Kodály String Duo
Formed in Vienna in 2022 by brothers Sebastian Leczky (violin) and Marcel Leczky (cello), the Kodály String Duo is dedicated to expanding the possibilities of the string duo and establishing it as a distinctive voice in contemporary classical music.
Combining a strong interpretative identity with a commitment to artistic discovery, the brothers approach chamber music as a dialogue between composers, performers, and audiences.
Praised by Kleine Zeitung for their “sound quality and experience that could almost be considered a luxury” and described by ExLibris as offering “more than a high-level concert,” they perform internationally at distinguished venues and festivals, including Musikverein Vienna, Thomaskirche Leipzig, Erben Music Festival Munich, and Violin-Marathon Albania, among others.
At the core of their artistic vision is the exploration of the violin-and-cello combination as a musical world in its own right.
Moving between established repertoire, lesser-known works, and new compositions, they explore the ensemble’s sonic possibilities while creating meaningful connections between musical heritage and contemporary expression.
Through their own special project, the KSDV-contemporary, their dedicated initiative to expand the repertoire for violin and cello, the duo has received more than 400 compositions from composers across six continents. Alongside commissioning and performing new works, the Kodály String Duo maintain regular artistic collaborations with living composers, and composers’ societies.
They also engage with universities and educational institutions through performances and collaborations, such as the University of Arts in Tirana, fostering exchange between performers, composers, students, and the wider contemporary music community.
The Leczky Brothers of the Kodály String Duo are calling for new compositions to expand the string duo repertoire.
-The Strad
Beyond their engagement with new music, the brothers established the Bach & Söhne-Zyklus, a concert and recording series dedicated to Johann Sebastian Bach and his composer sons. Their commitment to music’s social impact extends to their annual Charity Concert Series, through which they connect musical performance with charitable causes.
Winners of the International London Competition, the Medici Competition, and the Warsaw String Competition, the Kodály String Duo is the inaugural Ambassador of Universal Edition. Named in honour of Zoltán Kodály, the duo continues to develop its artistic profile through performance, commissioning, collaboration, and community engagement, with a particular focus on shaping the future of the string duo genre.