VACLAV FUKSA

I was born in Carlsbad, Cz in April (1987), three years before the fall of the Iron Curtain. At the age of seven I decided to learn how to play the guitar. Little did I know that this decision would take me on a beautiful and adventurous journey. This led me to Vienna where I continued my classical guitar studies at the prestigious University of Music and Performing Arts. I graduated in 2014 and since then I have devoted my energy to both teaching and performing.

Classical music and guitar have always been my passion and though I love interpreting classical music, there was always something missing for me in that creative process. In 2017 I found a beautiful old book: František Sušil´s collection of traditional Czech and Moravian folk songs, first published in 1835. The deep beauty and simplicity of these traditional folk tunes sparked my musical imagination. It started a new creative process that I had never experienced before. Over the last few years I have tried to translate these simple and extraordinary melodies into my own musical language. 

Years of playing, singing and arranging this music has resulted in the recording of my debut album in 2020. I called it “Prameny” which means “Springs”. My hometown of Carlsbad is a famous spa town well-known for its unique mineral springs, 13 of which are used for healing therapy.There are 13 songs on my album. Each one of these songs is a spring to me, a witness of the ancestors, coming from the deepest depths and yet full of life and freshness!