RADOST-PRAHA

RADOST-PRAHA choir, set up by Mr. Vladislav Souček in 1961, nowadays unites more than 200 child and adult singers between ages of 5 and 72. Since 1994 the choir has had its home at the Art School in Prague 7. The choir consists of 4 preparatory bodies, a 70-strong childrenchoir RADOST, the girls' chamber choir CESMINA, and  60-strong mixed choir GAUDIUM, all associated in  RADOST-PRAHA group. The name of the choir expresses the joy the choir wishes to bring to both its members and the listeners.

The repertoire of the concert department RADOST is  extensive. It contains both religious and secular compositions, from Gregorian chant and  masterpieces of old polyphony  through the works of classical and contemporary masters to folk songs, sung in original languages.

The choir RADOST has been amongst the best children choirs in our country for many years. In addition to numerous concerts in the Czech Republic the children have already sung in twelve European countries and, on two occasions, in Canada. The choir has taken part in  famous competitions and music festivals, for example the European Festival in Neerpelt in Belgium (1st prize "Cum laude"), the international competitions in Celje in Slovenia (1st prize and the Audience prize), in Cantonigros in Spain (1st prize) and in Llangollen in Wales (2nd prize). RADOST PRAHA achieved great success by winning two 2nd prizes in Celje in Slovenia in 2005. Its performance was also appreciated at the international competition of choir singing in Limburg-Lindenholzhausen in Germany in the same year, where RADOST PRAHA was awarded the 1st prize, the only golden medal and at the same time the Prize of the Festival. The choir records its own CDs, and cooperates both with the Czech Television and the Czech Radio, as well as with the State Opera in Prague.

       Vladislav Souček, the artistic director of the choir RADOST-PRAHA, was born on 17th April, 1937. He graduated from the electro-technical faculty of the Czech Technical University (ČVUT) and for forty years was teaching electrical engineering at secondary schools and universities. At present he is fully engaged in music and teaches choir singing, intonation and voice production at the Art School in Prague 7. He has also been lecturing at choir seminars and worked as an expert assessor in Czech as well as international choir competitions for many years. He is a member of the Board of Experts for children choir singing, IPOS-Artama, at the Ministry of Culture, as well as member of the Main Board of Music of the Czech Choir Union. He has arranged many Czech and foreign folk songs for his choirs.

        Vladislav Souček comes from a family of musicians. After additional music studies he worked first as the second choir master of the “Comic Opera” in Prague-Vinohrady and of the Czech radio choir “Mír”. After having worked with various choirs, in 1961 he set up his own children choir RADOST-PRAHA. RADOST has been working under his direction at the Art School in Praha 7. Since its establishment it has expanded and nowadays it comprises seven separate choirs with more than 300 singers from pre-school to senior age. RADOST-PRAHA, successful both at home and abroad, is amongst the best children choirs in the Czech Republic