Zsombor Sidoo (Budapest, 1997) is undoubtedly one of the most promising guitarists of his generation with great sensibility for different styles and impressive natural technical ability.
He got his early musical influences from József Eötvös, at the Franz Liszt Academy for Music in Budapest, where he was a junior student. Since 2013 he has been studying with Paolo Pegoraro at the University for Music and Performing Arts in Graz. In 2021 he obtained his master’s degree with highest marks and all honours. Due to his interest in musical composition, he had the privilege to take lessons from Beat Furrer. Since 2022 he is a doctoral candidate in the artistic scholarly doctorate school of the University of Music and Performing Arts. His artistic research project focuses on epistemology and aesthetics of Elliott Carter’s music.
Despite his young age at several competitions, he caught the attention of international juries as well of the public. He is the winner of the third prize (first not assigned) in the International Instrumental Competition Markneukirchen. He won numerous other competitions, such as the 5th Zagreb Guitar Festival, the 15th Enrico Mercatali Competition (Gorizia), the international guitar competition Ida Presti (Samobor), the 9th Hannabach Prize in Augsburg (Germany) and the 10th Oberhausen Guitar Competition (Oberhausen). Furthermore he won 2nd prize at the 11th J. K. Mertz Competition (Bratislava), at the Forum Gitarre Wien (Vienna), and at the Europea Bach Award (2022), and 3rd prize at the 52nd International Competition for classical guitar Michele Pittaluga, at the 44th Gargnano International Competition and at the 2nd International Competition in Klagenfurt. In 2016 and in 2021 he received the scholarship of the city of Graz for the best music students studying in Graz.
He is giving concerts regularly across Europe in prestigious venues such as the Ehrbarsaal in Vienna, the Mozarthaus in Augsburg, the Konzerthaus Klagenfurt, the Musikhalle Markneukirchen, the Pomeranian Dukes Castle in Szczecin and the Fricsay Hall in Szeged.In the past few years he has been invited to perform as well as to give masterclasses to several Festivals across Europe.
In 2018 he recorded his debuting CD with three sonatas of J. S. Bach, M. M. Ponce and H. W. Henze. The CD was released in October 2019.