József Balog is one of the most talented members of the young generation of pianists, having given concerts in more than twenty countries on 3 continents as a chamber musician and soloist. He has performed in famous concert halls such as the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam or the Wiener Konzerthaus. He has won prizes in several national and international competitions, including the Grand Prix and Special Prize at the Alexander Tansman International Music Competition (2002, Lodz). In 2005 he was awarded the Annie Fischer Scholarship, and in 2018 he was honoured with the Ferenc Liszt Prize. In addition to the standard pianist's repertoire, he enjoys playing rare and jazz-inspired works, and is also credited with presenting many contemporary musical works. 

THE WEST-EASTERN DIVAN ENSEMBLE

Daniel Barenboim and the late Palestinian literary scholar Edward W. Said created a workshop for young musicians to promote coexistence and intercultural dialogue, and this joint work gave birth to the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra in 1999. The orchestra is made up of musicians from Israel, Palestine and the Middle East. Since its founding it has proved time and again that music can break down barriers previously considered insurmountable. The West-Eastern Divan Ensemble is the most recent imprint of this project and brings the highly praised artistry of the large orchestra into an intimate chamber music format, spreads the ideas behind the Orchestra and gives the public an opportunity to experience the musicians' unique artistry and personality up close. Its leader and founder is the concertmaster of the orchestra, Michael Barenboim, who as a soloist has recently appeared with Berlin Philharmonic, Vienna Philharmonic, and Chicago Symphony amongst others.