Choir-master and conductor Zsuzsa Budavari Novak was born in Kecskemét, Hungary, known for its rich choral culture and as the birthplace of the renowned Hungarian composer and music pedagogue Zoltán Kodály. She studied choral conducting and music pedagogy at the Faculty of Arts in Pécs. During her studies she participated in important Hungarian and international productions of major works by Bach (Magnificat, Mass in B minor, St. John Passion), of Haydn’s oratorio The Creation, Handel’s Messiah, Requiems by Mozart and Rossini, Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, Monteverdi’s Vespers of the Blessed Virgin and other works. She was a member of the acclaimed vocal group Bach Singers and conducted her first choir, Canticum Cydrell. In addition, she attended the Academy of Music in Budapest as a visiting student. In 2001, she graduated with honours from both institutions and in the same year came to Slovenia, where she continued her career in choral music. In addition to conducting the Vocalis mixed choir she founded the vocal group Osmica. A year later, she took over the leadership of the Academic Choir Maribor and in 2005 the choir of Glasbena matica Maribor. She taught music at the Waldorf primary school in Maribor and was a member of the jury at the “Sozvočenje” competition in Šentilj.

She participated with the Slovenian National Theatre in Maribor in the opera production of Cavalleria rusticana in 2008 and 2009. She regularly attends seminars and choir conducting courses (among other things, she attended a master class for choirmasters led by Ragnar Rasmussen). With both choirs she achieved remarkable success in various Slovenian and international competitions, including winning first prize and a gold plaque in Jersey (Chanel Islands) in 2004, three silver plaques at the “Naša pesem” competition (in 2005, 2007 and 2010) and two gold plaques at the choir competition in Sopot (Poland) in 2008. In addition, she won first, third and fourth prize and three gold plaques at the choir competition in Bratislava in 2009, two gold plaques at the competition in Venice in 2010, two silver plaques at the competition in Limburg (Germany) in 2011 and two first prizes at the competition in Antalya (Turkey) 2012. She has twice received the Best Conductor Award, in Bratislava and Antalya.