With passion, faith, and youthful energy, the Magis Choir of the Gyula Fényi Jesuit High School, College, and Kindergarten in Miskolc brought to life the historical musical Stars of Eger by Mátyás Várkonyi and Attila Béres. More than just a performance, this ambitious production became a testimony of courage, perseverance, and deep commitment to the Jesuit mission. Over 100 teenage performers formed a temporary theater company that moved thousands across ten Hungarian cities between April and early July, inviting audiences to reflect on the enduring values that shape our lives.

For over twenty years now, the audience has come to expect something new from the school's choir each year. But can one ever truly get used to what unfolds on stage? Those involved know it’s never that simple. The students who take on these roles are not enrolled in drama classes—they’re dedicated young people who evolve during the process of preparing the performance. They discover more about themselves, open up to one another, and reveal something on stage that perhaps no one has ever seen before. It’s no surprise that many in the audience watch with tears in their eyes.

One parent shared how they saw their own child, playing the role of János Zsigmond’s nurse, from an entirely new perspective. Hearing a hundred teenagers sing with conviction about national courage and unity stirred deep emotions and brought tears to their eyes.

For one of the lead actors, the experience brought immense freedom and pushed them far beyond their comfort zone. It allowed a new side of themselves to come to light.

Another parent reflected on what makes the Magis Choir's musicals so special: the freedom, energy, and emotional intensity that radiate from the students on stage. Watching these teenagers not just perform but live their roles—with sincerity, vulnerability, and depth—was described as an incredible gift. From fear to joy, doubt to faith, love to betrayal, patriotism to camaraderie, they showed it all. And they did so from start to finish as a community, supporting one another every step of the way—something the students may not yet realize is one of life's most profound gifts.

Building on years of experience and rooted in the Jesuit school drama method, the students once again prepared within role-based workshops tailored to the character types in the production. There were “Amazons” and “Enchanters,” the “Destined” and the “Doubtful,” the “Loyal,” the “Free,” and the “Brave.” There were also, crucially, the sound and lighting technicians, without whom the performance would not have been heard or seen. While the script and music were provided, the students themselves created the choreography and stage direction during dedicated choir weekends.

One lead student recalled how these preparations helped the group bond—regardless of whether they had shared scenes or not. She remembered sneaking in late-night brainstorming sessions with the senior students, going over the script and generating ideas together. That sense of unity in her final year gave her strength to persevere, even when things didn’t go right the first time.

Another participant said they immediately felt at home among the “Brave,” identifying strongly with the characteristics of their workshop. A fellow student from the “Amazon Warriors” group described how perfectly the group’s “wholehearted, dynamic, and action-ready” spirit matched their personalities.

This production was not only about portraying a historical event—it also brought to light questions that continue to resonate today: the feeling of being lost in the chaos of daily life, the burden of expectations, the challenge of enduring beyond our limits, and the importance of defending our values in a world that often seeks to erode them. The students communicated all of this through their radiant stage presence, by paying attention to one another, and by encouraging each other. A glance, a handshake, a pat on the back, an embrace, a shared smile, a tear—these gestures conveyed the strength of the school community in a way words could never fully capture.

The Egri csillagok performance was a collective testimony by a hundred teenagers affirming that even today, there is meaning in believing—in Goodness, in Beauty, in Hope, and in the power of the Spirit.

And what does such a production give to those who take part in it? How does it move adolescents to such emotion? How does it shape a community? And what does it mean to close not only four years of choir, but perhaps four or even eight years at the school?

For one lead student, it meant finding their place in the world, and in human relationships. Another felt the performance brought a fitting close to their years at the school and in the choir. As a ninth-grader, they had longed for connection with the older students—and as a senior, they were able to make that a reality. The performance broke down barriers between age groups, even allowing the youngest seventh-grade girls to open up to the seniors. This rare kind of intergenerational unity was, in many ways, thanks to the shared struggle and achievement of the production.

During the final song, some found themselves unable to sing through their tears. Standing at the front of the stage with the main cast, surrounded by their peers singing behind them, they felt the sheer power of the community and the bittersweet weight of goodbye. Yet knowing they could believe in the Good, in the Beautiful, and in the people around them gave them peace to move forward.

Another senior described the overwhelming emotion of the finale. Though tears flowed, they also felt hopeful seeing how confidently they could pass the torch to the next generation. As the choir broke into the reprise of Egri nők dala, they were overcome. But during the final group hug after Alleluja, there was no one they could leave out. For them, the strength of the community could have lifted the very roof of the theatre. So much emotion, gathered in one space, felt powerful enough to carry an entire nation.

Many echoed the feeling that this was the most deeply connected they had ever been to one another—and that although it was hard to say goodbye, they were grateful for every moment. As one student put it, they didn’t want the song to end, because with it, a whole chapter of life was closing.