A Fulbright Evening of Czech Music featuring musicians Isabel Keleti (piano), Bree Nichols (soprano) and Tomáš Jamník (cello). The trio first joined forces in 2022 in Prague and will reunite once again in Kansas (USA).
When: Tuesday, April 11, 2023, reception from 6:30-7:30 p.m.; performance from 7:30 to 9:00 p.m. (CST; UTC/GMT -5).
Two locations: Swarthout Recital Hall, University of Kansas,1530 Naismith Dr, Lawrence, KS 66044 (in-person); and livestreamed by KU School of Music (virtual).
This event is free, but registration is required.
[Event image credit: Bree Nichols]
Post-Event Experience via Records and Recordings:
April 10, 2023, Kansas Public Radio Live Performance Studio interview:
Event Program * Lyrics with English Translations * Event Livestream Recording * Images
About the artists:
Isabel Keleti
Originally from Kansas, Isabel Keleti is a pianist currently based in New York City. A recipient of the 2021-2022 Fulbright award, Isabel studied with Jan Jiraský at the Janáček Academy of Music and Performing Arts in Brno and has a deep affinity for Czech music. Isabel has performed at a variety of concert venues across Asia, the US, and Europe, including Xi’an Concert Hall in Xi’an; Renmin University in Beijing; Lied Center in Kansas; Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall; Bohemian National Hall; and the National Museum in Prague. She won first place in the ROXE MTSY International Music Competition in Xi’an, BIMFA Solo Piano Competition in Beijing, Sigma Alpha Iota Competition and Kansas Music Teachers Association Collegiate Auditions. She has featured as a soloist with the Alicante Symphony Orchestra of Spain, the Heritage Philharmonic Orchestra of Missouri, and Conero Festival Orchestra in Italy. Isabel completed a Masters of Music at Mannes School of Music in New York City with Dr. Vladimir Valjarević and received her Bachelors of Music from KU School of Music with Dr. Jack Winerock. She was recently named a co-owner of Groupmuse, a platform which connects classical musicians with local audiences through house concerts.
Tomáš Jamník is a Czech cellist currently based in Berlin. In 2006, he won the Prague Spring International Music Competition, within which he also received a number of special prizes. In 2011, he advanced to the final of and gained a special prize at the Pierre Fournier Award competition in London.
Tomáš Jamník
As a soloist, he has appeared as a guest with prominent Czech and international orchestras, including the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Prague Philharmonia, Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra and Philharmonia Orchestra London. Besides the classical repertoire, Tomáš Jamník has performed lesser-known works (in 2019, he and the Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra premiered his own arrangement of Antonín Dvořák’s Cello Concerto in A major) and contemporary music (he has premiered, among others pieces, Jan Ryant Dřízal’s concerto Narcissus for cello and orchestra). In 2019, he became the artistic director of the Ševčík Academy, which
focuses on advancing the teaching method of the legendary pedagogue Otakar Ševčík. In 2016, he founded the Vážný zájem (“Serious interest”) project, which helps organize classical music concerts in people’s homes. Tomáš Jamník first studied in Prague with Mirko Škampa, Martin Škampa and Josef Chuchro, before moving to Leipzig to take lessons from Peter Bruns and to Berlin to study at the Universität der Künste with Jens Peter Maintz. He is currently a Fulbright Scholar in residence at Juilliard and NYU. He plays a 1784 Lorenzo Storioni instrument, kindly lent by Mr Aleš Voverka from his private collection.
Bree Nichols
Bree Nichols is a young soprano praised for her “rich vocal disposition” (KlasikaPlus) and compelling stage presence. A Fulbright grantee to the Czech Republic in 2021–22, Bree is known for her interpretations of Czech vocal music in addition to a diverse operatic repertoire. Her career has taken her to the stages of the North Czech Philharmonic, Opera Pilsen, Symphony of the Mountains, Capitol City Opera, Opera Roanoke, Lewisville Lake Symphony, the Olomouc Baroque Festival, and more. A decorated competitor, Bree won 1st place in the Artist Division of the 2023 National Opera Association’s Carolyn Bailey Argento Vocal Competition, the 2023 Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition Arkansas District, and the 2020 UNT Concert Competition. She was also the winner of the 2020 Presser Award in support of her performance and study of Czech opera. Her recent performances include the title roles of Lucia di Lammermoor and The Bartered Bride as well as Gilda (Rigoletto) and Nedda (Pagliacci). Off the stage, Bree Nichols is an innovator in community opera initiatives; she is founder of Opera Arlington and serves emerging singers on the faculty of NTX Vocal Arts Exchange. She holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of North Texas.
Co-sponsors:
This event is co-sponsored by Kansas City Chapter of the Fulbright Association; KU International Affairs; KU School of Music; KU Center for Russian, Eastern European and Eurasian Studies; the Czech and Slovak Club of Kansas City; Fulbright Czech Republic; Dave and Gunda Hiebert; Sharon Valasek; International Piano Professionals Association; and Daniel and Ingrid Keleti.
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