section leader, principal player
1 / 6
Instrument
flute
In Czech Philharmonic
since August 2004
His first flute teacher was Milada Sobotová at the Bedřich Smetana Music School in Litomyšl, Smenata’s birthplace. It took him a while to decide whether to pursue career in music and he studied at the Alois Jirásek Grammar School in Litomyšl. In 1991, he met Professor František Malotín at a flute competition and his future was decided, he joined his class at the Prague Conservatory in the following year. He regularly attended the flute courses in Jičín (Czech Republic) and was in Clara Nováková’s class at the Franco-Czech Music Academy in Telč (Czech Republic). He graduated from the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague in 2001, having studied with Professor Jiří Válek. He won the 2nd prize at the Concertino Praga Competition and the 1st prize at the Conservatories Competition in Kroměříž (Czech Republic).
Before joining the Czech Philharmonic, he had played in the Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra in 1996–2004.
When he’s not in the Rudolfinum, he enjoys activities closely connected to his family. He spends a lot of time cycling or skiing in the winter. He likes taking photos and is a big fan of GoPro cameras. He has also fallen for the magic of vinyl records and enjoys watching movies, preferably those with an unhappy ending and good music.
He very much enjoys playing classical music but does not listen to it. From among classical composers, he feels closest to Bohuslav Martinů’s music. His iPod playlist features Prince, Depeche Mode, Faithless and he likes to listen to Seal. He enjoys “Nordic” jazz, mainly Lars Danielsson and Bugge Wesseltoft and always goes to Maceo Parker’s concerts in Prague.
