The Prague Conservatory or Prague Conservatoire ( cs, Pražská konzervatoř) is a music school in

Prague Prague ( ; cs, Praha ; german: Prag, ; la, Praga) is the capital and largest city in the Czech Republic, and the historical capital of Bohemia. On the Vltava river, Prague is home to about 1.3 million people. The city has a temperate ...

, Czech Republic, founded in 1808. Currently, Prague Conservatory offers four or six year study courses, which can be compared to the level of

high school A secondary school describes an institution that provides secondary education and also usually includes the building where this takes place. Some secondary schools provide both '' lower secondary education'' (ages 11 to 14) and ''upper seconda ...

diploma in other countries. Graduates of Prague Conservatory can continue their training by enrolling in an institution that offers

undergraduate education Undergraduate education is education conducted after secondary education and before postgraduate education. It typically includes all postsecondary programs up to the level of a bachelor's degree. For example, in the United States, an entry-lev ...

History

The Prague Conservatory was founded in 1808 by local aristocrats and burghers following examples of

Conservatoire de Paris The Conservatoire de Paris (), also known as the Paris Conservatory, is a college of music and dance founded in 1795. Officially known as the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris (CNSMDP), it is situated in the avenue ...

(est. 1795) and

Milan Conservatory The Milan Conservatory (''Conservatorio di Milano'') is a college of music in Milan, Italy. History The conservatory was established by a royal decree of 1807 in Milan, capital of the Napoleonic Kingdom of Italy. It opened the following year ...

(est. 1807). It belongs to the oldest modern existing music conservatories in the world. Classes started in 1811, after a delay caused by the

Napoleonic Wars The Napoleonic Wars (1803–1815) were a series of major global conflicts pitting the French Empire and its allies, led by Napoleon I, against a fluctuating array of European states formed into various coalitions. It produced a period of Fren ...

. Bedřich Diviš Weber was appointed the first director of the school. In 1891,

Antonín Dvořák Antonín Leopold Dvořák ( ; ; 8 September 1841 – 1 May 1904) was a Czechs, Czech composer. Dvořák frequently employed rhythms and other aspects of the folk music of Moravian traditional music, Moravia and his native Bohemia, following t ...

joined the faculty as the head of the composition department. He was the school's director between 1901 and 1904. Dvořák's students included the composers

Vítězslav Novák Vítězslav Augustín Rudolf Novák (5 December 1870 – 18 July 1949) was a Czech composer and academic teacher at the Prague Conservatory. Stylistically, he was part of the neo-romantic tradition, and his music is considered an important e ...

, Josef Suk (who later served as director of the Conservatory),

Rudolf Friml Charles Rudolf Friml"Mrs. Rudolf Friml to Receive Divorce"
...

Oskar Nedbal Oskar Nedbal (26 March 1874 – 24 December 1930) was a Czech violist, composer, and conductor of classical music. Early life Nedbal was born in Tábor, in southern Bohemia. He studied the violin at the Prague Conservatory under Antonín Benne ...

, and

Franz Lehár Franz Lehár ( ; hu, Lehár Ferenc ; 30 April 1870 – 24 October 1948) was an Austro-Hungarian composer. He is mainly known for his operettas, of which the most successful and best known is ''The Merry Widow'' (''Die lustige Witwe''). Life ...

. Another director of the school was pianist

Vilém Kurz Vilém Kurz (23 December 1872 – 25 May 1945) was a Czechs, Czech pianist and renowned piano teacher. Career Kurz was born in Havlíčkův Brod, Německý Brod, Bohemia in 1872. He became a professor at the State Conservatory in Lviv and Vi ...

. Following the creation of

Czechoslovakia , rue, Чеськословеньско, , yi, טשעכאסלאוואקיי, , common_name = Czechoslovakia , life_span = 1918–19391945–1992 , p1 = Austria-Hungary , image_p1 ...

in 1918, drama and ballet departments were established. Students in this period included

Lída Baarová Lída Baarová (born Ludmila Babková; 7 September 1914 – 27 October 2000) was a Czech actress who for two years was the mistress of the Nazi propaganda minister of Germany, Joseph Goebbels. Biography Life and career Born in Prague, Baarová ...

(dropped out),

Jiří Langmajer Jiří Langmajer (born 3 June 1966) is a Czech theatre, television, and film actor. Biography Jiří Langmajer was born in Plzeň, Czechoslovakia. He studied music and drama at the Prague Conservatory from 1981 to 1987. While still a student, h ...

Tatiana Vilhelmová Tatiana Dyková, née Vilhelmová (born July 13, 1978 in Prague, Czechoslovakia) is a Czech film and stage actress. She made her professional debut in ''Indian Summer'' (1995), directed by Saša Gedeon, for which she received her first nomination ...

