Felix Slováček Jr.

Felix Slováček Jr. graduated in 2006 from the Prague Conservatoire, under Prof. Milan Polák’s leadership. He then continued his studies at the Prague’s Academy of Performing Arts (AMU) at Prof. Jiří Hlaváč and Prof. Vlastimil Mareš. He attended master classes (ISA) in Semmering, Austria, becoming an awarded winner of the 2009 Antonín Rejcha Prize, the wind instruments category. In Semmering, too, he took part in the courses of Prof. Michel Lethiec and Prof. Francois Benda. In 2010, he graduated from the Music and Dance Faculty of the Academy of Performing Arts (HAMU), Prague, delivering with the Czech Chamber Philharmonic Orchestra Pardubice in the “Best of” (“Ti nejlepší”) cycle.

Having held the First Clarinetist post with the Karlovy Vary Symphony Orchestra from May 2008, he currently collaborates as a soloist with the same orchestra. He has performed successfully with the Bohuslav Martinů Philharmonic Orchestra, South Bohemia Chamber Philharmonic Orchestra, Pilsen Philharmonic Orchestra, Conca Collegium, Atlantis Orchestra, Bohuslav Martinů Chamber Orchestra, Musica Minore, Musica Lucis Praga, Antonín Dvořák Chamber Orchestra, Prague Film Orchestra, Berg Orchestra, Prague Strauss Orchestra and other ensembles, appearing as a singer, clarinetist and saxophonist.

In 2007, he took part in the 10th Swing Music Festival as a singer in a series of concerts, in the company of James Morrison, the Australian legendary trumpetist, composer and the GRP All Star Big Band member. In 2010, he performed in the Mikulov Jazz Festival with the RTV Big Band, and, in 2011, at the Třeboň Nocturnes as a soloist with the Gustav Brom Big Band. He made further appearances at the numerous events, such as Jazz bez hranic (Boundless Jazz), Moravia Music Fest, 10th Mikulov Jazz Festival, Hommage à Karel Kraugartner, 2013 Spring in Russia classical music festival, 2015 Musical Bridges Around the World event in the U.S. and more. He performed at many classical or swing music festivals, whether making solo appearances or with the orchestras, covering Czechia, Slovakia, Germany, Austria, Russia, Norway, Spain, Slovenia, China and the U.S.

In 2009, he was part of the tour to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Czech leading singer Karel Gott across the Czech and Slovak Republic, with the Felix Slováček Big Band – where he has been a singer and permanent guest. With the same Big Band, he also toured a series of concerts in the North Germany and Spain.

During 2010-2011, he went to Oslo, Norway, for a fellowship at the Norges Musikkhøgskole (Norway Academy of Music), to study clarinet at the famous Prof. Hans Christian Bræin, as well as the jazz vocals ensemble at the Jazz Department, having also attended the master classes taught by Andreas Sundén, the First Clarinetist of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra.

As a conductor, he gained experience from conducting the Felix Slováček Big Band, while attending also private lessons at Prof. Jaroslav Vodňanský. He conducted ensembles such as the Bohuslav Martinů Chamber Orchestra in the Eduard Nápravník International Music Festival; West Bohemian Symphony Orchestra Mariánské Lázně; Musica Lucis Praga; North Bohemian Philharmonic Orchestra during their 2014 Czech Republic tour jointly with the legendary Nezmaři band; Karlovy Vary Symphony Orchestra, cooperating with the famous Russian violoncellist Mikhail Utkin; and, Prague Strauss Orchestra as their conductor and soloist during the tour of China in 2015-2016.

He is a member of the Prague Saxophone Quartet and Eduard Nápravník Trio. In 2012, he was appointed a dramaturg and producer of the Eduard Nápravník International Music Festival.

Currently, he has been appearing as an actor of the Hybernia Theatre, starring as Honza in the musical fairy tale KAPKA MEDU PRO VERUNKU and, newly, also in the SNĚHOVÁ KRÁLOVNA (Snow Queen) and ALENKA V KRAJI ZÁZRAKŮ (Alice in Wonderland). Furthermore, also in the legendary SEMAFOR Theatre of Mr Jiří Suchý, in the plays KDYBY TISÍC KLARINETŮ (If a Thousand Clarinets), KYTICE (Bouquet), RYTÍŘI Z BLANÍKU A KRASAVICE LÍDA and SKLENĚNÉ PRKNO.

Furthermore, with the Jan Hrušínský Theatrical Company at the Na Jezerce Theatre in the commedia dell´ arte TŘI V TOM.

Programme tips:

Once Upon a Time in the West

Felix Slováček Jr. - saxophone, Kateřina Englichová - harp
Morricone, Marcello, Rota