Artist database

23 May 1960 Sztálinváros (Dunaújváros)

He started learn piano playing at the age of 5, and in 1977 he was awarded the first prize at the International Competition for Young Pianists held in Sopron. In the next year he enrolled in the Budapest Academy of Music where he was studying under Professors Pál Kadosa and Zoltán Kocsis. During his student years he won several prizes at international competitions, like in 1983 the Salamanca Piano Competition, where he was awarded the first prize. At the same year, he was granted a scholarship of the Cziffra Foundation.

In 1989 he was offered a scholarship of the Soros Foundation in the USA. István Székely frequently performs in Hungary’s concert halls and in the Hungarian Radio. His performance of Liszt’s Piano Concerto in A, was recorded by the Hungarian Television. 8 years long, from 1986 he was an assistant professor at the Budapest Academy of Music.

Besides being a renowned performing artist in Hungary, he has been equally acclaimed abroad, too. He had highly successful guest performances in most East-European countries as well as in Austria, Belgium, Britain, France, Japan, Spain, India and Hong-Kong. In 1984 he participated at the Interforum Festival, in 1985 appeared at the Bath Festival, in 1987 at the Salzburg Castle Concerts and in West Berlin he was the soloist of the Berlin Symphony Orchestra in 1988.