Tamás Varga was born in Budapest in 1969. He studied at the Liszt Academy in Budapest and in Israel. He has won prizes in several international competitions, including first prize in the International Forum of Young Performers, organised by UNESCO and the European Broadcasting Union. As a chamber musician he has appeared with leading musicians, including Philippe Entremont, Tamás Vásáry, Zoltán Kocsis and the Bartók String Quartet. In April 1998 he was appointed principal cello of the Vienna State Opera.
