News

Music matinee - a meeting point for talented students and alumni

At noon, the Emmaus abbey Na Slovanech rang with the tones of classical and modern music. On Thursday, 7 December, the 29th musical matinee of the Institute for Language and Preparatory Studies (ÚJOP UK) took place.The concert featured talented, both current and former students of the preparatory and language courses. As diverse as the multinational mix of the performers was, so too was their repertoire, which ranged from works by J. S. Bach to ABBA. 

"It is strangely quiet and peaceful here, and perhaps you too have subconsciously lowered your voices and your steps," described the concert organizer Marie Poláčková the charm of the Emmaus monastery. The mystical atmosphere of the Benedictine monastery provides an ideal setting for a moment of peace, contemplation and artistic experience during Advent.

Among the performers was Yuka Abukawa from Japan, who completed her musical education at Toho Gakuen University and is now continuing her studies at HAMU in Prague. Originally from South Korea, Hee Kang specializes in vocal music and won a prize in the Korea-China International Music Competition.

The Czech Republic was represented by Adéla Demovičová, a mezzo-soprano studying singing at the Prague Conservatory and the Academy of Ancient Music in Brno. She was succeeded on stage by saxophonist Nicolas Mateo Chalco Sandoval from Ecuador.For his performance, violinist Zhiren Shen from China chose the song Butterfly Lovers, which tells a famous love story from ancient China. Aislu Sushy from Kazakhstan has only been studying singing with a teacher for two years, but has been intensively involved in music for more than nine years. The concert also featured performances by Sofiia Rybas and Anastasiia Navarchuk from Ukraine and Edgar Urmeneta from Mexico. 

A traditional part of the event is also an exhibition of students' paintings and photographs in the ambit. This year's exhibition featured more than twenty works including paintings, photographs and stone paintings. A new highlight of this year's matinee was the awarding of prizes to the winner of the photography competition, who was Adam Zariefeh. His photograph impressed the jury with its expression and composition.  

A new highlight of this year's matinee was the awarding of prizes to the winner of the photography competition, who was Adam Zariefeh.

The peaceful pre-Christmas gathering of students, alumni, teachers and the ÚJOP management reminded everyone that studying at ÚJOP is not only a path to a successful start of university studies, but also to lasting friendships and membership in the multi-thousand strong ALUMNI community. So if you haven't done so yet, join us.

Photo: Eva Kořínková, ÚJOP UK

Text: Petra Köppl