The idea of organizing the first international music competition in the Czech Republic

Czech Republic

The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....

emerged in 1946. It was proposed by the conductor Rafael Kubelík

Rafael Kubelík

Rafael Jeroným Kubelík was a Czech conductor and composer.-Early life:Kubelík was born in Býchory, Bohemia, Austria-Hungary, today's Czech Republic. He was the sixth child of the Bohemian violinist Jan Kubelík, whom the younger Kubelík described as "a kind of god to me." His mother was a Hungarian...

 and members of the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra

Czech Philharmonic Orchestra

The Česká filharmonie is a symphony orchestra based in Prague and is the best-known and most respected orchestra in the Czech Republic.- History :...

 as a part of the Prague Spring International Music Festival. The first competition took place in May, 1947. In 1957, the Prague Spring International Music Competition became one of the founding members of the World Federation of International Music Competitions

World Federation of International Music Competitions

The World Federation of International Music Competitions is an organization based in Geneva, Switzerland that maintains a network of the internationally recognized organisations that aim to discover the most promising young talents in classical music through public competition...

.

The city hosts competitions that cater to different ages such as the Concertino Praga which focuses on young musicians up to 16 years. In addition to youth competitions the country hosts the International competition of blind & partially sighted performers and composers which is held in Prague for young blind and partially sighted artists. Also, all types of music are celebrating by Prague from the Beethoven's Hradec International Music Competition to the František Gregor International Double Bass Competition which is held in one to four-year cycles in the Moravian town of Kroměříž

Kromeríž

Kroměříž is a town in the Zlín Region of the Czech Republic. The town's main landmark is the Baroque Kroměříž Bishop's Palace, where some scenes from Amadeus and Immortal Beloved were filmed...

. Some of the competitions, such as the Antonín Dvořák International Vocal Competition Karlovy Vary, was formerly only open to artists from Socialist bloc

Eastern bloc

The term Eastern Bloc or Communist Bloc refers to the former communist states of Eastern and Central Europe, generally the Soviet Union and the countries of the Warsaw Pact...

. Since 1989, after the collapse of the Eastern communist states, the competition is open without restrictions.

One of the latest international music events to be founded in the country is the International Bohuslav Martinů Festival and Choir Competition which started in 1999. As of 2009, Czech Republic hosts more than fifty international music competitions.

