Czech Philharmonic Semyon Bychkov, Chief Conductor and Music Director

Kateřina Javůrková announced as first winner of the Jiří Bělohlávek Prize

French horn player Kateřina Javůrková was announced as the first winner of the Jiří Bělohlávek Prize in last week. Presented by the Czech Philharmonic in memory of the late Jiří Bělohlávek, the Orchestra's Chief Conductor and Music Director from 2012-2017, the new prize will be awarded annually to musicians up to the age of 30.

This year’s prize was presented to Kateřina Javůrková by Jiří Bělohlávek’s widow Anna Fejérová at the Czech Philharmonic’s annual open-air concert at Prague’s Hradčany Square broadcast live on Czech Television. In addition to the financial award of 30,000 Czech Korunas, Kateřina Javůrková also received a diploma designed by Bělohlávek’s close friend, painter Jiří Voves. Kateřina was chosen by a committee consisting of representatives of the Czech institutions with whom Jiří Bělohlávek had a close relationship in his later years. In addition to the Czech Philharmonic, these include the , Prague Spring International Music Festival and Prague’s Academy of Performing Arts. Also on the committee are Anna Fejérová and the Chief Editor of the classical music magazine Harmonie.

Kateřina Javůrková is a graduate of both the Prague Conservatoire and Academy of Performing Arts. In addition to her contribution to promoting Czech chamber music abroad with groups such as the Baborák Ensemble and the Belfiato Quintet, with whom she has been playing for twelve years, Javůrková also performs as a soloist and won the top prizes at the 2013 Prague Spring International Music Competition and 2016 International ARD Music Competition in Munich. Kateřina Javůrková has been playing with the horn section of the Czech Philharmonic since 2014.

The Czech Philharmonic will further honour the memory of their former Chief Conductor this autumn with the première of a new film by Roman Vavra – Jiří Bělohlávek: But I Just Love Conducting So Much – at the Golden Prague International Film Festival. Filmed during the last two years of Jiří Bělohlávek’s life, the documentary gives a behind the scenes insight into Bělohlávek’s relationship with the Czech Philharmonic featuring clips from rehearsals, concerts and interviews. Suk’s Asrael and - one of Jiří Bělohlávek’s last recordings with the Czech Philharmonic - is available now on Decca Classics.

For further information: Ginny Macbeth/Moë Faulkner: 020 7251 9448 [email protected]