About

František Chaloupka (born in former Czechoslovakia in 1981) composes mainly instrumental music and scores for classical instruments, chamber and symphony orchestras, opera and multimedia works.

After finishing his studies of composition at the Janáček conservatory in Ostrava he went on to study a degree in Composition in the class of Martin Smolka at Janáček Academy of Music and Performing Arts in Brno in 2004 where he has finished his PhD. in composition in 2014. In 2006 he was studying composition at Royal Conservatory in The Hague (The Netherlands) with Louis Andriessen, Clarence Barlow, Martijn Padding and Richard Ayres. In 2012 he studied composition at Universität für Musik und darstellende Kunst Wien and California Institute of the Arts in Los Angeles in 2013.

His pieces were commissioned and performed by internationally renowed ensembles e.g . Klangforum Wien, Ensemble Modern & Péter Eötvös, New Century Players Los Angeles, Aleph Gitarrenquartett, IEMA International Ensemble Modern Academy, Janáček Philharmony, ONO Orchestra, Ostravská banda, Trio Accanto, Oxbridge Singers, Prague Modern, BERG Orchestra, Prague Singers Choir, South Bohemian Philharmonic, Hradec Králové Philharmonic, VENI Academy, Ballet of National Theatre Brno, Solaris3 among others.

Festivals and venues such as Musica Viva Munich, Musikprotokoll Graz, Czech Centre in New York, Wien Modern, Ostrava Days of New Music, Prague Spring, Gaudeamus Muziekweek Utrecht, Autumn Chamber Music Days Riga, Contempuls Prague, NODO New Opera Days Of Ostrava, MusicOlomouc, Autumn Introspection Prague, Divadelní svět Brno, Moravský podzim or Hudební současnost premiered his works.

He worked with conductors Peter Eotvös, Lucas Vis, Anu Tali, Jakub Hrůša, Petr Kotík, Jiří Rožeň, Jurij Galatěnko, Marko Ivanovič, Pavel Šnajdr, Peter Vrábl, Vojtěch Spurný, Aleš Kománek and others. He worked also with Michal Pavlíček, Iva Bittová, David Koller, Vladivojna La Chia, Panáčik, organist Kateřina KATTA Chroboková, actresses Erika Stárková, Veronika Žilková and other various artists.

In May 2011 he was invited to Frankfurt for a workshop with Ensemble Modern (Frank Zappa, Heiner Goebbles, etc.) and conductor-composer Peter Eötvös. Within the project „Myths-Nation-Identities“ he composed a piece called Mašín Gun (Seven Rituals for purging the Czech Lands from the Spirit of Communism) premiered by Ensemble Modern and Peter Eötvös at Musica Viva festival in Munich in 2012. The concert was recorded and broadcasted live at Munich Broadcasting (Bayerischer Rundfunk).

In April 2011 he founded Dunami Ensemble and performed his opera-installation Eve and Lilith at NODO festival New Opera Days of Ostrava 2012. Ensemble consist of recognized Czech jazz, classical and experimental music players composers and improvisators. In 2016 Dunami Ensemble performed another opera-installation composed by Chaloupka called Chata v Jezerní kotlině at festival Music Olomouc. The piece is scored for saxophone quartett and two boy sopranos. In 2022 Dunami Ensemble performed his techno-optimistic flash-mob opera "Bachelor Party" for four saxophones and two sopranos.

He participated in international courses for composers and percussionists in Trstěnice 2004 and 2005 and was given scholarship for both international festival Ostrava Days of New Music 2005 and 2007. In 2007 and 2009 the festival premiered his orchestral pieces An Ancient Calligraphy (2007) and Smooth The Heavens (2009) both performed by Janáček Philharmonic and conducted by Petr Kotík.

In 2016 a 2-CD under the label of K.I. Records album „František Chaloupka: Selected Works 2006–2015“ was released. It includes chamber and orchestra pieces performed by internationally recognized artists and ensembles.

He is also sought out as an orchestrator, producer and guitar player.

In 2014 he founded Kytarový Institut (Guitar Institute), a creative environment and private music institute for plucked string instruments, composition and improvisation.

