Tisková konference NFMK ve spolupráci s MŠMT a MKČR
Bylo nám velkou ctí přivítat naši zakladatelku Magdalenu Koženou na tiskové konferenci NFMK, která proběhla ve spolupráci s Ministerstvem školství, mládeže a tělovýchovy a Ministerstvem kultury ČR ve čtvrtek 27. března 2025 v sále Ministerstva kultury ČR. Mezi mluvčími vystoupil ministr školství, mládeže a tělovýchovy, doc. PhDr. Mikuláš Bek, Ph.D., náměstek ministra kultury MgA. David Kašpar, ředitelka Nadačního fondu Magdaleny Kožené, MgA. Irena Pohl Houkalová, výkonná ředitelka Asociace základních uměleckých škol a ředitelka ZUŠ Kroměříž, MgA. Ivona Křivánková. Konferenci moderoval generální ředitel České filharmonie, MgA. David Mareček, Ph.D. Tisková konference byla věnována především programu letošního devátého ročníku celorepublikového festivalu ZUŠ Open, který se bude konat až do 6. června. Zahajovací benefiční koncert za přítomnosti Magdaleny Kožené proběhne ve středu 14. května 2025 v kostele sv. Cyrila a Metoděje na Karlínském náměstí.
Pozvánka na festival VOCAL - Noc Zpěvaček
Je nám ctí vás pozvat na třetí ročník hudebního festivalu VOCAL – NOC ZPĚVAČEK. Festival opět představí špičkové vokalistky české a slovenské hudební scény a nabídne i vystoupení mladých talentů ze ZUŠ, které festivalu doporučil Nadační fond Magdaleny Kožené.
Festival zahájí 11. dubna 2025 slavnostní koncert v prestižním pražském Jazz Docku, kde vystoupí významné osobnosti české scény včetně zpěvačky a organizátorky festivalu Petry Ernyei. Koncertní program bude reflektovat rozmanitost ženského vokálního projevu, od jazzu po world music a autorskou tvorbu. Během večera se publikum může těšit také na vystoupení talentované Emilie Bukajové ze ZUŠ Františka Jílka, kterou na její hudební cestě vede pedagog MgA. Petr Šmiřák.
Druhý den festivalu se ponese v komornějším duchu v noblesním prostředí Winternitzovy vily. Kromě etablovaných umělkyň zde dostane prostor i mladý talent Valerie Stojková ze ZUŠ Beroun, žačka pedagožky Renée Nachtigallové, která svou interpretací přinese do festivalu čerstvou energii a osobitý projev.
Součástí obou večerů tak bude i vystoupení nadaných studentek zpěvu ze ZUŠ, které dostanou jedinečnou příležitost zazářit na festivalovém pódiu vedle zkušených profesionálů.
Bližší informace naleznete zde.
Bez předsudků, bez bariér Pozvánka na koncert
Dovolte, abychom vás srdečně pozvali na společný koncert duchovní hudby, na kterém se představí tři pěvecké sbory: Pueri gaudentes, Severáček a Škola Jaroslava Ježka. Koncert se uskuteční v pondělí 7. dubna 2025 od 18 hodin v kostele sv. Jana Nepomuckého, Kanovnická 5/72 na pražských Hradčanech.
Koncert vznikl za podpory Duchovní služby Armády České republiky.
Vstupné dobrovolné.
Rytíři talentu: Zkoušky probíhají na plné obrátky v Pardubicích i v Brně
Neuvěřitelná energie a nadšení žáků a pedagogů ZUŠ z celé České republiky zaplnily v sobotu prostory ZUŠ Pardubice - Polabiny. Spojený orchestr zde pilně nacvičoval na benefiční koncert Rytíři talentu, který 14. května zahájí festival ZUŠ Open a bude jej vysílat Česká televize v přímém přenosu.
Hudební atmosféra však nezůstala jen v Pardubicích. V Brně pokračovaly přípravy na barokní operu Dido a Aeneas, jejíž dokonalé provedení je stále před námi, ale věříme, že nás čeká výjimečný zážitek.
