Dr. Sándor Szabó
In 2005, Dr. Sándor Szabó was chosen as Music Director of The Oratorio Society of New Jersey. He follows a long line of distinguished musical leaders: Mr. Gary Schneider who conducted nine concerts of fine performances; and Dr. Jack Sacher, who built the Society into a notable regional chorale from 1986 until his death in 1999.
Dr. Szabó has a well-established reputation as “one of the leading organists in the state” [Classical New Jersey Society Journal]. Dr. Szabó is actively engaged as conductor, organist, pianist, vocal coach, arranger, lecturer and adjudicator throughout Europe, Canada and the United States. Choirs and orchestras under his leadership have toured throughout the United States and Canada as well as Yugoslavia, Hungary, Italy, Austria, Czechoslovakia, Romania and Germany, winning him accolades as “the busiest musician in New Jersey."
Dr. Szabó was educated in Yugoslavia, graduating from the University of Sovi Sad in 1984 with the diploma “Academic Musician in the Piano Art.” Subsequently, he received his Master's degree from the University of Music Arts, Belgrade. While studying in Yugoslavia, he was a prize winner in both the Belgrade and Zagreb Young Pianists National Competitions. From 1983 until his immigration to Canada in 1988, Dr. Szabó combined his performing career with that of piano teacher at the University of Music Arts, Novi Sad, and Assistant Conductor/Accompanist at the Serbian National Opera Theatre. From 1993–94, Dr. Szabó was founder and conductor of the Guelph Sinfonietta and Coro Culturale di Italia in Ontario, Canada.
Dr. Szabó has studied with many distinguished musicians including conducting with Stanko Sepic, Ann Howard Jones and Joseph Flummerfelt; piano with Bordás Lajos, Nevena Popovic, Anthony di Bonaventura and Tong Il Han; organ with Max Miller, Eugene Roan and McNeil Robinson; and harpsichord with Mark Kroll. Dr. Szabó holds Master's degrees in organ performance and sacred music from Westminster Choir College, where he was awarded the full-tuition Currin scholarship. In addition, he has earned a DMA in piano performance at Boston University. He also holds the Fellowship Certificate (FAGO) from the American Guild of Organists and is a member of Phi Beta Delta, an honor society for international scholars, as well as Pi Kappa Lambda, a national music honor society.
Currently, Dr. Szabó is Music Director, Organist and Choirmaster at Sacred Heart and Our Lady of Pompeii in Dobbs Ferry, NY and the Choir Director/Organist at B’Nai Abraham, Livingston, NJ. He also has an active piano teaching studio in Dobbs Ferry.
For further information on Dr. Szabo, please visit his website at https://www.sandorszabomusic.com.