ENSEMBLES 2011

Lark Children Choir

Židlochovice, Czech Republic

Awards Received
1994 - International choir competition Athens, Greece ** Honorary award
- Eurotreff Singen, Germany ** Honorary award
- International choir competition "Orlando di Lasso" - Rome, Vatican ** 3^rd place
- International choir competition "Orlando di Lasso" - Rome, Vatican ** Honorary award
2001 - International choir competition - Veldhoven, Holland 1^st place
2006 - International Folksong Choral Festival Barcelona, Spain ** Gold medal and Absolute Winner
2009 – Japan International Youth Musicale

The choir was established in 1977 by Zdeňka Vrbová who has been its leader and conductor until the present day. Skřivánek comprises 118 children aged from 5 to 20. Children are divided into 2 groups - concert choir (58 members) and preparation choir (for younger children - about 60 members).

The Choir's repertoire is very varied. The Choir interprets compositions of nearly all styles and periods, music of both classical and world composers such as Mozart, Smetana, Verdi, Dvořák, Janáček, Martinů, Lukáš, Eben and others, folk songs, children chorus compositions, spirituals, and standards.

The choir works not only in our region. We are often invited to various festivals and competitions in the Czech Republic and abroad. Up to the present day, the children have sung in eight European countries. Our most notable success is winning 1st place at the International Choir Competition in Veldhoven, Holland (2001) and a bronze medal at the International Choir Festival "Orlando di Lasso", Vatican City (1998). The biggest success so far, is the Absolute Winner title from the international choir competition "Europe and its Songs" in Barcelona 2006. The choir was awarded the golden medal for the 1st place in young choir category and a cup for the absolute winner of the competition attended by 9 choirs from Europe and 1 from California.

In 2007/2008, we had the opportunity to sing in Los Angeles to celebrate our 30^th anniversary. We presented works of Bedřich Smetana, Antonín Dvořák, Leoš Janáček, etc. The choir also presented the Moravian folklore performed in beautiful national costumes with special choreography.

In 2009, the Larks successfully represented the Czech choir mastery at the 11^th Youth Music Festival in Shizuoka, Japan.

The conductor is Mrs. Zdeňka Vrbová who has been awarded the conductor's prize for her contribution to the Czech choir signing. The artistic leader and advisor of the choir is Prof. Miloslav Buček. The pianist is Daniela Velebová.

Skřivánek Choir has recorded several CDs in co-operation with other musical bodies and also issues records of its concerts on compact discs.

Zdeňka Vrbová

Conductor

Zdeňka Vrbová, born in 1950 in Havlíčkův Brod, a graduate from the Teachers School in Boskovice and Music Education Department, and Faculty of the Masaryk University in Brno.
Zdeňka Vrbová founded the pre-school choir Skřivánek in Židlochovice in 1977. In 1981, the choir was transformed into two choirs, subsequently resulting in formation of preparatory and concert choirs. Under her leadership, the concert choir presented its excellence in many countries and has won remarkable international awards.
Zdeňka Vrbová has been awarded for pre-school children's musical education, for children's choir development, and for successful choral music representation in domestic and international competitions.

Miloslav Buček

Artistic Leader / Advisor

Prof. Miloslav Buček is a graduate of the conservatoire and Janáček’s Academy of Music Art in Brno in organ playing and choir conducting. He has performed at prominent organ festivals and concerts in the Czech Republic and in Europe. He recorded both organ and choir music of varied styles for the Czech and foreign radio broadcasting. For almost 35 years he was the conductor of the Masaryk University singing choir in Brno. With this choir he participated in many festivals and competitions at home and abroad where he was highly acknowledged (England, Italy, Poland, Bulgaria, Estonia, Greece, France, Belgium, and Germany). He is often invited to organ and choir shows and competitions as a member of the jury. His lecturing and interpretation has been extensive. He is a well-known author of university publications in the fields of choir singing and sacral music.

Celebration Program

Additional Concerts Program