The Echoes

Four men walking down a city street, with one holding a clarinet, dressed in suits and casual outfits, with buildings and a church with a green dome in the background.

Richard Cibula & Patrick Cibula - Violin
Josef Nagy - Clarinet
Laszlo Racz - Piano

The Echoes is a dynamic chamber ensemble founded in 2025, uniting two violins, clarinet, and piano. Their refined interpretations of classical repertoire, arranged especially for their instrumentation, offer a fresh sonic perspective. The group made its successful debut in Vienna, winning First Prize and the Audience Prize at a prestigious competition in June 2025.

The ensemble features:

  • Patrick Cibula (violin), born on December 8, 2001, in Bratislava, Slovakia, is a laureate of numerous international competitions. He began playing the violin at the age of five under the guidance of his father. At ten, he was admitted for exceptional studies at the State Conservatory in Bratislava in the class of Professor František Török.

    At fourteen, he began studying with violin virtuoso Dalibor Karvay, who became a significant mentor in his artistic development. A year later, he moved to Vienna, continuing his studies with French violinist Louise Chisson at the Prayner Conservatory. Between 2016 and 2022, he also completed full-time studies at the Conservatory in Bratislava.

    Since 2020, he has been pursuing a Bachelor's degree at the Anton Bruckner Private University in Linz in the class of Prof. Albert Fischer. In addition, he has been studying at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna (MDW) since the winter semester of 2023 in the class of Gerhard Marschner.

  • Richard Cibula (violin), born in 2005 in Bratislava, is known for his expressive playing and international competition success. He began violin at age three and studied with Prof. František Török at the Bratislava Conservatory, later continuing at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna with Anna Gutowska. Since 2020, he has been studying at the Music and Arts Private University of Vienna (MUK) under Dalibor Karvay.

    Richard has won numerous awards, including Grand Prix prizes in Brussels, Prague, Budapest, and Italy, and has performed across Europe as a soloist and chamber musician. Notable appearances include the Vienna Musikverein, the Slovak Philharmonic, and a duet with Midori Goto. He frequently collaborates with leading musicians, including members of the Vienna Philharmonic.

  • László Rácz (piano), a 9th-generation musician from a renowned Hungarian family, was born on November 19, 1994, in Aruba and discovered his passion for the piano at an early age. At fifteen, he was admitted to the “Class for Special Talents” at the Music and Arts University of the City of Vienna (MUK), where he studied with Thomas Kreuzberger, Klaus Sticken, Michaela Ursuleasa, Gábor Nagy, and Lívia Kelemen. He later completed his artistic diploma in Vienna and his pedagogical diploma at the Franz Liszt University of Music in Budapest.

    Rácz has performed internationally as both a soloist and chamber musician. His playing is shaped by a broad and expressive repertoire, ranging from the clarity of Bach to the emotional depth of Schubert, Brahms, and Rachmaninoff. He is a recipient of the Yehudi Menuhin Live Music Now Award.

  • Josef Eugen Nagy (clarinet), born in Budapest in 1999 and raised in Germany, began his musical training at a young age and was mentored by leading clarinetists including Ewald Egermann, Ralph Manno, Sabine Meyer, and Johann Hindler. A winner of numerous national and international competitions, he has received awards such as the Konrad Adenauer Prize and top prizes at the Mercadante Competition in Italy and the Vienna International Awards.

He has performed as a soloist and chamber musician at major venues including the Tonhalle Düsseldorf, Alte Oper Frankfurt, Sala São Paulo, and the Golden Hall of the Vienna Musikverein. His international touring has taken him across Europe, China, Brazil, and Japan, with ensembles such as the Strauss Festival Orchestra and the Wiener Walzer Orchester

Nagy currently studies at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna and teaches clarinet and saxophone at Musikschule Klangwelt. His expressive playing and commitment to education reflect his dedication to the art of music.

Together, The Echoes aim to bridge tradition and innovation, captivating audiences with both musical finesse and emotional depth.