Druhá část pracovní soboty patřila nejen mladým zpěvákům, ale také skvělému Martinu Hrochovi a jeho báječnému týmu z GYMUM a ZUŠ Pavla Křížkovského v Brně, vedenému režisérkou Janou Krajčovicovou.
Další kapitola natáčení s ČT: Bez předsudků, bez bariér
V sobotu 15. března 2025 proběhla v ZUŠ Liberec první zkouška pěveckého sboru Severáček ve spolupráci s dětmi ze Školy Jaroslava Ježka. Hlasový talent a nadšení mladých zpěvaček a zpěváků nás naladily na koncert Rytíři talentu, který v přímém přenosu České televize zahájí letošní festival ZUŠ Open.
Česká televize zde navíc natáčela již třetí medailonek Bez předsudků, bez bariér, který zachycuje propojení talentovaných dětí ze ZUŠ a mladých lidí, jejichž životy ovlivňuje zdravotní handicap. Ze zkoušky bylo patrné, že jim vzájemná spolupráce přináší inspiraci a radost ze společné tvorby.
Nadační fond Magdaleny Kožené s hrdostí podporuje jejich společnou cestu.
Srdečně vás tímto zveme ke sledování přímého přenosu ve středu 14. května ve 20.00 na ČT art.
Support for Artistic Education: Joint Press Conference at Maltese Square
The Magdalena Kožená Foundation, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic, invites you to a press conference on March 27, 2025, at 11:00 AM in the Knight's Hall of the Ministry of Culture in Prague.
The main topic will be "Art Education in the Context of 21st-Century Challenges – ZUŠ as an Example of Inspirational Practice." The discussion will focus on interdisciplinary cooperation between the two ministries and the foundation, aiming to support and develop primary art education in the Czech Republic.
Speakers will include:
- Minister of Education, Youth, and Sports, doc. PhDr. Mikuláš Bek, Ph.D.
- Deputy Minister of Culture, MgA. David Kašpar
- Director of the Magdalena Kožená Foundation, MgA. Irena Pohl Houkalová
- Executive Director of the Association of Primary Art Schools and Director of ZUŠ Kroměříž, MgA. Ivona Křivánková
- Opera singer and founder of the foundation, Magdalena Kožená
The conference will be moderated by MgA. David Mareček, Ph.D., General Director of the Czech Philharmonic.
Last Spots Available for the Clarinet Factory Workshop
The Magdalena Kožená Foundation invites you to an exclusive workshop led by members of the renowned ensemble Clarinet Factory, a group that has crossed genre boundaries for over 30 years. This intensive clarinet laboratory will culminate in performances in Prague as part of the 9th ZUŠ OPEN festival.
4 Clarinetists
4 Creative Workshops
4 Days of Training
4 Intensive Rehearsals
All artistic efforts will culminate in open-air concerts on May 12 in front of the Rudolfinum as part of the Prague Spring Festival opening and on May 14 at Karlínské Square for the ZUŠ OPEN festival opening, where all participants will perform as the Clarinet Factory Orchestra.
For more details and registration, please refer to the attached flyer.
We look forward to seeing you!
First Vocal Rehearsal for Dido a Aeneas opera
Over the weekend, the Dido a Aeneas: The Voice of the Future project began with an intensive full-day rehearsal. Young singers from ZUŠ worked under the guidance of musical director and harpsichordist Martin Hroch, director Jana Tajovská, and a team of educators from GYMUM and ZUŠ Pavla Křížkovského. Language coach Adrian Hundhausen and vocal mentor Irena Pohl Houkalová also contributed to the rehearsal. The project aims to support stylistic interpretation and stage performance in primary art schools. Thank you to all participants for their dedication – the results promise to be outstanding.
Czech Television Recorded the Second Episode: ZUŠ Schools Help!
Czech Television, our main media partner, has produced the second episode in the ZUŠ Schools Help! series, which will be part of the opening concert of ZUŠ Open on May 14, broadcast live on ČT Art.
Students from the visual and dance departments of ZUŠ Rychnov nad Kněžnou have prepared a rich program for Neratov (Bärnwald), a traditional host of artistic showcases. Stay tuned for a unique insight into the world of artistic education.
