Hungary and Switzerland have awarded him high honours, among others the National Prize for Culture (Switzerland), the Cross of Merit (Germany), the Cross of Merit (Hungary), the medals of the Arts et Lettres and of France's Legion of Honour. The Budapest University respectively the Budapest Franz Liszt Academy appointed him honorary professor, a rare distinction awarded, for example, to Edward Elgar, Emil Gilels, Richard Strauss and Arturo Toscanini. Varga's Etude-Caprice for 4 violins composed on the occasion of the European Rector's Conference in Graz, Cultural Capital of Europe, in 2003 has been designated after his death to be the official hymn of the European University Association. Death Varga died at his home in Grimisuat, near Sion, Switzerland, on 4 September 2003. With his first wife Judith, he had a son, Gilbert Varga, a noted conductor. His daughter Susan Rybicki-Varga is a cellist and teacher. His second wife Dr. Angelika Varga-Behrer is a musicologist and musician. References Additional Sources J. Creighton, Discopaedia of the Violin, 1889–1971, Toronto 1974 S. Applebaum and H. Roth, The Way They Play, Book 10, Neptune/N.J. 1981 W. Kiley, Ventures abroad, in: The Strad, Febr. 1987 R. Noltensmeier, Geiger von Beruf, Kiel 1999 T. Potter, A Fiery Philosopher, in: The Strad, April 2000 N. Hornig, Spiegel des Lebens, in: FonoForum, Sept. 2001 See also Legion of Honour List of Legion of Honour recipients by name (V) Legion of Honour Museum External links tiborvarga.ch 1921 births 2003 deaths Franz Liszt Academy of Music alumni Hungarian classical violinists Male classical violinists Hungarian conductors (music) Male conductors (music) Officers Crosses of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany Academic staff of the Hochschule für Musik Detmold 20th-century conductors (music) 20th-century classical violinists 20th-century Hungarian male musicians