Michal Kaňka - Cello

Biography

Born in Prague in 1960, Michal Kaňka took up the cello under leadership of Mirko Škampa at the age of seven. Later, he studied in the Prague Conservatory under prof. Viktor Moučka (cellist of the famous Vlach string quartet). During his studies at the Prague Academy of Fine Arts – under the tutelage of Prof. Josef Chuchro – he participated in the G. Piatigorsky Seminars in Los Angeles with Andre Navarra, Maurice Gendron and Paul Tortelier in 1983 and 1984.

In 1980, Michal Kaňka received honorable mention at the international Prague Spring Competition. One year later, he was awarded the grand prize for all categories in the Czechoslovak National Competition. This initial success has been followed by top prizes in the Tchaikovsky Cello Competition in Moscow in 1982 and in the Prague Spring Competition in 1983 (first prize). In 1986, Michal won the ARD International Competition in Munich.

Michal Kaňka has performed with leading European orchestras such as the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, the Prague Radio Orchestra, the Bayerischer Rundfunk Orchestra, the West Berlin Rundfunk Orchestra, Liverpool Philharmonic, the Nagoya Phil., the Lausanne Chamber Orchestra, the Prague Chamber Orchestra, the Prague Chamber Philharmonic…He has appeared as a soloist in Germany, Austria, Denmark, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Italy, France, Spain, Portugal, North and South America and Japan. He has been a regular soloist of the Brno Philharmonic Orchestra since 1995 and nominated soloist of The Prague Radio Orchestra since 2003.

Michal Kaňka has recorded for Czech Radio, Radio France, Bayerischer Rundfunk, Hessischer Rundfunk, Suedwest Rundfunk, AVRO Radio Holland…. His CDs were released for Supraphon, Bonton, Panton, Radioservis Prague, Nuova Era (Italy). Now, exclusively for the Praga digitals (distributed by Harmonia Mundi France). His recent recordings: Boccherini – 7 cello sonatas, Mysliveček – 6 cello sonatas (world first recording), Kodaly – compositions for cello. For this recording, he was awarded several prices (Choc de la Music, diapason D´OR), Boccherini – cello sonatas (volume 2), Martinů – small pieces for cello and piano, Beethoven – complete of cello sonatas and variations (CHOC de la Musique). Sonatas by Rachmaninov and Mjaskovskij (diapason D´OR), Rubinstein, Brahms, Chopin, Grieg, Schubert, Franck, Saint-Saëns, Boëllman and Haydn cello concertos, sonatas by M. Weinberg (CHOC du MOI).The releases of the year 2010 are D. Schostakovich and E. Bloch, 2011 – Strauss, Ravel, Tcherepnin.

Michal Kaňka has been an active chamber music player. As a member of the Pražák string quartet and the Beethoven string trio he has appeared on major concert stages in the whole world and recorded many pieces for the CD company Praga digitals.

In 2011 he started to teach cello-solo at the Academy of performing Arts in Prague.

He plays an outstanding instrument made by French violin-maker Christian Bayon 2006 and the bow made by French bow-maker Nicole Descloux 2000.

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