Members of the Czech Nonet

Romana Zieglerová (*1977) - violin

She studied at the Conservatoire in Brno, Czech Republic (Prof. Bohumil Kotmel) and at the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague, Czech Republic (Prof. Vaclav Snitil). She was given a scholarship to study violin in Tasmania, Australia in 2001-2002 (Prof. Jan Sedivka). Romana finished these studies achieving title The Master of Music. She played many solo recitals for Australian audience and even organised "Concert of the Czech Music" in Hobart to collect funds to help people in the Czech Republic to renovate country after devastating floods in summer 2002. She has been member of the Prague Philharmonia since 1998 and its Concert Master since 2004. In 2005, Romana Zieglerova went back to Australia, where she not only gave solo recitals but also as worked as a teacher in residence at the Hobbart Conservatory. Due to her success, she has been reinvited to come back again in 2007. Later that year, Romana performed Beethoven's triple concerto together with the Algerian Symphonic Orchestra at the 6th European Culture Festival. She also participated at the final concert of the Prague Music Festival together with the Janacek's Philharmonic Orchestra and its chief conductor Maestro Theodor Kuchar. In 2006, she gave many concerts as the Concert Master of the Prague Philharmonia, but also as a soloist, for example with the Prague Symphony Orchestr under conductor Maxim Shostakovich. She joined the Czech Nonet in 2006.

Petra Vilánková (*1984) - violin - pernament guest of Czech nonet

She has performed as a soloist with The Prague Chamber Philharmonic, The Vogtland Philharmonic Orchestra, The Pleven Philharmonic Orchestra, The South Bohemian Philharmonic Orchestra, The Prague Conservatory Symphony Orchestra and The Michigan State University Symphonic Orchestra. She has been the laureate of a number of international competitions as Kocian´s Violin Competition in 1999; 2nd Prize winner in the same competition in 2000; 2nd Prize winner in Beethoven´s Hradec in 2002; 1st Prize winner in Michigan State University Honor Competition in 2006; 1st Prize in American String Teachers National Solo Competition in 2007; Audience Award in Henri Marteau International Violin Competition in 2008, Josef Suk Special prize in Prague Spring Competition 2010. Among other venues she has played at Walt Disney Hall in Los Angeles, Dvořák´s Hall in Prague´s Rudolfinum, and on stages across the USA, Japan, Italy, Slovenia, Germany, Bulgaria, and Spain. Her performing experience includes collaborations with such conductors as Jaroslav Krček, Ondřej Kukal, Stanislav Vavřínek, Leon Gregorian, or Maxim Samarov.

Vladimír Kroupa (*1973) – viola

Vladimír Kroupa finished The Prague Conservatory with J Ruis (Dvořák Quartet), then read viola with L Malý at The Academy of Performing Arts in Prague. He was a member of the Talich Chamber Orchestra and of the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra (for two years). From 1991, he played in the Apollon String Quartet, who won the first prize at the L van Beethoven international competition. In 1996, he participated in master classes with the Alban Berg Quartet, and in 2000 with H.W.Meyer (LaSalle Quartet).In 1999 he was one of the founding members of the Epoque String Quartet which performed in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, France, Italy, Britain, Israel, Japan, Greece, the Netherlands etc, and which was successful at many competitions (e.g. the Paolo Borciani Competition) and festivals (e.g. Schleswig-Holstein Festival (Germany), Stuttgarter Philharmoniker Zyklus, Metamorphosen (Switzerland), České sny (the Czech Republic)). In 2000 he led master classes at The Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance. Since 2003, he has been a member of The Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra (SOČR) where he is leading viola player at present. He has been a member of the Czech Nonet since 2007.

Simona Hečová (*1976) - cello

Simona Hecova studied at the Prague Conservatory and the Academy of Music, with M. Mlejnik in Klagenfurt and B. Pergamenschikow and F. Helmerson in Lubeck. Prizes included Boris Heran (1986) and Liezen, Austria (1992 and 1994). She records for the Czech Radio.

David Pavelka (*1980) - double-bass

Jiří Skuhra (*1970) - flute

Jiri Skuhura, flute, studied at the Prague Conservatory and the Academy of Music. He is prize winner of Concertino Praga, solo flute of State Opera Prague, member of Prague Wind Harmony, and since 1993 the Czech Nonet.

