Who is He?

Jakub Hrůša knew from first grade that he was destined to become a conductor.  At high school in Brno, he studied trombone and piano, and later, at Prague’s Academy of Performing Arts (HAMU), he was mentored by conductors Jiří Bělohlávek and Radomil Eliška. Today, orchestras worldwide regard him as a conductor with a profound message and energy to share; while audiences are captivated by his athletic performances. His schedule is booked three years in advance, and in 2025, he will add to his diary the role of Music Director of London’s Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, where he currently lives with his wife and two children. Despite his international career, he remains deeply attached to his Czech roots. He insists for example on keeping the distinctive Czech “ů” in his surname.  

"Musicians who play with enthusiasm bring a greater experience than those who may play equally well but without joy."

– Jakub Hrůša

Milestones

Chief Conductor of the Bamberg Symphony and Principal Guest Conductor of the Czech Philharmonic, Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra, and Orchestra dell’Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia. President of the International Martinů Circle and the Dvořák Society for Czech and Slovak Music.

A frequent guest conductor with top orchestras, including the Wiener Philharmoniker, Berliner Philharmoniker, Münchner Philharmoniker, New York Philharmonic, Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks (Munich), Gewandhausorchester Leipzig, Staatskapelle Dresden, Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich, Koninklijk Concertgebouworkest (Amsterdam), Orchestre de Paris, NHK Symphony Orchestra (Tokyo), Cleveland Orchestra, and Boston Symphony Orchestra.

Collaborated with renowned vocal and instrumental soloists including Abduraimov, Lisa Batiashvili, Rudolf Buchbinder, Joshua Bell, Yefim Bronfman, Gautier Capuçon, Julia Fischer, Sol Gabetta, Hélène Grimaud, Hilary Hahn, Janine Jansen, Leonidas Kavakos, Karita Mattila, Lang Lang, Anne Sofie Mutter, Josef Špaček, Jean-Yves Thibaudet, Daniil Trifonov, Mitsuko Uchida, Yuja Wang, Alisa Weilerstein and Frank Peter Zimmermann.

For his recordings and performing achievements, Hrůša has received numerous nominations and awards including a Grammy nomination, Gramophone Award, "Conductor of the Year" (2023) from Germany’s Opus Klassik, International Classical Music Awards, the German Record Critics' Award ("Schallplattenkritik Preis"), BBC Music Magazine Award, Anděl Award, Antonín Dvořák Award, Bavarian State Music Prize and Sir Charles Mackerras Award.

Author of the essay collection Hrůša on Martinů and narrator of the audiobook Bedřich Smetana – A Biography by Pavel Kosatík.

Honorary member of the Royal Academy of Music in London.

The Allegro Forte - Faces of Czech Music exhibition was conceived and photographed by Štěpánka Stein and Vendy Mlejnská. Jakub Hrůša is pictured on an unusual visit to the Onyx Music Club.