1 mins
Kristian Mráček, violin
ANDREAS HOYER
The Prague Conservatoire is one of the most famous music schools in the Czech Republic, with a long history and great professors. The course is six years long, the first four including a few non-musical academic subjects needed to finish your high school degree. The last two are fully dedicated to music. At the end you are awarded a diploma that many professional Czech orchestras regard as a high-enough qualification to enter, so the school’s level is very good. I am currently in my fifth year and now also attend the music university alongside the conservatoire, to receive a bachelor’s degree. It is great to have the support from the conservatoire while doing this, as it will allow me to transition smoothly into a professional career.
The school has a very nice atmosphere because everyone is there for the same reason, so we all understand each other. It’s like a big family. The school is also very generous and there to help with anything you need. There is a wide spectrum of teachers, ranging from more old-school professors to younger ones. It’s nice to have those traditions while having more modern perspectives. We also get so many performance opportunities. One of my favourite experiences was a benefit concert in the cathedral in Prague, which was broadcast on TV.
Prague is at the cultural heart of the Czech Republic, and classical music is very well regarded and supported. There are so many different halls to perform in and a lot of high-level professional orchestras that have programmes for young players. The school’s legacy is also incredible. It’s amazing to think that Dvořák, Suk and Martinů walked in the same halls! In so many ways, the school is the best preparation you can get to become a professional musician in the Czech Republic.