February Blog

In the beginning of December me and my trio departed for Bern where a masterclass organized by The European Chamber Music Academy took place at Universitat der Kunste. This organisation holds a number of ECMA sessions within a year and it is always one of their ‘’friend universities’’ in Europe that hosts these events. In the course of one very intensive week we performed at the opening concert, we had been given a lot of lessons from five different teachers and we also received a parking fine. Soon, at the beginning of March, we will attend such a project at Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester.

During the Christmas break I followed my usual habit and did not even look at my violin for the whole week. Like this, I could have enjoyed getting back to work in the New Year much more.

The 2020 has begun with a more than interesting symphonic project during which we had a chance to work aside the members of prominent Dresdner Kapellsolisten in the masterpieces by Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven. These projects including all rehearsals and concerts take in general up to thirty hours and since the second year of my studies, it is my duty to play two such projects in each semester. Although I won’t be able to meet these requirements in the following term, I will not get punished in any way as I have already gone through one project last year and I will be counted for it.

In mid-January we traveled to London to perform (already for the second time) in one of the most prominent chamber music halls in Europe - Wigmore Hall. As you look through all the framed pictures with signatures in the backstage, you suddenly get a feeling that perhaps all the significant artists of both past and present had performed in this hall and it inspires you very much before going on stage. We were lucky to had been willingly accommodated by the Czech embassy in exchange for playing another concert there. We were staying in their newly renovated rooms in a great location right next to the Kensington gardens and Hyde Park, close to the Museum district and Royal Albert Hall. A lot of Czech people living in London came to listen to our concert and afterwards at the reception, there even was Pilsner Urquell beer being draught as well as Moravian wine being served. Then, when going for a burger near the embassy (it was Patty & Bun - I highly recommend to everyone as they have great burgers for friendly prices during the happy hours), we were served by a Czech waitress.

Meanwhile, we received some great news. Based on a recording we had sent, we were chosen to participate at a competition in Osaka, Japan as one of only ten chamber groups from all around the world! It is to take place in May and unless they cancel all flights to Japan due to coronavirus by then, it will be a huge opportunity for us. We have already been concentrating on this since January and we try to pay all our attention to do our best.  

We have a semester break in February and first half of March so I have no commitments in my school. However, I still travel to Dresden every week for my violin lessons. Simultaneously, we had a few concerts with my trio organized in different Czech towns by the Societies of Friends of Music. They invite not only adult professional artists but also young artists and ensembles that are mentioned on a List of young artists for which we have been chosen. These societies work in both small and bigger cities within the whole Czech Republic. One get to travel a lot through our country which led my to realize for example that Dresden is actually very close or that going to Brno, which is a nightmare for most of the population, is not such a big deal..