Once the 1500m record holder for the Czechoslovakian junior national team, this composer, conductor and educator is a winner in more ways than one. Whilst still a student of Pedagogy at Slovakia’s ‘Matej Bel’ university, Marian befriended classical guitar virtuoso and educator Jan Labant, who gave him his first commission, and encouraged him to compose. Taking his advice, he soon became a prominent performer at many concerts, festivals and competitions. In 1987 he won the Czechoslovakian ‘State Political Song Contest’ and was invited to record at Presov city recording studios. He was also announced on Slovak National Radio as ‘Best New Talent’ and ‘Best Original Composer’, as a part of the ‘National Music Festival’.

Marian migrated to Australia in 1992, where he continued classroom teaching, and for a time, studied composition with Jim Cotter at the Canberra Institute of the Arts. His Music has been performed, recorded and broadcast in Europe, Australia, New Zealand and the Americas, and he himself has attended numerous national and international festivals, and community events, such as the 2000 Olympics (the ‘Slovakian Fairytale’ project).

He has worked with numerous prominent artists, including the Slovakian conductor Oliver von Dohnanyi, Australia’s Anthony Field (‘Saffire’ guitar quartet), VCA’s guitar orchestra (Australia), Slovakian classical guitarist Jan Labant, and his duo with Slovakian guitarist Peter Remenik, ‘Duo La Barre’; Croatian cellist Monika Leskovar; the Slovak Philharmonic, the Slovak Sinfonietta, JGO German guitar Orchestra, German guitarists Helmut Osterreich, Roland Boehm, the Hamburg Duo, and Canadian classical guitarist Remi Boucher.

Recordings of Marian’s work continue to find their way into radio, film and television, and receive awards. In addition to those already mentioned, recordings made by the talented and prolific Jaroslav Stranavsky, for the ‘Two Worlds’ album, received awards at the ’Zatva Broadcasting Awards’ three years in a row. In 1998, the CD earnt Marian the award of ‘Best Young Composer’ at the annual televised SOZA awards. SOZA is an affiliate member of international performing rights groups.

Marian has recorded two CDs, ‘Two Worlds’, and ‘Heart on a Sleeve’. Numerous other works have been recorded for radio around the world by various soloists and ensembles. Due to popular demand, he expects to record the double album of the ‘Seasons of the Soul’ project with his wife, Ivana Troselj, written for choir, ochestra and soloists, in the near future.

Together with producers Maestro Su-Bum Kim of Arirang Opera, Korea, and Jaroslav Stranavsky of Music Master, Slovakia, Marian and his wife Ivana will premiere a newly commissioned musical in Europe and Asia this coming year (2006-7). Talks are also underway for a promotional concert tour of the project in the following year, and a movie version of the story. Official patrons of the project are the President and minister for culture of the Slovak republic.

‘Listening to his music, the most exciting aspect is its freshness...highly melodic and far from predictable, his compositional style is modern and reflects a myriad of influences.’ -Dita Zizi‘Muse Magazine’, Australia

‘A very interesting sound, creating both an impression of calm and balance.’ - Anna Kovarova, Hudobny Zivot (‘Musical Life’) , Slovakia.

‘ A novelty by Marian Budos held interest - Tonal, elegiac in mood, not too complex...though tricky to play, not too difficult to listen to.’ - Colin Cooper‘Classical Guitar’, U.K.

'...Really beautiful, full of heart, feelings and good ideas! Your music brings me fresh air' - Remi Boucher, French/Canadian guitar virtuoso and composer.

'The composition differs in many respects from other contemporary works. It does not suffer from any skepticism, on the contrary, it is a kind of music therapy, a mirror of the author's feelings; an inner confession; presented elegantly and without any cheap effects. The work has surprising instrumentation... The composition felt really authentic...' -Marta Gaborova, Hudobny Zivot, 'Musical Life', Slovakia, July/August issue, 2002

'I listened with great pleasure...I really liked it!' - Milos Forman, Oscar winning film director, U.S.A.