Kutna Hora International Music Festival

Tickets

General Partners:

• Philip Morris ČR, a.s.
• Silnice Čáslav
• Město Kutná Hora
• Ministerstvo kultury ČR

Partners:

• SVS spol. s r.o. - tiskárna
• Hotel Opat

• PETROF spol. s r.o. - výrobce a prodejce pianin a klavírů
• Základní umělecká škola v Kutné Hoře
• Průvodcovská služba KH
• Cartel Publicité
• Vinné sklepy Kutná Hora

Jiří Žigmund

(CZ)

1966

viola

Unlike Jan Schulmeister, Jiri's family had no background in music.. Born in 1966, he lived in Ostrava, Moravia where he started to play the violin at the age of five. At the local conservatoire, his love of chamber music was developed, playing Piano Trios and doing well in many competitions in Czechoslovakia. On joining the army, he jumped at the chance of playing the viola instead, as there was a shortage due to two viola players falling ill. At the first rehearsal he borrowed a viola from a friend and asked how to read the Alto Clef. He insists that he still does not know how to read it.

He will happily play his violin in an impromptu session of gypsy music or klezmer after a chamber music concert. Jiri is an inspiring teacher and does not hesitate to illustrate a point by dancing round the room.

Jiri Zigmund's viola is a 1659 Andrea Hieronymus Amati, on permanent loan from the Czech State collection.