Mihály Demeniv

Accordion music has been an inseparable part of Mihály Demeniv’s life since birth. He received his first, one-octave instrument from his parents (who also play and teach the accordion) when he was only four years old. At the age of eight he won his first international competition, in Ungvár; and since then, besides numerous competitions in Hungary, he has received awards at events in Italy (in 2009 at the “Citta di Castelfidardo” and in 2013 at the “Citta di Lanciano” International Accordion Festival), Slovakia (in 2010 and 2011 at the “Coupe Jeunesse” competition) and Bosnia and Herzegovina (in 2013 at the “Akordeon Art” International Accordion Festival), among others. The general public first got to know Mihály Demeniv as a finalist and special prize-winner in the talent show Virtuosos, broadcast by Hungarian Television in 2014, when his performances enabled thousands of viewers to experience accordion music in its elemental form. His incredibly wide repertoire is bound together by his dedication and immeasurable love for his chosen instrument. The works of Bach are his gospel, he plays Liszt with virtuosity, passionately interprets the music of Latin composers such as Albéniz or Piazzolla, and always finds new challenges for himself in contemporary music and jazz. He has taken the stage as soloist for symphonic orchestras a number of times, performing in such major concert halls as the Grand Hall of the Liszt Academy or the Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles, but believes it is just as important to reach audiences who may never have heard the likes of his music before.