Liszt laureate conductor working as first conductor of the choir from 1977 to 1996, Under his leadership the choir gradually became a constant participant of concert life in Hungary. The repertoire of the choir in this period was made up mainly of oratorios.
Mr. Strausz was born in 1950 in Sarkad, Hungary. He went to schools in Gyula and Esztergom and graduated from the Liszt Ferenc Academy of Music in 1974. He started his career at the The Hungarian Radio Corporation as musical editor, then became head of the department of classical music at the Hungarian Television. He also started teaching choir conducting at the Academy in 1983.
Following the sudden death of Mr. Lantos in 1977 Mr. Strausz, the young, new entrant conductor was entrusted with leading the choir – then called KISZ Központi Kórus. Many memorable concerts home and abroad, and choir competitions are linked with his name. From 1985 Mr. Strausz worked with the also amateur Franz Liszt Choir in Százhalombatta and the professional Kodály Choir in Debrecen as well.
In 1995 Mr. Strausz became the first conductor of the Choir of Hungarian Radio. On this occasion he passed the leadership of the Budapest Youth Choir on to Ms. Gerenday who had been second conductor until then.