Preparations for the Benefit Concert Have Begun in Pardubice
On Saturday, February 15, the first rehearsal took place in Pardubice for an orchestra composed of talented students from art schools across the Czech Republic, led by Jiří Kabát, director of the host ZUŠ Pardubice Polabiny.
During the orchestra's training, director Markéta Oddfish Nešlehová and a Czech Television crew recorded the first episode of a three-part series that will be broadcast during the live transmission of the concert. The series includes short recordings of orchestra rehearsal and interviews with guitarist Žofie Danešová and her teacher Tomáš Hradecký from ZUŠ Střezina in Hradec Králové, as well as Jiří Kabát. The talented Žofie will perform a solo part in a Vivaldi piece at the Beneficiary Concert, which will inaugurate the 9th edition of the ZUŠ OPEN festival in the presence of Magdalena Kožená. The concert will be broadcast live on May 14 by Czech Television. We sincerely invite you to join us!
Patron dětí Helps Alongside Us
We thank our partner organization Patron dětí for supporting children and their parents in the environment of primary art schools. If socio-economic circumstances hinder your child or student from developing their talent, do not hesitate to apply for assistance. Applications can be submitted at any time throughout the year.
Schools Can Participate in Joint ZUŠ Open Projects
We are pleased to remind you of the opportunity to participate in major ZUŠ Open events in Prague, as well as other foundation projects. Detailed information and applications can be found at zusopen.cz.
ZUŠ Open 2025
9th edition of the ZUŠ Open festival, May 14 - June 6, 2025
- May 12, 2025 – Festive Opening of the Prague Spring – Festival Overture Open-air program at the opening of the international music festival.
- May 14, 2025 – Open Air at Karlínské Square Accompanying program of the festival's opening concert. Schools are encouraged to participate in a nationwide happening in their home ZUŠ or surroundings to invite audiences to the evening Beneficiary Concert of Magdalena Kožená and ZUŠ.
- May 20, 2025 – Břevnov Monastery Two concerts in the Terezian Hall and an opportunity for outdoor performances.
- May 21, 2025 – Literary and Dramatic Arts Showcase at Werich Villa
- May 31, 2025 – ZUŠ Open in the Senate Nationwide event in the Wallenstein Garden, featuring music, dance, and art workshops.
- June 2, 2025 – National Literary and Dramatic Arts Showcase in Zlín. More info (here)
Other Magdalena Kožená Foundation Projects:
- Clarinet Factory Workshop for Students and Teachers of Prague ZUŠ In collaboration with and financially supported by the Magdalena Kožená Foundation as part of the Knights of Talent project, May 8–11, 2025, at ZUŠ Ilja Hurník.
- Collaboration with Czech Photo
Opportunity to participate in an open-air exhibition as part of the accompanying program for the ceremonial opening concert of Magdalena Kožená and ZUŠ.
Invitation to take part in Czech Nature Photo Junior and Czech Press Photo Junior competitions, along with the Don't Snap, Take Photos workshops.
Looking Back at the Audition for the Baroque Opera Dido and Aeneas
The Magdalena Kožená Foundation is preparing a shortened version of Purcell's opera Dido and Aeneas for 2025. We sincerely thank all the participants and their teachers who attended the audition for solo and choral roles in Brno on January 29, 2025. All performances were powerful and beautiful, and we are grateful for so many talented singers. The opera will be performed on May 25 at the Baroque Theater in Valtice (two performances), on May 29 at the ZUŠ Open festival at the Lysice Chateau, and later on August 18 and 19 at the Summer Music Academy in Kroměříž.
"We are at the beginning, but we already have the most important elements – a great team of creators and mentors, the determination to guide young talented performers to their best achievements, and most importantly, to provide them with a valuable experience they will carry with them for life, no matter where their path leads. And that is the essence of what we strive for. ♥"
Irena Pohl Houkalová, Director of the Magdalena Kožená Foundation
Invitation to the Music Without Borders 2025 Festival
We are delighted to invite you to the 3rd annual Music Without Borders festival, focused on integrating improvisation and original compositions into arts school (ZUŠ) education. This year, the festival will take place in two stages.
