Martin Zelenka

MARTIN ZELENKA has started his musical activities at the age of six as a violinist. When he was fifteen, he decided to play the double-bass and just two years after, he begun his studies of this instrument at the Prague Conservatory. He had the opportunity to grow up under the tuition of two notable Czech double-bass players: first he was in the class of Professor Zdeněk Benda, first double-bass of the Czech Philharmonic; after his death he studied with Professor Václav Fuka, member of the Czech Nonet. He continued his education in the class of Professor Radomír Žalud at the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague, finishing with a solo performance with the orchestra (both Koussevitzky and Bottesini Concertos).

During his studies, he has already been a member of two Prague orchestras: first of the State Opera Prague, later of the Prague National Theatre. In 1998, he became a member of the Prague Symphony Orchestra; since 2003 till present, he is a leader of the double-bass section of this orchestra.

Being a versatile musician, he is often asked to perform a chamber music. He performed with the Stamic Quartet, the Herold Quartet, the Suk Chamber Orchestra, Talich Chamber Orchestra,Baborak Ensemble and with the ensemble Agon which focuses on a contemporary music. Besides his skills of a classical musician, he ventures into other genres as well: as a violinist and a keyboard player he co-operates with a former member of the legendary Czech underground group "Plastic People of the Universe".