List of international music competitions in the Czech Republic

Competition	Founded	Main characteristics
Prague Spring International Music Competition Founding member of the World Federation of International Music Competitions World Federation of International Music Competitions The World Federation of International Music Competitions is an organization based in Geneva, Switzerland that maintains a network of the internationally recognized organisations that aim to discover the most promising young talents in classical music through public competition...	1947	Founded in 1947, the Prague Spring International Music Competition is the oldest competitions in the Czech Republic. It is held annually in May, as a part of the Prague Spring International Music Festival. Each year the competition is devoted to a selected instrument of the standard symphony orchestra. The international jury usually consists of seven members. Alongside the financial prize, the laureates of the competition have possibility to perform with Czech and international orchestras at various music festivals. Among the laureates are Mstislav Rostropovich Mstislav Rostropovich Mstislav Leopoldovich Rostropovich, KBE , known to close friends as Slava, was a Soviet and Russian cellist and conductor. He was married to the soprano Galina Vishnevskaya. He is widely considered to have been the greatest cellist of the second half of the 20th century, and one of the greatest of... , Soňa Červená Soňa Červená Soňa Červená is a Czech operatic mezzo-soprano who had an active international career since the 1950s. She has enjoyed particularly lengthy and fruitful associations with the Frankfurt Opera and the San Francisco Opera... , Věra Soukupová Věra Soukupová Věra Soukupová is a Czech mezzo-soprano.Born in Prague, Soukupová studied singing at the Prague Conservatory and privately with Luis Kadeřábek and A. Mustanová-Linková... , Boris Gutnikov Boris Gutnikov Boris Gutnikov was a Russian violinist, born in Leningrad.He won the 1957 Long-Thibaud Competition and, most notably, the 1962 International Tchaikovsky Competition ex-aequo with Shmuel Ashkenasi... , Natalia Gutman Natalia Gutman Natalia Gutman is a Russian cellist. She began to study cello at the Moscow Music School with R. Sapozhnikov. She was later admitted to the Moscow Conservatory, where she was taught by Rostropovich, amongst others.... , James Galway James Galway - External links : IMGArtists.com 15 September 2008. AllAboutJazz.com 5 August 2008.*... , Dagmar Pecková Dagmar Pecková Dagmar Pecková is a Czech operatic mezzo-soprano.Born in the Medlešice district of Chrudim, Pecková studied singing at the Prague Conservatory. She then became part of the young artist's program at the Semperoper in Dresden in 1985. After two years in the program she was made a principal artist... , Philippe Cuper Philippe Cuper Philippe Cuper is a French clarinetist, born in Lille on April 25, 1957.He is considered to be one of the best representatives of the current French clarinet school.- Studies :...  and others.
International Music Festival Brno. International Performers' Competition International Performers Competition Brno The International Performers Competition Brno is a competition for musicians held at the Brno International Music Festival in Brno in the Czech Republic....	1950s	The tradition of regular music festivals in the Moravia Moravia Moravia is a historical region in Central Europe in the east of the Czech Republic, and one of the former Czech lands, together with Bohemia and Silesia. It takes its name from the Morava River which rises in the northwest of the region... n metropolis Brno Brno Brno by population and area is the second largest city in the Czech Republic, the largest Moravian city, and the historical capital city of the Margraviate of Moravia. Brno is the administrative centre of the South Moravian Region where it forms a separate district Brno-City District...  began in the 1950s. In 1966, the festival Brno Music May was replaced by International Music Festival, held annually in autumn. From 1967, he festival was accompanied by international competition of radio music programmes, Prix Musical de Radio Brno. In 1990s the festival was reorganized, and today's festival Moravian Autumn is accompanied also by International Interpretation Competition for Young Musicians. The competition is held every five years in following categories: organ Organ (music) The organ , is a keyboard instrument of one or more divisions, each played with its own keyboard operated either with the hands or with the feet. The organ is a relatively old musical instrument in the Western musical tradition, dating from the time of Ctesibius of Alexandria who is credited with... , french horn, tuba Tuba The tuba is the largest and lowest-pitched brass instrument. Sound is produced by vibrating or "buzzing" the lips into a large cupped mouthpiece. It is one of the most recent additions to the modern symphony orchestra, first appearing in the mid-19th century, when it largely replaced the... , double bass Double bass The double bass, also called the string bass, upright bass, standup bass or contrabass, is the largest and lowest-pitched bowed string instrument in the modern symphony orchestra, with strings usually tuned to E1, A1, D2 and G2... , percussion.
