Life in Contrast: Jan Holý Awarded for Just Away and Out
- WOMCO
- Jul 4
- 3 min read
Jan Holý was awarded the Master Prize in the Original Composition category of the 2025 Season 2 Bach International Music Competition UK.
Could you share the inspiration behind "Just away and out" and the message you hope to convey through it?
Life is as it is - sometimes beautiful - sometimes - on the contrary.
Certainly everyone knows the situation that is "on the contrary".
Therefore, the composition "Just away and out" was created.
It expresses my personal experience with a situation where I am bad, something is wrong, is not a good situation, etc. And how to deal with it?
Ok here is my suggestion:
… reveal
… to pause
… look freely what is the reason for this situation
… learn, and with this knowledge to go back
… and my life and life of the loved ones to create in that version „beautiful“
… :-)
I wish everyone good luck and success!
Biography
violinist, singer, band leader and composer. Born on August 30, 1948 in Bohemia, where he still lives.
In 2010 he was awarded for his composition "Ephitalamia for Anna" at the 10th International Composition Competition in Jihlava (Czech Republic). This award made him devote himself to composition consistently.
2016 - finalist of the Film Music Composers Competition ( Novara, Italy)
Category: Contemporary / Genre: Fantasy “The Adventurer“ - symphony orchestra
Category: Contemporary / Genre: Science fiction “The Whipping Planet“ - orchestra
2017 - finalist of the 3rd International Composers Competition “Maurice Ravel“ (Italy, Spain), received the Special Mention. The composition “Paleostom Bezjazy“ for mezzosopran and tenor solo, mixed choir and symphony orchestra.
2018 - finalist of the 1st International Creative Composers Competition, received the Honourable Mention in two categories. He also received an award from publishing house Ravel Music Publisher (Italy, Spain). For two musical compositions: First piece for solo Violin and “Paleostom Bezjazy“ for mezzosopran and tenor solo, mixed choir and symphony orchestra
2019 - he was placed on the “Jury Recommended List of Works“ at the International 4th Uuno Klami Competition (Finland). Musical composition “The Harlequin's Carnival“ for solo violin and orchestra.
2021 – “The 17th Kazimierz Serocki Composers Competition“ (Warszawa, Poland) received the award - 3rd prize. The musical composition “The Puppet“. Fairytale divertimento for wind quintet. This composition was performed and recorded on November 06, 2021 in Warszawa (Poland) during the concert of the laureates by the soloists of the Polish Radio Symphony Orchestra.
2022 - The vocal composition “Jen Tam Kde Chybuje Kdo“ (Only Where Who Is Missing) was awarded - 1st prize at the Composers Competition “Platform for Singing“ (Prague, Czech Republic). The piece for an eight-part a cappella mixed choir. Lyrics by Jiří Kuběna. Premiere 12.03.2024 in Prague, Czech Republic, performed by the Kühn mixed Choir, live concert + recording.
2023 - At the end of 2023, the Austrian music publishing house Universal Edition (Vienna) published five original scores together with piano reductions and orchestral parties.
2024 - at the "International Composition competition Vienna Classical Music Academy“ (Vienna, Austria) in a very strong international participation, the score for chamber string orchestra entitled "Just Away and out" was awarded the third prize.
2024 - the composition "Blue Dandelion" for solo violin was awarded the „Grand Prize“ at the International Youth Music Competition for Music Composition 2024“ (Atlanta, USA).
More information about Jan: http://www.janholy.cz/
