Dear friends
You have just opened the websites of Antonin Kubalek Piano Courses bearing the name of Antonin Kubalek since 2003. The courses were hosted by the town of Zlate hory until 2006. But let's return to the beginning. How did we manage to gain the support of Antonin Kubalek, a well-known pianist, a guest of Prague Spring 2002, a laureate of the Czech Musical Council award and a professor of Glenn Gould School of the Royal Conservatory in Toronto?
In 2001, I happened to meet professor Lubomir Dolezal from Canada who offered me to arrange a contact with a world class pianist living in the North American continent since 1968. This pianist was to perform in the International Music Competition Prague Spring 2002. The performer was Antonin Kubalek. Frankly speaking, I did not believe at that time that we could manage to establish another contact leading to possible co-operation in future. Imagine my surprise when both professor Lubomir Dolezal and the above mentioned pianist contacted me soon afterwards. One word led to another, and I decided to organise a recital in my hometown - Jesenik.
During his short stay in Jesenik, the idea of regular piano courses in our region gradually took shape. After all, every two years Jesenik spa becomes the meeting place for piano duets from all over the world.
However, it was not Jesenik that welcomed the first participants of the opening year of Antonin Kubalek Piano Courses on 4 July 2003. The town of Zlate Hory and the Elementary School of Arts of Franz Schubert finally became the meeting place of young artists for four years. From dawn to dusk, year after year, the tones of piano as well as other musical instruments drifted from the school.
Why has the promising cultural event of international character been interrupted? We do not have to explain to the people in the know that the expenses of such an extensive event are high; particularly if the quality of the event should be of rising tendency, which was confirmed by the fourth year. It is also generally known that not very many sponsors can be found for these types of events. People like Ing. Cyril Svozil seem not to exist in our region.
After a deep analysis and tough decision-making, the organizers have decided to apply to the Olomouc Region for a grant from the region budget from the programme called "Support of Cultural Activities in the Olomouc Region in 2007" while changing the hosting town. Why the sudden change? After all, at the opening ceremony of the fourth year of Antonin Kubalek Piano Courses at Zlate Hory town hall on 5 July 2006, Ing. Pavel Horak had a lot of praise for the organizers. Jesenicky tydenik newspaper, July 2006: "At the opening ceremony on 5 July 2006, the Vice-President of the Olomouc Region Pavel Horak promised publicly to the organizer of the courses Jarmila Pohlova more massive support than in the previous years. We can only hope that Mr Horak was not only presenting his elocution abilities and he was serious."
So, why has a grant application been made for a place other than Zlate Hory? There are several reasons. Disregarding the troubles with providing services our guests from abroad are used to, the main reason was the unsettled "balancing" of the fourth year, which prevents the current organizer from running the courses in Zlate Hory.
However, the grant proceedings results were not positive; thus, the organizers have decided not to hold the fifth year of Antonin Kubalek Piano Courses. It is a pity, as we succeeded for the first time in concluding an agreement with a Canadian company Pico Envirotec Inc. on purchasing flight tickets for Antonin Kubalek and two members of his company in compliance with the contract between Jarmila Pohlova and Antonin Kubalek. It is a true pity, as we have applied for the registration of a trademark "The Art of Interpretation International Piano Courses".
Despite all that has happened we do believe that the courses will return to the region of Zlate Hory and Jesenik again. It is only necessary to find a reliable organizer to take over the trademark from the owner and bring the event, which is well-known far beyond the borders of our country, back to our region.
The co-operation of the organizers of Antonin Kubalek Piano Courses with the Zlate Hory region has definitely not finished. They continue organizing charity evenings aimed to restore a national cultural monument - the Church of St. John the Baptist in Horni Udoli - with Ing. Cyril Svozil, General Manager of Fenix Trading s.r.o. company, who took the patronage over the benefit concerts at the Pilgrimage site of Virgin Mary the Helper
www.mariahilf.cz. July
19th 2007 - at 5.00pm, performances will be given by
JANA DOLEZILKOVA - singing (www.dolezilkova.com)
MARIO ZHANG (Canada) - singing
RICHARD POHL - piano
The meetings of young artists with Antonin Kubalek in Zlate Hory are going to be commemorated by a new series of concerts named
"Presenting Participants in Antonin Kubalek Piano Courses and Their Guests". The project is backed by Fenix Trading s.r.o., the Olomouc region, Campanula spol. s.r.o. and Retezarny Ceska Ves a.s.