For aspiring musicians, receiving feedback from experienced colleagues is invaluable. And when those colleagues are members of the world-renowned Vienna Philharmonic, their insights become even more significant.

Joining this orchestra requires not only exceptional talent but also extensive experience in solo, chamber, and orchestral performance. Its members are either established or potential soloists, and the internal pressure to maintain excellence is immense. Every musician strives for perfection, making any hesitation immediately noticeable—not just to critics but within the ensemble itself.

Czech musicians have long left their mark on the Vienna Philharmonic, and one of them, violinist Milan Šetena, is at the heart of this festival’s masterclass program. After studying at the Prague Conservatory, he moved to Vienna in 1988, where he joined the Vienna State Opera Orchestra, the gateway to the Philharmonic. Despite building his career in Austria, Šetena remains deeply connected to his Czech roots, organizing masterclasses in southern Bohemia and inviting fellow Philharmonic members to teach.

This year, he returns to Prague with violinist Martin Kubik and cellist Edison Pashko to share their expertise. The concert at Artium will showcase the work of these young musicians and their distinguished mentors.

This concert is a benefit event. All proceeds from ticketsales will support exceptionally talented young musicians.

Milan Šetena was born in Prague, where he took violin lessons from a very early age.

He studied with Bedřich Čapek from 1974 to 1982 and with František Pospíšil at the Prague Conservatory from 1982 to 1988. As a student, he was  appointed the first  ever concertmaster of the Gustav Mahler Youth Orchestra under Claudio Abbado in 1987, the year it was formed.

Milan Šetena moved to Vienna in 1988, where he continued his studies with Prof. Alfred Staar. In 1990, he was engaged as a  first violinist of the Vienna State Opera and in 1994 he became a member of the Vienna Philharmonic.

In addition to the VPO, Milan plays  with the Kammerorchester Wien Berlin, Wiener Virtuosen, the Wiener Geigen Quartet, the Schulhoff Quartet and the Antonin Dvorak Piano Quartet with whom he has participated in numerous CD recordings and performed at renowned international festivals, such as the Salzburg Festival, Schubertiade Schwarzenberg,  Festival Mitte Europa and The Stars of White Nights Festival in St. Petersburg.Moreover, Milan has appeared as a soloist at a large number of concerts in Austria and abroad. 

In 2009, he recorded a CD titled "Wiener Romanzen" with his long-standing piano partner, Maria Vigilante.Along with Rainer Honeck, the concertmaster of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, Milan featured as a soloist partner  on a CD in the "precious music" series of the Österreichische Nationalbank.In 2012, Milan recorded another CD in this series, this time in his own right as the soloist.

As well as his activities as an orchestra, chamber and solo musician, Milan Šetena is also a chamber music coach. In January 2012, he sat in the jury of the Concertino Praga International Chamber Music Competition and  in June 2014,  on the panel of the A.Dvorak  International  Chamber Music Competition.

In May 2019 Milan Šetena was awarded a professor title by the Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen.

In summer 2020, 2022 and 2023 Milan initiated and then became Artistic Director of a very successful International Music Master Classes Slavonice www.immc.slavonice.com

Milan Šetena plays a violin by Sanctus Seraphin, Venice 1733, on loan from the Austrian ą Nationalbank's collection.

source: Milan Šetena

Martin Kubik was born in Düsseldorf in 1967. He grew up in Vienna and began receiving private lessons in 1974 from the legendary Professor Alfred Staar, a member of the Vienna State Opera Orchestra, the Vienna Philharmonic, and the Weller Quartet. Starting in 1981, he also studied with Professor Clemens Hellsberg, also a member of the Vienna Philharmonic. Martin Kubik attended the Vienna Music Gymnasium and, in addition to the violin, also delved into the study of trombone and composition.

In 1985, he won the audition for the position of Second Violinist in the Vienna State Opera Orchestra, becoming the youngest member of this orchestra and, three years later, also a member of the Vienna Philharmonic. In 1986, he graduated from the Music Gymnasium with honors. In 1992, after a successful audition, he joined the First Violin section of the Vienna Philharmonic.

As an enthusiastic chamber musician, Martin Kubik was a member and later leader of the Philharmonia Schrammeln Wien from 1990 to 2010. He performed with ensembles such as the Otto-Nicolai Quartet, the Straka Ensemble, the Wiener Streichersolisten, Wiener Geigenquartett, and the Ensemble Kontrapunkte on both national and international stages.

He co-founded the Salzburg-Wien Ensemble with members of the Mozarteum Orchestra Salzburg, which regularly performs at the festivals on Burg Golling, co-founded by Martin Kubik.

In addition to his roles with the Vienna Philharmonic and in chamber music ensembles, Martin Kubik is a sought-after lecturer for audition preparation and chamber music. He regularly teaches, among other places, at the Summer Academy of the Angelika Prokop Foundation in Salzburg, led by members of the Vienna Philharmonic. In May 2019, Martin Kubik was awarded the title of professor by the Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen.

source: Martin Kubik

Edison Pashko was born in Korça, Albania. Right there, in his hometown, he began studying the cello under the guidance of Kostika Tanta at the age of 6. From 1992 onwards, he continued his cello studies under the direction of Gëzim Laro at the Art Academy in Tirana. A year later, he joined the class of Professor Florian Kitt at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Graz, where he graduated with honors in 1998.

In 1996, was Edison also a prize winner at the International Cello Competition in Liezen.

From 1999 until 2000, Edison furthered his education with Valentin Erben at the Music University in Vienna. In 2009, he became engaged in the stage orchestra of the Vienna State Opera. Following a successful audition, Edison became a member of the Vienna State Opera Orchestra in 2010, and in 2013, he became a member of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra.

As a soloist, Edison has performed with various European and Asian orchestras.

He is a passionate and sought-after chamber musician, having served as the solo cellist in the Wiener Kammerphilharmonie, and performed with ensembles such as "Wiener Collage" and "die Reihe." Edison is also a regular guest with the Küchl Quartet and Steude Quartet.

source: Edison Pashko

Artium by KKCG is a publicly accessible space for art of all genres, breathing artistic life into Bořislavka and enriching the cultural offerings in Prague 6 and the capital more generally. Artium regularly holds exhibitions, concerts, and other cultural events, and the unconventional space allows visitors to explore art across different genres, often intertwined to create a unique experience. During this year’s Dvořák Prague International Music Festival’s concerts at Artium, spectators can also enjoy an extensive exhibition of photographic installations by Jarmila Štuková titled "Us and the Others."

The concerts presented here as part of the Dvořák Prague Festival are organized for a good cause, with all proceeds supporting talented, young musicians.