The Jiří Bělohlávek Award began its tradition in 2019 and now has its fifth winner. The twenty-five-year-old cellist Vilém Vlček received the award during this year's final concert of the season, which was presented by Anna Fejérová, the wife of the late chief conductor of the Czech Philharmonic.
"When we thought about how best to remember Jiří Bělohlávek, the open-air concert was the clear winner for its relaxed atmosphere and also for its connection with the young soloists that Jiří Bělohlávek supported throughout his life. And so we are dedicating the open-air concert to the memory of Jiří Bělohlávek and it will also be associated with an award bearing his name."
— David Mareček, General Director of the Czech Philharmonic
The award is presented to young Czech artists under the age of thirty who have achieved extraordinary success in their field and who are upholding the tradition of Czech music at home and abroad. Vilém Vlček has been studying at the Musik-Akademie Basel since 2018. As a soloist, he performs with a number of orchestras including the Czech Philharmonic, the FOK Prague Symphony Orchestra, the Lucerne Symphony Orchestra and the Kaunas State Philharmonic.
The award includes a performance at the next Open Air concert of the Czech Philharmonic, where Vilém Vlček will perform Antonín Dvořák's Rondo in G minor under the baton of Petr Altrichter. This year's prize money of CZK 30,000 was donated by Jan Stejskal and Jan Král, members of the Czech Philharmonic's Dynamic Club of donors. Vilém Vlček was also presented with a diploma in the form of a graphic print by the painter Jiří Voves, a close friend of Jiří Bělohlávek.
Congratulations!
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