(Blahetka, 2nd Violin)
Eliška Kukalová attracted attention after making her debut at the age of 22 at the Dvořák Prague 2020 International Music Festival, where she performed Dvořák’s Violin Concerto under the patronage of Václav Hudeček. In 2015 she was the winner of the 19th Václav Hudeček Academy, winning a master violin and the opportunity to tour around the Czech Republic and Germany. In addition to numerous solo performances with Czech orchestras (PKF-Prague Philharmonia, Bohuslav Martinů Philharmonic Orchestra Zlín, Symphony Orchestra FOK) Eliška is also a highly sought-after chamber musician.
In 2019 she became a scholarship holder of the Czech Chamber Music Academy, which afforded her the opportunity to gain experience with Giles Apap, Josef Špaček, Niklas Liepe, Tomáš Jamník and others.
In 2020 she founded the string ensemble Kukal Quartet, which won the 3rd prize and the title of laureate at the Prague Spring International Music Competition a year later.
Eliška comes from a musical family, she started playing the violin at the age of five under the guidance of Hana Metelková, then continued her studies at the Prague Conservatory in the class of Jiří Fišer. Currently she studies at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna (mdw) with Ioana Cristina Goicea.