MY BACKGROUND

Music has been an essential part of my life literally from birth. I was born in Cork (Ireland) to a Czech father and an Irish mother, who were both professional pianists and teachers at the Cork School of Music. I learned to play both piano and cello from a young age. Throughout my childhood, I was active in the music scene in Ireland, gaining my first performance experience at the age of 7, and spending a year in Cologne to study both piano and cello with professors Arbo Valdma and Maria Kliegel respectively. I have given solo recitals across Ireland, including at the National Concert Hall in Dublin, the West Cork Chamber Music Festival in Bantry, the Triskel Arts Centre in Cork and the Boyle Arts Festival. 

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Notable chamber music collaborations include a recital with cellist Matthew Huber, in London and a performance of Schubert's Trout Quintet, together with the RTE Vanbrugh Quartet at their Concert in Aid of the Vanbrugh String Quartet Scholarship Fund. From a young age, my sister Rebecca Čápová and I have performed as a piano duo, attending venues in Ireland, Italy and Germany.

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My piano education took me to various prestigious institutes around the world, first at Eastman School of Music in Rochester (New York), and then in Berlin with prof. Elena Lapitzkaja, before moving to the Netherlands, where I completed my Bachelor of Music degree with prof. Naum Grubert in Amsterdam. Shortly afterwards, our first child was born and we spent a year living in Doha (Qatar). Upon returning to the Netherlands, I continued my studies with prof. Grubert, receiving my Master of Music degree in piano performance in 2015. 

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After having taught privately and at music schools in Ireland, the Netherlands and Qatar, I established my own piano studio in Oegstgeest in 2016. Since then, I have taught students ranging from 5 to 83 years old and from beginners to (aspiring) music professionals. In 2018, I was invited to teach a masterclass at the Cork School of Music.  

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Over the years, I have become increasingly interested in exploring the beneficial effects of music on mind and body. Currently I am pursuing a master’s degree in music therapy at Codarts University of the Arts in Rotterdam, which has helped me gain a deeper understanding of childhood development, stress and anxiety. This clinical insight directly enriches my teaching, allowing me to further tailor my approach to each student’s emotional and developmental needs.