Jan Míšek, Artistic director of BONIFANTES Boys Choir
Jan Míšek (born 1976) gained his first choirmaster experience by leading the preparatory section of Boni pueri. His professors of conducting were Professor Jiří Skopal (University of Hradec Králové) and Doctor Vlastislav Novák (Conservatory Pardubice). He is a graduate of several Master classes (prof. Gert Frischmuth, Gábor Hollerung, prof. Friedrich Krell, Robert Sund, prof. Jerry Jordan, Petr Vronský) including Masterclasses under Bachakademie Stuttgart with prof. Helmuth Rilling.
He went on to found the choir at the J. K. Tyl Grammar School in 1993 and then took his place at the head of the Kantiléna Chamber Choir, before prompting the establishment of the Hradec Králové Male Chorus. He lived his greatest dream and founded the BONIFANTES Boys Choir in Pardubice in 1999. In spite of his youth, Jan Míšek has been presented with a number of awards for outstanding conducting performance. He and his choirs have won dozens of gold medals (for example, with the Hradec Králové Male Chorus at the 1st World Choir Olympics in Linz, Austria) at various international competitions. Jan Míšek is artistic director of a professional ensemble CZECH SOLOIST CONSORT.
Jan Míšek is also involved in composing activities. As a composer, he attended International Summer Music Academy in Michelstadt with prof. Jan Jirásek and prof. Ofer Ben-Amots. He won the 2nd Prize at Joseph Dorman Int. Composer’s Competition. The Union of Czech Choirs awarded him the “Junior Choirmaster” prize in 2003. Jan Míšek is also editor-in-chief and intellectual father of the project SBOR.CZ, a Czech choral Association. He has been acknowledged by experts for his interpretation of 20th century music (e.g. Shostakovich: Symphony Nr. 13 „Babij Jar“, Rutter: Gloria) and for historically authentic interpretation of baroque music (e.g. Handel: Judas Maccabaeus, Bach: Matthäus Passion).
