As a self-taught musician, István approached the early music repertory on bass viol (viola da gamba) and later developed under the guidance of Professor László Ilse-Herbert. He studied at the Master’s Degree in Geneva on bass viol with Guido Balestracci and basso continuo with Pierre-Alain Clerc. István participated at several masterclasses where he studied chamber music and solo repertory with important musicians, such as James Munro, Bruno Cocset, Hervé Douchy, Mira Glodeanu, Jan De Winne, Frédérick Haas and Francoise Lengellé.

He collaborated with various early music ensembles, such as Ausonia (Brussels), Il Gardellino (Brugge), Terra Nova Collectiv (Antwerp), Chanterelle (Cluj), Sempre (Bucharest) and Musica Ricercata (Sibiu). He is Co-founder and member of the Fonte di Gioia and Sectio Aurora early music ensembles and guest Professor of bass viol and violone at the Miercurea Ciuc Early Music Festival and Summer Academy.

Csata István studied the double bass at the Gheorghe Dima National Music Academy in Cluj-Napoca and currently performs as principal double bass player at the Transylvania State Philharmonic.