KKFF Opens the World to Young Talents: Promising Czech Pianists Shine in London

International experience plays an irreplaceable role in the development and professional future of talented young artists. Every hour spent with a skilled mentor and every performance in a new environment helps them refine their technique, build confidence, and develop a distinctive artistic expression. With this in mind, and with the shared ambition to organise an exceptional cultural event within the Made in Prague festival, the KKFF and Czech Centres decided to invite the five promising pianists to London.

Their visit reflects the foundation’s long‑term strategy to improve the quality of arts education in the Czech Republic. This is made possible through the KKFF scholarship programme Pianos for Schools – We Cheer for Talents, which provides not only continuous financial and mentoring support for young musicians but also special opportunities such as concerts and targeted educational programmes, including masterclasses.

“If you want to gain experience that will take you several levels higher, go out into the world with our foundation. Our masterclasses take place at a prestigious music school under the guidance of top professors, including Ian Fountain and Christopher Elton. Combined with the opportunity to perform before an international audience, they give our scholarship holders a unique chance for further artistic growth. I’m delighted that after last year’s success in Vienna and Brussels, we could once again, with the support of Czech Centre London, present young Czech talents in London,” said Tereza Sobotová, KKFF Programme Manager.

“This year’s 29th edition of the Made in Prague festival focused on creative freedom, innovation, and talent. I’m therefore delighted that London audiences had the chance to experience exceptional young Czech pianists at a fully packed concert at the Royal Academy of Music,” added Přemysl Pela, Director of the Czech Centre London.

The concert, aptly titled Future Tones, featured works by Ludwig van Beethoven, Frédéric Chopin, Leoš Janáček, Igor Stravinsky, and others. All participating young artists already have a remarkable list of achievements and performances to their names.

Successes of the performing young musicians

Jan Schulmeister (19) is the youngest heir to a family musical tradition spanning sixteen generations. His notable achievements have brought him to perform with Czech orchestras under distinguished conductors. Jan collaborates with the Wihan Quartet and performs both solo and with ensembles at home and abroad. His greatest success to date is the 3rd place at the renowned Cliburn International Piano Competition held in June 2023 in Dallas.

Adam Znamirovský (15) began playing the piano spontaneously at the age of four and has been collecting awards at national and international competitions since the age of seven. He is regarded as one of the most outstanding Czech pianists under fifteen. Among his notable performances is Rachmaninoff’s Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini with the Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra under Elias Grandy at the Dvořák Hall of the Rudolfinum. At the Verbier Festival Academy, he received The Edwin Caplin Foundation Award for the most successful students.

Nora Lubbadová (16) is widely recognised as one of the most promising young piano talents in the Czech Republic. She has performed solo both at home and abroad, including in Helsinki, Belgrade, and Kragujevac. Nora became a laureate of the Concertino Praga competition, where she gave a brilliant performance of Grieg’s Piano Concerto at the Dvořák Hall of the Rudolfinum. She also gained attention in the finals of the Showcase competition, where she successfully performed Mozart’s Piano Concerto at the Church of St. Simon and St. Jude.

Magdaléna Kovářová (13) began achieving success at major festivals and concert venues at the age of eight. She has performed at Prague’s Rudolfinum and New York’s Carnegie Hall. Her accolades include first prize at the Debussy International Music Competition and victory at the Irvine International Music Competition. In addition to solo performances, she has appeared at the Prague Spring Festival, Smetana’s Litomyšl, and the Leoš Janáček International Music Festival.

Valentýna Ibriqi (13) has in recent years won first prizes at competitions such as the Smetana International Piano Competition, the Peter Toperczer Competition in Košice, Broumovská klávesa, the Franz Liszt Competition, and Amadeus Competition. She has also been successful at prestigious showcases such as Virtuosi per Musica di Pianoforte, Golden Piano Talents, and Merci Maestro in Belgium. Her performances are repeatedly praised by juries for her exceptional interpretative ability and artistic maturity.

About Future Tones

The Future Tones concert in London is part of the 29th edition of the multi‑genre festival Made in Prague. Organised annually by the Czech Centre London, it is the largest showcase of Czech culture in the United Kingdom. For the 29th time, the five‑week festival offers audiences a rich programme connecting music and literature with theatre, visual arts, and contemporary film. The full programme of the festival is available here.

 

Photo: Future Tones – Young Talent, Made in Prague festival, Jan Pavelka