Petr Prause

Petr Prause was born in Ostrava, Czech Republic and started to play the cello at the age of six with Miroslav Dolezil and Ivan Merka. He progressed to the Academy of Fine Arts in Prague, where he was taught by Miroslav Petras and members of the Smetana Quartet, graduating with a Masters Degree. He also studied at the International Menuhin Music Academy in Switzerland, and with Raphael Wallfisch at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London, where he was awarded the Concert Recital Diploma (Premier Prix). Petr taught cello at the Prague Conservatory of Music and was Principal Cellist of the Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra, while performing as a soloist throughout the world. Since 1997, Petr Prause has been a member of the Talich Quartet. They have been invited to the most important chamber music venues including London, New York, Washington, Toronto, Montreal, Berlin, Munich, Amsterdam, Brussels, Paris, Prades,  Seoul, Tokyo, Osaka and of course Rudolfinum in Prague, where they were Ensemble in Residence for the season 2009/10. Petr also joins other outstanding musicians in all kinds of chamber music formations and gives masterclasses at a wide range of international institutions. Recently, he was invited to the Jury of the Concours International de Musique de Chambre in Lyon. At the moment, Petr is based in Manchester, England, where he has been appointed Artistic Director of International Chamber Music Studio, further strengthening the provision of chamber music at the Royal Northern College of Music. Petr plays an exquisite cello Giovanni Grancino (1710) which he has on loan from the Czech National Museum Collection.