Ostrava is stereotypically referred to as the city of steel, hard work and miners. However, the city has been brimming with culture, artistic creations and architectural marvels since the early 20th century. Ostrava has also had the honor of being visited by personalities such as Paul Hindemith, Sergei Prokofjev and Igor Stravinskij. The city’s cultural sphere remains strong even today, as it regularly hosts contemporary and experimental music festivals such as the Ostrava Days and the NODO music festivals, the latter of which is a medium to stage new-age operas. Ostrava attracts innovators, pioneers and artistic personalities from a myriad of artistic fields.  The city offers these artists support, understanding, and most importantly, an educated audience that actively supports its actors, singers, dancers- all while not being afraid to experiment. The Leoš Janáček International Music Festival regularly invites world-class music acts to Ostrava and the region’s churches are filled with heavenly tunes during the St. Wenceslas Music Festival. We have a roster of wonderful artists and beautiful galeries. In short, Ostrava, and the Moravian-Silesian Region as a whole, has a strong cultural foundation, and I am overjoyed to be part of it.

Moravian-Silesian Region is essentially an incubator for talent, many great musicians, dancers and actors.

After studying piano at the Ostrava conservatory, and at VŠMU in Bratislava, I mainly focused on solo concert acts and chamber music in conjunction with other artists based in Ostrava. As the years went by, however, the Janáček Conservatory in Ostrava really grew on me and I ended up spending the last 34 years there as an educator, and then became the conservatory’s principal in 2004.  Aiding with providing the best possible environment for my colleagues and the talented children they work with is an honor for me. Our region is essentially an incubator for talent and the Janáček Conservatory in Ostrava has Czechia’s best sound. The conservatory served as a springboard in the careers of many great musicians, dancers and actors whose names are now plastered across concert and performance posters not only in Czechia, but all over the world. I am also very pleased that not only does the conservatory concern itself with the education of young talent, but it also serves as the cultural heart of Ostrava. We host our own performances where new faces can be seen performing in tandem with the most acclaimed professionals. In essence, I am glad to have the honor to stand with our students at the dawn of their artistic careers

Soňa Javůrková,

Director of JanáčekConservatory in Ostrava