Brigitta Török-Ábrahám

Brigitta Török-Ábrahám

voice

I was born in the middle of July,1989, in Keszthely. Music, especially folk music, has played a major role in my life since childhood. My first two important singing teachers who guided me on the path to a career in music were Jánosné Ninkó and Klára Kovács. I started my professional musical education in the department of folk singing of the Tibor Pikéthy Conservatory in Vác. In 2008,I was given the Outstanding Student of the City of Vác Award. I got my qualifications as folk musician and folk singer in June 2009 with excellent marks in both professional theory and practice. This same year, I was accepted to the folk singing programme of the Faculty of Folk Music at the Liszt Ferenc Academy of Music. In June, 2012, I graduated from my BA studies as a folk singer with excellent qualifications and I got my MA degree in folk singing education in 2014. I feel very grateful to my singing teachers: Anna Vakler, Ildikó Bárdos, Klára Bodza, Ildikó Cserna, Éva Fábián, Mária Maczkó, Mariann Nyitrai, Eszter Pál, Réka Palócz, Katalin Szvorák and Gergely Agócs. I have participated in multiple successful recording projects, such as singing solo and in various formations on three of the ‘ÚjÉlőNépzene’ (Living Village Music) and the ‘Táncház-Népzene’ (Hungarian Dance House-Folk Music) records. I have been teaching folk singing at the “Szárny-nyitogató”Elementary Art School in Tököl since 2012 and at the Béla Bartók Conservatory and Musical Instrument Maker Technical School of the Liszt Ferenc Academy of Music since 2014. I have held courses on the folk music of Zala and Somogy counties in the folk singing program organized by the ‘Hagyományok Háza’ (Hungarian Heritage House). I findthat humbleness in music is of utmost importance. I believe that my job is to genuinely re-create and pass on authentic folk music and to express the importance and validity of the folk songs of our mother tongue and the vital role that music and singing plays in maintaining a healthy mind and soul.

Mátyás Bencze

Mátyás Bencze

violin

I started as a student of Zoltán Rónai and Balázs Unger at the Podmaniczky Elementary Art School. I was also taught by Bertalan Szénási “Tosko”, the last roma violinist in Tura. In 2007, I started my studies at the Tibor Pikéthy Conservatory in Vác, where Beáta Salamon and Csaba Blaskó were paving my way. In 2009 and 2012, I placed third in the László Lajtha Folk Music Contest for High School Students. In 2011, I placed first in the 2ndGézaPotta Contest for Violinists. I was accepted to the Liszt Ferenc Academy of Music in 2012 where I was taught by Tamás Gombai, Béla Halmos, Csaba Ökrös, Balázs Vizeli and András Jánosi as well. I have a l

Balázs Böröcz

Balázs Böröcz

viola

I was born in 1993 in Szolnok. I began to like music at a very early age, however in primary school I chose folk dance first. When I was a fourth grader, Gabriella Juhászné Antal introduced me to folk music and I started playing the viola alongside folk dancing. Later, I left my studies at high school and became a student of the Tibor Pikéthy Conservatory, where I continued learning to play different types of viola and styles of violaplay with the help of Zoltán Bobár “Boby”. From there, the road lead straight to my current school – the Liszt Ferenc Academy of Music where Péter Árendás and Zsolt Nagy are guiding me on the uneven path of improvement. Apart from my past and present teachers, I have to mention that I have been a member of Tarsoly Band since 2010 and the time I have spent with them has also been a great source of knowledge for me.

Thomas Hornich

Thomas Hornich

bass

I was born in Graz, Austria and raised in Szolnok. I learned to play the piano at the Béla Bartók Elementary Art School between 2000 and 2004. I took up folk music and bass at the Szandaszőlősi Primary School and Elementary Art School in 2005 with Gabriella Juhászné Antal’s guidance. From 2008 and 2012 I attended the Ferenc Verseghy High School in Szolnok. During this period I learned classical bass for two years at the Béla Bartók Elementary Art School. My teacher was Magdolna Ocskó. After my high school graduation I got accepted to the Szent István University in Gödöllő where I’m currently studying agriculture. Over the years I had the opportunity to learn from Tamás Radics and Albert Mohácsy both of whom I consider my role models. I have played in multiple bands such as the Sebes Band, which I was a founding member of, the Jártató Band from Jászberény under Mihály Pál’s direction, and I have been a member of the Tarsoly Band since 2014.

Bence Jobbágy

Bence Jobbágy

dulcimer

I was born May 5th, 1989 in Vác. I started my musical education at the age of 7 although it wasn’t until I was 11 years old that I started learning folk music from Lajos Pál. Later,Balázs Unger and Zoltán Rónai became my teachers, then Kálmán Balogh after I had been accepted to the Tibor Pikéthy Conservatory in Vác. He continued teaching me at the Liszt Ferenc Academy of Music. Currently I teach dulcimer at the László Hermann Conservatory and Elementary Art School in Székesfehérvár.

Máté Margetán

Máté Margetán

wind instruments

I started learning music from Lajos Rónai in 2000. I was a founding member of Hatvan Banda which was formed at the same time. I graduated from the Piarist High School of Vác then continued my professional education in the Tibor Pikéthy Conservatory. We founded Tarsoly Band with my friend Mátyás Bencze. My high school years were decisive for me as it was then that I decided to pursue a career in music. I applied and got accepted to the programme of folk wind instruments at the Liszt Ferenc Academy of Music. I met Zoltán Zsikó during my college years, with whom we came up with the idea of forming my second band. I have been working at the Béla Bartók Elementary Art School of the 17th District where I teach flute, clarinet and “tárogató”. I also work as a guest performer for multiple orchestras. Playing folk music gave me the chance to travel all over Europe and other countries of the world from Mexico to South Korea. My goal is to represent a highly professional artistic level in the orchestras I work with and to make folk music known and loved.

Norbert Blaskó

Norbert Blaskó

violin

I started my musical studies at the age of 10 with Zoltán Rónai’s support. With his help, I was admitted to the Tibor Pikethy Secondary School of Music in Vác, where I learnt music from excellent teachers like Beáta Salamon or Csaba Blaskó. In 2019 I became a member of the Tarsoly band. After graduating from high school, I would like to be admitted to the Liszt Ferenc Academy of Music.

Zsuzsanna Zsikó

Zsuzsanna Zsikó

voice / our persistent guest

Finalist of “Fölszállott a páva” in 2014 and 2018. Prima award winner soloist of Zsikó band. She graduated and working at Liszt Ferenc Music Academy. She also wors as a singing teacher at “Hermann László Zeneművészeti Szakgimnázium és AMI.” and at “XVII. kerületi Bartók Béla Alapfokú Művészeti Iskola”. From 2014, she is a guest artist of “Szalonna and his band” and “Tarsoly band”.