Artist database

He started playing the clarinet at the age of nine. After his musical studies in Pécs, he has been enrolled at the Budapest Ferenc Liszt Academy of Music, where he has been a pupil of Béla Kovács, and graduated in 1979. From 1976 to 1985 he was the solo clarinetist of the Hungarian State Opera, and since 1985 he has been principal clarinetist of the Budapest Symphony Orchestra. He was second at the international competition Concertino Praha in 1974, the winner of the clarinet category of the Hungarian Radio Competiton in 1988 and of Graz International Competition in 1988 with the Danube Quartet. In 1989 he won a grant from the Sir Georg Solti Foundation for a course with Larry Combs at the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. He began teaching in 1983 and was a member of the clarinet faculty of the Ferenc Liszt Academy of Music for five years. His students have been winners of the I.C.A. Competitions in Quebec and Flagstaff. As a concert artist, he frequently gives recitals, studio concerts and makes recordings. Besides classical music, he likes playing jazz. He plays Hammerschmidt clarinets, first person in Hungary (Pomarico O or Zinner mouthpieces).

Awards
1988 Bartók-Pásztory Award