István I. Székely
Piano Concerto Festival Faculty | Concert Pianist & professor at Centro Superior Katarina Gurska Madrid
István I. Székely
Piano Concerto Festival Faculty
Concert Pianist & professor at Centro Superior Katarina Gurska Madrid
Biography
István Székely is a concert pianist and internationally recognized pedagogue, currently teaching at the Katarina Gurska Superior Conservatory in Madrid and the Franz Liszt Center for Special Talents in La Nucia, Spain. He has been invited to give masterclasses worldwide, including in Budapest, Novi Sad, Forum Musikae (Madrid), Bucaramanga and Manizales (Colombia), Alicante and Dénia, and at major international piano festivals in Valencia and beyond.
A frequent jury member at international competitions, he has served on panels for the Franz Liszt International Competition (Rome), Takács Competition (Austria), Bucaramanga (Colombia), IMFV Valencia, Ibiza International Competition, and Villa de Xabia International Contest. Winner of numerous national and international awards, István has performed since age 15 across Europe, the United States, South America, and Asia, including venues such as Palacio de Cibeles (Madrid), Palau de la Música (Valencia), Auditorio Mediterrania (La Nucia), and the Kolarac Concert Hall (Belgrade). He has also performed private concerts for H.R.H. Princess Chulabhorn Mahidol of Thailand.
His teachers include Aleksandar Madzar, Orsolya Szabó, Michael Boguslavski, Mátyás Molcer, Valéria Utasi, and Milica Dundjerov at prestigious institutions such as the Brussels Royal Conservatory, Jerusalem Rubin Academy, and Kodály Institute of Kecskemét. Founder and member of the international Camerata Universal Music, he has collaborated with artists such as Clara Novakova, Joaquin Palomares, Joan Enric Lluna, and soloists of the Orchestra of Valencia. In 2017, he recorded five Chopin Études for the animated short Impromptu, which was shortlisted for the 2018 Goya Awards and screened in over 50 festivals worldwide, earning multiple awards including Best Art Animation (Los Angeles) and Best Short Film (Montreal).
Career Highlights
Teaching & Masterclasses
- Teaches at Katarina Gurska Superior Conservatory and Franz Liszt Center for Special Talents
- Gives masterclasses across Europe, South America, and Asia, including Budapest, Novi Sad, Madrid, Alicante, and Dénia
- Invited artist at major international piano festivals in Valencia and beyond
Jury & Competitions
- Jury member at international competitions in Europe and South America
- Winner of multiple national and international piano awards
Performances
- Performed since age 15 across Europe, the United States, South America, and Asia
- Appeared at Palacio de Cibeles (Madrid), Palau de la Música (Valencia), Auditorio Mediterrania (La Nucia), and Kolarac Concert Hall (Belgrade)
- Performed private concerts for H.R.H. Princess Chulabhorn Mahidol of Thailand
Education & Mentorship
- Studied with Aleksandar Madzar, Orsolya Szabó, Michael Boguslavski, Mátyás Molcer, Valéria Utasi, and Milica DundjerovStudied with Aleksandar Madzar, Orsolya Szabó, Michael Boguslavski, Mátyás Molcer, Valéria Utasi, and Milica Dundjerov
- Trained at the Brussels Royal Conservatory, Jerusalem Rubin Academy, and Kodály Institute of Kecskemét
Artistic Collaboration & Media
- Founder and member of Camerata Universal Music
- Collaborated with Clara Novakova, Joaquin Palomares, Joan Enric Lluna, and soloists of the Orchestra of Valencia
- Recorded five Chopin Études for the short film Impromptu (2017), shortlisted for the 2018 Goya Awards and awarded at festivals in Los Angeles and Montreal
Masterclass with István Székely
Hungarian pianist István Székely is an internationally recognized performer and pedagogue, currently teaching at the Katarina Gurska Superior Conservatory in Madrid and the Franz Liszt Center for Special Talents in La Nucia, Spain. A prize-winning pianist and frequent jury member at major competitions across Europe and South America, he has performed in leading venues including the Palau de la Música in Valencia, Palacio de Cibeles in Madrid, and Kolarac Concert Hall in Belgrade.
Specializations
Romantic and Classical repertoire, Competition preparation, Performance technique, Chamber collaboration
Teaching Philosophy
Focuses on developing refined sound, interpretive depth, and stylistic balance. Encourages students to merge technical mastery with expressive integrity, fostering performances grounded in musical understanding and individuality.