Previous Emerging Artist Award Winners

Petr Špaček was born in 1988 in Trebíč, Czech Republic. Petr began playing the cello at the age of 6. He continued his studies at the Prague Conservatory with Valdan Koci from 2003 until December 2008.

Petr has won several competitions and scholarships. Among his most recent achievements are the grand prize at the International Radio Competition Concertino Praga and a successful audition to join the European Union Youth Orchestra.  As a soloist he has performed with orchestras such as the Czech Radio Symphony Orchestra, the Prague Symphony Orchestra, the Bohuslav Martinu Philharmonic Orchestra, the Moravian Philharmonic Orchestra, the Chamber Philharmonic Orchestra of South Bohemia, and many others. Additionally, he has collaborated with numerous conductors including Vladimir Valek, Petr Vronsky, Stanislav Vavrinek, and Jaroslav Brych, among others. Petr has performed in Europe, North America and Asia in halls such as Sapporo Concert Hall in Japan, Jordan Hall in Boston, Dvorak Hall of Rudolfinum and Smetana Hall of the Municipal House in Prague. Petr regularly performs with his brother, Josef Špaček, the concertmaster of the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra.

Josef Špaček was born in the Czech Republic, virtuoso Josef Špacek’s most recent appointment as the youngest ever concert master of the Czech Philharmonic is a testament to his incredible talent. The 25 year-old balances the prestigious role with his flourishing solo career. In 2009, Josef won the Michael Hill International Violin Competition and both Third Prize and the Young People’s Jury Prize in the Carl Nielsen International Violin Competition in 2008. Josef has been guided by some of the most highly regarded pedagogues, including Ida Kavafian and Jaime Laredo at the Curtis Institute of Music and Itzhak Perlman at the Juilliard School.

As a soloist, Josef has appeared with the Philadelphia Orchestra, Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Prague Philharmonia, Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra, Kansas City Symphony, Queensland Symphony Orchestra, Czech Chamber Orchestra, Brno Philharmonic, Bohuslav Martinu Philharmonic and the Russian Chamber Philharmonic.

The winner of the International Radio Competition Concertino Praga, founder of Prague Cello Quartet, soloist with major Czech orchestras, and a student at one of the most prestigious American universities, the New England Conservatory in Boston.