The festival is supported by ZUŠ Open, the Magdalena Kožená Foundation, and the Muza Association.
Music Without Borders provides a space for experimental creation by students and teachers, concerts featuring winners of composition competitions, creative methodological sessions, opportunities for sharing inspiration, and support for outstanding figures in the field.
Complete information and registration details can be found here.
Stage 1: March 20–21, 2025
Thursday, March 20, 2025, at 6:00 PM
Concert: "Small/Great Composers Olomouc"
Premiering compositions by students, teachers, and graduates in harmonious collaboration.
📍 Vlastivědné Museum Olomouc, Václav III Hall
Friday, March 21, 2025, 9:00 AM–3:00 PM
Non-competitive Improvisation Showcase for ZUŠ Students in the Czech Republic
📍 Chamber Hall of ZUŠ "Žerotín" Olomouc
Friday, March 21, 2025, at 4:30 PM
"Concert of Young Authors"
Including premieres of compositions by winners of the National Composition Competition Múzy Ilji Hurníka 2025.
📍 Evangelical Academy Conservatory Hall, Olomouc
Stage 2: June 3–4, 2025
Tuesday, June 3, 2025, at 7:00 PM
Concert of Original Works on the Theme "Roots of Music"
The first half will feature premieres of compositions by winners of the National Composition Competition Múzy Ilji Hurníka 2025.
The second half will include performances by festival patron Jiří Pavlica, his guests, and students and teachers of ZUŠ "Žerotín" Olomouc, accompanied by the Iša Krejčí Chamber Orchestra (conductor: Tomáš Klásek).
📍 Grand Hall of the Archbishop’s Palace, Olomouc
Wednesday, June 4, 2025, 9:00 AM–4:00 PM
Workshop on "Roots of Music"
Led by festival patron Jiří Pavlica and his guests for registered participants.
Offer for Students and Teachers of Arts Schools in Prague and the Central Bohemian Region
Clarinet Factory, in collaboration with and with the financial support of the Magdalena Kožená Foundation, offers workshops and seminars for students and teachers of art schools (ZUŠ) in Prague and the Central Bohemian Region as part of the Knights of Talent project by the Magdalena Kožená Foundation.
From May 8–11, 2025, joint rehearsals and preparation of concert repertoires for concerts in May will take place at Ilja Hurník Arts School (ZUŠ). Applications, along with CVs, can be submitted by February 14, 2025, to the following emails: reditelka@nfkozena.cz, zuzana.minarikova@nfkozena.cz
Further details can be found in the attachment.
See the poster for more information.
PF 2025
The Magdalena Kožená Foundation would like to wish you a Merry Christmas, a well-deserved extended holiday, and a successful start to the New Year 2025.
Offer for Young Photographers with Czech Photo
As part of the collaboration with Czech Photo, we bring an opportunity for visual arts students – young photographers to join the accompanying program of the opening concert by Magdalena Kožená and ZUŠ on May 14, 2025. An open-air photo exhibition featuring students from elementary art schools on the theme Life at ZUŠ will be installed in the park at Karlín Square around the Church of St. Cyril and Methodius, where the concert will take place.
In collaboration with Czech Press Photo and ČTK, we are preparing a photographic exhibition that will also serve as a teaser for the joint concert, the ZUŠ Open festival, and give a glimpse into the "behind-the-scenes" of work at ZUŠ. We will have 14 double-sided panels available – the ideal scenario would be to present photos from all 14 regions. The final photos will be 120x100 cm in size. Therefore, it is necessary to submit photos by March 15, 2025, in the largest possible size and resolution – ideally in TIFF or JPG format, with a size between 2–20 MB. The final selection of photos will be made in cooperation with Czech Photo, which will also support some participants through a workshop with one of the leading photographers.
If you are interested, please contact us at: svobodova@zusopen.cz. You can also send photos via Úschovna or another large-file transfer application to this address.
Further details can be found in the attached document here.
