István Kónya was born in Hungary and obtained his first diploma in History and Music in 1985,whilst broadening his training with studies in classical guitar. In 1989 he joined the lute studio of Toyohiko Satoh at the Royal Conservatory of The Hague. There, he gained his lute diploma in 1994, being the first Hungarian lutist to graduate. In addition to renaissance and baroque lutes, he plays the archlute and the chitarrone. Obtaining his chamber music degree in 1996,he attended master classes with Nigel North and Steven Stubbs. From 1993 he has held regular courses on the lute in Hungary. Lute teacher and artistic director of the “Early Music Summer Academy” (1996-98), of the „Savaria Early Music Course” in Szombathely (2005-13), of the „International Lute & Guitar Festival” in Győr/Hungary (2006-08). His activities as a solist, accompanist and chamber musician have taken him all over Europe. His solos CD’s are : „Lute Music from Three Centuries” and „ S.L.Weiss: Lute Suites ”. He had a lute concert serie in the Buda Castle, where he made over 50 recitals. Recently published 3 Lute Books