.archive.org/18/items/17-review-dirty-linen/17%20-%20Review%20-%20Dirty%20Linen.pdf Splendid noted that his solo album was "entertaining and musically satisfying".Review of Exposed, June 23, 2004. Available at https://ia903104.us.archive.org/26/items/18-review-splendid-exposed/18%20-%20Review%20-%20Splendid%20Exposed.pdf
Legal career Parallel with his musical and cultural work, Magyar has been a lawyer since 1998, and is licensed to practice law in Florida, Ontario, New York, and New Jersey.New Jersey Bar Directory, available at https://portalattysearch-cloud.njcourts.gov/prweb/PRServletPublicAuth/app/Attorney/-amRUHgepTwWWiiBQpI9_yQNuum4oN16*/!STANDARD?AppName=AttorneySearchFlorida Bar Directory, available at https://www.floridabar.org/directories/find-mbr/profile/?num=1016506Ontario Bar Directory, available at https://lso.ca/public-resources/finding-a-lawyer-or-paralegal/directory-search/member?MemberNumber=57892QNew York Bar Directory, available at https://dn720003.ca.archive.org/0/items/21-kalman-magyar-ny-bar-info/21%20-%20Kalman%20Magyar%20NY%20Bar%20Info.pdf He graduated in 1998 from Brooklyn Law School, and previously worked as a judicial clerk, in-house counsel, and in private practice; he is the co-founding Legal Director of Core Legacy Inc.Archived Biography at Bressler, Amery & Ross, February 7, 2003. Available at https://web.archive.org/web/20030207112855/http://bressler.com/Meet_Attorneys_Frameset.htmlArchived Biography at Magyar, Bogle & O’Hara, February 26, 2023. Available at https://web.archive.org/web/20230226001357/https://magyarbogleohara.com/kalman-magyarBoard of Directors Biographies for Hungarian Canadian Medical Association, available at https://www.hcma-kmo.ca/board-of-directors
Pro Cultura Hungarica Award In 2026, Magyar received the Hungarian government's , granted for "lasting merit in promoting and disseminating the values of Hungarian culture abroad, as well as in enriching cultural relations between the Hungarian nation and other nations."Image of Pro Cultura Hungarica Award to Kalman Magyar, March 15, 2026. Available at https://ia601406.us.archive.org/0/items/22-20260315-magyar-kalman-pro-cultura-hungarica-award/22%20-%2020260315%20-%20Magyar%20Kalman%20-%20Pro%20Cultura%20Hungarica%20Award.pdfMinisztériumi Közlöny, Aprilis 2, 2026. Available at https://ia600700.us.archive.org/9/items/23-20260403-miniszteriumi-kozlony/23%20-%2020260403%20-%20Miniszteriumi%20Kozlony.pdf2/2023. (III. 8.) KIM rendelet a kultúráért és innovációért felelős miniszter által adományozható elismerésekről. Available at https://dn720608.ca.archive.org/0/items/24-2023.-iii.-8.-kim-rendelet-a-kulturaert-es-innovacioert-felelos-miniszter-al/24%20-%202023.%20%28III.%208.%29%20KIM%20rendelet%20a%20kultúráért%20és%20innovációért%20felelős%20miniszter%20ál.pdf