Kryštof Marek
is a conductor, composer, pianist, lyricist and arranger who has worked with a great many music and theatre projects spanning an impressive range of musical genres ever since the 80s. His collaboration with symphony orchestras is particularly noteworthy: in 2014 alone he presented his Cycle of 12 Symphonic Songs with the Pardubice Chamber Philharmonic (featuring soloists M. Vyskvorkina, G. Demeterová, S. Bukovská – the IN TRIO project); world premiere of the concerto for cor anglais Heart of the Gardens with the Czech Radio Symphony Orchestra led by V. Válek (with soloist J. Tomšíčková); world premiere of the piano concerto in F minor Gate to the Garden and a reprise of his composition Sinael Jazz Symphony with the Karlovy Vary SO; plus conducting the South Bohemia Chamber Philharmonic at a concert with major next generation jazz icon Jane Monheit etc. A number of concerts are planned for this year including a reprise of a violin concerto written for the internationally acclaimed violinist Gabriela Demeterová Key to the Gardens. As a conductor he currently works at the Karlín Music Theatre. He also collaborates extensively with Czech Radio with whom he has performed 14 musical dramatizations. He also works with the Studio DVA theatre – having performed Hello, Dolly; A Christmas Carol (music and lyrics); Little Girl – A Christmas Story (music and lyrics). He has been a pianist with the Josef Vejvoda Trio for over a decade now. He makes regular guest appearances at the Prague Proms International Music Festival, having conducted for Hollywood Night, Jazz meets Symphony (James Morrison, Lalo Schifrin), Bobby Shew Night, Jazz A - Z (James Morrison, Hetty Kate) and others. In addition to all of this, he writes and arranges music for big bands – most recently above all for the Kryštof Marek Orchestra and the St. Blaise’s Bigband with whom he has performed at prestigious festivals including Montreux (2008) and London (2010). In 2010 he conducted the world renowned Metropole Orchestra at the Hague Jazz Festival (with Silje Nergaard). Over the years he has also conducted the so-called “Stars Concerts” in Žofín Palace, for most of which he was responsible for creating the orchestral arrangements. He has released an impressive amount of CDs (including Angels’ Crying in My Head, Angels’ Laughter in My Heart, feat. Tony Lakatos; Legends of Magical Prague; Calm Presence; Sinael Jazz Symphony; A Christmas Carol).
