Ivo
Kahanek was born in 1979 in Frydek Mistek, Czech Republic. From the age of four
he attended music school, where Kveta Razlova was his teacher. He graduated from
Janacek Conservatory in Ostrava (prof. Marta Toaderova). Currently, he studies
at the Prague Music Academy, as a student of Ivan Klansky. He has also taken
part in many master courses – e.g. led by Alicie de Larocha, Karl-Heinz
Kämmerling, Christian Zacharias, Eugen Indjic, Peter Frankl, etc.
Ivo Kahanek has proven to be laureate of many competitions, both national and
international. His achievements include 2nd place at the Concertino Praga
International Radio competition, 1st place at the F. Chopin International
Competition in Marianske Lazne, Czech Republic, 1st place at the Czech
Conservatory Competition, 1st place at the G. Mahler International Competition
in Jihlava, Czech Republic, special award at the Maria Canals International
Competition in Barcelona, Spain, finals at the prestigious international
competition in Kõln, Germany, and 1st place at the central-European round of the
Vendome Prize International Piano Competition. His greatest achievement thus far
was in May 2004, when he was awarded 1st place and the position of the supreme
winner at the Prague Spring International Competition. Historically, he is only
the third Czech pianist to have won such an award.
Other major awards he has earned include the Pro Harmonia Mundi Foundation Award,
Bärenreiter Verlag Kassel Publishing House Award, the annual Josef Hlavka Award
for the best students at Prague Colleges, and 1st place at the Yamaha
Scholarship Competition.
Ivo Kahanek has performed concerts at numerous places both in the Czech Republic
and abroad (Germany, France, Switzerland, Sweden, Ireland, Austria, Slovakia and
Poland), including prestigious festivals (Prague Spring, Beethovenfest in Bonn,
Germany, Encuentro de Santander, Ticino Musica).
He has performed with numerous musical bodies including the Köln Philharmonic
Orchestra, the Czech Radio Symphony Orchestra and the Janacek Philharmonic
Orchestra in Ostrava.
In 1999, Ivo Kahanek recorded his first CD featuring compositions by L. van
Beethoven, F. Chopin and L. Janacek.
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