Enjoyably busy autumn

However, at the beginning of this academic year, I had a lot of work at the school besides the concerts. My main task for this year is the master's thesis. Its subject ‘Recording and Amplifying of the Accordion" is so close to me that I have been working on it intensively since last year. I did a lot of different experiments in this field during the past semester and this summer. I focused mainly on testing of various microphones, comparing of recording and amplifying solutions for the accordion, and overall, I spent a lot of time with my instrument in a studio. Therefore, my task for this autumn was to process these experiments and their results. I have tried to write regularly, almost every day, and I am glad that I managed to finish the most of my work by the beginning of November. During December, I am planning to do last series of studio experiments, and in January I would like to be ready with the thesis and be able to defend it at the beginning of the second semester.

I would like to talk just a bit about our duo Ryden & Rehak once again and mention our recent success. We managed to get to the finals in the Ung & Lovande 2019 Competition, where we are among the five best duos. This competition held every two years by the Kammarmusikförbundet is considered to be one of the most prestigious competitions in the area of chamber music in Sweden. Its participants are duos from all music universities, conservatories and music high schools in Sweden. However, the participation in the finals is only a minor success for us. The main challenge comes at the end of April when we will perform a full one-hour recital in Västerås in the finals of the competition. Immediately after Christmas, we will start practicing intensively for this concert in which, apart from the music, the overall commentary and expression on the stage is being judged. The main prize for the winners of this competition is a concert tour of Sweden, which represents more than thirty concerts. Such a prize is extremely tempting, and we will do our best to succeed in the competition in the spring.

We are also getting prepared for the upcoming accordion festival these days. The festival is now enriched by the fact that there is the fiftieth anniversary of the Swedish Accordion Organization this year. Therefore, a substantial number of great accordionists from all over Europe will attend this year's festival. I, together with other students from our accordion department, will have an opportunity to play the first concert of the festival, and also to perform during the final gala concert. The program of the festival contains uncommonly interesting concerts and seminars. And right after this festival, I am going to play several concerts in the Czech Republic. Back home, I will play both solo, in duo with the great clarinetist Anna Paulová, with an orchestra at Christmas concerts, and also a concert with the Spanish singer Paula Calbet Boldú, with whom I have started to collaborate here in Stockholm, and now we will be able to present our program in the Czech Republic as well.

Working on my thesis, playing concerts, being engaged in different projects, practicing, studying, recording new pieces, giving private lessons, listening to concerts; the beginning of the new academic year at KMH was really intense and productive. Naturally, I would not be able to fully focus on these and many other activities without the support The Kellner Family Foundation Foundation, and I would like to express my great thanks for supporting my study even in this academic year. I perceive this support as a great personal responsibility, and I will try to take advantage of this support in my last year at KMH as efficiently as possible!