The new assistant conductor is Ostrava native Filip Urban
Filip Urban, a native of Ostrava and one of the youngest Czech conductors, has become the new assistant conductor of the Janáček Philharmonic Ostrava. He excelled in a three-round selection process, first conducting a smaller group of JFO musicians and in the final round, the entire orchestra. Now, he looks forward to working with renowned names such as future JFO chief conductor Daniel Raiskin, Andrey Boreyko, Domingo Hindoyan, and others. In addition to assisting guest conductors, Urban will also lead selected rehearsals and participate in JFO’s recording projects.
Twenty-nine-year-old Filip Urban was chosen as the winner from a final trio of candidates. He conducted the orchestra during Anton Bruckner’s Third Symphony and a brand new piece by Lukáš Janata, commissioned specifically for the Janáček Philharmonic Ostrava. “As a native of Ostrava, I see it as a great honor to collaborate with this orchestra. I am very pleased that the orchestra voted for me and chose me as their winner,” said Urban immediately after his selection. “I am most excited about the opportunity to be closely connected with such an important orchestra that has shaped me artistically since childhood,” he continued, adding, “The opportunity to work with leading world conductors is an amazing experience and a chance to further develop both artistically and as a conductor.”
Urban takes over from Maroš Potokár, who held the position since 2021, working closely with former JFO chief conductor Vassily Sinaisky. “This assistant conductor position brought me many valuable experiences. My work with the orchestra was mainly required for pre-rehearsing the most challenging programs of the subscription series, so the scope and significance of the repertoire I was able to conduct with JFO is of great importance to me. I also had the chance to closely observe the work of chief conductor V. Sinaisky and other prominent conductors like D. Raiskin, V. Boreyko, L. Bringuier, K. M. Chichon, and others,” said Potokár.
Leading rehearsals and preparing the orchestra were not Potokár’s only responsibilities. “I was also involved in interesting recording projects, several touring concerts, and I am grateful for the cycle of narrated concerts that JFO entrusted to me, both in terms of conducting and dramaturgy, for two consecutive seasons,” Potokár explained about Cycle C, where he, alongside actress Markéta Matulová, took on the role of both conductor and presenter.
“I have met many wonderful people in the Janáček Philharmonic Ostrava, whether in the orchestra or the management team, with whom it has been a pleasure to work. I wish the new assistant similarly valuable and enjoyable experiences and successful cooperation with this excellent orchestra,” Potokár concluded.