Born: 1950, Budapest
Academic degree, university position: senior lecturer
Subjects: accordion, methodology, instrument repairs, chamber music, didactics
Studies:
1977: Hochschule für Musik Franz Liszt, Weimar
His degree as an accordion player and teacher is not obtainable in any Hungarian institution of higher education.
Teaching activities:
Since 1977 he has been heading the accordion department of the Béla Bartók Secondary School of Music.
Since 1980 he has been teaching accordion in the Music School of the 13th district of Budapest.
Since 1984 he has been heading the accordion department of the Teacher Training Institute of the Franz Liszt Academy of Music.
He is the one who has established teaching this instrument at an academic level in Hungary.
Since 1997 he has been heading the accordion department of the Leó Weiner Conservatory of Music.
Since 1994 he has been heading the accordion department of the Society of Music Teachers.
Major concerts:
Throughout his musical career he has been striving to have accordion acknowledged in classical music and to integrate the instrument into the life of arts. In addition to his extensive pedagogical activities, he is present on the concert stage as well, and actively participates in theatrical productions and in the recordings of radio plays and soundtracks.
Contribution to the performances of the following orchestras:
Hungarian State Opera, Hungarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, the National Philharmonics, Budapest Festival Orchestra, Hungarian Telecom Symphony Orchestra, the MÁV Symphonics, UMZE, the Zugló Philharmonics, Orchestra of the Szolnok Air Force.
Contribution to the performances of the following theatres:
National Theatre, József Katona Theatre, Víg Theatre, Pesti Theatre, Bárka Theatre, Attila József Theatre, Új Theatre, Radnóti Theatre, German Theatre of Szekszárd, German Theatre of Budapest, Kolibri Theatre, Ida Turay Theatre, Mari Jászay Theatre of Tatabánya, Jagsthausen Festival.
Recordings:
Contribution to the feature films of Miklós Jancsó, Péter Bacsó, Sándor Simó, Róbert Koltai and Szabolcs Hajdu.
Contribution to the radio plays of Ferenc Darvas and László Melis.
Contribution to the following CD productions:
Shostakovich: Jazz suite No.2 Matáv Symphony Orchestra – András Ligeti MHSO12
Christopher Benstead: Carmen – Győr Ballet BMC 001
Placido Domingo: Italia, ti amo – Budapest Philharmonic Orchestra – Eugene Kohn – Deutsche Grammophon 2006, 00289 477 6086
Mátyás Seiber: Introduction and Allegro – Péter Szabó – cello – Hungaroton Classic HCD 32405
Gyula Bánkövi: Accord(ion) Concerto – Hungarian Radio Symphony Orchestra
Gergely Vajda – Hungaroton Classic HCD 32344 Radio "Z" recordings from the accordion compositions of Gyula Bánkövi.
Major publications:
SHEET MUSIC:
Accordion Music for Beginners – Zeneműkiadó
Schubert Dances for Accordion – Zeneműkiadó
Awards and decorations:
2005: Confederation Internationale des Accordionistes (ICM – UNESCO) MERIT AWARD
2007: Prize of the Artisjus Music Foundation
2008: Golden Platform Commemorative Plaque