Marek, the leader and founder of the ensemble, is a graduate of the Prague Conservatoire, mentored by Prof. Jiří Jirmal, and the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague under the guidance of Prof. Štěpán Rak. He is the laureate of various guitar competitions and secured a finalist position in the esteemed Radio-France competition in Paris. Additionally, Marek is the author of arrangements for the ensemble.
The Prague Guitar Quartet, established at the Prague Conservatory of Music in 1984, swiftly garnered acclaim from audiences both home and worldwide. Comprising laureates of international competitions, the quartet has been invited to numerous music and guitar festivals across Europe, the USA, and the Middle East. During its forty years of existence, the PGQ has recorded for radio, television, and multiple CDs. Critics unanimously praised the quartet's virtuosity, unified sound, diverse and tasteful repertoire, and musical expressivity. These accolades have inspired prominent Czech and foreign composers to write compositions dedicated to the ensemble. Additionally, the quartet enriches its repertoire with its own arrangements spanning various historical periods and styles. The current members include Marek Velemínský, Eliška Holá, Matěj Freml, and Patrick Vacík.
Marek Velemínský
Eliška Holá (Balabánová)
Eliška's musical journey started with Renata Kudrnová, then it continued at the Music High School in Prague and later on the Prague Conservatory under the guidance of Prof. Václav Kučera, followed by studies at the Janáček Academy of Performing Arts in Brno under Prof. Martin Mysliveček. She had a one-year internship with Prof. Paolo Pegoraro in Graz. Eliška's talent has been recognized through numerous international guitar competitions, including those in Velbert, Weimar, Vienna and Kutná Hora.
Matěj Freml
Matěj is a graduate of the Music High School in Prague under Prof. Václav Kučera and the Pardubice Conservatory under the tutelage of Prof. Petr Saidl. He completed a one-year internship at the Hochschule für Musik Franz Liszt in Weimar, studying under Prof. Thomas Müller-Pering. Matěj furthered his education at the Janáček Academy of Performing Arts in Brno, studying with Prof. Martin Mysliveček and Prof. Vladislav Bláha, and completed doctoral studies with Prof. Barbara Maria Willi. He has garnered acclaim as a laureate of numerous international competitions, including those in Kutná Hora, Velbert, Weimar, Erwitte, Belgrade, Rust, Gorizia, Bratislava, and currently serves as an assistant professor at the Janáček Academy of Performing Arts in Brno.
Patrick Vacík
Patrick is a graduate of the Prague Conservatory under Prof. Václav Kučera, the Pardubice Conservatory under Prof. Petr Saidl, and the Musikhochschule Franz Liszt in Weimar, where he studied under the guidance of Prof. Thomas Müller-Pering and Prof. Ricardo Gallén. He furthered his education with doctoral studies at the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague under Prof. Štěpán Rak. Patrick is a laureate in numerous international competitions, including those in České Budějovice, Kutná Hora, Bělehrad, Rust, Weikersheim, Gorizia. He currently serves as a professor at the Prague Conservatory and as an assistant professor at the Janáček Academy of Performing Arts in Brno.
Music and guitar festivals:
Prague Spring CZ (1987, 90, 94, 01, 11), Festival Ljubljana SL (1994, 98), Moravian Autumn Brno CZ (2001), Warwick GB (1999), Festival Český Krumlov CZ (1999, 2004, 2013), Yvelines Music Festival F (1993 ), Vienna-Konzerthaus A (2001), Eckelhausener Musiktage D (1993 ), Musiktage Heidenheim D (1994, 96, 97), Wachenheimer Serenade D (1994, 95), Saxon-Bohemian Festival D (2001), Talich's Beroun CZ (2003), Potsdam D (2006), Festival Zlatá Koruna CZ (2006, 09, 12 ), Mielec PL (2002), Czech Culture Festivities CZ (2012), Magical Sounds of Macocha CZ (2001, 07), A. Dvořák's Festival Příbram CZ (2012), Kuressaare EST (2014), Barneveld NL (2014), Culture in the Heart of Prague CZ (2015), Kuwait KWT (2015), Mahler Festival Jihlava CZ (2017), Suk's Musical Štiřín CZ (1997, 2013, 17), Beethoven Festival CZ (2019, 2023) etc.
Miami GFA USA (2002), Radio France Paris F (1992), Montelimar F (1992, 2001), Lockenhaus A (1997, 2003), Krakow PL (1988,89), Mikulov CZ (1991, 94, 01, 06), Weimar D (2001), Münster D (2008), Dillington GB (2008, 13, 16, 19), Vilnius LT (2007), Esztergom HU (1997), Nitra SK (1988, 90, 92, 95, 2002, 09), Kutná Hora CZ (1988, 92, 94, 2002), Bratislava SK (87,1990, 98, 11, 18), Krems A (2004), Villeurbanne F (2000), Stockholm SW (1997), Tel Aviv (1995), Budimír SK (1992, 93, 94, 95, 2004), Žory PL (1991, 92, 98, 2008), Lublin PL (1994, 88, 97), Gdansk PL (1989,91), Gliwice PL (2010), Tychy PL (1990), Saint Paul Trois Chateaux F (1995), Goce Delcev BG (1990), Žilina SK (1992), Koscian PL (1993), Schorndorf D (1995), Erlbach D (1996, 2006), Szcecin PL (1999), Przemysl PL (2000), Prague Strings CZ (2004,05), Zruč CZ (2007, 16, 22), Aarhus DK (2009), České Budějovice CZ (2012), Turnov CZ (2012) Modra SK (2014), Aschaffenburg D (2014), Ružomberok SK (2015), South Bohemian Guitar Ferstival CZ (2020), Days of Classical Guitar Prešov SK (2021) etc.
The Prague Guitar Quartet plays on Savarez strings.