~ JAN ROKYTA (1969) ~

cimbalom - artistic leader

Jan Rokyta studied to play the cimbalom with Ludmila Dadakova at the Conservatory of Music in Bratislava (Slovakia) and the recorder with Walter van Hauwe and Paul Leenhouts at the Sweelinck Academy of Music in Amsterdam. He has played with, among others, the Cimbalom band Technik in Ostrava (Czech Republic), which was founded in 1958 by his father, Jan Rokyta sr. In addition he was a regular guest of the OĽUN Radio Bratislava and Brno Radio Orchestra of folk instruments (BROLN).

In the field of contemporary classical music Jan Rokyta cooperated with the Philharmonic Orchestra of Radio Bratislava and later in the Netherlands with ASKO-Schönberg Ensemble, the Nederlands Blazers Ensemble, Het Nieuw Ensemble, Concertgebouworkest and Radio Chamber Philharmonic. Recently, he is also a frequent guest of philharmonic and chamber orchestras in Germany and Austria (eg. Österreichisches Ensemble für Neue Musik, Klangforum and Radio-Symfonieorchester Südwestrundfunk Stuttgart).

In the field of world folklore Jan Rokyta gained rich experiences in the International Dance Theatre Orchestra in Amsterdam, where he worked from 1995-2002 as a soloist and instrumental music implementer and as a music director of the orchestra in 2007-2008 season. The cooperation with Jewish singer Shura Lipovsky in 2004 was crowned participation in the international festivals of Jewish music in Krakow, Weimar and Amsterdam.

Along with Liselotte Rokyta created Jan Rokyta an unusual instrumental combination of panflute and cimbalom. Together they offer a concert program including folk music of Eastern Europe, as well as the transcriptions and original compositions for panflute and cimbalom.

Jan Rokyta began professionally devote to study of wine parallel with career as a professional musician, by the study at the Dutch Wine Academy in 2003-2004. After graduating the academy he became a qualified "Viticulturist" and since 2006 he studied further at the British organization WINE AND SPIRIT EDUCATION TRUST, where he graduated fourth degree "Diploma Course" in 2009 and he became a full member of this organization (AIWS - Associated Member Institue Wine and Spirit). In early 2010, successfully graduated WSET course lecturers in London and he became a certified teacher of the organization (WSET Certified Educator). In the same year he gained the title "Weinakademiker of Austrian Wine Academy in Rust", because of the defense of his thesis about the export potential of Moravian wines. Jan Rokyta has taught at the Prague Wine Academy since 2011 and he has engaged in consulting activities for Moravian wine growers.

Jan Rokyta is a five-time finalist of the Dutch tasting competition "Prix Pommery" and after the 2nd place in 2006 he became the laureate of the competition in 2009 and "The Netherlands Viticulturist of the Year 2010".