Frank Lakatos

Education

• DMA, University of Memphis

• MM, Southern Illinois University

• BM, Rowan University

Expertise

• Violin

• Viola

Biography

Hungarian-American violinist and violist Frank Lakatos explores the self-reflective dimensions of the violin through its solo repertoire. His performances include his own arrangements of music of different genres, for solo violin, in recitals entirely dedicated to the instrument in solitude. Dr. Lakatos also performs his own compositions: a recent performance of this nature in Memphis, Tennessee featured Vers l’avant for Solo Violin, composed and premiered by Dr. Lakatos.  

The gregarious element of chamber music attracted Dr. Lakatos to pursue his involvement with string quartets. During his undergrad, he performed as part of the Rowan String Quartet at Weill Recital Hall in Carnegie Hall. In Illinois, he was first-violinist of the Southern Illinois String Quartet, frequently performing quartets of Brahms, Dvorak, and Beethoven at the Southern Illinois Chamber Music Society. In the summer season, Dr. Lakatos performed as violist of the Southeast String Quartet at the Southern Illinois Music Festival. 

Dr. Lakatos’s versatility as both a violinist and violist gave him the opportunity to play with orchestras such as the Pennsylvania Chamber Orchestra, Williamsport Symphony, New Chicago Chamber Orchestra, Binghamton Philharmonic, North Mississippi Symphony Orchestra, and Paducah Symphony Orchestra.  

His profound fascination with teaching led Dr. Lakatos to acquire and maintain violin and viola studios in Pennsylvania, Virginia, Illinois, Kentucky, and Tennessee. This passion also prompted him to design a weekly seminar called Study-Quartet, an outlet for adult learners to experience and study the art of playing in an ensemble. Currently, Dr. Lakatos holds a position at Murray State University, Department of Music in Murray, Kentucky as string professor and director of the University Orchestra. Additionally, he is the director of the MSU Quad State String Festival, an annual orchestra festival that brings over four hundred students to participate in four orchestras, one of which Dr. Lakatos serves as conductor. 

Dr. Lakatos earned a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Memphis in violin performance and minor in music theory, a Master of Music degree from Southern Illinois University Carbondale, and a Bachelor of Music degree from Rowan University. His principal teachers, with whom he had the privilege of studying were Timothy Shiu, Lenny Schranze, Michael Barta, Lenuta Ciulei, and Barbara Krakauer.