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.

Richard Danyi

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.

SÁRKÖZI JÓZSEf

Deputy Concertmaster

He was born on July 22, 1990, in Budapest. His father, József Sárközi, was the former lead violinist of the world-famous Rajkó Orchestra and a prizewinner of the 1984 "Vonópárbaj" (Violin Duel) competition.

He began learning the violin at the age of five. He studied at the Molnár Antal Elementary Music School and later at the Béla Bartók Secondary School of Music, where he received classical training from Valéria Császárné Simon and Tamás Rónaszéki. In the tradition of Hungarian Gypsy music, he was taught by his uncle, the renowned primás Miklós Lakatos, recipient of the Dankó Pista Lifetime Achievement Award.

Thanks to his exceptional talent, he was already performing in Spain at the age of ten with Ernő Toki Balogh's orchestra. In 2012 he joined the Roma Hungarikum State Art Ensemble, and in 2015 he became the youngest primás of the Hungarian Heritage and Hungarikum Award-winning 100 Member Gypsy Orchestra. In the same year, he won first prize at the Balatonfüred Primás Competition.

He has performed in prestigious venues such as the National Theatre, the Palace of Arts (MÜPA), and the Liszt Academy, and has also appeared at Zoltán Mága's New Year concerts in Budapest and Vienna. Today he performs both with the 100 Member Gypsy Orchestra and with his own ensemble at concerts in Hungary and abroad.

Awards:
• 2015 – 1st Prize, Balatonfüred Primás Competition
• 2020 – Qualified Rating, Student Gypsy Music Examination