Czech Chamber Music Society • Prague Philharmonia Wind Quintet

The Prague Philharmonia Wind Quintet was formed in 2007 by soloists of the Prague Philharmonia’s wind section. Its members have garnered accolades at Czech and international competitions, and have performed with a number of symphony and chamber orchestras. Besides giving concerts at home and abroad alike, the ensemble have made recordings for Czech Radio of works by 20th-century Czech composers. In 2011 and 2013, the Prague Philharmonia Wind Quintet performed at the Festival dell Arte in Wojanow, Poland. Over the long term, they have closely collaborated with the superb pianist Ivan Klánský, appearing together at numerous concerts. Highly acclaimed too has been the project featuring French poetry and music, within which they have performed with the actor Jan Čenský. Moreover, the quintet have regularly played within the Prague Philharmonia’s chamber cycle. Three years ago, they debuted at the Prague Spring, in 2019 they performed at the Český Krumlov International Music Festival and other events.

The flautist Jiří Ševčík studied at the Teplice Conservatory (under the guidance of his mother) and at the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague, where he was one of the last pupils of the legendary František Čech. Since 1994, he has been solo flautist with the Prague Philharmonia. The oboist Vladislav Borovka studied at the Prague Conservatory (with B. Vobořil) and at the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague (with J. Mihule). He further honed his skills in Toyama, Japan, and Paris (taking lessons from J. L. Capezzali). As the best Czech entrant, in 2001 he came third at the Prague Spring International Competition and was named a laureate. He is currently a member of the Czech Philharmonic. The clarinettist Jan Brabec studied at the Teplice Conservatory and at the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague (under the tutelage of V. Mareš), and also attended master classes led by M. Arrignon, M. Lethiec, M. Raison and M. Bourgue. He won the Clarinet Competition in Chomutov and received the City of Prague Prize at the Prague Spring International Competition in 1996. He is a member of the Czech Philharmonic and the Prague Philharmonia. The bassoonist Václav Fürbach studied at the Military Conservatory in Roudnice and the Prague Conservatory (with M. Werner), before rounding off his training at the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague (with F. Herman and J. Seidl). After spending several years as a soloist with the Brno Philharmonic, he is now principal bassoon with the Prague Symphony Orchestra and the Prague Philharmonia. The hornist Mikuláš Koska studied at the Ostrava Conservatory (with K. Doležil) and the Janáček Academy of Music and Performing Arts in Brno (with J. Petráš). The holder of several first prizes at the International Brass Competition in Brno, he became the overall winner of the Czech Conservatories Competition, and he has also participated in the prestigious ARD International Music Competition in Munich. He was previously solo horn with the Brno Philharmonic, and is currently a member of the Czech Philharmonic and the Prague Philharmonia.