The Brahms Trio Prague was founded by three leading instrumentalists of the young generation in 2005 with a clear vision – to elevate collaboration of a chamber ensemble with an unusual setup of instruments above the level of incidental music - making. The only thing in which the Brahms Trio Prague differs from string quartets and other such ensembles with lasting and systematic operation is the ever - present necessity to shift the limits of its repertoire. In addition to original compositions headed by the famous Opus No. 40 by Johannes Brahms, its concerts feature transcriptions of similar trios and pieces for individual instruments accompanied by piano or solo voice. This practice provides the dramaturgy of this ensemble with an unexpected width. The Brahms Trio Prague also invites contemporary composers to write new pieces. The first fruit of this effort has been Sonata by Andrew Downes, presented on the unique profile CD in the world premiere. At present other compositions dedicated to the Brahms Trio Prague are in the making. The extraordinary response from the part of composers has made it possible for the ensemble to plan its own concert evening within the program of the international festival Prague Premieres 2009.

Ondřej Vrabec, horn 

Monika Vrabcová (Vavřínková), violin

She was born in Prague in 1983. She started to play violin at the age of 5 under the instruction of Mrs. Zdeňka Králová. Since the age of 9 she regularly took part in The International Kocian Violin Competition where she gradually gained five 2nd prizes and the same number of prizes for the best interpretation of compulsory works. In The International music competition in San Bartolomeo in 1998 she won the first prize, she achieved the same position on the same place a year later in the three - round music competition in Japanese Takasaki. As a result of this victory, she was invited to have her debut concert at the Casals Hall in Tokio. During the years 1997 – 2002 she studied at the Prague Conservatoire in the class of prof. Jaroslav Foltýn. She concluded her studies with a performance of the Prokofiev's Violin Concerto No. 2 in the Dvořák's Hall of the Rudolfinum together with the Symphony Orchestra of the Prague Conservatoire. In 1998 she successfully auditioned for the Gustav Mahler Jugend Orchestra, she became its youngest member and during the years 1999 - 2001 she made a concert tours under the direction of conductors such as Claudio Abbado, Seiji Ozawa, Pierre Boulez etc. She performed in the programme „Prague invites the talents of the year 2000“, which was broadcasted live by the radio „ Classic “. In July 2001 she was awarded a scholarship for London Masterclasses, whose violin class was guided by the professor of the Royal Academy of Music in London György Pauk. On his advice she prepared herself for the entrance exams for this school, in December 2001 she was accepted and since September of the following year she studied first in the class of György Pauk, later in the class of Lydia Mordkovitch (a pupil and assistant of David Oistrach). Currently she studies at the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague in the class of prof. Ivan Štraus. In the season 2006/2007 she served on the position of 2nd deputy concertmaster in the Prague Symphony Orchestra. She collaborated occasionally with the orchestras Solistes Européenes Luxembourg and Schengen Chamber Orchestra. She is a member of the ensemble Brahms Trio Prague. Besides the series of chamber and recital opportunities she performed as a soloist with the orchestras Prague Symphony Orchestra (under the direction of the conductor Libor Pešek), Southbohemian Chamber Philharmonic, Czech Radio Symphony Orchestra and Philharmony B. Martinů Zlín.

Daniel Wiesner, piano

Daniel Wiesner (born 1969) studied with prof. Valentina Kameníková at the Prague Conservatoire, and in the class of prof. Peter Toperczer at the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague. In 1988 and 1990 he attended masterclasses with Rudolf Kehrer, in Weimar. Apart from several awards from domestic competitions which he won while still a conservatoire student, Daniel Wiesner is the winner of the International Piano Competition in Glasgow (1990), and prizeholder from the Vianna da Motta Contest in Lisabon (1991). In 1993 he received the Hlávka Foundation Award in the Czech Republic. As a soloist and sought - after chamber player, he has appeared on concert platforms in the majority of European countries, as well in the USA, Jordan and Tunisia. He is a member of several chamber formations(since 1994, he has been part of "In modo camerale" chamber ensemble which won the Czech Chamber Music Society Award in 1996, and in the same year reached the finals of the chamber music competition in Osaka, Japan), and works regularly with various distinguished soloists. He has build up an extensive repertoire, including a number of works he has performed for the first time, and has a formidable discography. There, he has produced several solo CDs featuring music by Prokofiev, Janáček, Jirákand Kabeláč, and together with Petr Jiříkovský, piano duets by Smetana. Since 2001 a member of the Fibich Society, he recorded a CD of Zdeněk Fibich´s melodramas, with a cast of leading Czech stage actors. He is a dedicated interpreter of contemporary music, most notably by Czech composers, where he has to his credit dozens of premieres of new works, and several CDs (with Petr Maceček, he recorded a representative collection of contemporary Czech works for violin and piano). He works on regular basic with Czech Radio, for which he recorded among other titles one of the piano´s literature most extensive composition, Olivier Messiaen´s "Vingt Regards sur l´Enfant - Jésus". As a soloist, he has worked with most Czech orchestras. In April 2002 he appeared in the Czech Philharmonic´s subscription season, with sir Charles Mackerras conducting (Bartók´s Piano concerto No. 3). In October 2004 he joined the Czech Philharmonic again, this time under Sir John Eliot Gardiner, perfoming Martinů´s Double concerto in Prague and Germany. In the spring of 2005 he interpreted, with the Prague Symphony Orchestra under Serge Baudo´s baton, Olivier Messiaen´s Turangalila. In the autumn 2006 he will join Prague Symphony Orchestra in a performance of Mozart´s Piano concerto in C major. In 2004, Daniel Wiesner formed a duo with the violinist Silvia Hessová. In their joint projects, the two artists have focused chiefly on the interpretation of major works of the 20th century Czech and world music. They have so far produced a double CD for the Cube label (U. K.), with a programme of important Czech compositions for violin and piano.

Programme:
L. v. Beethoven: Sonata in F major op. 17 for horn and piano
W. A. Mozart: Sonata in B flat major KV 378 for violin and piano
J. Brahms: Trio in E flat major op. 40

AN EPIGONE, OR UNAPPRECIATED MASTER?

Programme:
H. v. Herzogenberg: Trio in D major
J. Brahms: Trio in E flat major op.40

MUSIC INNOVATORS

Programme:
L. Janáček: Sonata "1. X. 1905" for piano
P. Hindemith: Sonata 1943 for horn and piano
R. Strauss: Sonata in E flat major for violin and piano
G. Ligetti: Trio

CZECH MUSIC OF THE 20TH CENTURY

Programme:
L. Sluka: Sonata for violin and piano
M. Kabeláč: 8 Preludes (selection) for piano
E. Hlobil: Sonata for horn and piano
J. Pelikán: Variations for violin, horn and piano

FROM BEGINNINGS TO SYNTHESIS (the music of romantism)

Programme:
L. v. Beethoven: Sonata quasi una fantasia „Mondscheinsonate“ for piano
C. Saint - Saens: Etude in the form of valse (E.Ysaye) for violin and piano
E. Chausson: Poéme op. 25 for violin and piano
C. Reinecke: Trio
J. Brahms: Trio in E flat major op. 40