*9.1.1955 Rychnov nad Knežnou / Czech Republic
1981–1985
Studied at the Janáček Academy of Musical Art in Brno (JAMU), composition with Prof.Zdeněk Zouhar as well as electro-acoustic, computer and electronic music and music theory
since 1990
Musical works internationally performed at the following festivals:
“Synthese 90” Festival in Bourges; “Elektronmusik Festival” Stockholm; “ler Colloque International des jeunes Compositeurs de Musique Electro-accoustique 1991,” UNESCO in Paris; Ars Electronica; Prague Spring Festival; Schleswig-Holstein Festival; “Czechoslovak Night” Munich 1990; Munich Bienale.
Won the Czech Musical Foundation Award for the composition “Labyrinth” (for flute, voice and electronics)
1992
Premiere of the composition “Bread and Circuses” (sextet for percussion) at the Munich Biennale Great Hall of the Philharmonic
1993
Theatrical performance “Tower of Babel” (dir. J. Krofta) with music by Jirásek premiered in Charlesville (France)
1994
Premiere of the “Missa propria” at the Prague Spring Festival (Spanish Hall, Prague Castle)
1994
Composer-In-Residence, 5 colleges/universities in the USA (Lehigh University, Moravian College, Muhlenberg College, Lafayette College, State University of New York)
1994
Theatrical performance of “Don Quijote” (dir. J. Krofta) with music by Jirásek premiered in Adelaide (Australia)
1994
Theatrical performance of “Coco-Kaba” (dir. J. Krofta) with music by Jirásek premiered in Vancouver, WA
1995
The CD “Renaissance of Humanity” released by BMG Classics with music by Jan Jirásek, Arvo Pärt and Hildegard von Bingen
The CD “Renaissance of Humanity” (Jirásek, Pärt, von Bingen) was presented by BMG Classics as “CD of the Month” in Germany
1996
Premiere of the “St. Luke Passion” (recomposition of a piece according to the manuscript of J.S.Bach and concept of Carl Orff) in Gasteig Munich, by Munich Philharmonic on February 25, 1996 and recorded by Bavarian Radio, Munich (Commissioned by the Kulturkreis Gasteig e.V., Munich)
Wrote music for the film “An Ambiguous Report About the End of the World” (dir. Juraj Jakubisko) and won the “Czech Lion Award” for the best score
1996
Won Fulbright Fellowship and spent the academic year 1996-97 as a visiting professor of composition in USA (Hartt School of Music, University of Colorado at Boulder)
1997
The CD “Bread and Circuses” released by BMG Classics
Premiere of “Voice on Canvas” (for soprano, violin and piano based upon texts of an Anonymous, Lord Alfred Douglas, St. Francis of Assisi and T. G. Masaryk) and “Forgotten Metaphor” (violin and piano) Merkin Concert Hall, New York City
Awarded the prestigious film music prize “The Czech Lion” for movie “An Ambiguous Report About the End of the World” (dir. Juraj Jakubisko)
Taught at the Colorado College at Colorado Springs
1999
Two performances of the organ piece “Ad unum”, by Věra Heřmanová at the Prague Spring Festival (at the Prague Castle)
1999
Taught at the International Music Academy Prague-Vienna-Budapest organized by Universität für Musik und Darstellende Kunst, Vienna
Premiere of the movie “Melancholic Chicken” (dir. Jaroslav Brabec) with Jirásek’s music in Prague
1999
The CD “World Festival of Sacred Music Europe” with Jirásek’s piece “Kyrie” launched by His Holiness the Dalai-Lama in Germany
2000
The CD “St. Luke Passion” (Bach/Orff/Jirásek) released worldwide by Danish company Classico
United States premiere of “St. Luke Passion” in Ted Man Hall, Minneapolis, USA (Plymouth Music Series, conductor: Philip Brunelle)
Premiere of musical for children “Pinokio” with Jirásek’s music, in Prague (this performance is a combination of musical, opera, theatre and circus.)
