Born in Hungary in 1976, Robert Kovács received his first piano lessons at the age of five and began to play the organ at the age of eleven. At the Conservatory of Budapest he studied under Endre Virágh, and in 1994 won First Prize at the Organ Festival for young organists in Hungary.
He continued his studies at the Universität für Musik und darstellende Kunst in Vienna Church Music and Organ under Hans Haselböck and Peter Planyavsky, graduating with distinction.
In 1998 he won Second Prize at the Anton Heiller International Competition for Organ Improvisation.
In 2004 he was a finalist and in 2006 won First Prize at the International Competition for Organ Improvisation in Haarlem, The Netherlands.
As organist, choir coach and choir singer he has maintained a long association with the Stephansdom and Augustinerkirche and such prominent Viennese musical institutions as the Arnold Schoenberg Choir, Wiener Kammerchor, Concentus Vocalis and Wiener Singverein.
As a member of the Wiener Choralschola he is deeply engaged with the performance of Gregorian chant. He taught organ improvisation and liturgical organ playing for the Vienna Archdiocese from 2001 to 2003 and was chief organist at St Florian from 2004 to 2006.
As a performer he is regularly to be heard on radio and television.
More information: www.robertkovacs.org
