We participated in the “If I Can Be Who I Am” exhibition with the Pécs Group 3, hosted at the Kodály Center in Pécs. This exhibition, organized with the support of the Anne Frank Foundation in Amsterdam, was brought to Pécs in connection with the orchestra’s Kaddish concert commemorating the 80th anniversary of the Holocaust.
The traveling exhibition from the Anne Frank Foundation highlights the story of Anne Frank and her family, their German-Jewish-Dutch identity, and conveys not only historical remembrance but also messages about the richness of life and the importance of acceptance. Anne’s diary, translated into more than 70 languages, has become a global symbol of hope and perseverance in the face of hardship. Her life story resonates with a wide audience, and over a million people visit the museum at the family’s hiding place annually.
The exhibit in Pécs also featured a local connection: visitors could learn about the story of Rezső Mangold, a musician and music teacher from Pécs, who, along with his wife and young son, also became victims of the Holocaust.
Art historian Tünde Pusztai provided a guided tour and an interactive history lesson, enriching our knowledge significantly. Thank you!
— Andrea Bálint-Orsós, mentor, Pécs Group 3
Photos from the exhibition can be viewed in the Gallery.
This is how we saw it…
“Today afternoon, we had the opportunity to attend a deeply moving yet incredibly fascinating and informative guided tour of the exhibition titled ‘If I Could Be Who I Am’ at the Kodály Center in Pécs. The exhibition focused on the Holocaust, particularly the well-known Anne Frank, her diary, and her life. While many of us already knew a little about the topic, we still gained a lot of new information. We listened intently to the guide, who conveyed the message of the topic perfectly and answered all our questions with enthusiasm. I believe everyone should experience this exhibition and story. We truly enjoyed our time there and left with many positive impressions.” — Hanna Tóth, Pécs Group 3
“A part of a museum came to Pécs. The theme was mainly Anne Frank and the Holocaust. We could explore the museum, which had temporarily ‘moved into’ the Kodály Center. I particularly liked that it felt a bit like a history class, but much more interactive. They happily answered our questions, and there was also a team-based activity on beanbags where we discussed, ‘What do you think about this?’ In just over an hour, I think we heard and learned a lot of interesting things. It was absolutely worth visiting!” — Emma Stefán, Pécs Group 3
“Today, we visited the Anne Frank exhibition. A very kind guide led the presentation, and it was fascinating. We learned about how terrible life was for Jewish people during World War II. The presentation was entirely interactive, so we could ask questions about the topic. I really enjoyed this trip.” — Eszter Szabó-Körmendi, Pécs Group 3