NFMK Announces Opera Auditions
The Magdalena Kožená Foundation is announcing an audition for a shortened version of H. Purcell's opera Dido and Aeneas. The performance will take place on Thursday, May 29, 2025, at the ZUŠ Open festival at Lysice Castle and in August 2025 as part of LHAK Kroměříž. In addition to students from elementary art schools, our Knights of Talent—top creators of authentic baroque music interpretation—will participate.
We are looking for young singers from ZUŠ who want to experience this exceptional opportunity!
The audition will be held on two dates: Wednesday, January 29, and Thursday, January 30, 2025, in Brno.
For more information, please visit: https://drive.google.com/.../10GBnoYcl8...
We look forward to seeing you!
Together for Linda
On Thursday, December 12, a benefit Advent concert was held at the Church of the Most Sacred Heart of Our Lord in support of the Patron of Children endowment fund. The event featured performances by the ČSDN Double Reed Ensemble, the EN ARCHÉ chamber choir, and the premiere of the carol Panenka Maria composed by Gabriela Vermelho.
The goal of the benefit concert was to support Linda, a 17-year-old girl born with autism spectrum disorder, who is exceptionally talented at playing the harp. Linda dreams of studying harp at the conservatory, and passing her entrance exam would be a life-changing achievement for her.
You can learn more about her story and contribute to Linda’s journey toward her dream [here].
We thank everyone who was part of this beautiful evening and who continues to help us make a difference.
Special thanks to photographer Petra Hajská for capturing the event’s magic in her wonderful photographs.
NFMK Allocates an Additional CZK 70,000 for Flood Relief
We are pleased to announce that the Magdalena Kožená Endowment Fund (NFMK) will distribute an additional CZK 70,000 from the public collection for flood relief to support elementary art schools affected by the devastating floods.
This brings the total amount allocated for this cause to CZK 370,000 this year. The public collection will remain open for this purpose until December 15, 2024. After this date, the funds will be redirected to new projects and initiatives in support of schools and other activities of the endowment fund.
Collaboration with Prague Sounds
We are honored that, as part of the collaboration with Prague Sounds, two talented students from ZUŠ Jižní Město and ZUŠ Králíky had the opportunity to perform at the concert on December 4, 2024, at Žofín Palace in Prague. This was an invaluable experience and opportunity for them.
Photography: Petr Šola
Invitation to Advent Concerts Under the Patronage of NFMK
This year, the Magdalena Kožená Endowment Fund (NFMK) has once again prepared a series of Advent concerts to mark the end of the year, and we warmly invite you to join us:
- December 10: Students and teachers from elementary art schools in South Bohemia and Prague will perform at the Church of St. Francis Xavier in Opařany, bringing joy and hope to the clients and staff of the Opařany Children’s Psychiatric Hospital.
- December 12: A benefit concert titled “Knights of Talent for the Patron of Children” will take place at the Church of the Most Sacred Heart of Our Lord in Prague. The program will feature more than 50 students specializing in double reed instruments, performing alongside members of the Czech Philharmonic. Proceeds from voluntary donations will go to support the Patron of Children charity project. For more information, visit www.patrondeti.cz.
- December 14: In collaboration with the Neratov Association, we cordially invite you to the traditional Advent concert in Neratov. The concert, featuring students and teachers from elementary art schools in the Hradec Králové Region and Prague, will be held in the Pilgrimage Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary.
Ryba’s Czech Christmas Mass: A Generational Gathering
We are pleased to invite you to a wonderful concert on December 11 and 12, 2024, starting at 7:30 PM, held in the Atrium Hall of the Imperial Spa in Karlovy Vary. The stage will bring together musicians from the Karlovy Vary Symphony Orchestra and students from the Karlovy Vary Elementary School and Elementary Art School.
This year’s beloved Rybovka stems from a longstanding collaboration between the orchestra and the school. Over the years, the children have repeatedly performed with the KSO during events such as the City Evenings for the Spa Season Opening, open-air concerts at Rolava, and multiple editions of ZUŠ Open, including this year’s joint performance at the Wallenstein Garden. These collaborations have involved not only shared performances by the orchestras but also KSO’s accompaniment of soloists, choirs, and dancers from the school.