Leoš Janáček International Competition Leos Janacek International Competition The Leoš Janáček International Competition , has been held annually by the Faculty of Music of the Janáček Academy of Music and Performing Arts in Brno since 1994, Czech Republic... Member of the European Union of Music Competitions for Youth European Union of Music Competitions for Youth The European Union of Music Competitions for Youth is a European umbrella organisation for some fifty national and international music competitions for young people...		The Faculty of Music of the Janáček Academy of Music and Performing Arts Janácek Academy of Music and Performing Arts Janáček Academy of Music and Performing Arts is a university-level school in Brno in the Czech Republic.The Janáček Academy of Music and Performing Arts is one of two academies of music and the dramatic arts in the Czech Republic...  organizes the annual performance competition since 1996. The competition is divided into several categories: voice, string quartet String quartet A string quartet is a musical ensemble of four string players – usually two violin players, a violist and a cellist – or a piece written to be performed by such a group... , violin Violin The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....  and piano Piano The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal... . Individual categories regularly take turns in four-year cycles. The main purpose of the competition is to promote the works of Leoš Janáček Leoš Janácek Leoš Janáček was a Czech composer, musical theorist, folklorist, publicist and teacher. He was inspired by Moravian and all Slavic folk music to create an original, modern musical style. Until 1895 he devoted himself mainly to folkloristic research and his early musical output was influenced by... .
Concertino Praga Member of the European Union of Music Competitions for Youth European Union of Music Competitions for Youth The European Union of Music Competitions for Youth is a European umbrella organisation for some fifty national and international music competitions for young people...		Concertino Praga, focused on young musicians up to 16 years (in some cases up to 19), is organized by Czech Radio. The competition is held in three-year cycles with following categories: piano, string quartet, wood and brass wind instruments and instrumental chamber ensembles up to quintets. Among the laureates are Václav Hudeček Václav Hudecek Václav Hudeček is a Czech violinist.He studied at the Prague Conservatory. While he was still only fifteen, he performed in concert on 12 November 1967 with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in London. One day later he was heard by the legendary David Oistrach. Hudeček was the pupil of this great... , Igor Ardašev Igor Ardašev Igor Ardašev 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 International Tchaikovsky Competition's 5th prize and the 1988 Prague Spring Competition's... , Radek Baborák and others.
Beethoven's Hradec International Music Competition	1962	Since 1962, Beethoven's Hradec International Music Competition is held annually at the castle in Hradec nad Moravicí Hradec nad Moravicí Hradec nad Moravicí is a town in the Moravian-Silesian Region of the Czech Republic located about 8 km south of Opava. It has cca 5,150 inhabitants. The town is dominated by a castle complex.... . The competition usually takes place in the second week of June. From 2008, the competition include following categories: piano, violin (alternate with viola Viola The viola is a bowed string instrument. It is the middle voice of the violin family, between the violin and the cello.- Form :The viola is similar in material and construction to the violin. A full-size viola's body is between and longer than the body of a full-size violin , with an average...  and violoncello), string quartet, piano trio. Since 1990s, the competition is international. Polish pianist Krystian Zimerman Krystian Zimerman Krystian Zimerman is a Polish classical pianist who is widely regarded as one of the finest living pianists.-Biography:...  was one of the first foreign competitors.
