MgA. Gabriel Rovňák, PhD.

 

Gabriel studied at the Janáček Academy of Music and Performing Arts in Brno (JAMU Brno), supervised by Mgr. art. Jana Zbavitel. He performed with the Bratislava Boys' Choir since childhood and later studied at the Bratislava Conservatory. As orchestra conductor he has collaborated with many orchestras, including Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra, Slovak National Theater Orchestra, State Philharmonic Košice, State Chamber Orchestra Žilina, Slovak Chamber Orchestra, Moravian Philharmonic Olomouc, Bohuslav Martinů Philharmonic Zlín, Solamente Naturali, Sinfonietta Bratislava, etc.

 

Since 2006 Gabriel has been the principal conductor and co-executive director of the Bratislava Boys’ Choir alongside his mom, Magdaléna Rovňáková. He has conducted the choir on tour to many European nations and also to the United States as well as to Canada. The ensemble collaborates with the Slovak Philharmonic, Slovak National Theater and many top-tier institutions nationally as well as abroad. Gabriel has also worked with other choirs including Primavera Brno Children’s Choir, Lúčnica Choir, Canens Choir, and others. In 2013 he prepared and conducted L. Janáček’s The Cunning Little Vixen in Hamburg, Germany.  Between 2013-15 he curated and launched an exhibition on conductor Zdeňek Košler for the Prague National Theater and Slovak National Theater.

 

Gabriel is the author, manager and conductor of The Story of Music, Slovakia’s largest music education concert series for youth, aired live on Slovak Radio and Slovak Television with tens of thousands of viewers across the nation. This project earned him a nomination for the Crystal Wing, Slovakia’s prestigious professional award. Gabriel is also on faculty of the Janáček Academy of Music and Performing Arts in Brno and often sits on juries at international choral competitions.