Meet the Jury of Musica Orbis Gloria 2026
Musica Orbis Gloria returns to Prague from October 30 to November 1, 2026, and we are proud to introduce the international jury who will listen to every performance.
Marek Valášek, Chairman of the Jury (Czech Republic)
doc. MgA., Mgr. Marek Valášek, Ph.D. leads the jury as its chairman. He studied conducting at the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague, music education and choral conducting at Charles University, and organ at the Týn School. Since 2002 he has taught at the Faculty of Education, Charles University, where he has headed the Department of Music Education since 2018.
He founded the Piccolo coro choir and the Piccola orchestra, both of which have won numerous national and international awards. He works with leading orchestras and choirs, records for Czech Radio and premieres contemporary works. He is choirmaster of Collegium paedagogicum, principal organist of the Capuchin Order in Prague and teaches at the Prague Conservatory. For his contribution to Czech choral music he received the Ferdinand Vach Award.
Jan Pirner (Czech Republic)
PhDr. Jan Pirner is a Czech choral conductor, musicologist, educator and singer. He studied Czech language, literature and music education at the Faculty of Education, Charles University, and musicology at its Faculty of Arts. Since 2021 he has taught at the Faculty of Education, where he is also pursuing doctoral studies.
Since 2012 he has conducted the Radost Praha Children’s Choir, leading it to numerous awards at international competitions across Europe. He founded the female chamber choir Vokálion Praha and serves as director and singer of the Prague Chamber Choir. At NIPOS he specialises in choral music research, publishing and national choral events. He regularly serves on juries at choral competitions and festivals and is a member of the Presidium of the Czech Music Council.
David Slater (Australia)
David Slater, M.A., is an Australian composer, conductor and educator whose award winning work spans a wide range of musical genres and is performed internationally. With a repertoire reaching from the Baroque era to the present day, he has led professional and youth ensembles in many countries. He is a regular guest at international festivals, serving on juries and giving masterclasses.
With more than 35 years of experience in education, he works as a curriculum consultant and represents Australia on the World Choir Council.
Sing for a Jury That Listens
At Musica Orbis Gloria, the jury is there to support your growth as much as to evaluate. Every choir receives professional insight from experienced musicians who know what it takes to stand on stage. We look forward to welcoming you in Prague this autumn.
