Marek Švejkar

Marek Švejkar is among the leading clarinettists of his generation and has established himself as a performer with an exceptionally wide international profile and a distinctly individual artistic voice.

He is a graduate of some of world’s most prestigious music institutions: the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris, where he was the first Czech clarinettist in history to complete his studies under Philippe Berrod and Jérôme Comte, and the Conservatoire à Rayonnement Régional de Paris, where he studied with Franck Amet and Paul Meyer. He completed his studies abroad in the programme of the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia in Rome under Alessandro Carbonare. He graduated from all these institutions with the highest distinction, firmly establishing himself as one of the most prominent representatives of the European clarinet school. Alongside his performing career, he is engaged in doctoral research.

As a recording artist for the internationally renowned label Supraphon (Sony Music), he releases solo albums and develops projects dedicated to major works of the musical repertoire. Among other things, he has recorded the complete clarinet works of Luciano Berio and Pierre Boulez – Music for solo clarinet – to mark the centenary of both composers. Currently is preparing the Complete Clarinet Concertos by Franz Krommer with the world-renowned soloist Paul Meyer. He is working on further albums with philharmonic orchestras, chamber works with acclaimed ensembles and other projects. His recording activities are characterised by a strong emphasis on interpretative authenticity, stylistic precision and historically informed performance across all historical periods. His recordings and concert projects attract critical attention; he has been written about in, among others, The Strad (UK), ResMusica (FR), ICA Review (USA), Radio France (FR), and other international media.

Švejkar’s artistic career is connected with the international orchestral and ensemble scene. He received invitation for collaboration with leading European orchestras and specialised ensembles such as the Orchestre de Paris, Ensemble Intercontemporain, Orchestra Nazionale di Santa Cecilia and Opéra de Limoges. He is also intensely involved in chamber projects, including collaborations with artists of the Karajan-Akademie of the Berlin Philharmonic and musicians associated with IRCAM in Paris, whose aesthetic and performance contexts have become an integral part of his artistic profile.

As a soloist, he appears with leading symphony and specialised orchestras, including the Czech Philharmonic, the Janáček Philharmonic Ostrava, the Hradec Králové Philharmonic, the North Czech Philharmonic, the Brno Contemporary Orchestra, the Quasars Ensemble and others. Marek is also active in top-level chamber projects, for example within the Villa Musica or the Kammerakademie Mittelböhmen, where he previously worked as soloist. He has also been invited to prestigious international festivals and major cultural events, among them the Prague Spring Festival, the Český Krumlov International Music Festival, prominent concert series across Europe and the United States, and high-profile projects in the Middle East.

He is a laureate of numerous international competitions, a graduate of elite European academies and masterclasses, and a recipient of scholarships from renowned foundations such as Fondation de France, Mécénat Société Générale, ADAMI, Fondation Legs Jabès, The Kellner Family Foundation and the Stadler-Trier Music Foundation and others. He is also active as a pedagogue and is regularly invited to teach at international clarinet courses and masterclasses, where he systematically devotes himself to mentoring and supporting the younger musical generation. He also collaborates with Vandoren as an artist.