CURRENT FEATURED JURY MEMBERS

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 Czech cellist František Brikcius was born in Prague, into a family with a  distinguished cultural background. He has been playing the cello since  early childhood. Following his cello studies at the Prague  Conservatoire, he completed his Master's degree at the Janáček Academy  of Music (JAMU) in the Czech republic. He furthered his cello skills at  the Toho Gakuen Academy in Japan and later under the guidance of  legendary cellist Prof. Anna Shuttleworth (student of Pablo Casals) in  the United Kingdom (Eton Cello Master Classes and the University of  Leeds). 

He won the 2nd prizes at the Anglo-Czech Competition in London (1999),  the International String Competition London (2000) and the International  String Competition Jihlava (2003). He has been awarded many  scholarships and fellowships, including the Czech Music Foundation  (CHF), the Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic, the Music  Foundation OSA, the Socrates-Erasmus, and the Gideon Klein Foundation  for the propagation of works written by Jewish Holocaust Composers. 

František chose to dedicate his life to the interpretation of cello  compositions written by composers of the 17th, 18th, 19th, 20th and 21st  centuries, giving special consideration to compositions for solo cello.  His favourites are cello suites by Johann Sebastian Bach, Max Reger,  Ernest Bloch and Benjamin Britten. 

He is particularly involved in researching, studying and performing  works by Czech (Antonín Dvořák, Leoš Janáček, Bohuslav Martinů, Josef  Suk and Irena Kosíková), Jewish & Terezín (Gideon Klein, Erwin  Schulhoff, Zikmund Schul, Jaromír Weinberger, James Simon and David  Popper) and contemporary composers (Conrad Beck, Luciano Berio, Pierre  Boulez, Benjamin Britten, Henri Dutilleux, Wolfgang Fortner, Alberto  Ginastera, Cristobal Halffter, Hans Werner Henze, Heinz Holliger, Klaus  Huber and Witold Lutoslawski), playing on a "George Kriwalski" cello  made in 1904. 

Together with his sister Anna Brikciusová, he is a founder member of the  "Duo Brikcius". He is artistic director of Festival Brikcius - Chamber  Music Concert Series in Prague, Bach Festival Gers in France and Waltham  Forest Cello Fest (the 1st London Borough of Culture meets Classical  Music) in London. 

František works as independent film-maker as well. His first music  documentary film MAKANNA (in the cooperation with the Jewish Museum in  Prague and under the auspices of Sir Tom Stoppard and Václav Havel) was  already screened in the Czech republic, China, Mexico and Portugal. He  is currently working on new music documentary film eSACHERe (2021). 

As a soloist František has performed at many festivals in Algeria,  Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic,  France, Germany, Israel, Italy, Japan, Liberland, Pakistan, Poland,  Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Sweden, Turkey, Uzbekistan and the United  Kingdom. 

František has been teaching cello for many years. He is experienced at  taking students at all levels, able to give master classes as well as  support beginners. He is giving cello master classes in the United  Kingdom, France, Italy and remotely online via Zoom/Skype. 

Served as a jury member in various competitions including the Berliner  International Music Competition in Germany, the Music and Stars Awards,  the Music International Grand Prix, the Sound Espressivo Global  Competition, the Palm Beach International Music Awards, the King's Peak  International Music Competition and the Baku International Cinema  Festival in Azerbaijan. 

More information about František Brikcius and his many cello projects is available on the websites https://www.Brikcius.com/Festival , https://www.Brikcius.com/CelloTutor , https://www.Twitter.com/Brikcius and https://www.Instagram.com/Brikcius .
 

