Pavel Nikl

Pavel Nikl began his studies in 1995 in the viola class of Prof. Zdeněk Novák at the PJ Vejvanovský Conservatory in Kroměříž, which he graduated in 2001. This was followed by studies at the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague (2001-2006) with Prof. Jan Pěruška and Prof. Milan Škampa. During his studies, he took part in several master classes, where he deepened his musical education, and international competitions, where he won several awards, e.g. the Competition of Conservatories of the Czech Republic Teplice 1st prize (1995), the International Beethoven Competition Hradec 3rd prize, an honorary mention and a prize for the best performance of a 20th century composition (1997, 2000), the International Semmering Master Classes prize for the best performance of works by B. Bartók and B. Martinů (2001), the International J. Brahms Competition Pörtschach 2nd prize (2002), etc. As a soloist, he collaborated, among others, with the B. Martinů Philharmonic Zlín, the Moravian Philharmonic Olomouc, the North Bohemian Philharmonic Teplice, the South Bohemian Philharmonic České Budějovice and conductors Tomáš Netopil and Jan Talich.

In 2002, the focus of his activities shifted to chamber music. He is one of the founding members of the Pavel Haas Quartet.

Pavel Nikl is also engaged in teaching and, as part of PHQ activities, has participated in masterclasses at universities in Europe, Japan, the USA and Australia. Since 2016, after finishing his career as a violist in the Pavel Haas Quartet, he has been working as a professor of viola and chamber music at the PJ Vejvanovský Conservatory in Kroměříž. However, he continues to work very closely with the ensemble and, in addition to the recordings of Dvořák's quintets, which received the Gramophone Award 2018, continues to perform with it occasionally. As an experienced chamber player, he is invited to festivals and chamber concerts at home and abroad to collaborate with other top musicians such as Gill Shaham, Kian Soltani, Josef Špaček, Gerhard Oppitz and others. He also serves as a member of competition juries.