Jiri Zigmund, viola
Unlike Jan Schulmeister, Jiri's family had no background in music but due to encouragement from his mother, he and both his elder siblings are musicians. Born by chance in Prague in 1966, he (and his family) actually lived in Ostrava, Moravia where he started to play the violin at the age of 5. At the local conservatoire, his love of chamber music was developed, playing Piano Trios and doing well in many competitions in Czechoslovakia. He left home in 1987 on joining the army. Deprived of a chance to become a violinist in the Army Orchestra, because his mother was too religious for the Communist authorities, he jumped at the chance of playing the viola instead, as there was a shortage due to two of the four viola players falling ill. At the first rehearsal he borrowed a viola from a friend and asked how to read the Alto Clef. He insists that he still does not know how to read it.
Jiri lives and breathes music and enjoys playing and listening to Gypsy Music, Jazz and Folk Music. He has had a succession of dogs which always end up living with friends, as the Quartet travel continuously. His present love, a mongrel called Kiri, is named after his favourite singer. A very romantic person, Jiri loves to relax in beautiful surroundings with friends and good food, that he likes to prepare himself. He plays a mean game of table tennis and billiards, loves children and adores passing on to the next generation his passion for music.
He is an optimistic perfectionist, always seeking the best way to play a phrase at any given moment, knowing that his aims will change continually. Jiri Zigmund’s viola is a 1659 Andrea Hieronimus Amati, on permanent loan from the Czech State collection.
General Manager: Maureen Phillips
Upbeat Classical Management
wihan@upbeatclassical.co.uk
Tel: +44 (0) 1895 259 441
www.upbeatclassical.co.uk
PO Box 479 Uxbridge Middlesex UB8 2ZH United Kingdom