Hungarian interview - Marta Hidy

Marta Hidy began playing the violin at the age of 4, in her native Hungary. She describes Russian activity during World War II. She had a husband and two children in Debrecen at time of revolution. She recalls the starvation and plight of Hungarians during and after World War II. She also talks about seeing Russian tanks passing through Debrecen. During the war there was no food and no light in Budapest. With the outbreak of the Revolution in 1956 Ms. Hidy and her family fled Hungary into Austria and then took a boat to Canada, arriving in Halifax. Her first perspectives of Canada where that it had clean air, and felt free. At first they lived in Winnipeg, and then moved to Hamilton, Ontario where she taught at McMaster University and has had a prolific career as a performer and instructor. Ms. Hidy says that Canada gave her a new life, but she is Hungarian, proud to be Canadian.