This year's 6th year of the Kroměříž Summer Music Academy ended with an exceptional performance by the student string orchestra
The highlight of this year's Summer Music Academy in Kroměříž was yesterday's showcase of young talents and a performance by the chamber academic orchestra. This year's laureates were also announced. 57 students from 6 countries around the world participated in the Academy this year.
A week full of extraordinary musical experiences, lessons under the guidance of world-renowned classical music figures, intensive rehearsals, but also meetings and new friendships – that was the 6th year of the Kroměříž Summer Music Academy. On Thursday, August 24, it was concluded at the Nadsklepí Cinema with a concert consisting of solo performances by students across individual disciplines, as well as a chamber academic orchestra. The orchestra had been preparing for the final evening throughout the week under the leadership of Tomáš Netopil, conductor and artistic director of the Summer Music Academy. The orchestra performed the composition Moravian Dance by Jiří Pavlica, who personally came to Kroměříž to perform it.
The concert was concluded with the presentation of awards to the best students of this year's academy. The Kroměříž Summer Music Academy Award was received by cellist Štěpánka Plocková, who has participated in the Kroměříž Academy several times under the guidance of Michaela Fukačová. " Štěpánka is the type of musician who, with her intensity and refined sense of beauty, can touch and caress her listeners, which is a huge gift. Her playing is distinctive and soulful, and I am convinced that she has a bright future ahead of her, " explained cellist Michaela Fukačová.
Thirteen-year-old pianist Adam Znamirovský also earned an award for his talent at this year's academy. "In addition to his exceptional technical skills, Adam has shown this year how he has matured musically over the past year. He thinks about interpretation more comprehensively than before, which is clearly audible in his performance," said piano virtuoso and LHAK lecturer Ivo Kahánek.
In addition to the financial reward, both students will receive the opportunity to perform in a half-recital at the friendly Leoš Janáček International Music Festival in 2024.
The next recipient of the Summer Music Academy Award was baritone Radek Martinec, who will perform at one of the upcoming major concerts of the Kroměříž Music Festival during the next year of the academy.
A special award from the Kroměříž Summer Music Academy went to piano collaboration student Tomáš Kalousek, whose management particularly appreciated his great progress during his stay at the academy and his professional performance at the "Opera Gala" concert.
"This year we once again had top lecturers and talented students across all disciplines. We offered the public exceptional concerts and after several years we were able to use the beautiful spaces of the reconstructed Chamber Hall of the Archbishop's Castle in Kroměříž," said conductor and artistic director of LHAK Tomáš Netopil and added: " We are pleased with the interest of the audience, who attended not only large concerts with a star cast in large numbers, but also found their way to the performances of our students."
The growing public interest was also welcomed by Executive Director Jana Kubáčová. "The Academy is developing and advancing year by year, both qualitatively and in terms of its scope. Not only classical instrumental fields are becoming increasingly popular, but also fields such as music management, " explained Jana Kubáčová, who also appreciated the opportunity to follow the development and progress of students who repeatedly return to the Academy.
The 6th Summer Music Academy in Kroměříž provided an opportunity for 57 active and ten passive participants from the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Ukraine, Serbia, Poland and the Netherlands to develop themselves. The lessons were taught by world-class musicians such as cellist Michaela Fukačová, pianist Ivo Kahánek, violinists Fedor Rudin, Dalibor Karvay and Jan Mráček, baritone Adam Plachetka, harpsichordist Barbara Maria Willi. The viola lessons were led by Pavel Nikl, piano collaboration by Zdeněk Klauda and music projects by David Mareček.
This year's academy also brought attractive musical experiences to the general public as part of the accompanying festival Hudební Kroměříž. Concerts at various locations in Kroměříž offered encounters with world-class musical personalities as well as young talented participants of the summer academy.
The project partners are the Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic, the Zlín Region, the City of Kroměříž. Thanks also go to the Kroměříž Elementary School of Art, the PJ Vejvanovský Kroměříž Conservatory, the Stadler – Trier Foundation, the Život umělce Foundation, and other partners who support the development of young talents with their efforts.
The 7th annual International Summer Music Academy will take place from August 15th to 23rd, 2024.