László Veres // Narrator
László Veres is widely recognized as a talented educator, conductor and performer. Born in Budapest, Hungary, Mr. Veres held the position of principal clarinetist in the Tucson Symphony Orchestra for sixteen years, having played clarinet in the Arizona Opera Orchestra as well. Familiar to Tucson for his decades-long tenure as the now former conductor of the Tucson Pops Orchestra and current conductor of the Arizona Symphonic Winds, he also appeared as guest conductor for many musical organizations across southern Arizona, including the Tucson Symphony Orchestra and the Sierra Vista Symphony.
A dedicated educator, he taught music to public school students for 30 years. He founded the Tucson Philharmonia Youth Orchestra and was its music director and conductor for 8 years. He continues to serve public school children in Tucson by volunteering in high schools. Mr. Veres, a Rotary International Paul Harris fellow, has been decorated with many additional honors and awards, including the Excellence-in-Teaching Award from the Arizona Music Educators Association, the Nunamaker Director’s Award with Distinction from the University of Arizona, and the Outstanding Community Service Award from the Arizona Parks and Recreation Association. In 2009, he was inducted into the Tucson Musicians Museum Hall of Fame.
Mr. Veres wrote his autobiography, No Regrets, published in 2003, depicting his life under communism in Hungary during World War II and his escape from the Holocaust.