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Levente Gyöngyösi

Multi-award-winning composer, Merited Artist of Hungary.

His choral music is recognised and popular worldwide, from the United States to Japan and South Africa.

The Hungarian State Opera presented two of his stage works, The Stork Caliph in 2005 (based on Mihály Babits’ novel) and an opera-musical, The Master and Margarita in 2021 (based on M. A. Bulgakov’s novel).

He is regularly commissioned by leading Hungarian ensembles such as Cantemus Choir Nyíregyháza, Budafok Dohnányi Orchestra, Budapest Festival Orchestra, Amadinda Percussion Group and the Pannon Philharmonic Orchestra.

Since 2018 he is the composer-in-residence of Budafok Dohnányi Orchestra. In addition to his main activities, he is an active basso continuo player, choral conductor and jury member of international choral competitions.

  • Childhood & Education

     

    1999
    He earns a diploma in composition with excellent results from Liszt Academy

    1993
    He graduates from the Conservatory  and is admitted to the Liszt Ferenc Academy of Music, where György Orbán becomes his professor

    1992
    The orchestra of the Béla Bartók Conservatory, conducted by Tibor Szabó, presents his orchestral work Sinfonietta

    1989
    One month before the Romanian revolution, he moves to Hungary with his family

    He is admitted to the Béla Bartók Conservatory in Budapest, where he begins his studies of composition and piano. He is a student of István Fekete Győr (composition) and Katalin Schweitzer (piano)

    1981
    At age 6, he begins studying piano at the Lyceum of Arts in his native Cluj-Napoca, Romania

  • Composer

    2026
    On March 14, he will receive the Kossuth Prize, Hungary’s highest state award for the arts

    2025
    Budapest Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Gábor Hontvári and featuring Krisztián Cser as Bass soloist, performs his cantata A Dunánál [By the Danube], based on a poem by Attila József, at the Music Academy

    Cantemus Mixed Choir, conducted by Soma Szabó, presents the choral cycle Tenebrae Responsoria – Feria Quinta at the Liszt Academy

    2024
    Completes Tenebrae Responsoria – Feria Sexta [Responsories for Good Friday] for Cantemus Choir, Nyíregyháza

    The Danish chamber choir Ars Nova Copenhagen performs his Beati mundo corde at a contemporary music festival
    – Faroe Islands

    His compositions are starting to get published by Universal Edition Wien

    2023
    Completes  Tenebrae Responsoria – Feria Quinta [Responsories for Maundy Thursday] for Cantemus Choir

    Premiere of Act I from his opera Tragoedia temporis
    – Palace of Arts, Budapest

    2022
    Japanese composer-conductor Ko Matsushita presents his new choral piece Beati mundo corde, composed in honor of the conductor’s 60th birthday
    – Opera City, Tokyo, Japan

    Peter Verhoyen, piccolo artist of the Antwerp Symphony Orchestra, presents Piccolo Concerto
    – Ghent, Belgium

    The Pannon Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Tibor Bogányi, performs the premiere of the oratorio Lenni vagy nem [To be or not], to commemorate the Trianon Peace Treaty
    – Kodály Centre, Pécs

    2021
    The world-famous British Tenebrae Choir, conducted by Nigel Short, integrates two of Gyöngyösi’s works: O Maria, noli flere and Te lucis ante terminum into its Christmas program
    – Palace of Arts, Budapest

    His opera-musical The Master and Margarita (directed by Vajk Szente, conducted by Gábor Hollerung) debutes on stage
    – Eiffel Art Studios, Hungarian State Opera

    2020
    His new opera Tragoedia temporis receives an award at the composition competition of Palace of Arts Budapest

    2019
    Cantemus Choir releases a new CD, which contains Gyöngyösi’s latest works for female choir

    2018
    Becomes resident composer of the Budafok Dohnányi Orchestra

    The first twenty minutes of his opera-musical The Master and Margarita is presented at a concert
    – Pesti Vigadó, Budapest

    First performance of Veni Iesu, veni amor, composed for the world-famous English vocal ensemble The King’s Singers
    – Palace of Arts, Budapest

    First performance of Flute Concerto composed for Gergely Ittzés and Győr Philharmonic Orchestra
    – Győr, Richer Hall

    2017
    Debut of the opera-musical The Master and Margarita with the participation of Budafok Dohnányi Orchestra, conducted by Gábor Hollerung
    – BartókPlusz Opera Festival, Miskolc, Hungary

    2015
    The Symphony Orchestra and Choir of the Hungarian Radio, conducted by Gergely Kesselyák, presents his IV. Symphony (On the Chariot of Illés)
    – Liszt Academy, Budapest

