The Cathedral of St. Nicholas in the centre of České Budějovice was filled with employees, students and friends of the University of South Bohemia who came to listen to the traditional Advent concert of the University. This year, the festive evening was performed by two musical groups - the chamber ensemble Bendissimo, composed of members of the South Bohemian Philharmonic and the South Bohemian Theatre, and the Carmína youth choir, which brings together children and young people from kindergartens, primary, secondary and university schools in České Budějovice.
The Bendissimo ensemble is closely connected with the University of South Bohemia through the person of Tomáš Jajtner, a composer and academic who teaches British and American cultural studies, older English literature and the history of translation at the Faculty of Arts of the University of South Bohemia. During his scholarship in the UK he studied historical composition techniques. He has written dozens of compositions in various genres and lectures on music history for the public. Bendissimo performed two of his original compositions: the three-movement Concerto for Clarinet and String Orchestra and the Christmas meditation Roses of the Jesse Tribe. The clarinet was played by the founder and artistic director of the ensemble, Eliška Bendová, 1st violin by Ryohei Hirono, 2nd violin by Eva Nepivodová, viola by Jaroslava Procházková, cello by Jana Matějková, and double bass by Michal Hromádko.
After the Bendissimo chamber ensemble, the cathedral was filled with the beautiful voices of the members of the Carmína choir, which includes children and young people from 2.5 to 29 years old. It has 8 departments in which 280 children and students sing. The Carmína Concert Choir has historically won 10 Grand Prix at international competitions and festivals. It has won a gold trophy from the USA - New York Carnegie Hall and gold diplomas from domestic and international competitions.
The USB Advent Concert featured 70 singers under the direction of choir director and choir founder Jitka Šimková and accompanied by concert pianist Sergei Perepeliatnyk. They were accompanied by violinist Michaela Vyoralová on selected compositions.
The Rector of the USB, Pavel Kozák, recalled the important events that took place at our University in 2025 and wished everyone a merry Christmas and a positive start to the new year.