The Karlovy Vary Elementary School and Elementary Art School have presented Rybovka for several years now, with the school orchestra under the baton of Marek Rothbauer (a teacher at the school and the KSO’s principal bassoonist), supporting soloists from among the students. The choir features school faculty members under the direction of Miroslava Lendělová.
Given the exceptional quality of these performances, the KSO decided to organize this year’s Rybovka in collaboration with the school. KSO musicians will join the students in the orchestra, with several members (including Chief Conductor Ondřej Vrabec and Director Michaela Káčerková) also strengthening the choir. Parents of some of the students will sing alongside the choir this year. The solo parts will be performed by the school’s students, creating a multi-generational ensemble on stage.
This unique blend of youthful enthusiasm and energy with the experience of professional musicians promises to offer the audience an extraordinary experience.
The concert will open with special guests:
- 7-year-old violinist Julie Vrabec, performing the third movement of Oskar Riedinger’s Violin Concerto in B Minor, Op. 35.
- Fiona Žáková, presenting Georg Wilhelm Weissman’s Pastorella for Bagpipes and Orchestra, a rare treat in classical music concerts.
Program:
- Oskar Riedinger: Violin Concerto in B Minor, Op. 35, 3rd movement
- ○ Julie Vrabec – Violin
- Georg Wilhelm Weissman: Pastorella for Bagpipes and Orchestra
- ○ Fiona Žáková – Bagpipes
- Jakub Jan Ryba: Czech Christmas Mass
- ○ Klára Whitney – Soprano
- ○ Lucie Albrechtová – Alto
- ○ Jan Marek – Tenor
- ○ Vojtěch Přiklopil – Bass
Performers:
- Orchestra: Musicians from the Karlovy Vary Elementary School and Elementary Art School and the Karlovy Vary Symphony Orchestra
- Choir: Faculty of the Karlovy Vary Elementary School and Elementary Art School, parents of the students, and members of the Karlovy Vary Symphony Orchestra
- Conductor: Marek Rothbauer
- Choirmaster: Miroslava Lendělová
Invitation to the Advent Benefit Concert on December 12
The Magdalena Kožená Endowment Fund and the Czech Association of Double Reed Instruments warmly invite you to the Advent Benefit Concert, taking place on Thursday, December 12, 2024, at 8:00 PM in the church Nejsvětějšího Srdce Páně in Vinohrady.
The performers include musicians from the Czech Philharmonic, students and teachers from elementary art schools, the ČSDN Double Reed Ensemble, "Dobrotón," ZUŠ Jana Hanuše, and the mixed choir En Arché, conducted by Vojtěch Jouza.
The program will feature works by A. V. Michna of Otradovice, selections from the Benešov and Steier hymnals, G. F. Handel, T. Františ, G. Vermelho, and other composers.
Admission is by voluntary donation, with proceeds benefiting the Patron of Children charity project – www.patrondeti.cz.
The concert is held with the kind support of the Roman Catholic Parish at the church Nejsvětějšího Srdce Páně.
NFMK Allocates CZK 300,000 for Flood Relief
The Magdalena Kožená Endowment Fund promptly responded to the needs of elementary art schools (ZUŠ) affected by the floods by organizing benefit concerts and launching a public fundraiser to assist the schools, their teachers, and students.
The public fundraiser was initiated on October 18, 2024, with the support of the Czech Philharmonic during Magdalena Kožená’s autumn concerts at Prague’s Rudolfinum.
The fund supported the first applicants with a total of CZK 300,000. This financial assistance comprises the Endowment Fund’s own resources and contributions from the public collection. The current aid is directed toward the reconstruction of ZUŠ Krnov, ZUŠ Bohumín, and ZUŠ Jeseník, as well as the repair of instruments for teachers at ZUŠ Opava and ZUŠ Bohuslav Martinů in Havířov.
You can still contribute by transferring funds to account number 8462353018/2700, variable symbol: 2, with the note “POVODNE.” Alternatively, you can use the QR code below.
Thank you for helping us make a difference!