(dropped out),

Filip Blažek Filip Blažek (born 11 March 1998) is a Slovak footballer who plays for Baník Ostrava. Career FK Senica Blažek made his professional debut for Senica against AS Trenčín on 23 July 2016. Brøndby IF On 11 July 2017, Brøndby announced they ...

, and

Zuzana Vejvodová Zuzana Vejvodová (born 19 September 1980, Prague, Czechoslovakia) is a Czech actress.Zdeněk A. Tichý, Helena Šimáčková, Boris Hlaváček, ''Obrozené divadlo : Divadlo Na Fidlovačce 1921-2001'', ASA 2001, In 2000 she graduated from Prag ...

. Katya Zvelebilova began

classical ballet Classical ballet is any of the traditional, formal styles of ballet that exclusively employ classical ballet technique. It is known for its aesthetics and rigorous technique (such as pointe work, turnout of the legs, and high extensions), its ...

training at the Prague Conservatory before joining the

Royal Ballet School The Royal Ballet School is a British school of classical ballet training founded in 1926 by the Anglo-Irish ballerina and choreographer Ninette de Valois. The school's aim is to train and educate outstanding classical ballet dancers, especially ...

London London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...

, where she is now a member of the artistic staff, having retired from professional ballet.

Instruction

Applicants must pass stringent entrance examinations, often held in several elimination rounds, to demonstrate their talent. Applications are accepted once a year (with a deadline usually at the end of November), and auditions take place at the end of January. Prague Conservatory offers instruction in several

instruments Instrument may refer to: Science and technology * Flight instruments, the devices used to measure the speed, altitude, and pertinent flight angles of various kinds of aircraft * Laboratory equipment, the measuring tools used in a scientific lab ...

, including

accordion Accordions (from 19th-century German ''Akkordeon'', from ''Akkord''—"musical chord, concord of sounds") are a family of box-shaped musical instruments of the bellows-driven free-reed aerophone type (producing sound as air flows past a reed ...

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 stri ...

piano The piano is a stringed keyboard instrument in which the strings are struck by wooden hammers that are coated with a softer material (modern hammers are covered with dense wool felt; some early pianos used leather). It is played using a keyboa ...

, and

organ Organ may refer to: Biology * Organ (biology), a part of an organism Musical instruments * Organ (music), a family of keyboard musical instruments characterized by sustained tone ** Electronic organ, an electronic keyboard instrument ** Hammond ...

, as well as in

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 with or without ...

, composing,

conducting Conducting is the art of directing a musical performance, such as an orchestral or choral concert. It has been defined as "the art of directing the simultaneous performance of several players or singers by the use of gesture." The primary duti ...

, and

acting Acting is an activity in which a story is told by means of its enactment by an actor or actress who adopts a character—in theatre, television, film, radio, or any other medium that makes use of the mimetic mode. Acting involves a broad r ...

. The curriculum includes one-on-one music lessons, music theory studies, language training, as well as classes on general subjects. The institution has its own symphonic and chamber orchestras, choir, several chamber music ensembles and a theatre company. About 250 concerts and 40 dramatic performances take place annually. In the academic year of 2005–2006, approximately 550 Czech and 40 foreign students studied at the Conservatory.

Notable alumni

Karel Ančerl Karel Ančerl (11 April 1908 – 3 July 1973) was a Czechoslovak conductor and composer, renowned especially for his performances of contemporary music and for his interpretations of music by Czech composers. Ančerl was born into a prosper ...

Jiří Bělohlávek Jiří Bělohlávek, (; 24 February 1946 – 31 May 2017) was a Czech conductor. He was a leading interpreter of Czech classical music, and became chief conductor of the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra in 1990, a role he would serve on two occasio ...

František Brikcius František Brikcius is a Czech cellist. Early life František Brikcius was born in Prague. From early childhood, he began to play the cello and later studied at the Prague Conservatoire under Professor Jaroslav Kulhan. He was accepted into t ...

František Brož František Brož (10 April 1896 in Prague – 21 July 1962 in Prague) was a Czechs, Czech Viola, violist, composer, Conducting, conductor and music educator. Biography Brož studied violin at the Prague Conservatory with Jindřich Baštař. He l ...

* Oliver Butterworth *

Andrea Černá Andrea Černá is a Czech theatrical and television actress, born 13 February 1977 in Karlovy Vary. She studied at the Prague Conservatory. Filmography *''Pátá žena'' (2008) *''10 způsobů'' (2007) *''Slečna Guru'' (2006) *''Kameňák 2'' ...

