In Medias Brass was formed in January 2010. Its members got their degree at the Franz Liszt Academy of Music. The ensemble – just a bit more than three years into its existence – has been well placed on seven noted international competition in Jeju (South Korea), Passau (Germany), Stanjel (Slovenia), Osaka (Japan), Chieri (Italy), Lyon (France) and in Knoxville (Tennessee, USA), where they won five first prizes, two second prizes and special prizes too.
Beside Hungary, they had several recitals in Switzerland, Germany, Italy, France, Lithuania, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovaky, the United States of America, Dubai, Japan and South-Korea. They gave masterclasses in South-Korea (2015), Lithuania (2018, 2020), and in the Czech Republic (2019, 2022). In November 2011 they were given the „Junior Prima” title, which is the highest award for young and talented people in any field of art in Hungary. In 2012 they were promoted by Hungarofest management, through their Talent Program. In Medias Brass enjoys the support of Buffet Crampon since 2010.
Discography:
2014 – Miracle of Miracles – Christmas album with the Baptist Central Choir
2018 – Chamber Works for Brass Instruments by Sándor Szokolay
2022 – Divertimento
2022 – Kind of Brass
Members:
Tamás Pálfalvi (trumpet) – international soloist, trumpet teacher at the Franz Liszt Academy of Music, Budapest
Richárd Kresz DLA (trumpet) – trumpet and chamber music teacher at the Leó Weiner Leó Catholic Music School and Music High School
János Benyus (horn) – international soloist, principal horn player at the Hungarian State Opera House and Concerto Budapest Symphonic Orchestra
Attila Sztán (trombone) – member of the Budapest Festival Orchestra
József Bazsinka, Jr. DLA (tuba) – brass chamber music teacher at the Liszt Ferenc Academy of Music, editor and presenter at Bartók Radio
Their concerts, due to their artistic and technical aptness are simultaneously characterized by virtuosity and intimacy. The repertoire of In Medias Brass ranges from pieces dating from the Renaissance period to arrangements and works written for brass quintets to the most recent contemporary pieces and is constantly expanding. They also pay special attention to performing works by contemporary composers and keeping pieces written specifically for them in their repertoire. They gladly play pop music pieces, among which everybody can find their favorite whether it be soundtrack from a film, ragtime or Latin jazz. They find it important that each and every one of their concerts is worthwhile and that the audience not only realizes the potential brass musical instruments have but also undergo a wonderful musical experience.
Richárd Kresz is a prominent figure in music education and performing arts, who has gained considerable renown for his recognized expertise as both a trumpet teacher and performer. Between 2010 and 2022, he taught trumpet at the Tihamér Vujicsics Music School in Szentendre. Since September 2019, he has been working as a trumpet and chamber music teacher at the Leó Weiner Catholic Music School and Secondary School of Music in Budapest, where he continues to inspire and educate the younger generation of musicians.
Throughout his career, his students have achieved remarkable success, winning prizes at prestigious county, regional, national, and international competitions. Thanks to his commitment to excellence, several of his students have been able to continue their studies at music academies in Hungary and abroad. A prime example of this is Gergő Turai, who became the principal trumpet player of the Berlin Konzerthaus Orchestra in 2023, further demonstrating the high standard of Kresz’s teaching and the power of his mentorship.
In addition to his teaching career, Richárd Kresz is a founding member of the In Medias Brass quintet. Alongside his performing activities, he also plays an active role in shaping the artistic direction of the ensemble, contributing to the development of its diverse repertoire and the realization of concert programs with a unique sound. The ensemble has released four outstanding albums to date, including a special recording of works by Sándor Szokolay.
Kresz’s influence extends far beyond the stage: he is committed to spreading a love of music and providing lasting educational experiences through initiatives such as the “Extraordinary Music Lessons” series.
Tamás Pálfalvi stood out as one of the most innovative and creative trumpet players of his generation, playing a pioneering role in the world of classical music. He impressed audiences worldwide with his exceptional talent and his novel, visionary approach to the trumpet.
During his career, Pálfalvi has enjoyed success in concerts with numerous prestigious ensembles and orchestras, including appearances with the Los Angeles Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl in Hollywood, with the Budapest Festival Orchestra, and with the Zurich Chamber Orchestra at the Festspiele Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. Notable stops on his career include his solo recital at the Mozarteum in Salzburg, his performances in Hong Kong with the Hong Kong Sinfonietta, and at the Aspen Music Festival (USA).
In the 2017/2018 season, Pálfalvi won the ECHO Rising Star title, which saw him perform in Europe’s most prestigious concert halls, including the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, where he premiered Péter Eötvös’s work for solo trumpet titled Sentimental.
