Katalin Kertesz

Whether you are beginning your musical journey or refining your artistry, I will help you grow with confidence and joy. My approach combines clear technical foundations with effective and enjoyable methods for overcoming challenges, while fostering expressive and creative development, helping every musician discover their own unique voice.
I am a professional violinist and teacher with over 15 years of teaching experience in the UK, Germany, and Greece.
Born in Budapest, Hungary, into a family of musicians, I began learning the violin with my father at the age of six. I went on to study in Hungary and Germany with renowned teachers, including Valéria Baranyai, László Dénes, Professor Eckhard Fischer, Annette-Barbara Vogel, André Gertler, Tibor Varga, and Nelly Söregi-Wunderlich.
I perform on both modern and period instruments and have played with orchestras such as the City of London Sinfonia, The Philharmonia, Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, London Handel Orchestra, Hanover Band, and Armonia Athena. I have appeared at prestigious venues and festivals, including Wigmore Hall, the Royal Albert Hall (BBC Proms), Kuhmo Chamber Music Festival (Finland), International Music Days of Kalamata (Greece), Athens Baroque Festival, and Bayreuth Baroque Opera Festival. I have also made a number of recordings for labels such as Avie Records, Toccata Classics, and CPO.
I teach violin, Baroque violin, Baroque interpretation, viola, and music theory, offering lessons tailored to each student’s goals and interests.
Lessons are offered in English, German, or Hungarian.

Each lesson is individually tailored to meet you where you are – whether you’re a complete beginner learning open strings and simple tunes, or an advanced player exploring Baroque phrasing or expressive nuances in Romantic repertoire – I focus on building strong technical foundations in posture, sound, and intonation, while nurturing musical imagination. My goal is to create a supportive and encouraging atmosphere where you feel comfortable experimenting, making mistakes, and discovering new aspects of your playing.
For Baroque violin and Baroque interpretation, I work with advanced students who wish to explore playing on period instruments or explore stylistically informed Baroque performance on the modern violin. Together, we build musical confidence, refine phrasing and style, and develop practical approaches to ornamentation and articulation.
My music theory lessons follow the ABRSM grades system, complemented by elements of the Kodály method for ear training – an approach I find especially effective in developing intonation and inner hearing for string players.