   Juan  Pardo  has  played  in  orchestras  around  the  world.  Since  September  2018  JuanPardo  has  been  the principal trombonist of the Armenian National Philharmonic Orchestra (ANPO, Principal Conductor and Artistic Director Eduard  Topchjan).  Before  that  Juan  Pardo  was  the  principal  trombonist  of  the  Orquestra  Filarmónica  de  Jalisco  (OFJ, Mexico,  2010-2017).  Also  Juan  Pardo  was  the  principal  trombonist  of  the  Orquesta  Sinfónica  de  la  Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León (Monterrey, Mexico, 2008 - 2009). After holding this position, Mr. Pardo was appointed as the principal  trombonist  of  the  Orquesta  Sinfónica  de  la  Universidad  de  Guanajuato  (OSUG)  under  the  baton  of  Maestro Enrique  Batiz.  2009-2010.  During  his  professional  career,  Juan  Pardo  worked  under  the  baton  of  prestigious  Spanish and well-known international conductors.Except his orchestral career Trombonist Juan Pardo is committed to the performance of solo and chamber music. He has performed many solo and band concerts around the world. Juan Pardo participated as a soloist in the International Trombone  Festival  (USA,  Redlands,  California,  2017),  International  Brass  Festival  (Guanajuato,  Mexico  2016),  Festival de  Música  Vientos  de  la  Montaña  (Mexico,  2017),  Laguna  BRASS  Festival  (Mexico,  2015),  Busan  MARU  International Music Festival (South Korea, 2015) among others.Mr.  Pardo  performed  like  soloist  with  Armenian  National  Chamber  Orchestra  and  Armenian  National  Philharmonic Orchestra.As  an  educator,  Mr.  Pardo  has  served  as  the  Professor  of  Trombone  at  the  Universidad  de  Guanajuato  (Mexico, 2016-2017).  Also,  Juan  Pardo  has  been  invited  to  participate  as  a  guest  teacher  in  a  variety  of  international  events. Since September 2018 Juan Pardo has served as the Professor of Trombone at the 'Brass Academy' operating under the patronage of Armenian National Philharmonic Orchestra and YerazArt international Foundation.Juan  Pardo  is  a  performing  artist  of  the  prestigious  S.E.  Shires  Company  (www.seshires.com)  and  Mouthpiecea UltimateBrass.   

 Edita Randová is amongst the leading Czech mezzosoprano singers. At the beginning of her artistic career she underwent voice training with Milada Musilová and at present works regularly with Marta Boháčová. She has also completed her private studies of piano playing. Critics have praised especially the range and tone of her voice, in connection with her wide range of means of expression, supported by excellent singing technique. She commenced her singing career in the Musical Theatre in Karlín, and in the State Opera in Prague, where she performed a number of national and world repertoire. She took part in a number of foreign tours of the State Opera of Prague, such as in Japan and Switzerland. In 1992 and 1993 she took part in a course of international singing master classes under the guidance of Eva Randová.  At present she is devoting herself predominantly to concert activity. In 2000 she took part in a large concert tour throughout the Czech Republic bearing the title „Czech spring with Edita Randová“. She regularly performs concerts at home and abroad: Austria, Great Britain, France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Hungary, Moldova, Germany, Slovenia, Slovakia, Norway, Finland, Australia, Brazil, Mexico, USA (Carnegie Hall), Canada and China. She also participates in a range of internationals festivals. In the year 2003, the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affaires entrusted her to visit Australia, to promote Czech music there. In 2009, she was awarded the Gustav Mahler European Prize for her outstanding   contribution to music and she had her debut in Opera in Mexico as Maddalena in Verdi's "The Rigoletto”. In 2010, she received prize "La Reconnaissance culturelle Medaile d´OR Internationale 2010". She has performed as a soloist with important orchestras including Symhony Orchestra of the Czech Radio, Prague Symphony Orchestra, Chamber Philharmonic Orchestra of Pardubice, Karlovy Vary Symphony Orchestra, Philharmonic Orchestra Hradec Králové, West Bohemian Symphony Orchestra of Mariánské Lázně, Camerata Polifonica Siciliana, Chesapeake Orchestra, London City Chamber Orchestra, Orchestra of Stowe Opera, Romania State Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra Sinfonica della Provincia di Bari, Filarmonia de Gaia, Orquestra Sinfônica do Teatro Nacional Claudio Santoro, Orquestra Sinfônica da Bahia, Orquesta Sinfónica de la UAC, Morelos Chamber Orchestra, Oaxaca Symphony Orchestra, Lincolnwood Chamber Orchestra ....., under the directorship of leading Czech and international conductors.  In addition to her opera work, Edita Randová also has a varied concert repertoire, including oratorios, cantatas, masses, song collections or individual songs by old masters, as well as contemporary compositions from leading international composers. Among her most important recordings are a discs with songs of Antonín Dvořák. She has cooperated with the Czech Radio, where he has made several song cycles by Czech and world composers. Her recordings were broadcasted by radio stations in Italy, Australia, France and Argentina. She is an Artistic director of the "International music festival Tóny nad městy". Edita has been teaching singing for many years and is also invited to participate served as a jury member in various international competitions. 

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