PMCP Mission and Projects
The Premiere Music College of Prague (PMCP) is an organisation closely linked to the Grammar and Music School of the Capital City of Prague (GMHS), a prestigious Prague classical music institution. It gathers excellent Czech music teachers who have experience with music interpretation on concert stages all over the world and whose pedagogical work is highly appreciated by professional critics.
The misson of PMCP is to offer students a systematic education programm which will prepare them for entrance exams to music high school, conservatories and colleges all around the world. The graduates of PMCP teachers perform in Prague’s best concert halls and are invited to work with orchestras such as the Czech Philharmonic, Prague Symphony Orchestra – FOK, or the PKF – Prague Philharmonia. They often continue their studies at reputable music academies abroad and become members of the world’s best orchestras, such as the Czech Philharmonic, the Vienna Philharmonic, Semperoper Dresden and others.
The activities of PMCP are based on long-term successful study experience made by gifted pupils and students. While continuously working through and checking the study plan, successful graduates may apply for further classical music studies at prestigious Czech and European universities.
People in PMCP
Jakub WALDMANN
Director of PMCP
Mr. Waldmann graduated from Music Faculty of Academy of Performing Arts in Prague, specializing in double bass play. He was a member of the Orchestra of the National Theatre, Suk Chamber Orchestra and for a period of 20 years he was a member of Czech Philharmonic Orchestra in the double bass section. In the years 1989 – 1997 he was the president of the Union of the Orchestral Musicians in the Czech Republic and the Chairman of Intergram, an Independent Society of Performers and Producers. In 2002 he became the Director of the Czech Chamber Orchestra and he also started his pedagogical work at the Prague Secondary School of Music (GMHS) where he became a Deputy Headteacher, a position he holds to this day. Currently he is a member of the World Orchestra for Peace, chaired by a conductor Valery Gergiev.
As a teacher he has participated in many Interpretative courses. Some of his former students are now studying at European universities (e.g. Frankfurt, Manchester, Linz) and are members of orchestras all over the world.
In 2012 he founded a society Premiere Music College of Prague (PMCP) that in association with GMHS as an artistic patron, offers a top music education.
Riad KUDSI
Director of Emirates
Youth Symphony Orchestra
A Czech National of Syrian origin, Mr. Kudsi began learning violin from his father at the age of seven. He then joined the National Conservatory of Aleppo, Syria, to become one of its most promising violinists; thus nominated for a full scholarship to continue his music studies at the Prague Conservatory, for which he gave up his studies in civil engineering. Mr. Kudsi studied at the National Conservatory in Prague from 1970 to 1974 and continued his studies at the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague, where he received Masters of Art degree in 1979 with distinction, specializing in violin.
Since moving to the UAE in 1986, Mr. Kudsi has been contributing towards the development of the musical culture through teaching, practical training for his established Emirates Youth Symphony Orchestra (EYSO) in 1993, and organizing cultural and charitable concerts and classical music festivals.
In 2004, he initiated the Emirates International Peace Music Festival for Young Virtuosos. In 2009 established The National Conservatory in Dubai Media City; accredited and certified by the Premier Music College of Prague.
Mr. Kudsi received several local and international awards and certificates of appreciation. Awarded the “Gratis Agit Award Laureates” from the Foreign Ministry of the Czech Republic in appreciation of supporting Charity and Peace through Classical music. Awarded TECOM Chairman’s award by Dubai Media City in recognition of his valuable contribution to promoting UAE music culture
Iva RAKOVÁ
Manager, pianist
Iva is alumnus of Grammar and Music School of the Capital City of Prague (GMHS) which is closely linked to PMCP and started working for PMCP in 2014. She works both as a music manager and a pianist.
Iva studied piano, chamber music and music management at the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague (HAMU) and obtained her another MA from International Cultural Studies at universities in Olomouc, CZ (Palacký University), Göttingen, Germany (Georg-August Universität) and Mexico City (UNAM). From 2011 to 2016 Iva worked as a manager of the Czech Philharmonic Children`s Choir, one of the most significant Czech artistic collectives.
From 2015 Iva has been working as accompanist and pedagogue at the GMHS. At the same time, she performs with her piano trio Belle Trio, cooperates as chamber pianist and accompanist with different artists and ensembles and helps managing various cultural events throughout Czech Republic as well as abroad.
Our pedagogues
Zdeněk MANN
Violin
Zdeněk Mann began playing the violin at the age of eight in music school in Pardubice, Czech Republic, and continued his studies at local conservatory with Petr Zdvihal. At the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague he studied in the class of Václav Snítil. Under his guidance, he not only gained an excellent education regarding interpretation of solo compositions, but he also developed his close relationship to chamber music, of which his teacher was both an excellent connoisseur and performer.
In 1989 he won the audition for the the first violinist post in the Suk Chamber Orchestra, at that time under the artistic leadership of the world famous violinist Josef Suk, the grandson of the famous Czech composer and violinist Josef Suk, and the great-grandson of Antonín Dvořák. In the 1990´s the ensemble made a successful tour of Japan and western Europe.
At the beginning of 1994 Mr. Mann began to suffer from tendon inflammation in both of his hands, which subsequently forced him to give up performing for a period of nine years. However, it gave rise to his successful teaching career. He has been teaching at the Premier Music College in Prague since 1994 and has become a regarded teacher. His pupils and students regularly participate in various home competitions and have won numerous prizes. After their graduation from the Premier Music College in Prague, many of his students went on to study either at conservatories or universities with music study programs.
After his recovery, Mr. Mann, along with his pedagogical career, began to devote himself to performing chamber music again. He is a member of the Czech Chamber Orchestra and has performed with the ensemble both in the Czech Republic and abroad.
