STYLE INTERVIEW
a great effort to have students perform
alongside professionals. The festivities
are not yet over though. The spirit of this
anniversary will definitely be felt across the
rest of the events we hold this year.
Are students introduced to the public
throughout their studies?
Public performances are part of
the students’ curriculum. We host
a series of school performances,
however, that is not all, as we also
organize our own art season featuring
chamber and symphonic concerts, as
well as acting and dance performances.
Our Christmas and New Years concerts
have become quite popular. Our dance
and ballet concerts have built up
a following as well. Recently, our classical
dance division studied up on the ballet
performance titled “The Nutcracker”,
while the modern dance division is
offering a great performance titled
“Drift.” These performances were
prepared with the help of professionals,
for example, choreographers that
prepare the choreography for our
students. We also have ongoing
cooperative programs with certain
theaters. Directors from these theaters
often pick some of our students for
roles in their plays, so you definitely
have the opportunity to see some of our
students in professional roles throughout
their studies.
You are also planning to
make a publication regarding
the conservatory’s 70th anniversary.
What can we expect to find there?
Part of our celebration this year is
the publication of a book that includes
interviews with 35 influential artists
that are also graduates of ours. You can
expect names such as Lukáš Bařák, Albert
Čuba, Marta Máchová Drastíková, Pavla
Gajdošíková, Tomáš Kačo, Marek Kozák,
Štěpán Kozub, Radúz Mácha, Veronika
Rovná, Gabriela Petráková and many
others. These are people that have a story
to tell with not only their lives, but also
ith their art. Another interesting feature
of the book is that the cover will include
a printed list of all the Ostrava Janáček
Conservatory graduates, which is over
3 000 people. We also published a special
issue of our school’s newspaper that
includes all the current events in the school.
How did you celebrate the 70th anniversary
of your institution’s founding?
The school celebrated its 70th birthday in
“full force,” with a festive gala concert at the
International Leoš Janáček Music Festival.
The concert took place in the Gong
multifunctional hall at DOV, and it involved
150 performers. Even here we made
What is running an art school like?
I must say that it is a great honor for me to
work at the Ostrava Janáček Conservatory,
and I am very passionate about my work
here. I love working with people that are
filled with creativity and passion. Even
though I gave up my own concert career,
I would not go back on my decision. It
makes me incredibly happy to witness
the conception of these new stars that go
on to shine very brightly. I enjoy helping to
create the perfect conditions to develop
these talents. In short, it is a beautiful job
that I enjoy very much.
What are your hopes for
the conservatory’s future?
I hope that this school serves more than
an educational role, as it also enriches
the cultural scene of Ostrava and the
region as a whole. I hope that it keeps
growing and blooming inside and out,
that the students find success, that they
maintain their work ethic and talents,
and that their work gets appreciated not
only by professionals, but also the wider
general public.
I also hope that the school will have
enough funding to fulfill all of its goals
and visions. Public funding is not
quite enough for what we want to do.
Therefore, I would love to find enlightened
company owners and directors that see
the purpose behind supporting art and
talent, because without culture and art,
society falls apart.
Thank you for the interview, we wish you,
your institution, as well as your students
good luck!
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