Twenty-three-year-old Josef Špaček ranks among the foremost representatives of today's young Czech violin generation. A rising global virtuoso, Mr. Špaček has performed throughout the Czech Republic and abroad in Germany, France, Great Britain, Poland, Switzerland, Finland, Denmark, China, Japan, New Zealand, and the United States. Additionally, he has won numerous national and international competitions, including the grand prize at the Michael Hill International Violin Competition in June 2009 and third prize at the Carl Nielsen International Violin Competition in 2008. As a soloist, Mr. Špaček has appeared with the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Prague Philharmonia, the Auckland Philharmonic Orchestra, the Kansas City Symphony, the Czech Chamber Orchestra, the Brno Philharmonic, the Bohuslav Martinu Philharmonic, the Russian Chamber Philharmonic, and many others. He has soloed under numerous conductors, including Christoph Eschenbach, Asher Fisch, Jiri Belohlavek, Roy Goodman, Jakub Hrusa, Aleksandar Markovic, and Rossen Milanov. A regular at music festivals, Mr. Špaček has performed at the Bravo! Vail Valley Music Festival, Music from Angel Fire, Bohuslav Martinu Festival, and at the Moravian Autumn Music Festival. Mr. Špaček has also served as concertmaster of the Curtis Symphony Orchestra, the Juilliard Symphony Orchestra, and the New York String Orchestra performing in such prestigious venues as Carnegie Hall. As a chamber musician, Mr. Špaček has performed with various ensembles throughout Europe, Asia, and the United States. Mr. Špaček released his debut CD featuring the complete Ysaye sonatas, op. 27, for solo violin in August 2006. His next recording, scheduled for release by Naxos in 2010, will feature the works of H.W. Ernst. Mr. Špaček studied at the Curtis Institute of Music with Jaime Laredo, Ida Kavafian, and Shmuel Ashkenasi. Upon graduation, he was awarded the Fritz Kreisler Award, which is periodically given to especially outstanding violinists. In addition, he has taken masterclasses with such distinguished artists as Ruggiero Ricci, Arnold Steinhardt, Sylvia Rosenberg, Dong Suk Kang, Steven Tenenbom, Joseph Silverstein, Pamela Frank, Michael Tree, and Mark O'Connor. Currently, Mr. Špacek is studying at the Juilliard School with Itzhak Perlman.