Jaroslav Vodňanský, the respected Czech conductor and founder of the South Bohemian Philharmonic Orchestra, died on Saturday, May 10th 2025 at the age of 89. He succumbed to a long and severe illness.
Jaroslav Vodňanský was born on 26 April 1936. He studied cello and conducting at the Prague Conservatoire and went on to the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague under Alois Klíma and Václav Smetáček, where he graduated in 1965. In 1970 he was a finalist in the Prague Spring Conducting Competition.
During his career, he worked in several orchestras, including the East Bohemian State Chamber Orchestra in Pardubice (1969-71), the Vít Nejedlý Army Art Ensemble (1971-1978), the Central Bohemian Symphony Orchestra Poděbrady (1972-1974) and the State Chamber Orchestra Žilina Slovakia (since 1990).
In 1975 he founded the South Bohemian State Chamber Orchestra in České Budějovice (later renamed the South Bohemian Chamber Philharmonic Orchestra České Budějovice), where he served as chief conductor until the end of the 1980s.
Vodňanský also taught at the conservatories in Žilina (1992-1993), Prague (1994-2000) and České Budějovice (1999-2001). He conducted conducting courses in South Korea (1999-2001) and performed on international stages in the USA, Germany, Spain, China and other countries. Vodňanský has been active as a conductor until 2023. That means his career lasted nearly sixty years.
Jaroslav Vodňanský died on Saturday 10 May after a long and difficult illness.
The last farewell will take place on Friday, May 16, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. in the Basilica of St. Ludmila in Prague.