The Fryderyk Chopin International Piano Competition	1959	Polish composer Fryderyk Chopin visited the Czech town of Mariánské Lázně Mariánské Lázne Mariánské Lázně is a spa town in the Karlovy Vary Region of the Czech Republic. The town, surrounded by green mountains, is a mosaic of parks and noble houses...  in 1836. More than one hundred years later, in 1959, was founded Czech Fryderyk Chopin Society. In 1960 the society began to organize annual music festival in Mariánské Lázně. From 1962, the festival is accompanied by Chopin Piano Competition. The laureates take part in the International Frederick Chopin Piano Competition International Frederick Chopin Piano Competition The International Chopin Piano Competition , often referred to as the Chopin Competition, is a piano competition held in Warsaw, Poland to honour the name of Frédéric Chopin. It is one of the oldest and most prestigious music competitions in the world...  in Warsaw Warsaw Warsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River, roughly from the Baltic Sea and from the Carpathian Mountains. Its population in 2010 was estimated at 1,716,855 residents with a greater metropolitan area of 2,631,902 residents, making Warsaw the 10th most... . From 1992, the competition is international.
International Smetana Piano Competition Member of the European Union of Music Competitions for Youth European Union of Music Competitions for Youth The European Union of Music Competitions for Youth is a European umbrella organisation for some fifty national and international music competitions for young people...	1963	The Smetana Piano Competition was originally founded in 1963 in Hradec Králové Hradec Králové Hradec Králové is a city of the Czech Republic, in the Hradec Králové Region of Bohemia. The city's economy is based on food-processing technology, photochemical, and electronics manufacture. Traditional industries include musical instrument manufacturing – the best known being PETROF pianos... , near Smetana's birthplace Litomyšl Litomyšl Litomyšl is a town and municipality in the Pardubice Region of the Czech Republic. The chateau complex in the town centre is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.-History:... . From 2004, the competition is held in the city of Plzeň, where Bedřich Smetana Bedrich Smetana Bedřich Smetana was a Czech composer who pioneered the development of a musical style which became closely identified with his country's aspirations to independent statehood. He is thus widely regarded in his homeland as the father of Czech music...  spent a part of his student years. From 1976, the competition takes place biannually.
Amadeus	1995	The Mozartean competition Amadeus is organized by primary art schools in Brno. The competition is held since 1995, as a commemoration of the 255th anniversary of performance given by young Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart , baptismal name Johannes Chrysostomus Wolfgangus Theophilus Mozart , was a prolific and influential composer of the Classical era. He composed over 600 works, many acknowledged as pinnacles of symphonic, concertante, chamber, piano, operatic, and choral music...  in the theatre Reduta.
International Schubert Competition for Piano Duets	1978	Schubert Competition for Piano Duets was founded in 1978 by Věra and František Lejsek and Alois Složil. It is held in the Moravian town of Jeseník Jeseník Jeseník , Frývaldov until 1948 is a city and a district in the Olomouc Region of the Czech Republic.- Districts :* Bukovice * Dětřichov * Jeseník * Lázně Jeseník - History :... , usually biannually. Maximum combined age of competitors is 70 years.
Kocian Violin Competition Member of the European Union of Music Competitions for Youth European Union of Music Competitions for Youth The European Union of Music Competitions for Youth is a European umbrella organisation for some fifty national and international music competitions for young people...	1959	The competition is held annually in Ústí nad Orlicí Ústí nad Orlicí Ústí nad Orlicí is a city in the Ústí nad Orlicí District, Pardubice Region in Eastern Bohemia in the Czech Republic. The town is in the Orlické Mountains where the Tichá Orlice and the Třebovka rivers meet.... , the native town of the violinist Jaroslav Kocian Jaroslav Kocian Jaroslav Kocián was a Czech violinist, classical composer and teacher.- Life :He studied in Prague under Otakar Ševčík, and is considered together with Jan Kubelík as the most important representative of "Ševčík´s school".... . The laureates of the competition include Bohuslav Matoušek Bohuslav Matoušek Bohuslav Matoušek is a Czech violinist.He studied in the classes of Jaroslav Pekelský and Václav Snítil at Prague's Academy of Music. He has cooperated with Kurt Masur, Zubin Mehta, Leonard Bernstein, Jaroslav Tůma, Czech Philharmonic, Bohuslav Martinu Philharmonic Orchestra, Barocco sempre... , Václav Hudeček Václav Hudecek Václav Hudeček is a Czech violinist.He studied at the Prague Conservatory. While he was still only fifteen, he performed in concert on 12 November 1967 with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in London. One day later he was heard by the legendary David Oistrach. Hudeček was the pupil of this great... , Stefan Milenković Stefan Milenkovic Stefan Milenković is a Serbian concert violinist and a member of the faculty at the Juilliard School and the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana.-Biography:...  and Pavel Šporcl. The competition was established in 1959.
