He was born in Budapest in 1984 and was introduced to hurdy-gurdy as child. After his high school graduation, he started to learn biology at the university but he never stopped playing music and finally received a bachelor degree of folk music. Now he is the student at the Liszt Academy of Music, and soon he will be the first musician in the world who obtains a master degree in hurdy-gurdy. At the beginning, his master was Béla Szerényi, then at the Academy he became the student of Ferenc Sebő, the outstanding Hungarian folklorist and musician. As one of the most talented hurdy-gurdy players in Hungary, he contributed to several recordings and concerts not only in Hungary but also abroad from Norway to Taiwan. He received the highest state honour of young folk musicians Young Master of Folk Arts, twice. He is the laureate of the highly appreciated Junior Prima Award, especially dedicated to young Hungarian talents. Besides the authentic Hungarian folk music, he also interprets contemporary and classical music. In 2012 he recorded a few pieces of Antonio Vivaldi at the Hungarian Radio with bagpipe, harpsichord and bassoon. He founded his duo called Paganum in 2009 with Balázs Istvánfi. Since then they are playing not only authentic folk music but also arrangements of historical and early music pieces as well as own compositions.
Smithsonian Folklife Festival – Washington D.C., June 26–June 30 and July 3–July 7, 2013
