Hedvika Švendová began to play the guitar at the age of four with her mother Hana Švendová. Later she studied at the Elementary Art School in Choceň with Petra Poláčková and the Elementary Art School in Ústí nad Orlicí with Jiří Tomášek. Since 2011, she has been studying with Petr Saidl at the conservatoire in Pardubice.

Hedvika has won numerous international and national guitar competitions, including:
2005                     2nd prize – Prague Junior Note (Czech Republic)
2007, 2008          1st prize – Guitarreando, Hradec Králové (Czech Republic)
2009                    1st prize – Zruč nad Sázavou (Czech Republic)
2010, 2011          1st prize – PRAGuitarra Clássica (Czech Republic)
2010                    1st prize – International Competition Guitartalent, Brno (Czech Republic)
2008, 2011          1st prize – National Music School Guitar Competition, Nové Strašecí (Czech Republic)
2011                    1st prize – International Biennal Guitar Competition, Kutná Hora (Czech Republic)
2012                    3rd prize – International Guitar Festival, Rust (Austria)
2012                    1st prize – International Guitar Competition, Dolný Kubín (Slovakia)
2012                    1st prize – Forum Gitarre Wien (Austria)
2013                    2nd prize – Concertino Praga (Czech Republic)
2013                    1st prize – Anna Amalia-Gitarrenwettbewerb Weimar (Germany)
2013                    1st prize – International Guitar Competition, Dolný Kubín (Slovakia)
2013                    1st prize – International Biennal Guitar Competition, Kutná Hora (Czech Republic)
2014                    1st prize – International Guitar Festival, Žory (Poland)
2014                    3rd prize – Forum Gitarre Wien (Austria)
2014                    3rd prize – Budapest International Competition (Hungary)
2015                    1st prize - International Guitar Festival, Rust (Austria)
2015                    1st prize – Anna Amalia-Gitarrenwettbewerb Weimar (Germany)
2015                    1st prize – Forum Gitarre Wien (Austria)

Apart of receiving many prizes at guitar competitions, she also holds numerous special awards, including the title ‘Young Talent’ awarded by the hetman of the district of Pardubice, an award given by the Czech Television Competition ‘Zlatý Oříšek’ (Golden Nut) (2009) and the title ‘Young Guitarist of the Year’ at the International Guitar Biennial in Kutná Hora (Czech Republic). In the last two years, she has given concerts at some of the most important guitar festivals in Europe: Mikulov, Křivoklát, PRAGuitarra Clássica (all in the Czech Republic), Forum Gitarre Wien (Austria), Lanckorona (Poland), among others. In 2013, she performed the Guitar Concerto No. 1 by Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco with the South Bohemian Philharmonic Orchestra in the Dvořák Hall of the Rudolfinum in Prague. In addition to the guitar, Hedvika also plays the flute, violin and piano. In 2013, she won 1st prize for flute at the Czech conservatoire competition.

She plays on an eight-string guitar made by Petr Matoušek.

You can follow her on YouTube.

Repertoire

Solo:

J. S. Bach, Suite in E minor, Prelude, Fugue, Allegro
J. S. Bach, Ciaccone

P. Bellinati, Jongo

L. Berkeley, Sonatina for guitar

R. Dyens, Il pleut dans ma chambre

M. Giulliani, Rossiniane No. 6

L. Legnani, Fantasie
A. Piazzolla, Invierno Porteňo
M. M. Ponce, Sonata No. 3

Š. Rak, Palečkův smích
G. Regondi, Introduction et Capricie (Op. 23)
J. Rodrigo, Tres piezas espagnolas
F. Sor, Galop

Chamber music:
M. Falla, Asturiana, El pano Moruňo

A. Piazzolla, History of the Tango, Café/Nightclub

With orchestra:
C. Tedesco, Concerto in D Major

A. Vivaldi, Concerto in D Major


If you are interested in working with Hedvika, please get in touch with the EMCY Office.