Josef  Skarka

Was born in 1981 in Brno. After graduation at the Brno Conservatory, he was accepted to the Academy of Music in Prague. There he obtained Bachelor degree under tutelage of professor Rene Tucek and the Master degree studying with professor Miloslav Podskalsky.

Josef Skarka has established himself as one of the foremost young singers of bass-baritone voice. His repertoir ranges from Gregorian chant (collaborating with David Eben and his Schola Gregoriana Pragensis), or baroque music (projects with Collegium 1704, Collegium Marianum, Ars Brunensis), to opera National Theatre in Prague (Bello - Puccini's La Fanciulla del West), National Theatre in Brno and J. K. Tyl Theatre in Pilsen (Mozart: Figaro - Le nozze di Figaro and as Leporello in Don Giovanni, Smetana: Bonifác in The Secret -Tajemství), Theatre of Opera and Balet in Usti nad Labem (Colline - Puccini's La Bohéme, Eremit - Weber's Freischütz), F. X. Salda Theatre Liberec (Donizetti's Viva la mamma - Steffano) and he was double-featured in a highly praised production of Verdi's Rigoletto in Cesky Krumlov (as both Sparafucile and Monterone).

He is favourite performer of many ensembles and orchestras of classical music. Notably he collaborated with Prague orchestra Berg with conductor Peter Vrabel, focusing on modern and contemporary authors (Poulenc, Ravel, Jezek). With Roxy Ensemble and its artistic leader Tomas Hanak he performed selected arias from Mendelssohn‘s oratorio Elias. His succesful co-operation with Zlin Philharmonic Orchestra followed with special Christmas concert series. With the well-known Ars Brunensis Chorus he was invited to perform Vesperi and fragments from the Mass  by L. Boccherini at the International Music Festival L´autonno musicale di Como in Italy.

He performs regularly well-received recitals, often accompanied by the pianist Richard Pohl. One of their first success includes presentation during International Music Festival Moravian Autumn 2004 (Songs by Dvorak and Janacek) or concert performance at the Festival of Czech Music under the auspices of Sir Charles Mackerras. They were also invited to perform abroad (Mexico, Italy, Montenegro).

He has earned many awards at the International Singer Competition of Antonin Dvorak in Karlovy Vary (in 2002, 2006 and 2009 - including 2nd prize in both Opera and Lieder contest and awards for the best Czech participant and the youngest finalist). He also won the 2nd prize at the International Vocal Conntest Ad honorem Mozart 2009. He performed abroad as Figaro, Papageno, Maggiordomo and Ferrando (Japan, France, Germany). Twice he was a guest star at the festival of the famous tenor Jose Cura in Nancy (France).

Josef Skarka is now focusing on improving his prominent position among the youngest generation of bass (bass-baritone) singers. He specializes on the Lieder repertoire, but also devote himself strongly to the performance of contemporary works, as well as the early music. He is praised by the audience and reviewers (Harmonie magazine) for his artistic nobility, clarity of style and powerful sense of the expression.