Prof. Laszlo Kovacs
László Kovács
conductor
2009 – present: ELTE Arts Ensemble, director
2014 – present: Kodály Philharmonic Orchestra, Debrecen chief conductor
Studied simultaneously trombone and conducting at the Franz Liszt Music Academy in Budapest, Hungary. He made his conducting debut at the Hungarian State Opera in his early twenties, and has been performing there regularly since then. He took part in several world creations of contemporary pieces.
After graduation he studied at the Tchaikovsky Conservatory in Moscow, and at the Bolchoi Theatre with Yuri Simonov.
In 1986 he won the János Ferencsik memorial prize (founded by Antal Doráti) and was guest of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in England, and worked with Antal Doráti and Sir George Solti.
He became a lecturer at the Franz Liszt Music Academy of Budapest in 1981.
Since 1984, for 30 years he has been artistic director and principal conductor of the Hungarian Symphony Orchestra, Miskolc.
He is regularly invited at several International conductors’ competitions as a jury member.
From 1998 on he was promoted, from 2004 till 2008 principal conductor of the Hungarian Radio and Television Orchestra.
He made a huge amount (50 pieces) of recordings and CD's, with renown symphony orchestra in different countries. Permanently he conducts an average of 70 concerts a year.
He has received nine different prices for conducting contemporary pieces.
László Kovács obtained different prizes, such as the F. Liszt in 1987, the Bartók in 1993 and the PRO URBE city of Miskolc in 1996. He won of the eMeRTon prize for the best production of the Hungarian Radio in 1998.
2004: Miskolci Múzsa prize
2007: a Magyar Köztársaság Érdemes Művésze (National prize)
2013: Pro Urbe Kunszentmárton díjat
2013-ban Magyar Köztársasági Érdemrend Tisztkeresztje (National prize)
2017-ben Magyar Köztársaság Kiváló Művésze (National prize)
László Kovács has conducted in 21 European countries, Asia, America, Japan and conducted famous soloists as Bruno Leonardo Gelber, James Galway, Eva Marton, Zoltán Kocsis, Dezsõ Ránki, Brigitte Engerer etc. Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea, Jack de Johnette, John Patitucci, Joshua Redman, Ilaiyaraaja.