2000
Premiere of movie “Kytice” (Wild Flowers) with Jirásek’s music, in Prague
2001
Invited to teach at the International Music Academy Prague-Vienna-Budapest organized by Universität für Musik und Darstellende Kunst, Vienna
2001
Awarded the prestigious film music prize “The Czech Lion” for the movie “Wild Flowers” (dir. F. A. Brabec)
Wrote a film score for Rajko Grlic’s movie the “Josephine”
2001
Wrote a film score for Jaroslav Brabec’s movie “Samota”(Solitude)
2002
Taught at the International Music Academy Prague-Vienna-Budapest organized by Universität für Musik und Darstellende Kunst, Vienna
Wrote music for the “Secrets and Beauties of the Czech Republic” exhibition
2003
composer-in-residence at the Colorado College at Colorado Springs
2003
Jan Jirásek was commissioned to write a piece for organ and tuba “Viribus unitis”for festival Voor de Wind in Amsterdam
Wrote a film score for Jaroslav Brabec’s movie “PF 77” This movie was awarded with the Czech TV prize ELSA
Taught at the Colorado College at Colorado Springs
2004
Taught a master-class at the Florida International University, Miami, FL, USA, his choral piece “Missa propria” was performed there
2004
Jirásek’s piece “Something Happened” was commissioned and premiered by the Lehigh Valley Chamber Orchestra in Allentown, Pennsylvania, USA
Wrote a film score for F.A.Brabec’s movie “Bolero“
2005
Jirásek’s piece “Praga mystica” was performed by the Prague Symphony Orchestra and broadcasted to 15 European countries (EBU)
Jirásek’s pieces “Dilemma” (for cello) and “Castles in the Air” (for one percussionist were performed at the festival in Chico, California, USA
2006
Czech choir “Jitro” won the “World Choral Games” in Xiamen, China with Jan Jirásek’s piece “Te Deum laudamus”
2007
Scored music for the TV series HRABENKY (17 chapters, produced by the Czech TV Prague)
2008
Scored music for the international film BATHORY (dir. Juraj Jakubisko)
Signed a contract with the publishing house Ricordi/Universal, Munich, Germany.
Ricordi publishes all works by Jan Jirásek
2009
Wrote a film score for Jaroslav Brabec’s film “Post bellum” based on a screenplay by Vladimir Korner
2009
Finished a choral capella piece “Mondi paralleli” (The Parallel Worlds). This piece was recorded by the Czech Radio Prague and aired all over Europe
2010
Intimate Grammar – director Nir Bergman (music: Jan Jirásek and Ondrej Soukup) Intimate Grammar won the Haggiag Award for Best Full-Length Feature Film at the 27th Jerusalem Film Festival and won the Tokyo Sakura Grand Prix Award
2010
Jan Jirásek scored movies by Jiří Krejčík, Milan Cieslar, Jaroslav Brabec, Jiří Strach and other Czech film directors
2010
Jan Jirásek’s organ music has been performed in Ulmer Münster, Ulm Germany by a famous German organist Jürgen Essl
2011
Jan Jirásek’s music was widely performed – Sydney Opera (Australia) “Missa propria”, Avignon Festival, France (“Missa propria”), etc.
Jirásek’s piece “Encountering an Illusion” was premiered by the Khorikos Ensemble along with other Jirásek’s piece “Missa propria” in New York City, NY (St. Anthony of Padua Church in Manhattan, Sept. 17, 2011)
2012
Jan Jirásek’s organ concerto “Dance with the Universe” will be premiered in Portland, Oregon, USA (organ: J. Essl. Portland Chamber Orchestra, conductor: Yaacov Bergman)
2012
Vega String Quartet commissioned and premiered Jirásek’s piece “Fragile Balance/Letter to Heaven” in Atlanta
2012
Jan Jirásek scored a film by Jiri Strach “Vrasky z lasky” (Wrinkles out of Love)
2012
Jan Jirásek scored a film by Jiri Strach “Stastny smolar” (A Lucky Loser)
2013
April 2nd, Czech childrens choir Permonik performed Jan Jirásek’s piece “Missa propria” in the St.Patrick Cathedral in New York and in the Carnegie Hall, NYC
2013
May 11, Jirásek’s micro-opera “King Lavra” (for chorus, piano and percussion) was premiered by Khorikos in the Bohemian National Hall (Czech Center), NYC
2014
April 17, the ballet “Guru” will be premiered in the National Theatre in Prague (commissioned by the National Theatre in Prague)
2014
May 25, Jan Jirásek’s concert at the Prague Spring Festival
2014
June 26, St. Luke Passion by Bach/Orff/Jirásek will have its Czech premiere at the Smetanova
Litomyšl International Music Festival
2015
March 21, Jirásek’s opera R.U.R. will be premiered at the National Theatre in Prague