Heran Violoncello Competition Member of the European Union of Music Competitions for Youth European Union of Music Competitions for Youth The European Union of Music Competitions for Youth is a European umbrella organisation for some fifty national and international music competitions for young people...	1968	Heran Violoncello Competition was initially held as a part of the Kocian Violin Competition in Ústí nad Orlicí Ústí nad Orlicí Ústí nad Orlicí is a city in the Ústí nad Orlicí District, Pardubice Region in Eastern Bohemia in the Czech Republic. The town is in the Orlické Mountains where the Tichá Orlice and the Třebovka rivers meet.... . It was founded in 1968 by significant Czech cellist Bohuš Heran. From 1974, the competition is entirely independent. It is usually organized in April/May, before Kocian Violin Competition.
František Gregor International Double Bass Competition	1978	The competition was established in 1978 by double-bass player Miloš Gajdoš. It is held in one to four-year cycles in the Moravian town of Kroměříž Kromeríž Kroměříž is a town in the Zlín Region of the Czech Republic. The town's main landmark is the Baroque Kroměříž Bishop's Palace, where some scenes from Amadeus and Immortal Beloved were filmed... .
International Biennial Guitar Competition with Mastercourses Kutná Hora	1980	Founded in 1980, the Biennial Guitar Competition with Mastercourses in Kutná Hora Kutná Hora Kutná Hora is a city in Bohemia, now the Czech Republic in the Central Bohemian Region.-History:The town began in 1142 with the settlement of the first Cistercian Monastery in Bohemia, Kloster Sedlitz, brought from the Imperial immediate Cistercian Waldsassen Abbey...  is held in the Tyl City Theatre. The competition gained official international status in 1990, however, the first international competitors participated in 1982. The jury was formerly exclusive Czech. Since 1992, the jury became international.
Petr Eben International Organ Competition Petr Eben International Organ Competition Petr Eben International Organ Competition is held in Opava in the Czech republic since 1978.The competition consists of 3 rounds...	1978	The competition of young organ players is held biannually in the Silesia Silesia Silesia is a historical region of Central Europe located mostly in Poland, with smaller parts also in the Czech Republic, and Germany.Silesia is rich in mineral and natural resources, and includes several important industrial areas. Silesia's largest city and historical capital is Wrocław... n town of Opava Opava Opava is a city in the northern Czech Republic on the river Opava, located to the north-west of Ostrava. The historical capital of Czech Silesia, Opava is now in the Moravian-Silesian Region and has a population of 59,843 as of January 1, 2005.... . It was established in 1978, since 2000 the competition is international. In 2008 it was named after Czech composer Petr Eben Petr Eben Petr Eben was a Czech composer of modern and contemporary classical music.-His life:Born in Žamberk in northeastern Bohemia, Eben spent his youth in Český Krumlov in southern Bohemia. There he studied piano, and later cello and organ... . The competition takes place every October in the Opava library and in various churches. The participants compete in four different categories.
Antonín Dvořák International Vocal Competition Karlovy Vary	1966	Antonín Dvořák Antonín Dvorák Antonín Leopold Dvořák was a Czech composer of late Romantic music, who employed the idioms of the folk music of Moravia and his native Bohemia. Dvořák’s own style is sometimes called "romantic-classicist synthesis". His works include symphonic, choral and chamber music, concerti, operas and many... 's New World Symphony was premiered on European continent in the Czech spa town Karlovy Vary Karlovy Vary Karlovy Vary is a spa city situated in western Bohemia, Czech Republic, on the confluence of the rivers Ohře and Teplá, approximately west of Prague . It is named after King of Bohemia and Holy Roman Emperor Charles IV, who founded the city in 1370... . The International Vocal Competition, named after him, was formerly (from 1966 to 1989) only open to artists from Socialist bloc Eastern bloc The term Eastern Bloc or Communist Bloc refers to the former communist states of Eastern and Central Europe, generally the Soviet Union and the countries of the Warsaw Pact... . The laureates of the competition include Magdaléna Hajóssyová Magdaléna Hajóssyová Magdaléna Hajóssyová is a renowned classical Slovak soprano who has had an active international career singing in operas, concerts, and recitals since the late 1960s. She has been particularly active at the Prague State Opera where she has been a principal artist since 1972...  and Edita Gruberová Edita Gruberová Edita Gruberová , is a Slovak soprano who is one of the most acclaimed coloraturas of recent decades. She is noted for her great tonal clarity, agility, dramatic interpretation, and ability to sing high notes with great power, which made her an ideal Queen of the Night in her early years... .
