Biography

Josef Štefan has graduated in Conducting from The Prague Conservatoire and Conducting at the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague, where he continues in the doctoral studies. In 2021, he was awarded the Prize of Bause Ruys. In 2017/2018, he studied at the University of Music FRANZ LISZT Weimar under Professor N. Pasquet. In 2018, he received a Wagner Company’s Merit Scholarship for participation at Bayreuther Festspiele 2018. He also participated in conducting seminars: Libor Pesek (2016), Stefan Lano (2017) and Manfred Honeck (2019). Bayreuther Festspiele 2018. He also participated in conducting seminars: Libor Pesek (2016), Stefan Lano (2017) and Manfred Honeck (2019).

In the upcoming season 2021/2022, he will musically study and conduct W. A. Mozart's opera Don Giovanni (directed by Tomáš Šimerda) for the HAMU opera studio, where he also successfully conducted of opera by B. Smetana The Bartered Bride, in 2018.

Since season 2016/2017, he’s been cooperating with Silesian Theatre in Opava, where he conducted of operas: G. Verdi: Falstaff (2017); C. Orff: Carmina Burana, Die Kluge (2017); L. Janáček: The Cunning Little Vixen (2018) B. Smetana: The Bartered Bride (2018). During season 2017/2018, conducted M. Leigh’s musical: The Man of La Mancha and during season 2019/2020 operetta F. Herve Mamzelle Nitouche or G. Verdi’s opera La Traviata.

In February 2017, he began regular cooperation with Ensemble terrible – ensemble for presenting new music. With them, he delivers premieres of contemporary composers (Hanuš Bartoň, Michal Nejtek, Jakub Rataj, Petr Hora aj.) and recordings for the Czech Radio.

Since 2014, he has aacted as a Director of Music in Prague parish in Lhotka, where he cooperates with members of Czech Philharmony and National Theatre in Prague. In 2015-2016, he worked as a conductor in Jindrichuv Hradec’s symphonic orchestra, and during season 2016/2017 he was the Chief conductor of the orchestra Far Musica. In February 2017, he began regular cooperation with Ensemble terrible – ensemble for presenting new music. With them, he delivers premieres of contemporary composers. In 2011, he and his former classmates founded Czech Youth Chamber Orchestra, which enables him to study orchestral repertoire, including instrumental concerts.

He conducted at international music festivals: Petera Dvorského 2012; Šengenský poludník (Slovakia – Ukraine) 2013; opening concert IMF Young Prag 2018, and during the opening of the World Sociologist Congress in Prague Congress Centre in 2015. He also conducted at the regular Christmas concerts with soloists and National Theatre choir in Prague and more. He also cooperated with various orchestras: PKF-Prague Philharmonia, Jenaer Philharmonie, The Hradec Králové Philharmonic Orchestra, North Czech Philharmonic Teplice, Praga Camerata, Talich Chamber orchestra and others.