Saint Martin’s Concert by ZUŠ Hořice for Flood Relief
On Monday, November 11, 2024, ZUŠ Hořice organized a Saint Martin’s Concert. During the event, CZK 15,174 was raised to support elementary art schools affected by the recent devastating floods.
Special thanks go to Principal Blanka Bihelerová for her efforts in organizing this concert and for raising funds that will help some of the smaller ZUŠ schools that were severely impacted by this year's floods.
Collaboration with Czech Photo
The Magdalena Kožená Endowment Fund has partnered with Czech Photo to support young talents in photography from elementary art schools. Together, they will create opportunities for students and their teachers, enabling them to develop their skills through projects and workshops. 
Public Fundraiser for Flood-Affected Schools
Fundraiser Closed on December 15, 2024
The devastating floods affecting elementary art schools prompted the Magdalena Kožená Endowment Fund to organize benefit concerts and a public fundraiser, in collaboration with the Czech Philharmonic and the schools themselves. The first beneficiaries received a total of CZK 300,000 for reconstruction and equipment repair. Contributions can still be made to account 8462353018/2700, variable symbol 2, with the note "POVODNE."
Thank you for your generosity.
Magdalena Kožená Endowment Fund Welcomes a New Director
Symbolically, on the day of Magdalena Kožená's performance at Prague's Rudolfinum, the Endowment Fund's Board of Trustees appointed Irena Pohl Houkalová as its new director on October 18, 2024. Irena has been leading the ZUŠ Open festival since its inception and managing various artistic and educational projects. A graduate in classical singing from HAMU Prague and a teacher at an Elementary Art School, she brings a wealth of experience to the role.
Biography
Irena Pohl Houkalová studied at the Faculty of Education at Charles University and continued her singing studies at HAMU Prague and the Karlsruhe University of Music. She is a laureate of the Antonín Dvořák International Singing Competition and a recipient of awards from Czech Radio, the Jarmila Novotná Society, the Bohuslav Martinů Foundation, and others. She has performed as a soloist in numerous productions and at several international festivals in the Czech Republic and abroad. Her repertoire includes many premieres of vocal works, and she has recorded several song cycles for Czech Radio.
She has collaborated on historically informed performances with ensembles such as Collegium 1704, Collegium Marianum, and Capella Regia Musicalis. She also focuses on interpreting song and chamber music with various instrumentalists, including prominent Czech pianist Karel Košárek.
Since 2008, she has been professionally dedicated to managing cultural and educational projects and teaching. She was a long-standing team member of the Strings of Autumn Festival and was also involved with the Dvořák’s Prague Festival. Since 2024, she serves as the director of the Magdalena Kožená Endowment Fund, where she has lead the nationwide ZUŠ Open Festival since its inception in 2016. For eight years, she also worked on building the MenART Scholarship Academy, leading its classical music section.
She teaches singing at the Pštrossova Elementary Art School in Prague and is a sought-after instructor. For many years, she was part of the creative team of the Strings for Children festival. Through her work at the Magdalena Kožená Endowment Fund and her artistic and educational activities, she emphasizes the importance of art and arts education, highlighting its role in fostering solidarity, social sensitivity, and the development of artistic talent in children and youth, regardless of potential health or social disadvantages.
She is also a frequent performer and initiator of benefit concerts and artistic projects supporting those in need. She collaborates with organizations such as Caritas Czech Republic, the Neratov Association, the Girls' Catholic Secondary School, Women’s and Girls’ Counseling Centers, and other non-profits. She is an honorary member of the Czech section of INSEA, serves on the Education Committee of the Prague City Council, and is a member of several school boards.
In 2022, she was responsible for curating a presentation of the unique Czech ZUŠ (Elementary Art Schools) system at the European Parliament, marking the end of the Czech EU Council Presidency.
General Assembly of the Association of Elementary Art Schools
On October 17, 2024, the General Assembly of the Association of Elementary Art Schools was held in Ostrava. The Magdalena Kožená Endowment Fund has been a professional partner of the Association since its inception. Representing the Endowment Fund, Director Irena Pohl Houkalová presented the fund’s new concept and updates on preparations for the upcoming ZUŠ Open festival. We are honored to support artistic education and talent development.