Štěpán Filípek & Katelyn Bouska present an exclusive recital containing chamber compositions by Leoš Janáček and other composers from Brno.

It was in search for a new generation of Czech composers, that pianist Katelyn Bouska first met cellist Štěpán Filípek in the summer of 2015. Since then, the duo has gradually built a close collaboration dedicated to that same spirit of discovery and commitment to the performance of contemporary or little-known Czech and American music. Their first album, published in 2018 by Český Rozhlas on their Radioservis label, connected the cities of Brno and Philadelphia with works by Leoš Janáček, Miloslav Ištvan, Samuel Barber and Jeremy Gill. Their upcoming second album, on the same label, is entitled The Art of Rondo and features works by Antonín Dvořák and Jan Václav Hugo Voříšek as well as two works commissioned by them by American composer David Carpenter and Hong Kong composer Barry Wan. They have also undertaken several concert tours in the Czech Republic and the United States, including a prestigious recital at Embassy of the Czech Republic in Washington, D. C. and acclaimed performances at international festivals including Forfest, New Music Encountres, Krumlov Autumn Recitals and American Spring.

Katelyn Bouska

With interpretations described as “full of life, flexibility, gripping rhythms and a richness of dynamic shadings” (Milan Bátor, Czech Radio) and a skill at engaging audiences in the musical dialogue, Katelyn Bouska (*1985) is a frequent solo and collaborative musician. Her unique programming combining rarely-heard Czech and American music with music being written specifically for her by rising composers has found an audience throughout America and on the international concert stage. Katelyn received a DMA from Temple University in Philadelphia, where her research centered on the piano music of 20th Century Brno composer Miloslav Ištvan. She recently published a recording of his complete works for solo piano on the Radioservis label. In addition to her doctorate, she also holds graduate degrees in historical keyboard performance and collaborative piano.

Katelyn is currently based in Philadelphia where she serves on the Music Studies Faculty at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia. Her commitment for informed and personal musical expression extends beyond her piano studio into seminars on performance practice, continuo and period repertoire, and classes exploring theory and harmony as a tool to unlock the grammar of music.

Štěpán Filípek

Cellist and composer Štěpán Filípek (* 1981) is considered as one of the leading Czech interpreters of today. He has graduated Cello at the Prague Conservatory and at the Music Faculty of the Janáček Academy of Music and Performing Arts. Later he has also graduated Composition at the Brno Conservatory. At the present time is most important of Štěpán‘s interpretive focuses recital discipline (among others a joint project with pianist Katelyn Bouska). However, he is also active in concertant genre, interesting are for example world premiere of composition Evening separations – Concerto for electric Cello and symphony Orchestra composed by Brno author Ondřej Hájek, which took place in 2013 together with Pilsner Philharmonic, or in 2018 Czech premiere of composition Molitva-Concerto for cello and mixed choir by estonian author Galina Grigorieva in collaboration with choir Gaudeamus Brno. In addition, he has been cooperating with Czech Radio in recording contemporary works for cello. Many international music festivals has invited Štěpán Filípek as a soloist, chamber musician, or commisioned his piece: Moravian autumn, Janáček Brno, Forfest, Music contemporaneity, New Music Encountres, So klingt die gegenwart!, Melos-Éthos, Exposition of New Music and others. Štěpán is performing his concerts with master Cello called „Imperio“, build by Brno luthier Jan Hus Bursík.

Štěpán currently lives in Brno, where he is engaged in the Orchestra of the Janáček Opera of the National Theater Brno.