Artist Detailed Info: Panocha Quartet

Czech string quartet, formed in 1968, while its members were still students at Prague Conservatory. 1975 won 1st prize at the Prague Spring International String Quartet Competition. In 1968 a group of four talented student string players at the Prague Conservatory formed the Panocha Quartet. The name they chose comes from the ensemble's lead member, first violinist Jiri Panocha. The group's other players are violinist Pavel Zejfart, violist Miroslav Sehmoutka, and cellist Jaroslav Kulhan. Naturally, the Panocha Quartet occasionally expands or contracts its number to accommodate different-sized works, using pianists, double bass players, harmonium players, and various other instrumentalists.

The Panocha Quartet built its reputation steadily in the early years of its career, achieving its first significant breakthrough in 1975 at the Prague International String Quartet Competition, where the group captured first prize. Other important awards and citations followed quickly, including the Bordeaux Gold Medal in 1976. The first recordings began attracting attention in the coming years, and for these early efforts the group received several awards, including the Paris-based Grand Prix Academy Charles Cros in 1983. This latter honor was given for a critically acclaimed Supraphon disc of the Martinu Fourth and Sixth quartets.
In the latter decades of the twentieth century and the early years of the new millennium, the Panocha Quartet concertized busily, traveling to festivals and concert halls throughout Europe, Israel, Japan, Australia, and numerous exotic locales, as well. During that time the quartet also made more than 15 tours of the United States and Canada. In addition, the Panocha players managed to build up a sizable discography for the Supraphon label, including a cycle of the Dvorák quartets (as well as other works to make up the Czech master's complete chamber output) that many critics consider definitive. Other studio efforts included the 2004 release of the Fibich Piano Quartet, Op. 11, and the Quintet, Op. 42, with guest artists Marian Lapsansky (piano), Ludmila Peterkova (clarinet), and Vladimira Klanska (French horn).

Since that times the Quartet has achieved international fame progressing from one triumph to another. The Quartet has participated in major international festivals. 1976 awarded the Bordeaux Gold Medal and in 1982 came a Supraphon Gold Disc. 1983 the Grand Prix Academy Charles Cross was received in Paris for the recording of Martinu's Quartet Nos. 4 and 6.
Panocha Quartet places particular emphasis on Czech music, especially the works of Smetana, Dvorak, Janacek and Martinu. The Quartets follows the great Czech string quartet tradition, founded by the Ceske (Bohemian) Quartet and continued by the Smetana, Janacek and Vlach quartets.

Jiri Panocha, 1st violin
Pavel Zeifart, 2nd violin
Miroslav Sehnoutka, viola
Jaroslav Kulhan, cello

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