Education

• Janáček conservatory in Ostrava (2000–2004; graduate in composition; awarded recognition by the headmaster for the final composition)
• Janáček Academy of Music and Performing Arts in Brno (2004–2009; composition under the leadership of prof. Martin Smolka; MgA.degree, diploma thesis “Phenomenon of Electric Guitar in Artificial Music of the Twentieth Century“; composition “Naklonit si Nebesa“ [“Smooth the Heaven“] for large orchestra)
• Janáček Academy of Music and Performing Arts in Brno (PhD. degree in 2014; doctoral diploma: "Theory and practise of contemporary music ensembles influenced by authoral personas")

Residency

• Royal Conservatory in the Hague (2006; composition with Louis Andriessen, Martijn Padding, Richard Ayeres, Clarence Barlow, Diderik Wagenar and Gilius van Bergeijk)
• Academy of Arts Bánská Bystrica, Slovakia (teaching Theory of composition and Orchestration, October 2011-February 2012)
• Universität für Musik und darstellende Kunst Wien (March 2012-June 2012; composition with prof. Detlev Müller-Siemens)
• California Institute of the Arts, Los Angeles, 2013; composition with David Rosenboom, Ulrich Krieger, Wolfgang Von Schweinitz)
• UNCOOL - Artists in Residence Switzerland 2022 (creative stay, concert, workshop)
• Culture Moves Europe - Goethe Institut - Creative residence - Vigo, Spain 2023

Compositional courses and workshops

• International courses for composers and percussionists Trstěnice 2004, 2005
• Ostrava Days of New Music 2005 (scholarship; performed piece “Music for Five“; Louis Andriessen, Rebecca Saunders, Martin Smolka among others.)
• Ostrava Days of New Music 2007 (scholarship; performed piece “An Ancient Calligraphy“ for large orchestra, two harps, two vibraphones and harmonium; Kaija Saariaho, Alvin Lucier, Christian Wolff, Phil Niblock, Petr Kotík and conducter Zsolt Nagy)
• David Rosenboom (California Institute of Arts Los Angeles, 2013)
• Ulrich Krieger (California Institute of Arts Los Angeles, 2013)
• Wolfgang von Schweinitz (California Institute of Arts Los Angeles, 2013)
• The Myths Workshop with Ensemble Modern a Peter Eötvös in Franfurt (Fri – Mon, 27th – 30st May)

Conference and lectures

• International Conference Musica Nova – Aleatoric Principles and Graphic Notation (Janáček Academy Brno 2011)
• Kraków Music Academy - The Book Of Sand semi-graphic aleatoric score; Piece The Book Of Sand performed by Glyptos Ensemble and Amadrums
• International courses for composers and percussionists Trstěnice 2018 (scores, presenation)
• Ostrava Days of New Music 2021 (scores, presenation, "Darwin among the machines" for symphony orchestra premiered by ONO Orchestra)
• UNCOOL - Artists in Residence Switzerland 2022 (presentation, concert)

