Czech composers have achieved significant success in the OSA and Composers Summit Prague international competition
The OSA-sponsored composers' competition, which attracted more than 125 participants, has its winners. The first places in the international competition were won by young composers living in the Czech Republic. They are Michal Worek, Aliaksandr Yasinski and Jan Vaněk. The creator of this year's assignment was a representative of Paramount, Matthew-Hearon Smith, and the jury included prominent Hollywood composers such as Conrad Pope, Nan Schwartz and Hollywood composer of Czech origin Elia Cmíral. The first-prize winner, Michal Worek, received a cheque for CZK 30,000 from the OSA as the main prize. He received it from Ondřej Soukup and Elia Cmíral during the gala concert that opened the Prague Composers' Summit at the Municipal House on 18 April. All three also performed at the Talented Composers Showcase alongside other talented artists in front of representatives of renowned companies such as Paramount, Sony Interactive Entertainment and Radish Music.
In the first half of March this year, in cooperation with the organisers of the Composers Summit Prague and OSA, an international composers' competition was held in which 125 composers from Europe, Asia and North America took part. In addition to a prize of CZK 30,000 from OSA for the main winner and participation in the Talented Composers Showcase for the first two finalists, the three winners also received prizes from Orchestral Tools worth a total of CZK 60,000.
The success of composers living in the Czech Republic, Michal Worek, Aliaksandr Yasinsky and Jan Vanek, was significant in this year's competition, as they took the top three places despite strong competition from foreign entrants. The first prize went to Michal Worek, a composer and pianist who has worked with Ewa Farna, Pavel Šporcl, David Deyl and Fernand Saunders, among others. He considers his greatest success to be having satisfied clients, regardless of the prestige or size of the commission: "Whether it's 20 orchestral arrangements for David Deyl and SOČR, film arrangements for live performance at the Soundtrack Festival or a simple piano accompaniment to a children's song, I manage to make everyone happy, and that makes me very happy". The announcement of his win took him by surprise, but he was delighted. "I read the announcement of my win the morning after I woke up, so I didn't know if I was still asleep or awake. It was a big surprise for me and it took a while for all the connections to sink in. I was very happy, but at the same time I felt a certain responsibility and such a pleasant nervousness about what might follow."
Roman Strejček, Chairman of the OSA Management Board, was enthusiastic the success of Czech composers. "We are very proud of our Czech composers whose talent and hard work have been recognised in such a prestigious international forum. Their success not only raises the profile of Czech creativity on a global level, but also shows how Czech talent and tradition can inspire and enrich the global music scene."
Contact us for more information:
Šárka Jančíková
T: +420 606 095 999
E: sarka.jancikova@osa.cz
