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Laszlo Mezo, cello
Born in Budapest, Hungary, Laszlo Mezo gained national recognition as one of the top musicians of his generation when he won First Prize in the “Kertész Ottó Memorial Competition” at the young age of 18. Since then, he has won numerous other competitions which have brought him international recognition including the Fourth Prize in the “Antonio Janigro Junior International Competition” in 1998, Second Prize in the “International Dávid Popper Competition for Young Cellists” in 2000, the Special Prize in the “International Dávid Popper Cello Competition” in 2004, and First Prize in the “Ima Hogg International Competition” in 2008.
Mr. Mezo has forged a career as a soloist, recitalist, master teacher, and chamber musician. He has performed extensively in Europe, Asia, and North and South America. Always eager to pass on his knowledge, Laszlo has conducted master classes in Japan, Brazil, Italy, Switzerland, Hungary, and the United States. Mr. Mezo is currently a professor in cello at Chapman University and Saddleback College in California, and he was Assistant Teacher at the University of Southern California between 2007 and 2008.
As a soloist, Mr. Mezo has performed with maestros Ádám Fischer, Thomas Wilkins, Grant Llewellyn, Zsolt Hamar. As a chamber musician, he has collaborated in recitals with pianists Kevin Fitz-Gerald, Steven Vanhauwaert, Gábor Farkas, Márta Gulyás, Piotr Folkert, and Balázs Szokolay, violinist Kristóf Baráti, cellist Philipp Muller, and the Bartók Quartet. He has also played under the direction of Zubin Mehta and Kent Nagano as a member of the Bayerische Staatsorchester in Munich, Germany.
Mr. Mezo holds two master's degrees from the Liszt Ferenc University of Music in Budapest and the Hochschule für Musik und Theater München. He graduated from the class of Ralph Kirshbaum at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. Mr. Mezo has also participated in the master classes of Uzi Wiesel, Josef Podhoransky, Othmar Müller, Philippe Müller, Rainer Zipperling, Fenyves Lóránd, Wolfgang Boettcher, and Aldo Parisot.
Currently residing in Los Angeles, California, Mr. Mezo is a member of the Pacific Symphony Orchestra. He is a sought after soloist, and an active studio musician in Hollywood. He has played in many film scores, some most updated blockbusters include Star Wars, Ice Age, Life of Pi, Wolverine, and The Lone Ranger.
His first CD recording of Dávid Popper’s works, on the Hungaroton label, includes several first time ever recordings of the master’s cello works. He recently finished his second CD, “Made in Paris,” with romantic cello pieces from the 19th century also featuring world premiere works by cellist-composer Daniel Van Goens, and pieces from the Suite Populaire Espagnole by Manuel De Falla.