Festival of Songs Olomouc		The most extensive international choir competition in the Czech Republic is held in the Moravian town of Olomouc Olomouc Olomouc is a city in Moravia, in the east of the Czech Republic. The city is located on the Morava river and is the ecclesiastical metropolis and historical capital city of Moravia. Nowadays, it is an administrative centre of the Olomouc Region and sixth largest city in the Czech Republic... . The choirs and voice ensembles compete in thirty categories. The competition consists of three main parts: Czech children's choirs, Mundi cantant superior, and Mundi cantant. The main categories are divided according to the age or gender of competitors.
Musica religiosa Olomouc		Musica religiosa Olomouc is a competition of sacred and church music for choirs. It is held annually in the period before Easter in Olomouc Olomouc Olomouc is a city in Moravia, in the east of the Czech Republic. The city is located on the Morava river and is the ecclesiastical metropolis and historical capital city of Moravia. Nowadays, it is an administrative centre of the Olomouc Region and sixth largest city in the Czech Republic... .
International Festival of Academic Choirs (IFAS)	1980	The Eastern Bohemian city of Pardubice Pardubice Pardubice is the capital city of the Pardubice Region and lies on the river Elbe, 65 miles east of Prague. Pardubice has an antique centre square and old town, with many restaurants that stay open until late in the evening. There is an old Tower and a recently renovated Castle...  hosts the competition of academic choirs as a part of the International Festival of Academic Choirs. Since 1980, the event is organized every two years. The jury consists of five members.
International Bohuslav Martinů Festival and Choir Competition	1999	The competition was established in 1999 by choirmaster of the Pardubice University Art Ensemble Vlastislav Novák. It was founded as a commemoration of the 40th anniversary of the death of Bohuslav Martinů Bohuslav Martinu Bohuslav Martinů was a prolific Czech composer of modern classical music. He was of Czech and Rumanian ancestry. Martinů wrote six symphonies, 15 operas, 14 ballet scores and a large body of orchestral, chamber, vocal and instrumental works. Martinů became a violinist in the Czech Philharmonic... . The international and Czech choirs have an opportunity to compete in several categories.
Praga cantat		Praga cantat, an amateur festival and competition for choirs, is usually held in National House in Vinohrady Vinohrady Vinohrady is a cadastral district in Prague. It is so named because the area was once covered in vineyards dating from the 14th century... , Prague. The choirs compete in six categories: women choirs, mixed choirs, advanced mixed choirs, girls' choirs, mixed youth choirs and the category of folk songs.
International competition of blind & partially sighted performers and composers		The competition initially took place in Mariánské Lázně Mariánské Lázne Mariánské Lázně is a spa town in the Karlovy Vary Region of the Czech Republic. The town, surrounded by green mountains, is a mosaic of parks and noble houses... , today (2009) it is held in Prague. It is open for young blind and partially sighted artists, aged from 16 to 36. The participants compete in several instrumental categories, including composers' competition (without age limit).
International Zdeněk Fibich Competition in the Interpretation of Melodrama		The competition is named after composer Zdeněk Fibich Zdenek Fibich Zdeněk Fibich was a Czech composer of classical music. Among his compositions are chamber works , symphonic poems, three symphonies, at least seven operas , melodramas including the substantial trilogy Hippodamia,... , an important exponent and founder of the modern Czech concert and stage melodrama Melodrama The term melodrama refers to a dramatic work that exaggerates plot and characters in order to appeal to the emotions. It may also refer to the genre which includes such works, or to language, behavior, or events which resemble them... . It is organized by the Zdeněk Fibich Society as a part of the annual autumn International Festival of Concert Melodrama in Prague Prague Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million... . The competition consists of three rounds and is limited to compositions with piano.
International Television Festival Golden Prague	1964	The festival Golden Prague, organized by Czech Television Czech television Czech television may refer to:*Television in the Czech Republic*Česká televize...  in Prague, was first held in 1964. It is one of the oldest television festivals in the world. The competition is open to various music genres, not just to classical music programmes.
International Composers' Competition Musica Nova	1969	Musica Nova is a competition for electroacoustic compositions. It was founded in 1969 in Plzeň by the Studio for Experimental Music of the Czechoslovak Radio. The competition consists of two main categories: solely electroacoustic compositions and live instrumental or vocal performance in combination with electroacoustic elements.