Portland Festival Orchestra's Lajos Balogh to pass the baton to Gregory Vajda

Lajos Balogh, founder and music director of the Portland Festival Orchestra will hand over the reigns of the orchestra to fellow Hungarian Gregory Vajda at the orchestra's final concert this Sunday (6 pm) at Washington Park. Balogh started the orchestra and its free summer concert series 36 years ago, in part, to celebrate his love of the United States and as a way to give everyone a chance to hear great music. Vajda, who was the resident conductor of the Oregon Symphony before taking over the podium job at the Huntsville Symphony. He is also the Principal Guest Conductor of the Hungarian Radio symphony and the Artistic Director of the International Armel Opera Festival. Congratulations to Balogh for doing such outstanding work for so many, many years and to Vajda, who is one of the best young conductors around.