* Ladislav Černý *

Ludmila Červinková Ludmila Červinková (29 April 1908 – 16 September 1980) was a Czech operatic soprano who had a celebrated international career during the 1930s through the 1960s. She notably had a long and fruitful association with the National Theatre in Pra ...

* Radim Drejsl *

Gabriela Eibenová Gabriela Eibenová (born 1972) is a Czech soprano in opera and concert, specialising in music of the Baroque and classical period in historically informed performance. Born in Prague, she studied there at the Prague Conservatory and then o ...

Maria Forescu Maria Forescu (15 January 1875 28 October 1947) was an Austro-Hungarian-born Romanian opera singer and film actress. During the silent and talkies era of the German cinema, she appeared in several movies as a supporting actress. When Adolf Hitl ...

Rudolf Friml Charles Rudolf Friml"Mrs. Rudolf Friml to Receive Divorce"
...

* Julius Fučík *

Wolfgang Hildemann Wolfgang Hildemann (* June 17, 1925, in Cheb/Eger; † August 25, 1995, in Düsseldorf) was a German composer and music teacher. He is known for his use of the Twelve-tone technique. Life and education Hildemann was born on June 17, 1925, i ...

Jan Hřímalý Jan Hřímalý (russian: Иван Войцехович Гржимали, also ''Ivan Voitsekhovich Grzhimali''; 13 April 1844 – ) was an influential Czech violinist and teacher, who was associated with the Moscow Conservatory for 46 years in 186 ...

* Kateřina Jalovcová * Jaroslav Ježek *

Jana Jonášová Jana Jonášová (born 28 April 1943) is a Czech opera singer. One of the most important Czech coloratura sopranos of her generation, she has had an active international career at the world's major opera houses and concert stages for roughly fou ...

Naděžda Kniplová Naděžda Kniplová (née Pokorná; 18 April 1932 – 14 January 2020) was a Czech operatic soprano who had an active international career from the 1950s through the 1980s. Kniplová possessed a large voice with a sonorous, metallic, dark timbre ...

Pavel Kohout Pavel Kohout (born 20 July 1928) is a Czech and Austrian novelist, playwright, and poet. He was a member of the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia, a Prague Spring participant and dissident in the 1970s until he was not allowed to return from Aust ...

Jan Kubelík Jan Kubelík (5 July 18805 December 1940) was a Czech violinist and composer. Biography He was born in Michle (now part of Prague). His father, a gardener by occupation, was an amateur violinist. He taught his two sons the violin and after dis ...

Rafael Kubelík Rafael Jeroným Kubelík, KBE (29 June 1914 – 11 August 1996) was a Czech conductor and composer. Son of a well-known violinist, Jan Kubelík, he was trained in Prague, and made his debut with the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra at the age of 1 ...

Otomar Kvěch Otomar Kvěch (25 May 1950 – 16 March 2018) was a Czech music composer and teacher. Biography Kvěch was born in Prague, Czechoslovakia. His father was a sound engineer with Czechoslovak Radio, and later held technical jobs in various industrial ...

Franz Lehar Franz may refer to: People * Franz (given name) * Franz (surname) Places * Franz (crater), a lunar crater * Franz, Ontario, a railway junction and unorganized town in Canada * Franz Lake, in the state of Washington, United States – see ...

Manoah Leide-Tedesco Tranquillo Manoah Leide-Tedesco (August 19, 1894 – January 29, 1982) was an Italian-American composer, conductor and violinist. Biography Tranquillo Manoah Leide-Tedesco was born in Senigallia, Italy, but grew up in Naples. His father, Lazz ...

Zuzana Marková (soprano) Zuzana Marková (born 1988) is a Czech coloratura soprano who appears in leading roles internationally, with a focus on Italian belcanto roles, such as Donizetti's Lucia di Lammermoor and Bellini's Elvira. Training Born in Prague, Marková st ...

Bohuslav Martinů Bohuslav Jan Martinů (; December 8, 1890 – August 28, 1959) was a Czech composer of modern classical music. He wrote 6 symphonies, 15 operas, 14 ballet scores and a large body of orchestral, chamber, vocal and instrumental works. He bec ...

* Pauline Metzler-Löwy *

Václav Neumann Václav Neumann (29 October 1920 – 2 September 1995) was a Czech conductor, violinist, violist, and opera director. Life and career Neumann was born in Prague, where he studied at the Prague Conservatory with Josef Micka (violin), and Pav ...

* Jana Obrovská *

Karel Paukert Karel Paukert (pronounced Karl Poukert) (January 1, 1935 in Skuteč in the Czech Republic) is a Czech-American organist, choir director and educator. He graduated from the Prague Conservatory, and the Ghent Conservatory, Belgium. He studied under ...

