Pianist Marek Kozák has become the seventh recipient of the Jiří Bělohlávek Prize for artists under thirty. He received the award during the Open Air concert at Hradčanské Square in Prague. The concert marked the end of the Czech Philharmonic’s 129th season and was conducted by Dalia Stasevska.
Warmest congratulations!
“I’m truly delighted to be this year’s recipient of the Jiří Bělohlávek Prize, and I deeply appreciate this honour. I’m sorry I can’t express my thanks in person this evening – right now, I’m about 250 kilometres away from Hradčanské Square, at the Gewandhaus in Leipzig, where I’m performing in a concert with conductor Jakub Hrůša. He, now a world-renowned conductor, was one of Jiří Bělohlávek’s most successful students. I see it as a symbolic coincidence,”
said Marek Kozák in a video message. His fiancée, bassoonist Denisa Beňovská accepted the award on his behalf.
Marek Kozák is one of the most outstanding pianists of the young generation. He is known for his technical precision, refined sense of musical form, and deep respect for the works of the composers he performs. He is a laureate of several prestigious international competitions – including the Géza Anda Competition in Zurich, the Busoni Competition in Bolzano, and the Prague Spring – and regularly performs with leading Czech and international orchestras. In the 2024/25 season, he is scheduled to appear with the Moravian Philharmonic Orchestra Olomouc, the Prague Symphony Orchestra, and the Slovak Philharmonic, among others.
In addition to his solo career, he is also an active chamber musician and collaborates with top Czech artists, such as soprano Simona Šaturová and cellists Václav Petr and Vilém Vlček. His interest in lesser-known repertoire led to the release of a successful album, Forgotten Czech Piano Concertos (Supraphon 2024), featuring works by Karel Kovařovic, Vítězslava Kaprálová, and Pavel Bořkovec. Marek Kozák graduated from the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague (HAMU), where he studied under Ivan Klánský, and he also works as a teacher.
The Jiří Bělohlávek Prize includes an invitation to perform at the Czech Philharmonic’s next Open Air concert and a financial award of CZK 50,000, donated by the Jiří Bělohlávek Fund under the Czech Phil Foundation. The prize was presented on stage by Anna Fejérová, wife of the late chief conductor of the Czech Philharmonic. Marek Kozák also received a diploma in the form of an original print created by painter Jiří Voves.
Congratulations!
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