Iuventus Cantans & Cantando
Choir presentation
IUVENTUS CANTANS
The Pardubice children’s choir, IUVENTUS CANTANS, was founded in 1960 by conductor Vlastislav Novák. It quickly established itself as one of the most prestigious children’s choirs in the Czech Republic. It proudly represents the town of Pardubice and contributes to the international reputation of Czech choral art, as demonstrated by the many prizes it has won at choral competitions both in the Czech Republic and abroad.
The choir has performed in the most renowned concert halls in Europe, America, Asia (Japan, China…) and Australia. It has collaborated with numerous professional ensembles, orchestras and soloists, both in the Czech Republic and internationally, including the Pardubice Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra, the Vilnius Philharmonic Quartet, the Kaunas Chamber Orchestra, the Janáček Quartet, and the Virtuosi di Praga, and has published several albums.
The Pardubice Children’s Choir gives an average of thirty concerts a year, both in the Czech Republic and abroad. It also organizes the International Festival of Children’s and Youth Choirs, whose 29th edition will be held in November 2026.
The choir currently comprises four vocal sections: Zvoneček, Sluníčko, Písnička and Iuventus Cantans. In its 58 years of existence, thousands of children from all Pardubice schools have sung within its ranks.
Since September 2006, Zdeněk Kudrnka has been artistic director and choral conductor of the Iuventus Cantans section.
CANTANDO
The Cantando de Skuteč children’s choir was founded in September 2009 at the Vítězslav Novák Music School and is part of the region’s long-standing choral tradition. Since its inception, it has become an important component of the musical life of Skuteč and the Pardubice region.
The choir, directed by choirmaster Zdeněk Kudrnka and accompanied by pianist-repetitor MgA. Petr Hostinský, comprises two vocal sections and includes around 36 children aged from elementary school grades 1 to 6. Cantando focuses on musical development, cooperation and the pleasure of singing.
The choir regularly takes part in concerts, artistic workshops and competitions, where it has won distinctions such as the gold medal at the “Mundi Cantant” Competition in Olomouc. Cantando also performs as part of international projects, such as a tour of Canada with the Pardubian choir Iuventus Cantans.
Cantando is a children’s choir that combines professional choral work with a creative and friendly atmosphere, promotes the musical and personal development of children and actively contributes to the tradition of children’s choral singing in the Czech Republic.
THE CHOIR DIRECTOR: Zdeněk Kudrnka
Zdeněk Kudrnka (b. 1979) received his initial musical training at the Chrast elementary school, where he studied accordion and piano. From 1990, he regularly attended classes at the Pardubice Conservatory, where he was admitted in 1994 to study accordion with Professor Eliška Andrýsová. He enriched his training with two international masterclasses in Bratislava and Dunajská Streda, with Russian, Austrian, French and Polish teachers. During his studies, he won several prizes in prestigious competitions, including Hořovice (Conservatory Competition), Castelfidardo (Italy) and Reinach (Switzerland).
He was also a student of Vlastislav Novák (Pardubice Conservatory – conducting) and Lubomír Mátl (JAMU – choral conducting). As a conductor, he currently conducts in Pardubice (PDS Iuventus Cantans), Prague (Collegium Cantantinum), Skuteč (PS Rubeš, DPS Cantando) and Chrudim (PS Slavoj). Under his direction, numerous choirs have won national and international prizes at festivals and Competitions, confirming his reputation as a pedagogue and conductor recognized on the choral scene.
Iuventus Cantans & Cantando
Choir presentation
IUVENTUS CANTANS
The Pardubice children’s choir, IUVENTUS CANTANS, was founded in 1960 by conductor Vlastislav Novák. It quickly established itself as one of the most prestigious children’s choirs in the Czech Republic. It proudly represents the town of Pardubice and contributes to the international reputation of Czech choral art, as demonstrated by the many prizes it has won at choral competitions both in the Czech Republic and abroad.
The choir has performed in the most renowned concert halls in Europe, America, Asia (Japan, China…) and Australia. It has collaborated with numerous professional ensembles, orchestras and soloists, both in the Czech Republic and internationally, including the Pardubice Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra, the Vilnius Philharmonic Quartet, the Kaunas Chamber Orchestra, the Janáček Quartet, and the Virtuosi di Praga, and has published several albums.
The Pardubice Children’s Choir gives an average of thirty concerts a year, both in the Czech Republic and abroad. It also organizes the International Festival of Children’s and Youth Choirs, whose 29th edition will be held in November 2026.
The choir currently comprises four vocal sections: Zvoneček, Sluníčko, Písnička and Iuventus Cantans. In its 58 years of existence, thousands of children from all Pardubice schools have sung within its ranks.
Since September 2006, Zdeněk Kudrnka has been artistic director and choral conductor of the Iuventus Cantans section.
CANTANDO
The Cantando de Skuteč children’s choir was founded in September 2009 at the Vítězslav Novák Music School and is part of the region’s long-standing choral tradition. Since its inception, it has become an important component of the musical life of Skuteč and the Pardubice region.
The choir, directed by choirmaster Zdeněk Kudrnka and accompanied by pianist-repetitor MgA. Petr Hostinský, comprises two vocal sections and includes around 36 children aged from elementary school grades 1 to 6. Cantando focuses on musical development, cooperation and the pleasure of singing.
The choir regularly takes part in concerts, artistic workshops and competitions, where it has won distinctions such as the gold medal at the “Mundi Cantant” Competition in Olomouc. Cantando also performs as part of international projects, such as a tour of Canada with the Pardubian choir Iuventus Cantans.
Cantando is a children’s choir that combines professional choral work with a creative and friendly atmosphere, promotes the musical and personal development of children and actively contributes to the tradition of children’s choral singing in the Czech Republic.
THE CHOIR DIRECTOR: Zdeněk Kudrnka
Zdeněk Kudrnka (b. 1979) received his initial musical training at the Chrast elementary school, where he studied accordion and piano. From 1990, he regularly attended classes at the Pardubice Conservatory, where he was admitted in 1994 to study accordion with Professor Eliška Andrýsová. He enriched his training with two international masterclasses in Bratislava and Dunajská Streda, with Russian, Austrian, French and Polish teachers. During his studies, he won several prizes in prestigious competitions, including Hořovice (Conservatory Competition), Castelfidardo (Italy) and Reinach (Switzerland).
He was also a student of Vlastislav Novák (Pardubice Conservatory – conducting) and Lubomír Mátl (JAMU – choral conducting). As a conductor, he currently conducts in Pardubice (PDS Iuventus Cantans), Prague (Collegium Cantantinum), Skuteč (PS Rubeš, DPS Cantando) and Chrudim (PS Slavoj). Under his direction, numerous choirs have won national and international prizes at festivals and Competitions, confirming his reputation as a pedagogue and conductor recognized on the choral scene.