www.peterdvorsky.sk

The baritone Jakub Pustina (1982) primarily studied chemistry at Secondary technical school in Pardubice (CZ). Later on, he was studying at Chemistry-Technological University in Pardubice (CZ) and at the same time at Charles University in Prague, Department of analytical chemistry. When he was 20 years old, he went to see an opera performance in State theatre in Prague and it has got his interest so much that he put all his effort into studying singing immediately.
He is a graduate of vocal master classes of Peter Dvorsky in Jaroměřice nad Rokytnou (CZ) and in High Tatras –Stary Smokovec (SK). Moreover, he is a graduate of international vocal master classes of Anna Barová – CZ, Christian Mihailescu – Romania, Alain Nonat – Canada.
From the beginning of his career he sings under the guidance of the leading soloist of the National Theatre (Prague), national artist and the Grammy award winner Václav Zítek.
In 2004 he received his first award and became an absolute winner of the international opera contest „Pražský pěvec“ which takes place in Prague under the patronage of the National Theatre. A month later, in November 2004, he received an honorable mention as well as the prize of Editio Bärenreiter Prague (publisher) for the interpretation of Renato from the opera - Un Ballo In Machara (G.Verdi) at the International opera competition of Antonin Dvorak in Karlovy Vary.
Year 2005 was one of his most successful ones. He won the „Pražský pěvec“contest in Prague’s National Theatre again, and his victory was followed by an offer to perform in Lithuania. Another success came at the International opera contest of Antonín Dvořák in Karlovy Vary where the baritone won the first place. This victory is very valuable for him as this contest is the most prestigious in Czech Republic (members of the committee were P. Dvorský and G. Beňačková) The singer is also a bearer of the Vilém Zítek award.
In the beginning of April,2006 he got into the final round of vocal contest – Ferruccia Tagiavini in Deutschlandsberg (Austria), where the chairman of the committee was world opera singer - Joan Sutherland. Further, in April 2006, he was the winner at international vocal contest of Imrich Godina in Vrable (SK) and month later he received the second prize at international vocal contest of Mikolas Schneider Trnava (SK).
In Jun, 2006 he performed at gala concert jointly with philharmonic orchestra of Plzen (Frantisek Drs - conductor). Further, in August, 2006 he could be heard at festival concert of International musical festival of Peter Dvorsky in Jaromerice nad Rokytkou (CZ).
In September, 2006 he attended a concert tour in Czech Republic with Jekaterina Tretjakova (soprano) from Lithuania and in the year - 2007, he organized and attended this tour with Linda Ballova (mezzo-soprano) from Slovakia. Yet, in September 2008, his guest on concert tour was soprano Rena Fujii (Japan).
In November, 2006 he was awarded by third prize in OPERA at International competition of Antonin Dvorak in Karlove Vary (CZ). Moreover, he has got an offer of being a guest artist of National Theatre in Bratislava (SK).
Nowadays, he attends several vocal festivals and contests, such as: tour of France in May, Festival of W.A.Mozart in Salzburg - Austria in January 2005, concerts in Denmark, and further, tour in Australia and New Zealand in March, 2006. In February 2008, he performed together with Eva Urbanova at the gala concert in Germany. In May 2008 he can be heard in Belgium concert tour.
From January, 2007 he can be heard at State Opera Kosice (SK) in role-debut as Gounod’s Valentine from Faust, in the second role as sergeant Belcore in L´elisir d´amore by Donizetti. Moreover, he has engagement as a guest artist of Moravian theatre Olomouc (CZ) in the role of Mercutio in Romeo and Juliet (Ch. Gounod) and Carmina Burana (C. Orff).
www.jakubpustina.cz

Richard Pohl (1983) was born in Ostrava (Czech Republic) and studied at the Grammar School and School of Music in Jesenik. His exceptional talent resulted in many awards at national competitions for young musicians including Honorary Diploma and First Prize at the Carl Ditters von Dittersdorf Chamber Music Competition in Vidnava. He also appeared as soloist with a Young Musicians String Orchestra in Jesenik.
At the age of fifteen he entered the State Conservatory in Brno, where he studied with the celebrated Czech pedagogue Eva Horakova, former member of the Bohuslav Martinu Trio. Under her tutelage, he took part in the International Competition Concertino Praga and received a honorary award (as part of a piano duo with fellow-student David Schmied).
In 2004 Pohl was accepted at the Janacek Academy of Music and Performing Arts in Brno, where he studied with Zdenek Hnat, one of the greatest Czech pianists of our time, a pupil of Heinrich Neuhaus. After his retirement in 2006 Pohl entered class of celebrated professors Alena Vlasakova and Jan Jirasky; now studying Master level degree with Jan Jirasky only. He also attended masterclasses with Antonin Kubalek (Canada), Jan Gottlieb Jiracek (Austria), Stefan Vladar, Sontraud Speidel, Thomas Steinhöfel, Iva Navratova (Germany), George Kanev (Bulgaria), Petr Sefl and Ivo Kahanek (Czech Republic).
Pohl's main interest is the chamber music, especially his collaborations with singers. In 2002 he established a partnership with one of the most talented singers of his country, the bass-baritone Josef Skarka. They created a duo focusing on performing art songs, and together took part in such events like the International Music Festival Moravian Autumn, the International Nadia and Lili Boulanger Competition (Paris), The Days of Young Performers (Brno), Bravo Mozart (Prague, Olomouc, Jesenik) and many others. In 2004 he took part in several events of the national cultural project Czech Music 2004" (www.czechmusic.org). They were also invited to perform at various festivals abroad (Montenegro, Italy, Mexico). Richard is also collaborating with many important ensembles, like Sinfonia Chamber Orchestra or Matl Academic Choir.
As an excellent accompanist, Richard Pohl earned many prizes and awards in that field. He was also appointed as an official accompanist of voice, strings and winds department at Frantisek Jilek Music School in Brno. He collaborated with many respected artists (J. Dvorsky, M. Zhang, J. Pustina, E. Weissova, R. Fujii, J. Dolezilkova...) In 2006, he participated at the International Smetana Piano Competition in Pilsen, where he finished at sixth place in the third category.
Since 2003, he's been regular participant of the International Kubalek Piano Courses (www.kubalekpianocourses.com) where in 2004 he received a special prize for the best performance of a piece by a Czech composer and in 2006 for the best performance of a Mozart piece. He's been awarded with full scholarship for the International Sommerakademie Prag-Wien-Budapest 2006 and invited to perform at the opening concert of that festival (www.mdw.ac.at/isa/indexf.html). There he also took part in an orchestral workshop focusing on interpretation of Mozartian concerto (with Stefan Vladar and Vladimir Kiradiev). His Bachelor thesis on that topic was awarded by the highest possible rank of 100 points during the defense process.
He records both solo and as an accompanist on CD's and for broadcast. Pohl is proud to present his live recordings at the Piano Society,
appreciating the idea of the site as a source of sharing the classical piano recordings by pianistic community from the entire world.
His artistic projects has been supported by the Young Artist Foundation, J Art Agency, Essential Club and Ing. Cyril Svozil (Fenix Group).

www.richardpohl.net