Ádám Banda - violin and Luba Poliak - piano, Consulate General of Hungary, New York

Ambassador Károly Dán, Consul General of the Republic of Hungary and
H.E. Mr. Csaba Kőrösi, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Hungary
To the United Nations presented:

1. Saint-Saens: Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso Op. 28.
2. Tchaikovsky: Valse-Scherzo Op. 34.
3. Bartók: Rhapsody for Violin and Piano No.1, Sz.86, BB 94
4. Hubay: Larghetto (Composed in 1881)
5. Sarasate: Gipsy Airs Op.20

ÁDÁM BANDA

"Adam Banda is one of the most remarkable young artists to enter the Franz Liszt Academy in Budapest. His pure and profound expressionism and noble tone offer a sublime inner window to the soul of Adam himself and, of course, the composer."

András Batta – President, Franz Liszt Academy, Budapest

At the age of 12, Ádám Banda was selected to enter the Extraordinary Young Talent Class of Budapest’s Franz Liszt Academy as a student of renowned Professor Eszter Perényi. Born in a small rural Hungarian town in 1986, Banda first played the violin at 8 years old in the local music school. Within the next four years he had won first prize in two national competitions.

He has won numerous national and international competitions including the Academy’s Ferenc Halasz-Prize in 2001, where he was the first non-faculty winner, the Carl Flesch International Violin Competition in 2003, the Dubai International Violin Competition in 2005, and the Szigeti - Hubay International Violin Competition in Budapest in 2007, where he was also awarded the Hubay Special Prize. Other notable recognition includes the Pro-Europe Prize in 2004, and his 2nd place and the jury’s special prize at the 2006 Yampolsky International Violin Competition in Moscow.

In 2007 he was awarded with two major national awards, the Junior Prima Primissima Award and the Artisjus Award, while in 2009 he received a governmental prize aimed for the outstanding young talents (Youths of March Award). In 2010, notable and widely renowned compositors of Hungary, Emil Petrovics, János Vajda, Miklós Kocsár and Sándor Szokolay, decided to purchase a special violin that won the “Best Violin of Hungary” award for him. This year, Banda was given the possibility to participate at the Keshet Eilon course in Israel, where professors from all over the world, such as Shlomo Mintz, Ida Haendel and Itzhak Rashkovsky, will give master classes.

Banda has performed not only throughout Europe but also in the USA, Canada, United Arab Emirates, Italy, China, Korea, Vietnam, Japan, Moscow and many other concert halls around the world and with many renowned artists including Zoltán Kocsis, András Schiff and Miklós Perényi.

Banda’s influences stem from the rich tradition and heritage of Hungarian music, especially the work of Béla Bartók. His interpretation of Bartók’s Violin Concerto No.2 has been compared in style and performance to the great Yehudi Menuhin, whom Banda has admired since childhood.

His first CD recording was issued in 2006 and the first Bartók DVD in 2009 under Hungaroton label. His graduation concert recorded in the Great Hall of Liszt Academy of Music Budapest in October, 2009 is also available. His new CD became available at the end of 2010.

Source: Hungarian Consulate