Bohumil Smejkal (Violin)

When Bohumil Smejkal graduated from the conservatory in 1958, and from the Janacek Academy of Music and Performing Arts in 1963, it was clear that he was a violinist with a great furture. He showed it especially, as the Primarius of the Janacek Quartet, from 1973 until 1993. For two periods he held the Deanship of Music at formed BROLN (Brno Radio Orchestra of Folk Music) for a one week period which eventually extended to 17 years. His exceptional musical adaptability has become one of the dominant personalities in presenting traditional folk music to contemporary listeners. During the years 1962 to 1973 Bohumil Smejkal headed BROLN at numerous concerts at home as in 20 countries around the world, and sinse 1967 he was its artistic leader. He has enriched the orchestral repertoire with many arrangements by faithful transcriptions of folk music, from over "populars" to the more demanding styles, and in so doing he has produced more than one thousand recordings with the orchestra.