The Brno Conservatory, also Brno Conservatoire ( cs, Konzervatoř Brno), was established in Brno on 25 September 1919 by

Moravia Moravia ( , also , ; cs, Morava ; german: link=yes, Mähren ; pl, Morawy ; szl, Morawa; la, Moravia) is a historical region in the east of the Czech Republic and one of three historical Czech lands, with Bohemia and Czech Silesia. Th ...

n composer

Leoš Janáček Leoš Janáček (, baptised Leo Eugen Janáček; 3 July 1854 – 12 August 1928) was a Czech composer, musical theorist, folklorist, publicist, and teacher. He was inspired by Moravian and other Slavic musics, including Eastern European ...

History

Leoš Janáček attempted to establish and improve high musical education in Brno from his early age. In 1881, he founded the ''Organ School'', however, it was just the beginning of his efforts in this field. The conservatory was established by joining the Organ School, music school of ''Beseda brněnská'', and music school of ''Vesna'' (women's educational association based in Brno). Initially, it was situated in a "greek villa", on the corner of the streets of Smetanova and Kounicova. It was the former seat of the Organ School (from 1907). Janáček was the first director of the conservatory, but the school gained its current seat only during the directorship of his successor,

Jan Kunc Jan Kunc (27 March 1883, Doubravice nad Svitavou – 11 September 1976, Brno) was a Czech composer, teacher, and writer. From 1898 to 1902 Kunc attended the teachers' college in Brno, as well as the Organ School (1901–3) where his teacher was ...

. The building of the conservatory was designed in 1899 in the style of

Neo-Renaissance Renaissance Revival architecture (sometimes referred to as "Neo-Renaissance") is a group of 19th century Revivalism (architecture), architectural revival styles which were neither Greek Revival architecture, Greek Revival nor Gothic Revival ...

by German Wanderley. It was the seat of the German Teachers Institute, founded by the Emperor

Franz Joseph I of Austria Franz Joseph I or Francis Joseph I (german: Franz Joseph Karl, hu, Ferenc József Károly, 18 August 1830 – 21 November 1916) was Emperor of Austria, King of Hungary, and the other states of the Habsburg monarchy from 2 December 1848 until hi ...

. The commemorate plaque at the building reads: ''„Kaiser Franz Josef I. widmete dieses Haus der Bildung von Volksschullehrern 1872."'' ("The Emperor Franz Josef I dedicated this house to build the public teaching 1872"). During the period of

German occupation of Czechoslovakia German(s) may refer to: * Germany (of or related to) **Germania (historical use) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law **Ger ...

, the school became an important centre of Czech and Moravian cultural tradition. Jan Kunc remained the director until 1945. Other important directors include pianist and musicologist

Ludvík Kundera Ludvík Kundera (22 March 1920 – 17 August 2010) was a Czech writer, translator, poet, playwright, editor and literary historian. He was a notable exponent of the Czech avant-garde literature and a prolific translator of German authors. In ...

and music theorist and composer Zdeněk Blažek. From 1919 to 1928, Brno Conservatory had two masterclasses intended for composers and pianists. The official status of the school was lower than university level, however, the quality of the courses was reasonably good. The dance department was a part of the conservatory from 1946. The department was separated and became independent in 1986. As of 2011, Brno Conservatory has classes for all instruments of the standard

symphony orchestra An orchestra (; ) is a large instrumental ensemble typical of classical music, which combines instruments from different families. There are typically four main sections of instruments: * bowed string instruments, such as the violin, viola, ...

. Additionally, the school provides teaching of

guitar The guitar is a fretted musical instrument that typically has six strings. It is usually held flat against the player's body and played by strumming or plucking the strings with the dominant hand, while simultaneously pressing selected string ...

, accordion, cimbalom, recorder, composition, conducting and

singing Singing is the act of creating musical sounds with the voice. A person who sings is called a singer, artist or vocalist (in jazz and/or popular music). Singers perform music (arias, recitatives, songs, etc.) that can be sung accompaniment, wi ...

. Brno Conservatory regularly organizes concerts and theatre performances and collaborates with the Brno Philharmonic Orchestra.

Faculty (past and present)

Josef Blatný Josef may refer to * Josef (given name) * Josef (surname) * ''Josef'' (film), a 2011 Croatian war film *Musik Josef Musik Josef is a Japanese manufacturer of musical instruments. It was founded by Yukio Nakamura, and is the only company in Japan s ...

, composition *

, piano * Vilém Kurz, piano * Jaroslav Kvapil, composition * Vilém Petrželka, composition * Jan Škrdlík, cello

Alumni

Igor Ardašev Igor Ardašev (born in Brno, 1967) is a Czech pianist. He studied at the Brno Conservatory as a pupil of Inessa Janíčková, later he pursued his studies at the Janáček Academy of Music and Performing Arts. He was awarded the 1987 Internatio ...

, pianist * Břetislav Bakala, conductor, pianist, composer * Aleš Bárta, organist * Josef Berg, composer * Libuše Domanínská, soprano * Rudolf Firkušný, pianist *

Michaela Fukačová Michaela Fukačová (born 27 March 1959) is a Czech cellist. She took up the cello aged 14, and won the Beethoven Cello Competition two years later. She is a past winner of the Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow. She studied at the Brno Co ...

, cellist * Pavel Haas, composer * Josef Horák, bass clarinetist * František Jílek, conductor * Vítězslava Kaprálová, composer, conductor * Ctirad Kohoutek, composer *

Vlastimil Lejsek Vlastimil Lejsek (21 July 1927 in Brno – 12 March 2010 in Brno) was a Czech composer and pianist. Biography Lejsek was the son of the Moravian choirmaster Frantisek Kvetoslav Lejsek. He studied at the Brno Conservatory and the Academies of Musi ...

, composer, pianist * Zdeněk Mácal, conductor * Jan Novák, composer * Ludvík Podéšť, composer *

Theodor Schaefer Theodor Schaefer (23 January 1904, in Telč – 19 March 1969, in Brno) was a Czechs, Czech composer and pedagogue. Life Theodor Schaefer was born in Telč on 23 January 1904. During 1922–1926, he studied composition with Jaroslav Kvapil and c ...

, composer *

Yngve Sköld Karl Yngve Sköld (; 29 April 1899 – 6 December 1992) was a Swedish composer, pianist and organist. As well as writing orchestral, solo and chamber music and giving public concerts, he also worked for the Swedish Film industry. Life He was born ...

, composer, pianist *

František Šolc František Šolc (June 25, 1920 – March 11, 1996) was a Czech French hornist and horn teacher. Life He was born in Přerov on 25 June 1920. He grew up in a musical environment; his father was a music director (Kapellmeister) of the local cit ...

, hornist * Stanislav Vavřínek, flautist, conductor

References

External links

Brno Conservatory official website
{{authority control Education in Brno Organizations based in Brno Music schools in the Czech Republic Educational institutions established in 1919 Buildings and structures in Brno 1919 establishments in Czechoslovakia