The First Annual SoundChain Composing Competition Announces Its Winners

The SoundChain International Composing Competition, which debuted on the international music scene this year, has announced its first winners. The competition attracted 46 composers from around the world, whose original musical contributions presented the jury with a truly challenging task. Selecting the best compositions was difficult, as the overall quality of entries was exceptionally high.

The jury, composed of six distinguished music professionals – Trevor Wishart (Great Britain), Dan Dlouhý (CZ), Michal Indrák (CZ), Jan Kavan (CZ), Edgar Mojdl (CZ), and chairman of the jury Otto Wanke (CZ) – ultimately selected the winning compositions, which will be performed at the final concert.

The concluding concert will take place on November 24, 2024, at 7:00 PM at the Orlí Theatre in Brno, where the audience will hear works awarded in the following categories:

  • First PrizeChanges – Marek Krajňák (Slovakia)
  • Second PrizeBrompton & Braeswood – Timothy Roy (USA)
  • Special Prizehum, haw – Youngjae Cho (South Korea)
  • Honorable MentionA Midspring Night’s Dream in the Garden – Huixin Xue (China)
  • Honorable MentionDyptich – Stefano De Stefano (Italy)
  • Honorable MentionMorphaime – Valentin Sismann (France)

The SoundChain Competition, aimed at supporting and showcasing talented composers of electroacoustic music, has already established itself as a unique platform for emerging composers. Organizers and jury members alike believe that the competition will inspire and foster the development of electroacoustic music on an international scale.

30th Annual Leoš Janáček International Competition in Brno

We are delighted to announce that the 30th edition of the Leoš Janáček International Competition will take place in 2024, featuring flute and clarinet categories.
From September 16 to 22, 2024, we will welcome musicians from all over the world. The flute category will be chaired by the French flutist Philippe Bernold, and the clarinet category by Paolo Beltramini.
 
Application deadline and payment of an administrative fee: 31 May, 2024.

Barbara Maria Willi is the new member of the AEC Council

From November 9 to 11, 2023, the annual meeting of the Association Européenne des Conservatoires, Académies de Musique et Musikhochschulen (AEC) was held in The Hague. The event was organized by our partner university, the Royal Conservatoire in The Hague. Representatives from JAMU included the Rector of JAMU, the Dean of the Faculty of Music and the PR Manager of the Faculty of Music.

In addition to presenting the international study program European Master of Early Music, which we share with our partner university in The Hague, there was also an election of new members to the AEC Council. We are delighted to announce that the Dean of the Faculty of Music at JAMU, Barbara Maria Willi, will serve on the AEC Council for the next three years. Małgorzata Sternal from Krakow was also elected as a new member of the Council.

“My membership in the AEC Council represents a great prestige for JAMU in the community of European and world art schools. Based on the election results, I have received a number of interesting offers for collaboration and opportunities for advocacy. I will represent not only the Faculty of Music at JAMU but all art schools represented in the AEC,” adds Dean Barbara Maria Willi.

“The Faculty of Music at JAMU is thus at the source of information, which will significantly help us in making future decisions. We will have a greater chance to join the IN.TUNE alliance of universities, opening new resources and supporting our technological and artistic development. By being represented in the AEC Council, we can initiate AEC Council meetings at our university, thereby increasing our relevance and prestige in the world. Membership in the Council opens doors to new international partnerships with potential partners. Through our membership, we can more effectively express the interests and needs of art schools from Central and Eastern Europe, contributing to the culture of freedom and equality.“

JAMU celebrates 75 years. The academy will join together in a gala concert.

On October 16, a gala concert will be held at the Besední dům to celebrate the 75th anniversary of our academy. It will feature performances by students from both the Music and Theatre faculties. Alumni, teachers and other guests will be among the 165 performers. At 5 p.m., under the baton of conductor Jakub Klecker, well-known compositions by Leoš Janáček and Antonín Dvořák will be performed. Antonín Dvořák’s Te Deum will be performed by the newly formed JAMU choir consisting of singers from the JAMU HF Practice Choir, students and teachers of the JAMU HF and DF, supplemented by members of the VOX IUVENALIS choir of the Brno University of Technology.

Due to the illness of the performer Pavel Zemen, we are forced to change the programme – Robert Schumann’s Piano Concerto in A minor will be replaced by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 12 in A major performed by Jan Jirasky and the Janáček Academic Orchestra.

„The main focus of the programme is on works by Czech and Moravian composers, Antonín Dvořák’s Te Deum and Leoš Janáček’s Sinfonietta, which is inseparable from our academy,“ conductor Jakub Klecker described the dramaturgy of the concert. The programme will also include Mozart’s Piano Concerto No.12 in A major performed by pianist and teacher Jan Jirasky. Soloists Ivana Pavlů and Tadeáš Hoza will also perform as soloists.

During the annual concert, the Rector will present MgA. Petr Michálek presented gold medals to important personalities who have contributed to the development of the Academy. The awards will be presented to professors Jan Gogola, Jan Hančil, Miroslav Jelínek, Jan Kolegar, Václav Kunt, Ivo Medek, Martin Prchal and conductor Jan Zbavitel. At the same time, the Rector of the Academy will christen his new book. The magnificent publication entitled …always contributing with your back… is dedicated to nineteen holders of the title of doctor honoris causa of the Janáček Academy.

Performers

Soloists

Ivana Pavlů – soprano

Tadeáš Hoza – baritone

Jan Jiraský – piano

Janáček Academic Orchestra

Orchestra of the JAMU Faculty of Music composed of students, teachers, alumni and guests

JAMU Choir

Choral ensemble composed of singers of the JAMU HF Practice Choir, students and teachers of the JAMU HF and DF and supplemented by members of the VOX IUVENALIS choir of the Brno University of Technology

Choirmasters

Patrik Buchta, Jiří Lang, Jan Ocetek

Conductor

Jakub Klecker

Moderator

Radka Coufalová

 

Programme of the evening

ANTONÍN DVOŘÁK

Te Deum Op. 103

Allegro moderato, maestoso (att.)

Lento maestoso (att.)

Vivace (att.)

Lento

Ceremonial awarding of JAMU gold medals to prominent personalities who have contributed to the development of the Academy

WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART

Piano Concerto No. 12 in A major, KV 414

Allegro

Andante

Allegretto

intermission (15 min.)

Book launch: „….Always contribute to your talent….“

the foyer of the Besední dům

LEOŠ JANÁČEK

Sinfonietta

Allegretto

Andante

Moderato

Allegretto

Andante con moto

The 28th International Leoš Janáček Competition knows its winners

This weekend the 28th International Leoš Janáček Competition in Brno (MSLJ) in piano and organ finished with the third and final rounds. Finals of the organ competition took place on 17 September 2022 in the Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary and the finals in piano 18 September 2022 at the Besední dům in Brno. The laureates were participants from the Republic of Korea, the Czech Republic and Japan.

 

Competitors of the Leoš Janáček International Competition 2022

The following competitors were selected to advance to the first round of the International Leoš Janáček Competition in piano

Competitors of the 1st round of the piano major

 

The composition of the competitors in the organ section of the International Leoš Janáček Competition is as follows

Competitors of the 1st round in the organ

 

We look forward to seeing you from 11 to 18 September in Brno!