DANYI LŐRINC RÓBERT
President

Lőrinc Róbert Danyi was born on January 26, 1968, in Budapest, into a family of musicians. He began playing the violin at the age of six, with Béla Berki as his first teacher. From 1978, he developed his musical education through the Rajkó method, inscribed on the National Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Hungary, studying under Gyula Farkas and later Tivadar Mészáros.

From 1990, as the lead primás of the Rajkó Orchestra, he participated in thousands of performances and numerous CD recordings, appearing on some of the world's most prestigious stages and concert halls.

Since 2010, he has been the Concertmaster and Primás of the 100 Member Gypsy Orchestra, recognized as a Hungarian Heritage and Hungarikum, proudly representing Hungary's cultural legacy around the world. In 2023, he was elected President of the Orchestra.

Awards and Recognitions:

• 1998 – Lyra Award

• 2003 – Kodály Zoltán Cultural Award, as primás of the Rajkó Orchestra, for his contribution to the preservation of Roma musical culture and Hungarian traditions

• 2004 – Honorary Citizen of Darjeeling, India, in recognition of his outstanding artistic work during a cultural exchange program

• 2007 – Hungarian Silver Cross of Merit

• Since 2007 – Trademark holder of the Rajkó Orchestra and Artistic Ensemble

LENDVAI CSÓCSI JÓZSEF

Lead Violinist

József Lendvai Csócsi was born on October 21, 1944, in Ménfőcsanak. His father, József Lendvai Csócsi Sr., was a renowned violinist, awarded the Laureate of the Hungarian Republic Prize, and served as the concertmaster (főprímás) of the Rajkó Orchestra. At the age of two and a half, he was already holding a violin, imitating his father. From the age of ten, he performed and studied with the Rajkó Orchestra.

In his early twenties, he founded his own orchestra under his name, with which he embarked on a world tour. Since 1985, he has been a member of the 100 Member Gypsy Orchestra.

In 1998, at a competition held at the Pesti Vigadó, he was granted the title of Chief Primás by Lajos Boross, the "King of Primás". That same year, he was awarded the Gold Cross of Merit of the Republic of Hungary.

On December 12, 2005, he was elected Vice President of the 100 Member Gypsy Orchestra. He performed to great acclaim at New York's Carnegie Hall with conductor Iván Fischer and the Budapest Festival Orchestra. In both Germany and France, he has received multiple honors for his artistic work.

To this day, he continues to play on the violin he inherited from his father, which he treasures deeply.

CSÍK GYULA SÁNDOR

Cimbalom Artist

Born in Budapest in 1977 into a family of cimbalom musicians, he began studying the instrument at the age of five with his father, later continuing at the Tóth Aladár Music School and the Bartók Béla Secondary School of Music. Alongside his classical training, he dedicated himself to preserving the unique tradition of Hungarian café-style Gypsy music, considered a Hungarikum.

He has toured the world with leading ensembles, representing Hungarian culture on prestigious stages. For nearly a decade, he performed in the orchestra of Ferenc Sánta Jr., and since 2015 he has been a soloist with the Gipsy Philharmonic Orchestra. He has also appeared as guest artist with Roby Lakatos and participated in the Cigányvarázs festival series from its inception.

As a versatile soloist, he frequently collaborates with renowned orchestras and has shared the stage with world-class artists including János Balázs, István Várdai, Kristóf Baráti, Barnabás Kelemen, Erika Miklósa, Joshua Bell, Mischa Maisky, and Martha Argerich. He is a regular guest of Hungary's leading classical festivals such as the Cziffra Festival, KaposFest, and Festival Academy Budapest.

He has recorded and performed with Jordi Savall and his ensemble Hespèrion XXI, and continues to bridge classical music and authentic Gypsy tradition with his distinctive style. In recognition of his artistry, he was awarded the Silver Cross of Merit of Hungary.

Danyi Richárd

Concert Organizer Manager and Primás

Richard Danyi was born on September 9, 1989, in Budapest. He began his musical career with the world-famous Rajkó Orchestra, where he earned the "A" category Entertaining Musician qualification at a young age. His teacher at the Rajkó School was Sándor Buffó Rigó, former president of the 100 Member Gypsy Orchestra, from whom he learned the foundations of Gypsy music. He later continued his studies at the Liszt Ferenc Academy of Music under violinist Miklós Szenthelyi. His most important master, however, has always been his father, Lőrinc Róbert Danyi, President of the 100 Member Gypsy Orchestra.

He has built his career with the 100 Member Gypsy Orchestra, where he works both as primás (lead violinist) and as a concert organizer manager. With the ensemble, he has performed in many European countries and takes an active role in program planning and tour organization.

His achievements include winning the Annabál Primás Competition in Balatonfüred (2015) and, with his own orchestra, being awarded the title of "Best Orchestra of Europe" at the international online competition organized by the European Roma Institute for Arts and Culture (2020).

Since 2025, he has also served as the manager of the orchestra, overseeing concerts and tours, while also being the main organizer of his own performances.

Lendvai Ferenc

Concertmaster

Born on February 1, 1977, in Budapest, he began his musical studies at the Molnár Antal Music School. At the age of 16, after a short period at the Conservatory, he interrupted his studies to accept an international contract in Brussels, Belgium, where he began performing as a professional musician. His very first job, however, dates back to the age of 15, at the "Kossuth Ship" (today known as the Vénhajó Restaurant) on the Danube.

Since 1993, he has been an active member of the world-renowned 100 Member Gypsy Orchestra: first as a violinist, later from 2000 as a primás (lead violinist), from 2004 as deputy concertmaster, and since 2024 as first concertmaster of the ensemble.

Alongside his orchestral career, he has always remained active in Hungarian restaurant music. For 18 years, he performed at the Új Sipos Halászkert in Óbuda, while also serving as music director and bandleader of the Trófea Grill restaurants in Budapest.

He has received several distinctions, including:

• 1997 – First Prize, Balaton Primás Competition

• 2003 – First Prize, National Primás Competition

He has made numerous television appearances on Hungarian National Television (MTV), TV2, and RTL Klub, as well as many recordings for Hungarian Radio. He is also the daily featured primás of Dankó Rádió.

Since 2006, he has been a regular performer at the annual Hungarian Week festival in Germany, appearing twice each year with his own orchestra.

SÁRKÖZI JÓZSEf

Koncertmester Helyettes