In addition to his career as a performing artist, Pálfalvi is also a committed advocate of music pedagogy: since the fall of 2019, he has been teaching as the youngest professor at the Liszt Ferenc Academy of Music in Budapest, inspiring the next generations of musicians.
Tamás Pálfalvi’s unwavering commitment to artistic excellence and innovative spirit shape the world of classical trumpet playing – securing his place among the defining figures of classical music.
János Benyus’ musical career began at the Tóth Aladár Music School, where he first encountered the horn, and his passion for the instrument was soon born. He continued his studies at the Béla Bartók Music High School in Budapest, where he studied with Tibor Beleznay.
His pursuit of excellence led him to the Liszt Ferenc Academy of Music, where he deepened his knowledge in the class of Ádám Friedrich. In addition to his studies, he regularly participated in international master classes, including those led by renowned artists such as Peter Damm, Timothy Jones and Ab Koster.
Benyus’s outstanding talent and dedication are also evident in his solo concerts: he is the winner of four international horn competitions, including Chieri (2007), Sannicandro di Bari (2008) and Jeju, South Korea (2010). In 2011, he won the horn category of the Brno International Brass Competition, also winning the competition’s grand prize.
In addition to his solo career, he is a sought-after orchestral artist: he works as a principal horn player at the Hungarian State Opera House and in the Concerto Budapest Orchestra.
In addition to his work as a performing artist, Benyus is also committed to musical education: he regularly gives master classes and participates in competition juries. In addition to his membership in two orchestras and his active role in the In Medias Brass quintet, it is surprising but true: he is the father of eight children.
Attila Sztán began his musical studies at the age of nine. He showed outstanding talent at a young age, progressed rapidly, and eventually graduated from the Békéscsaba Bartók Béla Conservatory as a student of Csaba Szűcs. His exceptional talents and dedication allowed him to gain admission to the prestigious Liszt Ferenc Academy of Music in 2010, where he further honed his skills under the guidance of Dr. Gusztáv Hőna.
Sztán’s successes soon reached beyond national borders: in 2010, he won the Brno International Trombone Competition, which not only demonstrated his exceptional talent but also garnered international attention. In 2016, he further strengthened his reputation by winning first prize at the Croatian International Brass Competition, positioning himself as one of the leading trombone players of his generation.
However, his musical career is not only about his achievements as a soloist. Sztán is also known as a member of the brass quintet In Medias Brass and as a member of the Budapest Trombone Quartet, with which they won a prize at the Royal Academy of Music competition in 2015.
Between 2013 and 2016, he was the principal trombone of Concerto Budapest – one of the most respected orchestras in Hungary, known for its innovative programming policy and artistic rigor. In 2016, he joined the Budapest Festival Orchestra, one of the top ten symphony orchestras in the world – further strengthening his international presence and recognition as a trombone player.
József Bazsinka Jr. was born into a musical family: his mother is a cellist and his father is an internationally renowned tuba player, teacher and member of the Budapest Festival Orchestra. His first teacher was his father, until he was admitted to the Academy of Music, where he graduated in 2010 in the class of László Szabó. In 2008, he studied at the Hanover Academy of Music with an Erasmus scholarship as a student of Jens Bjørn-Larsen. In 2010, he began doctoral studies at the Franz Liszt Academy of Music, and from 2012, he also studied theology for four semesters at the Baptist Theological Academy. In 2018, he received his DLA doctoral degree from the Academy of Music.
As a soloist, he won first prize at the national tuba competition in 2007, then won the international tuba competition in Brno in 2008, and in 2010 won first prize at a prestigious international competition in South Korea. Since 2010, he has been a founding member of the brass quintet In Medias Brass.
He is a regular contributor to contemporary music ensembles: he plays regularly with Klangforum Wien since 2005, with the UMZE Ensemble since 2013, and since 2016 he is a member of the SWR Experimentalstudio. Occasionally he also played with the Ensemble Recherche in Freiburg, the Ensemble Quasars in Bratislava and MIKAMO based in Vienna.
Between 2014 and 2021, he was a member of the St. Stephen King Philharmonic Orchestra, between 2015 and 2021 he worked as a tuba teacher and brass chamber music instructor at the St. Stephen King Music Specialized Vocational High School, between 2021 and 2024, he was an assistant professor at the Béla Bartók Faculty of Music at the University of Szeged, and since 2024, he has been a brass chamber music instructor at the Franz Liszt Academy of Music in Budapest. In addition to his musical career, he is an editor and presenter at Bartók Radio, Hungary’s leading classical music radio station, since 2021.
