The Gabrieli Choir

The Organist

László Gesztesi-Tóth is an important representative of the younger generation of Hungarian organists. By the age of 11 he was already a talented pianist and won many prizes. Later his interest turned towards church and organ music. He started his organ studies under the tutelage of István Koloss, organist at St. Stephen’s Basilica in Budapest.

In 2001 László graduated with honours from the organ department of the Liszt Academy where he was a student of Gábor Lehotka and János Pálúr. At the same time he studied choral conducting at the Janus Pannonius University of Pécs, and subsequently graduated in 2000.

A devotee of French organ music, László was awarded a scholarship from the French government in 2001 to pursue postgraduate studies at Lyons in the ‘Masterclass’ run by Louis Robilliard, who is considered as the greatest expert on French romantic organ music. He also studied improvisation with Franck Vaudray. His final recital on the Cavaillé-Coll organ at the Church of St Francis de Sales met with unanimous praise, he was awarded the “Premier Prix de Virtuosité á l’Unanimité” by the jury.

László has taken part in many master classes (Jean Boyer, Loďc Maillé, Jean Ferrard, David Titterington). He pursued further studies in France under Marie-Louise Langlais in 2002 at the Paris Conservatoire Supérieur CNR. The same year he was accepted to do a DLA doctorate at the Liszt Academy.

László Gesztesi-Tóth regularly gives concerts in Hungary and abroad, and he is the organist at the Church of The Holy Spirit in Budapest. He is the founder and director of Canticum Cantorum, a group of singers and musicians who play an important role in the cultivation of modern Hungarian and European church music.