    During a two-week tour in Japan he gives lectures about his works, and many of his choral pieces are performed by excellent Japanese choirs

    2014
    Budafok Dohnányi Orchestra releases the 3rd CD containing his works, which includes the oratorio Istenkép [Image of God] and I. Symphony, both commissioned by the orchestra

    2013
    World premiere of Sinfonia concertante for 4 percussionists and orchestra, performed by the Amadinda Percussion Group and Pannon Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Tibor Bogányi
    – Pécs, Kodály Centre

    2012
    Budapest Festival Orchestra and Iván Fischer performs his III. Symphony („Birth”), commissioned by the Orchestra
    – Palace of Arts, Budapest

    Pro Musica Girls’ Choir and Cantemus Mixed Choir release the 2nd CD of his works for female and mixed choir

    2010
    Missa Vanitas vanitatum, an oratorio written at the request of the city of Debrecen, premiers at the opening concert of the Béla Bartók International Choir Competition
    – Debrecen, Kölcsey Centre

    2009
    Budafok Dohnányi Orchestra presents his I. Symphony with the participation of Pro Musica Girls’ Choir and Cantemus Mixed Choir
    – Palace of Arts, Budapest

    2008
    Erdődy Chamber Orchestra, together with Purcell Choir, under the direction of György Vashegyi, present his St Luke-Passion
    – Matthias Church, Budapest

    2007
    Hungaroton releases his first CD, featuring Missa Lux et origo and oratorio Cantici Fratris Sole. Performers: Purcell Choir and Orfeo Orchestra, conducted by György Vashegyi

    2006
    Budafok Dohnányi Orchestra, conducted by Gábor Hollerung, performs Istenkép [Image of God], an oratorio composed for the 50th anniversary of the 1956 Hungarian revolution
    – Liszt Academy, Budapest

    2005
    The Hungarian State Opera presents The Stork Caliph (stage director: Mária Harangi, conducted by György Vashegyi), with 6 sold-out performances

    2000
    First big success: he wins 2nd prize at the Millennium Opera Competition of the Hungarian State Opera with his opera, The Stork Caliph

     

    Composer

  • Performing Artist

     

    2024
    He conducts The Seventeen Singers at György Orbán’s 75th birthday concert in the Palace of Arts, Budapest followed by a highly successful concert at the Hungarian Church Music Biennale in Cluj, Romania

    2023
    He conducts The Seventeen Singers at a concert at Zemplén Festival
    – Szerencs, Hungary

    2022
    He presents himself as a choir conductor, performing his choral works with the newly founded Seventeen Singers Vocal Ensemble
    – Hungarian Church Music Forum, Cluj, Romania

    1999
    He makes his debut as a basso continuo player in the Orfeo Orchestra, led by György Vashegyi, playing baroque and classical music on period instruments. He is a member of the band to date
    – Early Music Days, Sopron, Hungary

  • Teaching

    2011-2012
    He teaches composition at the Leó Weiner Conservatory, Budapest

    2002-2010
    He teaches score-reading, orchestration and composition at the Franz Liszt Academy of Music, Budapest

    1997-1999
    He works as repetiteur at the Department of Vocal Performance, Béla Bartók Conservatory, Budapest

     

    Teaching

  • Jury Member

     

    2026
    Tokyo International Choral Composition Competition

    2024
    Takarazuka International Chamber Chorus Contest, Takarazuka, Japan

    2020
    Music Competition of Palace of Arts Budapest, chamber opera and musical categories

    2019
    Tokyo International Choir Competition, Japan
    Taipei International Choir Competition, Taiwan

    2016
    World Choir Games, Sochi, Russia
    Beira Interior International Choir Competition, Fundão, Portugal
    International Choral Composition Competition, Japan
    Cantemus International Choir Festival, Nyíregyháza, Hungary

    2014
    World Choir Games, Riga, Latvia

    2013
    Budapest International Choir Competition, Hungary

    2012
    World Choir Games, Cincinnati, USA
    Béla Bartók International Choir Competition, Debrecen, Hungary

  • Awards & Prizes

    2026
    Kossuth Prize

    2023
    Merited Artist of Hungary

    2014
    Benedek Istvánffy Prize

    2012
    Benedek Istvánffy Prize

    2009
    March Youth Prize
    Bartók-Pásztory Prize

    2008
    Talentum Arts Prize
    Artisjus Prize

    2005
    Ferenc Erkel Prize

     

    Awards & Prizes

levente@gyongyosilevente.com

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