Biography

Jiří Hudec was born in Brno in 1953 and studied at the conservatory there under Julius Vetruba. In 1977 he graduated from the Janacek Academy of Music and Arts, successfully auditioning for the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra in the same year.

He has enjoyed success in a number of international competitions, notably in Markneukirchen in the former DDR in 1975 finalist, in 1977 2nd prize, in ARD Munich 3rd prize, and at the first Isle of Man International Double Bass Competition in 1978, which he won outright. This led to a broadcast solo recital in London's Wigmore Hall and the world premiere of a concerto written for him by Richard Rodney Bennett with the English Chamber Orchestra under Michael Tilson Thomas in the Queen Elizabeth Hall.

Hudec is currently the principal Double Bass player for the Czech Philharmonic, taking over from František Pošta  and Zdeněk Benda  in 1990.