Jazz talent exchange

Mihály Borbély

Clarinettist and saxophonist, associate professor in the Jazz Department at the Liszt Academy 

The Kossuth, Liszt and eMeRTon prize-winning clarinettist and saxophonist is one of Hungary's most versatile woodwind multi-instrumentalist musicians. He has performed on countless different records, taken to the stage alongside prominent domestic and foreign representatives of a range of musical genres ,and played concerts not only in Hungary but all over Europe, in the US, Mexico and Australia. In addition to his work at the Liszt Academy Jazz Department, Mihály has also held courses at numerous high-ranking universities and conservatories.

Balázs Bágyi

Jazz drummer, composer, music educator and producer, president of the Hungarian Jazz Federation

The jazz drummer is a much sought-after performer on both the Hungarian and international jazz scene. The Balázs Bágyi New Quartet, which bears his name and performs Balázs's own music, has grown into one of Hungarian jazz's most successful groups, and regularly plays concerts both at home and abroad. In addition to his professional performance career, Balázs is also a mentor for the Hungarian National Cultural Fund's Conquest of Sound Program, a member of the board of trustees of the Dezső Lakatos Ablakos Performing Arts Jazz Scholarship, and the president of the Hungarian Jazz Federation since 2013.

Károly Binder 

Jazz pianist, composer, professor and director of the Jazz Department at the Liszt Academy  

The Ferenc Erkel Award-winning pianist has written more than 300 musical words for the prepared piano, the piano, the orchestra and for percussion and orchestra. He has also written music for numerous films, plays and radio dramas. He has released 67 records to date. Since the year 2000, he has been a professor and director of the Jazz Department at the Liszt Academy, and in 2018 he was awarded an Artisjus Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of his work.

Nadin Deventer (D)

Artistic director of Jazzfest Berlin  

With more than 15 years of experience as a curator, playwright and artistic director, Nadin Deventer is one of the driving forces behind the jazz scene in the CEE region, particularly in the Ruhr valley. Her name is associated with countless successful jazz programmes and workshops. As artistic director, since 2018 she has guided Jazzfest Berlin, one of Europe's oldest and most prestigious jazz festivals.

Veronika Harcsa

Singer-songwriter  

Veronika, who was one of the stars of the first ever Jazz Showcase in 2008, is now an international perfomer. She has performed in 35 different countries around the world, and has ten albums and a wealth of musical collaborations behind her. She applies her versatile creativity in many genres, and regularly works with classical musicians. She has sung Dadaist opera directed by Jiří Menzel, and also participates in experimental electronic projects and theatrical productions. Since 2014, she has run her own courtyard at the Valley of the Arts festival.

Attila László 

Guitar player, composer, associate professor in the Jazz Department at the Liszt Academy  

The Franz Liszt Prize-winning jazz guitarist and composer is a pre-eminent representative of modern Hungarian jazz and a highly accomplished musician. After graduating from the Jazz Department of the Béla Bartók Conservatory, he began playing in several leading Hungarian jazz ensembles, and has performed alongside some of the greatest legends of American jazz over the course of his career. He has been teaching at the Jazz Department of the Liszt Academy since 1987, and is currently an associate professor, as well as the leader of the university's big band. 

Martyna Markowska (PL)

Head of programming of the City of Gardens Institution of Culture in Katowice, the Katowice JazzArt Festival and the Gardens of Sounds  

As Artistic Director of the Katowice City of Gardens Cultural Institute, Martyna has been responsible for the Katowice JazzArt Festival and the World of Gardens of Sounds Festival since 2013. She also took part in the 2017 WOMEX, and is currently a leading member of the European Jazz Network, a non-profit network of more than 100 organisations. 

Steve Rubie (UK)

Musician, proprietor and managing director of 606 Club in London  

Steve Rubie has managed the legendary 606 Club, located in the Chelsea district of London, since 1976. The UK’s leading jazz club, the 606 Club provides the most talented musicians – including many Hungarian artists – with the opportunity to perform every day of the week, In 2006, it was chosen as Jazz Venue of the Year. Rubie has already judged the competitors of the Jazz Showcase on several occasions, most recently in 2019.

Igor Vida (SK)

Chairman of Jazz Club DS  

Igor Vida, who works full-time as an IT specialist, has been trying to enliven the cultural life of the CEE region through non-profit organizations since 2000. Since 2006, as President of Jazz Club DS, he has regularly organised jazz concerts in the region. Since 2008, he has been the artistic director for the Are You FREE? international musical festival, which focuses on improvisational music, and the Samaria Jazz Festival since 2018, while he is also a member of the board of trustees for the Harmony – Slovak Hungarian Music Prize and the MEDIAWAVE International Visual Arts Foundation.