Magyar
LÁSZLÓ FORNWALD,
Composer, Pianist
László Fornwald, pianist, composer, was born in Máramarossziget, Transylvania (Sighetu-Marmetiei) in 1949. He started his musical carrier at an early age by attending a Musical Elementary School at his birthplace and a Musical High School in Kolozsvár. In 1972 he graduated as a pianist from the G. Dima Music Academy in Kolozsvár, Transylvania. In 1964 he already started as a tutor at the Hungarian Opera House in Kolozsvár. For ten years, beginning 1967, he was the musical instructor, conductor and pianist of the Hungarian Theater in Sepsiszentgyörgy. From 1976-1994 he was musical director and pianist of the Hungarian Theater in Szatmárnémeti. His theatrical productions at both theaters included operas, operettas, musicals, as well as his own compositions.
In 1995, he received an award for his work at the Conservatory of Szatmárnémeti, celebrating its 90th anniversary.
He gave his first piano recital in Bucharest, Romania at the age of 11. An illustrious carrier as a pianist followed. His concert tours took him to many European countries over the years. He was a member of the Dinu Lipatti Philharmonia in Szatmárnémeti, Transylvania. Together with the concertmaster and director of the Philharmonia he formed the Camerata Transylvanica. Their chamber music and piano-violin recitals were well accepted by the music loving audience in many countries.
You are the Liberator, a religious program was enthusiastically embraced by all the different denominations. The repertoire consisted of religious poems by world famous poets, to which László Fornwald composed the music. Fornwald, together with Kati Méhes and Miklós Tóth-Páll presented this extraordinary program at churches and schools in Transylvania, Sub-Carpathia, Hungary, Austria, Germany, Switzerland, etc., for over three years.
Fornwald composed music for children shows, which were recorded and videotaped in 1984. The video recordings were used by the Hungarian Television of Romania being the first children’s show in color.
In 1996, László Fornwald moved from Transylvania to the United States and is presently living in New Jersey. He is the organist of the Hungarian Reformed Church of Passaic and takes part in the programs of the Hungarian Theater of New York. The American Hungarian Museum welcomes this talented artist, who enriches the lives of so many with his music.
