South Czech Philharmonic It was founded in České Budějovice in 1981 under the original name South Bohemian State Orchestra and currently has 45 members. Conductor Jaroslav Vodňanský was instrumental in the orchestra’s founding; later, Ondřej Kukal, Jaroslav Krček, and Stanislav Vavřínek served as chief conductors, followed by Jan Talich from 2008 to 2020, 2021–2023 by Miran Vaupotić, and as of the 2024–2025 season, Alena Hron has become the new chief conductor.
In addition to the obvious interpretation of music by classical composers and pieces suitable for smaller orchestras and small concert halls, the orchestra is increasingly following the current trend of combining genres, discovering new perspectives on interpretation and presentation, and systematically working on ever higher quality. Most of the musicians are young, ambitious, skilful and promising performers who very much welcome any further opportunity to work with top conductors and soloists.
The ambition of the South Czech Philharmonic is to maintain the desired interest of existing subscribers and at the same time to focus on younger audiences and the wider public so that those South Bohemians who have been more or less passed over by so-called classical music will also come. It certainly has the capacity, direction and taste.
