István Várdai is the only cellist in the world to have won both the International Cello Competition in Geneva (2008) and the ARD Competition in Munich (2014), the two most important contests for cellists. In 2000 he was elected best rising classical musician in the world by Prix Montblanc.

Since Mr. Várdai’s debut concert in 1997 at The Hague, he has performed in New York, London, Paris, Prague, Vienna, Frankfurt, Munich, Geneva, Dublin, Moscow, St. Petersburg, Florence, Tokyo, and Beijing. He is regular guest at such orchestras as the Russian National Orchestra, Mariinsky Theatre Orchestra, Suisse Romande, and the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, and festivals such as the Santander, St. Petersburg, Radio France Montpellier, Verbier, West Cork Festival, Schwetzigen, and Casals Festival.

Mr. Várdai studied in the Class of Special Talents at the Liszt Academy in Budapest in 2004, and at the Music Academy of Vienna in 2005. Between 2010 and 2013 he continued his studies at Kronberg Academy in Germany, where he has been on the staff since 2013.

Mr. Várdai plays a Montagnana cello from 1720.

Spring 2015