Marie FUXOVÁ
Violin
Marie Fuxová drew attention to herself already as a child, winning the first prize at the “Jaroslav Kocian International Competition“ and “National Competition of Elementary schools in the Czech Republic“ and when still only sixteen years of age, distinguishing herself at the “Beethoven International Competition“. She became absolute winner at the “Competition of Conservatories of the Czech Republic“ and winner at the „Bohuslav Martinů Competition in Praque.“
After having begun violin l
essons with her mother (member of Janacek Philharmonic orchestra) at the age of six, Marie Fuxová frequented the music school in her hometown, Ostrava. She when entered the class of Irena Vítková at the Janaček Conservatory in Ostrava, Czech Republic. She continued in her studies in the Academy of Performing Arts in Praque at the violin class of Ivan Štraus where she received her diploma.
Marie Fuxová had taken participations in several master courses (Meadowmount School of Music, Internationale Sommerakademie Prag-Wien-Budapest...) and studied with M. Frischenschlager, Ch. Avsharian, S. Ships, R. Ricci, E. Perenyi, V. Hudeček and F. Novotný
She was member of Pavel Haas quartet in years 2007, 2008. Tour dates included appearances at the Vienna Konzerthaus, Salzburg Mozarteum, Amsterdam Concertgebouw, Palais des Beaux-Arts, Brussels, Cité de la Musique, Paris, Berlin Philharmonie, Stockholm Konserthuset, Wigmore Hall, London, Carnegie Hall, New York and others.
She recorded CD with Pavel Haas Quartet, which won the 2009 MIDEM Classical Award in the chamber music category in Cannes.
Eva HUTYROVÁ
Piano
She belongs to the performers – pianists of the young generation who are interested in classical music but at the same time who look at the context of contemporary music.
She manifested her unique style at the graduation concert by which she graduated from the Conservatory in Brno. She performed the Concert for Piano and Strings by Jan Novák with the Moravian Chamber Orchestra in the Meeting House (Besední dům) in Brno. Then she continued her studies at the Prague Academy of Performing Arts in the class of Emil Leichner.
She expanded her interpretive skills and knowledge by the participation in several international piano courses led by Pierre Jasmin, Walter Groppenberger, Eugen Indjic, Avo Kouyoumdjian, etc.
During her studies she participated in many competitions, e.g. Concertino Praga (3rd prize), Competition of Conservatories (2nd prize), Smetana International Piano Competition, Bohuslav Martinů Foundation Interpretation Competition, etc.
She is a popular chamber musician, performing both in the Czech Republic (the Moravian Autumn Festival, the Prague Spring, Prague Days of Contemporary Music, Forfest) and abroad (Austria, Germany, Slovakia, France, Ukraine, USA and others).
She has collaborated with the chamber ensemble Konvergence since 2005 and during that time she has carried out a number of solo and chamber compositions in Czech or world premieres. Her playing features high precision and emphasis on sound balance that is closely related to understanding of the performed work as a whole.
During her studies at the Academy of Music she founded The Fortyfingers Quartet together with her piano classmates. They try to introduce child audience to the world of classical music in an entertaining way.
She regularly records for the Czech Radio and the Czech Television.
Eva SUCHÁNKOVÁ
Piano
Eva Suchánková studied piano play at the Conservatoire in Pardubice in the piano class of Martina Maixnerova and after that at the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague in the piano class of Boris Krajny. She finished her Master’s degree in June 2015 and currently continues her Ph.D. studies at the Charles University in Prague in the field of Piano Teaching. She teaches the piano at the Charles University in Prague and runs her own international Piano Studio in Prague.
During her studies she participated in many piano competitions, such as the International Janacek Piano Competition in Brno (semifinal), International Chopin Piano Competition in Hungary, Smetana International Piano Competition in Pilsen (4th place). She excels in chamber music. She won the 1st prize at the International Schubert Piano Competition (piano duo), 2nd prize at the Art Duo International Competition (piano duo), 2nd prize at the Bohuslav Martinu Competition (violin+piano). She expanded her knowledge and interpretative skills by attending piano masterclass led by renowned Czech pianists and teachers Ivan Klansky, Jan Jirasky, Alena Vlasakova and others. In 2014 she studied at the Hochschule fur Musik Karlsruhe, Germany, in the piano class of Sontraud Speidel. She regularly performs in Czech Republic and devotes her time to teaching the piano. For five years now, she is the leader of the piano department at the summer music academy for young musicians, the international Czech Music Camp for Youth (CMCY).
Martina SPIRITOVÁ
Music Theory
Martina Spiritová studied at the Faculty of Arts, Charles University, Prague. She is a graduate of Choral Conducting at the Pedagogical Faculty, Charles University, Prague, where she is a doctorant student currently. She has been the choir master of several choirs, such as a semi-professional choir VOKS and a university mixed choir Musica Oeconomica Pragensis. With her choirs she performs regularly in the Czech Republic nad abroad. She has also recorded numerous recordings for the Czech Radio and CDs, for example A Little Jazz Mass by Bob Chilcott or Time of Christmas by Antonín Tučapský.
Martina Spiritová is also interested in music pedagogy. She works with various age groups of musicians, currently she is teaching at the Faculty of Arts (Charles University) in Prague. She is also creating new teaching approaches, namely at Jan Palach High School. Moreover she is testing the effectiveness of alternative teaching styles of music at Jan Kepler High School in Prague within her doctoral thesis. She uses innovative teaching approaches such as a mobilizing method, but she also uses games and activities for better concentration of her students.
Among other music acitivities belong singing - she is a member of Ensamble Hilaris (8-member choir) which is focused on renaissance and baroque music, and music management – she cooperates with Swiss foundation Animato which supports young artists.