Biography

Jan Dušek (born April 11, 1985) studied at the Conservatory in Teplice (piano, composition). In 2004-2012, he studied composition at the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague (doc. Hanus Barton), where he finished his doctoral studies in the same field in 2012. Since then, Jan Dušek has taught at the composition department of the Academy. As a pianist he participated in several master courses (Cyprien Katsaris, Irina Ossipova, Angela Hewitt, Lilit Grygorian, Maria João Pires), in 2013/14 he studied privately piano with Robert Lehrbaumer in Vienna, in 2015 with Xiao-Mei Zhu in Paris, and since 2016 with Gordon Fergus-Thompson in London. He won awards and honorable mentions in competitions (Concertino Praga, the International Piano Competition B. Smetana Competition of Conservatories, Zdenek Fibich International Competition in the interpretation of melodrama). He periodically captures contemporary Czech music recordings for Czech Radio, in 2019 he finished the recording of complete piano works by Rudolf Karel. In 2015 he has released together with soprano Irena Troupova the CD with the complete songs for soprano and piano by Viktor Ullmann. He repeatedly performs at international music festivals (Prague Spring, Věčná naděje, Junge Kunstler Beyreuth etc.) In 2006 he was awarded the first price Composers Competition Generation for the piece “… in seven days I will send rain on the Earth …” and in 2007 the same competition again first award for the composition “Gradation for organ.” In 2008 he received Prize of the audience for composition „Chalomot jehudi’im” a year later received for the same composition Prize of Gideon Klein. In 2010, his melodrama “Prague Walker” was awarded by 2nd prize in the Competition for Young Artists announced by the City District Prague 1. For music to silent film “The Child of the Ghetto” he received Prize of the audience in competition NuBerg 2011. His compositions have ordered Czech festivals (e.g. the International Festival of Concert Melodrama), leading Czech soloists (such as the clarinetist Irvin Venyš or the percussionist Markéta Mazourová) and chamber ensembles and orchestras (e.g., Nederlands Blazers Ensemble, Epoque quartet; BERG Orchestra; Prague Philharmonia; Praague Philharmonic Choir). In 2021, Jan has co-established Lieder Company association which aims in promotion of lieder recitals and lieder repertoir.