Ágnes Zsigmondi

Singer and flutist born in Budapest, Hungary. In 1972, she joined a folk dancing group called Bihari. In 1974 she made her first international tour as the solo singer of the famous Hungarian gypsy group, Rajko. At the same time she began her studies at the Bela Bartok Conservatory in Budapest. In 1975, Ágnes and four other musicians formed the group Kolinda. In 1978 Ágnes resumed her solo career. In 1980 she left Budapest for Paris. As a solo artist she performed successfully in Paris. Ágnes decided to move to the U.S.A. in 1985. She performed her first concert in the U.S.A. at the Speak Easy Club in New York and has performed in many New England Clubs and Universities. Ágnes appeared on local cable TV with recordings of her live performances and ACTV frequently plays her shows recorded for the Amherst channel. Since her last CD release and international tour with the reformed Kolinda in 1996, she returned to Budapest to perform with the group again at the International Sziget Festival in the summer of 2004. Ágnes Zsigmondi has also recorded two CD's of her original arrangements and compositions. Her style is based on East European traditional rhythms and melodies, incorporating folk, jazz, hip-hop and Latin elements.