Soma Magyar is part of the increasing group of teenagers carrying forward Hungarian folk music traditions in North America. Born in the United States and classically trained in the Suzuki method growing up in Toronto, Canada, Soma spent a year in Hungary during high school studying violin and kontra with Attila Horvath of the Obuda Nepzene School in Budapest. He has also studied directly with some of the last living legends of folk music from the villages of Transylvania, including musicians from Szaszcsavas, Kalotaszeg, and Mezoseg.
Soma’s solo album – Roots Revived “Szek” – can be heard on Spotify, Apple, and YouTube. In 2026 he received the Special Prize at the Kalotaszeg Violin Competition in Mera, Transylvania.
Soma resides in Budapest and plays and teaches throughout Hungary and Transylvania, and still makes frequent trips to North America to perform with Gyanta. More information at tanchaz.com.