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Prague Conservatory
Pražská konzervatoř
Prague Conservatory; Pražská konzervatoř
	Main building
Location
	Na rejdišti 77/1, Prague 1; Czech Republic
Coordinates	50°05′26″N 14°24′57″E / 50.0906°N 14.4158°E
Information
Type	Music school
Established	24 April 1808
Founders	František Josef of Vrtba; František Josef of Sternberg and Manderscheid; Jan Nepomuk Nostitz-Rieneck; Kristián Kryštof Clam-Gallas; Bedřich Nostitz; Karel of Firmian; Jan Josef Pachta of Rájov; František Josef of Klebelsberg;
Gender	Coeducational
Language	Czech
Website	prazskakonzervator.cz

The Prague Conservatory (Czech: Pražská konzervatoř) is a public music school in Prague, Czech Republic, founded in 1808.^[1] Currently, the school offers four- or six-year courses, which can be compared to the level of a high school diploma in other countries. Graduates can continue their training by enrolling in an institution that offers undergraduate education.

History

The Prague Conservatory was founded in 1808 by local aristocrats and burghers following the example of the Conservatoire de Paris (est. 1795) and the Milan Conservatory (est. 1807). The founders are listed as František Josef of Vrtba, František Josef of Sternberg and Manderscheid, Jan Nepomuk Nostitz-Rieneck, Kristián Kryštof Clam-Gallas, Bedřich Nostitz, Karel of Firmian, Jan Josef Pachta of Rájov, and František Josef of Klebelsberg.^{[citation needed]}

In 1810, the Union for the Improvement of Music in Bohemia (Jednota pro zvelebení hudby v Čechách) was formed, which ensured the financial operation of the school for the next hundred years.^[2] Classes started in 1811, after a delay caused by the Napoleonic Wars.

Bedřich Diviš Weber was appointed the first director of the school, which was originally located in the monastery next to St. Giles' Church.^{[citation needed]}

In 1891, Antonín Dvořák joined the faculty as head of the composition department and served as the school's director between 1901 and 1904. Dvořák's students included the composers Vítězslav Novák, Josef Suk (who later also served as director of the conservatory), Rudolf Friml, Oskar Nedbal, and Franz Lehár. Another director of the school was pianist Vilém Kurz.

In 1945, a number of professors and students of higher classes at the conservatory left to found the Academy of Performing Arts.^[3] Theatre and ballet departments were also opened that year, from which the independent Dance Conservatory was created in 2001.

Instruction

The Prague Conservatory offers instruction in several instruments, including accordion, guitar, piano, and organ, as well as in singing, composition, conducting, and acting. The institution has its own symphonic and chamber orchestras, a choir, and a theatre company.

Locations

The conservatory's main campus is located at Na rejdišti 77/1, Prague 1. It has two ancillary locations: one situated within Pálffyho Palace, in Prague's Malá Strana, and the other in Prague's Old Town.

Directors

The following is a list of directors of the Prague Conservatory:

Bedřich Diviš Weber 1811–1843
Jan Bedřich Kittl 1843–1865
Josef Krejčí 1865–1881
Antonín Bennewitz 1882–1901
Antonín Dvořák 1901–1904
Karel Knittl 1904–1907
Jindřich Kàan z Albestů 1907–1918
Vítězslav Novák 1918–1922
Josef Bohuslav Foerster 1922–1923
Josef Suk 1923–1928
Josef Bohuslav Foerster 1928–1930
Vilém Kurz 1930–1939
Jaroslav Kocián 1939–1940
Václav Holzknecht 1942–1970
Jan Tausinger 1971–1976
František Martiník 1976–1989
Věroslav Neumann 1989–2004
Pavel Trojan 2004-2018
Petr Čech 2018–present

Notable alumni

Notable faculty

References

^ Žídek, František (1982). Čeští houslisté tří století. Prague: Panton. p. 60.
^ "Jednota pro zvelebení hudby v Čechách" [Union for the improvement of music in the Czech Republic]. uuapp.plus4u.net (in Czech). Retrieved 17 September 2023.
^ "History and accomplishments". .hamu.cz. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
^ Josef Bek (2001). "Bartoš, František(ii)". Grove Music Online. Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.article.02179.