biography

By Magazine Music Opinion 2/2007, England was described as one of the finest Czech guitar ists - studied at the Brno Conservatoire with Arnost Sadlik before going to the F.Liszt College of Music in Weimar , Germany, where he graduated as a student of Roland Zimmer . In 2004 he received Doctor of Arts degree after study on the Academy of Music in Bratislava , Slovakia. In 2009 he got docent of guitar on Janacek Academy of Music, Brno. Masterclasses with Costas Cotsiolis, Abel Carlevaro and, with the aid of British Council Fellowship, study in England with Gordon Crosskey (Royal Northern College of Music) and John W.Duarte in London completed his formal learning.

Winner in four international guitar competitions: Volos /Greece, Esztergom /Hungary, Kutna Hora /Czech Republic and Markneukirchen /Germany. He received medale bronze in Radio France International Competition in Paris .

Twentyseven composers from 16 countries have been so inspired by Blaha's performances, that they have dedicated works to him ( J.W.Duarte : Moraviana, N.Koshkin : Usher Waltz, J.Morel: Recuerdos de un viaje , F.Kleynjans: Tango de Marchastel, C.Cardosso, M.Tesar, A.Tucapsky, M.Stedron etc).

Concerts and Recordings: Blaha has given concerts in prestigious halls in 35 countries of Europe, Asia, Latin America in addition to U.S.A. - Royal Festival Hall and Conway Hall in London, Radio France in Paris , Tokyo, Roma, Berlin, New York, Jakkarta, Havana, Lima, Caracas, Los Angeles, Chicago, Miami, Dallas, Vienna, Zurich, Brussel, Moscow, Valencia, Saigon, Hanoy, Mexico City, Guanajuato etc. He has released 9 solo CD´s, radio and television recordings in several countries.

Pedagogic and Leading Activities: He is Professor of guitar at Conservatoire of Brno and on music college Janacek Academy of Music in Brno, he frequently gives masterclasses on music colleges and performs on festivals all over the World. Blaha is president of Czech Classical Guitar Society and since 1992 director of the International Guitar Festival and Courses BRNO.

ALBUMs

Blaha recorded 7 solo CD´s, and another 6 CD´s as soloist with other musicians.

CD/MC PRONTO (1991) - SUITES BY BACH & WEISS
J.S.Bach: Suite BWV 995, S.L.Weiss: Suites N.I and N.XIV

CD PEHY (1993) - THE SPANISH GUITAR
Rodrigo, Llobet, de Falla, Granados, Albeniz

CD ROTON (1996) /RT 001-2131 - CZECH GUITAR WORKS
Eben, Tucapsky, Tesar, Stedron, Matys, Zamecnik, Rak, Janacek

LP PANTON 1987, CD ROTON (1998) /RT 002-2131:
CONCERTOS FOR GUITAR AND ORCHESTRA BY PONCE AND KOHOUT
M.M.Ponce: Concierto del Sur, K.Kohout: Concerto in E-Major /world premiere recording/

CD ROTON (2000) /RT 003-2131: CITHARA POETICA
Štědroň, Tesař, Novák, Martin ček, Bodorová, Rak, Koškin, Kleynjans
/world premiere recordings/

CD ROTON 004-2131 (2001): WORKS BY J. W. DUARTE

CD PiVOX 2004: GUITAR WORKS BY MILOS STEDRON

webSITE

www.vlblaha.sky.cz