Matyas Gayer

Piano

Matyas Gayer is one of the few leading figures in the new generation of jazz musicians who is successfully forging his own distinctive style and musical voice out of the greatness of a jazz piano tradition.

The London based Hungarian pianist first fell in love with the music at the age of five. Gayer showed passion for mainstream jazz and began performing on various stages such as Palace of Arts, Budapest since his early teenage years.

Gayer founded his first band and won Hungary’s young talent competition, the Golden Ten Award at the age of 14. Then Gayer started his professional music studies under the tutelage of Karoly Binder, head of the Franz Liszt Academy of Music.

In 2009 Gayer performed at Umbria Jazz Festival in Perugia. Matyas won first prize and was awarded a scholarship to Berklee College of Music, Boston. Afterwards, Gayer continued his musical studies in Austria, at the University of Performing Arts Graz, under the direction of Olaf Polziehn, and he received Bachelor of Arts Degree (Hons).

Building on his success, Gayer was invited to the illustrious Luzern Piano Festival, where he performed as the youngest participant. He was a member of Jim Rotondi’s electric band between 2012-2014. The Matyas Gayer Trio featuring the saxophonist, Sandor Molnar won first prize at International Zilina Jazz Contest, 2015.

In 2014 and 2015, Matyas Gayer was finalist at the prestigious Montreux Jazz Solo Piano Competition. In 2015 he won the most prestigious Hungarian jazz prize, the Gramofon Award.

Matyas Gayer received an honorary master’s degree in 2018 at the Private University of Music and Arts, Vienna.

Greatest Musical Inspiration

Bill Evans (Jazz Pianist)

Best Musical Advice

Honest work pays off!