The Ensemble was fonded in 1960 by Mr George Zaduban, composer, conductor and a former pupil of Zoltan Kodaly. Over the following years the Ensemble gradually developed and grew to include a mixed choir an orchestra and in 1962 a dance group. The model for the Ensemble was the Hungarian State Folk Ensemble. The founding members of the Ensemble were new immigrants to Canada, most of whom had left their homeland in 1956 during the Hungarian Revloution. They were a talented and dedicated company and include a number of professional musicians and dancers.