* Michael Pospíšil * Alexandre Rudajev *

František Salzer František Salzer (30 August 1902, Sušice – 23 December 1974, Prague) was a Czechoslovak Theatre Director, Theatre Actor, Film Actor, University Professor and Translator. Biography He studied at Prague Conservatory (1920–1924). In the s ...

George Schick George Schick (September 28, 1908 in Prague – March 7, 1985 in Manhattan) was a Czechoslovakian conductor, vocal coach, accompanist, and music educator. He served as accompanist for Richard Tauber on his 1946/7 tour of North, Central and Sou ...

Otakar Ševčík Otakar Ševčík (22 March 185218 January 1934) was a Czech violinist and influential teacher. He was known as a soloist and an ensemble player, including his occasional performances with Eugène Ysaÿe. Biography Ševčík was born in Horaž ...

Lucijan Marija Škerjanc Lucijan Marija Škerjanc (December 17, 1900 – February 27, 1973) was a Slovene composer, music pedagogue, conductor, musician, and writer who was accomplished on and wrote for a number of musical instruments such as the piano, violin and ...

Franz Simandl Franz Simandl (August 1, 1840 – December 15, 1912) was a Czech double-bassist and pedagogue most remembered for his book ''New Method for the Double Bass,'' known as the "Simandl book", which is to this day used as a standard study of doubl ...

* Yngve Sköld *

Josef Slavik 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 spe ...

Václav Smetáček Václav Smetáček (30 September 1906 in Brno – 18 February 1986 in Prague) was a Czech conductor, composer, and oboist. He studied in Prague among others with Jaroslav Křička, conducting with Metod Doležil and Pavel Dědeček, musicolog ...

Eugen Suchoň Eugen Suchoň (September 25, 1908 – August 5, 1993) was one of the most important Slovak composers of the 20th century. Early life Eugen Suchoň was born on September 25, 1908 in Pezinok, (Slovakia). His father, Ladislav Suchoň, was an ...

* Josef Suk * Jana Sýkorová *

Jan Talich file:Quatuor Talic 02291.jpg, Jan Talich Jan Talich, Jr. (born 11 March 1967 in Prague) is Czech violinist and Conducting, conductor. Talich studied at the Prague Conservatory and later at the Prague Academy of Music under Václav Snítil. He rec ...

Václav Talich Václav Talich (; 28 May 1883, Kroměříž – 16 March 1961, Beroun) was a Czech violinist and later a musical pedagogue. He is remembered today as one of the greatest conductors of the 20th century, the object of countless reissues of his man ...

Jiří Tancibudek Jiří Tancibudek AM (5 March 19211 May 2004) was a Czech-born Australian oboist, conductor and teacher of great renown in his adopted country and elsewhere. His obituary in the ''Adelaide Review'', titled "Prince of the oboe", said of his play ...

Jan Thuri Jan Thuri (born 1975) is a Czech oboist born in Prague in a musical family. He is a son of a notable Czech composer, organist and a pedagogue František Xaver Thuri. Jan Thuri is a Marigaux brand ambassador. Early life After starting his musica ...

* Vaclav Vaca * Vilém Veverka *

Tomáš Víšek Tomáš Víšek (born 1957) is a Czech pianist. Early life Víšek began study of the piano at eight years of age under professor Pavel Svoboda. During the years 1972–1976, he studied at the Prague Conservatory under professor Valentina Kamen� ...

* Sláva Vorlová *

Pavla Vykopalová Pavla Vykopalová (born 23 March 1972 in Prague) is a Czech soprano. Life Vykopalová studied singing at the Prague Conservatory and graduated in 1993; she then became a member of the Prague Philharmonic Choir. She began her soloist career as a ...

John Stepan Zamecnik John Stepan Zamecnik (May 14, 1872 in Cleveland, Ohio – June 13, 1953 in Los Angeles, California) was an American composer and conductor. He is best known for the "photoplay music" he composed for use during silent films by pianists, organ ...

Notable faculty

* Ladislav Černý * Kateřina Emingerová *

Emil Hlobil Emil Hlobil (11 October 1901 – 25 January 1987) was a Czech composer and music professor based in Prague. Biography Hlobil was born in Veselí nad Lužnicí, but lived most of his life in Prague. Between 1924 and 1930 he studied at the Prague ...

* Valentina Kameníková *

Saša Večtomov Saša Večtomov (12 December 1930 – 29 December 1989) was a Czechoslovak cellist and music pedagogue. Biography Večtomov first studied piano and cello with his father, cellist/composer Ivan Večtomov (1902–81), a soloist in the Czech Phil ...

References

External links

Official page
{{Authority control Educational institutions established in 1808 Theatre in the Czech Republic Music schools in the Czech Republic