Described as “a musician of the highest order”  by Stockton Symphony conductor Peter Jaffe, saxophonist János Csontos is a soloist, and chamber musician dedicated to the performance of contemporary repertoire. To date, he has premiered over 50 new works for saxophone as a chamber musician and a soloist. 

János is Director of Finance and a founding member of ~Nois, a Chicago-based saxophone quartet dedicated to promoting the works of living composers and connecting with audiences in unique concert experinces. ~Nois has quickly emerged as one of the premier young ensembles performing new music, and has received top prizes at prestigious chamber music competitions including the M PRIZE Chamber Arts Competition and the Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition. ~Nois has presented over 90 performance in 20 states from coast to coast, including performances on concert series and festivals such as Big Ears, The Great Lakes Chamber Music Festival, and UChicago Presents. Dedicated to expanding and redefining the modern saxophone quartet, ~Nois has premiered over 40 new works for saxophone and has shared the stage with the Bang on a Can All-Stars, Claire Chase, Eighth Blackbird, and indie rock band My Brightest Diamond. The ensemble is in demand as a guest artist and lecturer at universities and secondary schools across the nation, having presented performances and masterclasses at over 30 institutions including University of Colorado Boulder, the Manhattan School of Music, and Princeton University.

János made his solo debut in 2015 as the Grand Prize winner of the Auburn Symphony Young Artist Competition, performing twice as a concerto soloist with the Auburn Symphony. He is also a winner of University of the Pacific’s Concerto Aria Competition, and was invited to perform as a soloist with the university’s Symphony Orchestra. Most recently, he embarked on a solo tour where he presented recitals, masterclasses, and presentations at various educational institutions in his home state of California. János has presented solo performances on Concert Series at University of the Pacific, Northwestern University, and Pioneer United Methodist Church.

János currently holds a bachelor’s degree in saxophone performance from University of the Pacific and a master's degree in saxophone performance from Northwestern University. His past teachers include Taimur Sullivan, David Henderson, and Zachary Shemon. János is a 2018 Eighth Blackbird Creative Lab Fellow and is a member of multiple professional music organizations and honors societies, including Mu Phi Epsilon, Pi Kappa Lambda, and Phi Kappa Phi.