Vladislav Borovka (*1976) - oboe

Vladislav Borovka, oboe, studied at the Pague Conservatory in 1990-1996 with professor Bedrich Voboril. He received prizes in the National Conservatory Contest in Kromeriz (1994) and in the Concertino Praga competition. Since 1994, he has been a member of the Prague Philharmonia. He also gained performing experiences with M. Bourgue, T. Cammaert, G. Passin; in 2000 he received a scholarship of the Yamaha company. In 2001, he graduated from the Academy of Music in Prague (professor Jiri Mihule) and became the Laureate of the Prague Spring Competition. In 2001-2002, he studied with J. L. Capezzali at the Conservatoire Paul Dukas. Since 2004, he teaches at the Prague Conservatory. Since 2005, he has been a member of the Czech Nonet.

Aleš Hustoles (*1970) - clarinet

Ales Hustoles, clarinet, studied at the Prague Conservatory and the Academy of Music and won several prizes. He is a member of the Opera Mozart, Prague Wind Harmony and since 1994 the Czech Nonet.

Pavel Langpaul (*1970) - bassoon

Born 19. 2. 1970 in Havlíčkův Brod, Czech Republic. His musical studies began at Elementary school of arts in Havlíčkův Brod under supervision of prof. J. Brožek. Cooperation with Prag´s Chamber Solist in performing of Mozart´s Basoon Concerto when he was twelve years old. After studies at Prague Conservatory he graduated from Musical faculty (Academy of Musical Arts), under supervision prof. Herman, doc. Seidl. He won title of laureate from international competition Concertino Prague, Chomutov. He was in final of international competition Prague Spring in 1996, where he won prize of Czech Music the Fundation for best performance of contemporary composition.

He was performing with National Theatre Opera in Prague. He appeared as guest with Sólistes Européenes Luxemburg. Right now he is solo – basoon player of Czech Radio Symphony Orchestra.

From 1994 he is member of Czech nonet with this chamber ensemble he has performed at many prestigious festivals as / Montreux, Schleswig-Holstein, La Folle journée de Nantes, Festival de Música de Canarias, Pražské jaro/ at stages / Montreaux Auditorium Stravinskij, Auditorio de Zaragoza, Lyon Auditorium, Washington Library of Congress, Playhouse Vancouver, Dvořák´s Hall. He has made many radios recording for Bayerische Rundfunk, NDR, WDR, Czech radio, Washington radio NPR, Saint-Paul Sunday etc.

He is as well member of Prague Wind Octet. With this ensemble he recorded complete wind harmony of Franz Krommer (contract from Czech radio).

His other records: for french label Praga Digitals AMC Variations for basoon and strings, A. Reicha and Concerto for Basoon and orchestra J. N. Hummel. Chamber music of Brahms, Beethoven, Dvořák, Roussel, Martinů, Spohr, Prokofjev etc. with Czech Nonet for which they received prize Choc du Monde de la Musique a 10 du Répértoire.

He also cooperated with Cristina Ortiz, Ivan klánský and Dimitri Ashkenazy at chambers projects.

Solo performance of works R. Strauss and J. N. Koželuh with Pilsner filharmony, Carlsbad, Marienbad symphony orchestras.

Jiří Špaček (*1970) - French horn

Mr. Jiří Špaček was born on September 19, 1970, in Havlíčkův Brod, Czech Republic. With his nine years he started to play French horn, attending courses given by his teacher Josef Brožek. In 1985, he was admitted to study the Conservatory of Music in Prague, further developing his musical education at the Professor Alois Čoček.

During his studies, he participated in different contests, the most important of them being the International Musical Competition “Concertino Praga”, where he won the First Prize. He performed also as soloist with the Prague Symphony Orchestra, with the West-Bohemian Symphonic Orchestra Mariánské Lázně as well as with many others.

Actually, he is the member of the Symphonic Orchestra of the Czech Radio, but he cooperated also with the Czech National Symphonic Orchestra, with “Solistes Européens Luxembourg” as well as with Bayerisches Kammerorchester Bad Brückenau. At the same time he is the member of the Prague Wind Octet recording the wind-instruments Harmony by F.V. Kramář per order of the Czech Radio on one side and of the Prague Brass Collegium on the other.

Since 2007, he is also the member of the Czech Nonet Chamber Ensemble, performing with them on many prestigious festivals abroad (e.g. Montreux, Schleswig-Holstein, La Folle journée de Nantes, Festival de Música de Canarias, Prague Springs, Janacek May, Concentus Moraviae). Together with the Czech Nonet Ensemble, he participated also on many radio records for different Radio Stations, such as Bayerischer Rundfunk, NDR, WDR, Czech Radio etc.