What is happening
International Festival in Piešťany
From June 13 to 15, the Czech National Concert Band took part in the international festival of wind orchestras in Piešťany, Slovakia. Within the festival, the ensemble performed two concerts, presenting primarily Czech music, but also including, for example, Philip Sparke’s composition Music for Festival.
Both concerts were conducted by Václav Blahunek, with guest conductor Jiří Pohnán also appearing. At the Sunday concert, trumpet soloist Michal Chmelař performed Ponte Vecchio by Japanese composer Satoshi Yagisawa.
The festival annually brings top-class wind ensembles from various countries to Piešťany and represents an important event for all lovers of wind music. Our thanks go to the city of Piešťany and to the Slovak Association of Wind Bands for their invitation.
ZUŠ OPEN Festival in the Pardubice Region
On Sunday, May 18, one of the main cultural events of the nationwide ZUŠ OPEN festival of elementary art schools took place in the premises of the Monastery of the Holy Mother of God at Králíky, with a significant contribution from the Czech National Concert Band under the direction of conductor Jaroslav Šlais.
The central point of the programme was a festive Holy Mass, during which more than one hundred musicians jointly performed Missa Brevis by contemporary Dutch composer Jacob de Haan. The Czech National Concert Band formed the core of the instrumental section and accompanied the vocal part, provided by the children’s choirs Rošťák of ZUŠ Přelouč, the choirs from ZUŠ Polička and ZUŠ Dolní Újezd, and the Orlice Mixed Choir from Kostelec nad Orlicí. Organist Ondřej Hromádko accompanied the solos, and Mrs. Irena Pohl Houkalová, director of ZUŠ OPEN, also sang a solo part.
The event drew exceptional attention — the monastery was completely filled, and the performance was rewarded with prolonged applause, with visitors coming from long distances.
An important part of this year’s ZUŠ OPEN festival programme was also the reprise of this unique mass, which took place a week later in the church at Neratov. This unique venue, with its glass roof, provided a perfect backdrop for a musical experience that once again received highly positive responses from the audience.
Celebrations of the 80th Anniversary of the End of World War II in Poděbrady
On May 7, an extraordinary concert by the Czech National Concert Band took place in the picturesque setting of the spa colonnade in Poděbrady. This performance was dedicated to the significant anniversary of 80 years since the end of World War II.
Under the baton of Chief Conductor Václav Blahunek, the orchestra presented a repertoire thematically referring to the period of the Second World War. The audience had the opportunity to hear not only instrumental pieces, but also vocal solos.
Violin soloist Vít Chudý shone with the main theme from the film Schindler’s List, composed by John Williams. He also performed The Story of Anne Frank by Austrian composer Otto Schwarz.
The concert’s vocal soloists were singers Marie Bílková and Jiří Škvára, who performed songs by Karel Hašler and Kmoch’s march Muziky, muziky.
The concert, organized by the town of Poděbrady, became a beautiful reminder of the importance of peace and freedom.
Czech National Concert Band Members Attend Music Conference in the USA
Chicago, Illinois – Every December, the city of Chicago becomes a magnet for musicians from around the world thanks to an event known as the Midwest Clinic. This prestigious music education event, held at McCormick Place, attracts thousands of participants and performers each year. It is the largest music education event in the world. This year, ten members of the Czech National Concert Band (CNCB) traveled to Chicago.
The members of our orchestra had the opportunity to attend numerous music lectures as well as concerts featuring top-tier wind orchestras from around the world. Among the performers were the outstanding United States Coast Guard Band, renowned chamber ensembles such as Dallas Brass and Seraph Brass, and big bands including The United States Coast Guard Big Band. The musical highlight of the visit to Chicago was attending a concert by the Chicago Symphony, one of the most highly regarded orchestras in the world, providing an unforgettable experience for the Czech participants.
In addition to musical education and inspiration, the participants also took the opportunity to explore the beauty of Chicago. The city offers a wealth of cultural landmarks. They visited iconic buildings such as the Willis Tower, Chinatown, Millennium Park, the famous Navy Pier, and the Chicago Zoo. The experience was further enriched by tasting typical American cuisine and attending an NHL hockey game.
Participating in the Midwest Clinic is not only a chance for professional growth but also an invaluable experience for young musicians and their educators.
Czech National Concert Band Once Again Enthralls the Beroun Audience
On February 15, 2025, the Czech National Concert Band held its fourth consecutive concert at KD Plzeňka in Beroun. This time, the program, titled “Around the Musical World,” was part of the 43rd edition of the Talichův Beroun International Music Festival, themed “Václav Talich – A Man of the World.” As always, the band prepared for the concert over two weekends at the Elementary Art School in Přelouč.
The concert opened with Triumphal Prelude by Thomas Doss, conducted by guest conductor Jiří Pohnán. Following the opening piece, the orchestra was led by the chief conductor of the Central Military Band of the Czech Armed Forces, Jaroslav Šíp. A highlight of the first half of the concert was the Czech premiere of Ponte Vecchio by Japanese composer Satoshi Yagisawa, performed by Michal Chmelař, director of the Elementary Art School in Přelouč and founder of the Czech National Concert Band. Young and talented flutist Viktorie Pilzová then captivated the audience with Concertino for Flute by French composer Cécile Chaminade, arranged by Roger Niese.
After the more intimate first half, the orchestra unleashed its full potential in the fiery Danzón No. 2 by Arturo Márquez and Cuban Overture by George Gershwin. The audience was completely enchanted by the orchestra’s rich and beautiful sound in Sinatra’s greatest hits, including New York, New York, Something Stupid, Fly Me to the Moon, and My Way, as well as Glenn Miller’s Moonlight Serenade.
The young musicians were rewarded with prolonged standing ovations from the audience.