HAMU in a nutshell

The Music and Dance Faculty (HAMU) of the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague was established in 1945 as one of the Academy’s three components, following on from the Prague Conservatory master school (the second oldest institution of its kind in Europe). HAMU is located in the heart of Prague’s historic centre, in the premises of Lichtenstein Palace and Hartig Palace.

HAMU cooperates with domestic professional artistic circles, the partners are prominent orchestras (The Czech Philharmonic (ČF), PKF - Prague Philharmonia The Prague Symphony Orchestra FOK), festivals (The Prague Spring International Music Festival, Dvořákova Praha, Smetanova Litomyšl), and many theatres and media organisations.

Public presentations of students’ academic work are held in HAMU’s own premises which spread over two historical buildings of the Lichtenstein Palace and Hartig Palace. Concerts and conferences are held in Martinů Hall and the HAMU Gallery; stage and jazz performances are held in the Inspiration Theatre which is also a part of the Lichtenstein Palace campus. The school has its own sound and recording studio, library, practice rooms, and detached training facilities.

The school provides top-level education in music and dance programmes at all three academic levels (3-year Bachelor’s Programme, 2-year Continuing Master’s Programme and 3-year Doctoral Programme) in both Czech and English.

In the Art of Music study programme the fields of study provided in English are composition; conducting; voice and opera directing; keyboard, wind, string and percussion instruments; chamber music and jazz interpretation; sound design and music management. Students in most fields can earn a teaching credential.

In the Art of Dance programme, instruction is provided in choreography, dance science, dance pedagogy and non-verbal theatre.