Past Events

Skaidra Jančaitė is a graduate of J Gruodis Conservatory and Lithuanian Music Academy with degrees in Choir Directing, Vocals and Instruments. She has taught music at all levels and performed as a soloist and as a member of the ensemble “Suburtynė“. Skaidra brings her wonderful soprano voice to Pittsburgh for an evening of performing and teaching Lithuanian folk songs with a focus on sutartinės, the most ancient style of Lithuanian folk songs.

Join us and celebrate Hungarian culture through local history and food. Representatives of Hungary-related organizations and resources, both on and off campus, will provide remarks on the Hungarian Nationality Room, Hungary-related material in the Pitt archives, and the vibrant history of Pittsburgh’s Hungarian community. Remarks:
Kati Csoman, Director, Nationality Rooms
and Intercultural Exchange Programs
Jonathan Naser, Chair, Hungarian
Nationality Room Committee
Viktoria Batista, Associate Professor of
Hungarian, LCTL
Éva Lovra, Hungarian Fulbright Visiting
Professor
Clare Withers, University of Pittsburgh
Library System
Dan Pennell, University of Pittsburgh
Library System
Katherine Novak, Chair, Board of National
Directors, William Penn Association
Judy Torma, Owner, Huszar Restaurant

The fundamental interconnectedness of all things: Nationality Rooms in the Cathedral of Learning The interior of a building gives hints about what the building itself can be like. What form, construction period, architectural style determines the image it shows. This lecture seeks to find connections between the designing principles of three of the Nationality and Heritage Rooms of the Cathedral of Learning: the Yugoslav, the Hungarian, and the Austrian Rooms, and finds them in the interior design solutions. Three different rooms and three different nations, the connection between them is not apparent. It becomes more evident when we consider that from the 19th century until the early 20th century, some areas of the three countries were not part of a nation state, but of a multinational empire, Habsburg Central Europe. On the other hand, it’s also interesting to note that the design in two of the rooms (the Hungarian and the Yugoslav Rooms) is the imprint of the nation states that emerged after the First World War (Serbia, Hungary, Austria). In this presentation we will look at:
- the distinction between nationality and ethnicity and how these two notions are represented or rather underrepresented in the Yugoslav architecture and the Yugoslav Nationality and Heritage Room, which was built in 1939 and designed based on the folk traditions in the then Yugoslav Monarchy
- the connections between folk and neo-baroque in Hungarian art, emphatically in architectural design and music. The close analysis of the designing principles of the folk-themed Hungarian Room (built in 1939) will show how the twenty-year period of becoming a nation state after being part of a multinational empire, brought an increased presence of neo-baroque and modern elements in Hungarian architecture and music. Palpable influences in the works of émigré art, music, and architecture. Béla Bartók’s work preserving and incorporating the Hungarian folk music tradition in his compositions.
3. Last but not least, the presentation show us the unique characteristics of the Austrian room (built in 1996 but designed in 1976). For instance, the way it imitates the architectural style of the period and the Esterházy Palace, where Haydnsaal, or Joseph Haydn's music hall is located. The location in and of itself deserves an elaborate examination: the other palace of the Hungarian prince, Prince Nicolas Esterhazy, the Esterházy Palace, the "Hungarian Versailles" is Hungary's grandest Rococo edifice, located in Eszterháza, today's Fertőd, Hungary.
In summary, the lecture examines the connections between nationality and ethnicity, neobaroque and rococo in architecture and interior design. Dr. Éva Lovra holds a Ph.D. in Architectural Sciences and has conducted postdoctoral research at the Bartlett School of Architecture, University College London, and at the University of Novi Sad. She is a senior lecturer/adjunct professor at the University of Debrecen's Department of Civil Engineering, teaches in the English-language Urban Systems Engineering M.Sc. program, and serves as a lecturer and doctoral supervisor at the Doctoral School of Earth Sciences.

Within the first 100 years following the fall of Constantinople, many of the teachers of the geography inside which Greek people lived, fled to the west, north, and east. Greece was largely orphaned of education opportunities. Together with the church clergy, the cadre of the few remaining teachers began the monumental task of rebuilding the education of the Greek people. By the start of the Revolution, this cadre of the Teachers of the People swelled to more than 1000 lesser-known educators-heroes whose role in the Greek peoples? struggle for Independence is just beginning to be discovered. Join us to commemorate the lesser-known Teachers of the People: MARCH 25, 2023 | 7 P.M. "The Lesser-Known Teachers of t he People: An Introduction and a Reflection for Modern Times" MARCH 26, 2023 | 7 P.M. "The Awakening of Hellenic National Identity and the Education of the Greek Nation" March 27, 2023 | 7 P.M. "Chrysostom Tsiter of Austria: Unveiling Three Great Teachers of the Greek People - Anastasios Gordios, Chrysanthos Aitolos, and Fragkiskos Kokkos" March 28, 2023 | 7 P.M. "Epistemiologic Mythology and the "Legend" of the Hidden School: The Examples in Attica" March 29, 2023 | 9 P.M. "A Musical Tetraodeon to the Kollyvades Fathers as Teachers of the Greek People"

The Spring Festival of the Egg is a family oriented event welcoming the coming of Spring in many ethnic traditions as featured by members and friends of the Nationality and Heritage Room Committees at the University of Pittsburgh. Activities include: Egg Decorating, Palm Weaving Demonstrations, The Festival Of Colors, Spring & Easter Customs, Special Children's Egg Decorating, Easter & Springtime Coloring Pages, Jelly Bean Guess, Egg Festival Marketplace and more. This event is eligible for Outside of the Classroom Curriculum Credit for Pitt Students. Please refer to https://www.studentaffairs.pitt.edu/occ/how-to-complete-the-occ/.

Learn the history of Mărțișor and join the members of the Romanian Room committee to make your own and for your friends. Learn more about this Romanian tradition which falls on March 1 of every year during which the gifting of a red and white string attached to a small piece of jewelry or a flower is believed to bring health and luck to the wearer. Learn about mărțișoare and making them. You will also be able to purchase authentic mărțișoare, Romanian pastries, enjoy an exhibition of traditional Romanian costumes and shirts, and connect with members of the Romanian Room Committee.

Join the Indian Nationality Room Committee at the University of Pittsburgh as they present a celebration of India's Republic Day with an afternoon of food, dance performance, and short film that highlight Indian culture. Free event; food will be available for a nominal fee. Space is limited to 150 so please register if you wish to attend. In case of inclement weather, the event will be cancelled, and registrants will be notified of cancellation. To register, please click here.