The Music and Dance faculty of the Academy of Performing Arts builds on the tradition of the Prague Conservatory’s master school, and its history dates back to the immediate postwar period. Since the mid-1950s, it has become a major center of arts education that systematically advances the interpretive standards of Czech musical culture.
The Department of Wind Instruments has long been training top-tier performers, orchestral musicians, soloists, and educators in the fields of woodwind and brass instruments. It draws on a strong tradition, which it combines with the contemporary demands of professional musical practice and an emphasis on the future development of the art of performance.
Instruction is provided by prominent figures on the Czech music scene—active artists who perform in leading orchestras, appear as soloists, participate in international projects, and regularly collaborate with prestigious institutions both at home and abroad. Thanks to their experience, students gain not only a high level of technical and artistic training but also direct contact with the contemporary music scene and its evolving landscape.
Gradually, a comprehensive educational system has been developed which, through a rigorous admissions process and an intensive course of study, provides a solid foundation for graduates’ professional careers. Graduates go on to find their place in leading orchestras, at various levels of music education, and in independent artistic careers both at home and abroad.
The bachelor’s and master’s programs are complemented by a doctoral program that develops students’ competencies in the fields of pedagogy, the organization of musical life, and artistic research. Emphasis is placed on the ability to critically reflect on interpretive practice, interdisciplinary thinking, and the search for new perspectives on contemporary musical art and its future direction.
International collaboration is also a significant part of the program. Through the Erasmus+ program, students have the opportunity to participate in internships at partner institutions throughout Europe, while HAMU regularly hosts students and faculty from abroad. This international exchange of experiences contributes to an open and inspiring environment that prepares students for active participation in the global cultural landscape of the 21st century.