Selection of compositions

• Fughetta (2001; piano)
• Digital´aria (2001; piano)
• Music for 5 (2004; flute, english horn, clarinet/saxophone, bassclarinet, vi­ola)
• Erratic Matter (2005; alto saxophone, e guitar, cimbalom, vibraphone, prep. piano, accordion)
• Canto Paradiso (2005; 2 recorders, soprano, bariton, piano, e piano, keyboards, african drums, bongos)
• Orestes by Euripides (2006; wind quintet)
• Ukolébavka / Lullaby (2006; e guitar, vibraphone, piano)
• Nevýslovně mnoho / "Unspeakably Much" (2007; oboe, basson, e guitar)
• An Ancient Calligraphy (2007; for large orchestra, two harps, two vibraphones and harmonium)
• Naklonit si Nebesa (Smooth the Heaven, 2009; for large orchestra)
• Dunami (2010; clarinet, soprano saxophone, e guitar)
• Mount.(never) rests (2010; flute, oboe, clarinet, horn, bassoon, harp, amplified guitar, violin, cello)
• LISTEN (2010; for Konvergence Ensemble; clarinet, guitar, piano, viola, cello, double-bass) Konvergence
• The Book of Sand (May 2011; for Dunami Ensemble; e guitar 1, e guitar 2, accordion, vibraphone, soprano saxophone, clarinet)
• Oxytocine Mother Earth (September 2011; for Oxbridge Singers, premiere 11.11. 2011 at Wien Modern festival)
• Eve and Lilith [chamber opera/installation for Dunami Ensemble; New Opera Days of Ostrava 2012]
• The Book Of Earth (March 2012; for Orchestr Berg, con. Peter Vrábel, premiere 10.4. 2012, Galerie DOX, Praha)
• Mašín Gun [Seven Rituals for purging the Czech Lands from the Spirit of Communism]for Ensemble Modern [2012; conducted by Peter Eotwos, Munich, Germany]
• Variations for large ensemble (2013; for New Century Players Los Angeles)
• Allegory of the Cave for large orchestra (2013)
• Kairos whispering for amplified trio (2013; for Trio Accanto)
• Colour Music for two electric guitars (2014)
• A Roll Of A Dice Will Never Abolish Chance (2014; open score for BERG Orchestra)
• Stockhausen On Sirius (2015, for IEMA Ensemble)
• Zatímco krajina se chvěla v mokré kápi (2015; for amplified four-handed piano)
• KRABAT /Der Lehrling eines Zaubermeisters/ for symphonic brass instruments (2015)
• Chata v Jezerní kotlině (2016; opera-instalation for Dunami Ensemble, festival MusicOlomouc 2017)
• Sonata for flute & loopers (2017; for amplified flute; for Lenka Kozderková)
• Kytarový kvartet č. 1 " Aleph" / Guitar Quartet No. 1 „Aleph“ (2017; for Aleph Guitarrenquartett)
• Lilith Aria (2017; for soprano and classical guitar)
• Piano trio „Solaris“ (2018, for ensemble Solaris3)
• Allegory of the Cave for mixed choir & prepared piano (2018)
• Klavírní trio č. 1 / Piano trio No. 1 "Solaris" (2018)
• Árie Evy / "Eve Aria" (2018; for soprano and classical guitar)
• To A Xylophony of Obscene Over the Consciousness in Agony (2018; for chamber ensemble)
• Štěstí (2019, trio for viola, two cellos & test of sirens)
• Kytarový kvartet č. 2 "Árie Evy" / Guitar Quartet No. 2 "Eve Aria" (2019/21)
• Noosféra / Noosphere (2020; site-specific for two ice-cream cars, fountaine & the dancers)
• Darwin Among The Machines (for symphony orchestra, 2021)
• Chata v Jezerní kotlině (2016/21; opera-instalation for Dunami Ensemble, festival Hudební současnost Ostrava 2021)
• Rozlučka se svobodou ("Bachelor Party", techno-optimistic flash-mob opera)
• The Spectral Waltzer (Prague Off-Spring, 2023)
• Allegory Of The Cave II. (for symphony orchestra, 2023)

Ensembles

• New Century Players Los Angeles (2013; Variations for large ensemble)
• Janáček Philharmony Ostrava (2009, “Smooth the Heaven“ for large orchestra, conductor Petr Kotík)
• Ensemble Modern (2012; Mašín Gun, Seven Rituals for purging the Czech Lands from the Spirit of Communism)
• ONO Orchestra (Darwin Among The Machines for symphony orchestra; 2021)
• Aleph Gitarrenquartett
• Janáček Philharmony Ostrava (2007, “An Ancient Calligraphy“ for large orchestra, two harps, two vibraphones and harmonium, conductor Petr Kotík)
• Trio Accanto (2013, Kairos whispering)
• IEMA International Ensemble Modern Academy
• Moravian Philharmony Olomouc (2007, “An Ancient Calligraphy“ for large orchestra, two harps, two vibraphones and harmonium, conductor Martin Buchta)
• Moravian Philharmony Olomouc (2009, “Smooth the Heaven“ for large orchestra, conductor Gabriel Rovňák)
• Konvergence (Prague)
• Philharmony of Hradec Králové (2011, “Smooth the Heaven“ for large orchestra, conductor Valentina Shuklina)
• VENI Ensemble (2011, The Book of Water, The Book of Sand)
• Oxbridge Singers (2011, Oxytocine Mother Earth)
• Orchestr Berg (2012, The Book Of Earth)
• Dunami Ensemble [‚Duna­mi‘,‚The Book Of Sand‘, ‚The Book Of Earth‘, ‚The Book Of Pendulum‘, ‚Eva a Lilith‘ opera-instalace, ´Chata v Jezerní kotlině]
• Solaris3
• Prague Singers Choir
• Soozvuk Ensemble
• BCO Brno Contemporary Orchestra
• Ostravská banda
• Klangforum Wien

Other projects, scholarships and artist residencies

• 2007 and 2012 – Scholarship from Nadace Český hudební fond
• International project Art Of Virus in 2020 (H CK THE VIRUS for bigband orchestra)
• UNCOOL - Artists in Residence Switzerland 2022 (creative stay, concert, workshop)
• Art of ideas, concert in New York, 2023
• Culture Moves - Goethe Institute - Spain 2023