Jan Sedivka Explained

Jan Boleslav Sedivka (in Czech: Šedivka) (Slaný, 8 September 1917 Hobart, 23 August 2009),^{[1] [2]} Czech-born, was one of Australia's foremost violinists and teachers.^[3]

Biography

Educated in Czechoslovakia (Otakar Ševčík^[4] and Jaroslav Kocián), France (École Normale de Musique, Classe Jacques Thibaud) and England (Max Rostal), Jan Sedivka made his reputation overseas as a soloist, chamber music player and teacher before coming to Australia in 1961.^[5]

As a performer, Jan Sedivka gained special merit for his efforts on behalf of Australian contemporary music. In this capacity he introduced a number of important works dedicated to him, in particular concertos by Larry Sitsky (Nos. 1, 2, 3 & 4), James Penberthy, Ian Cugley, Don Kay, Colin Brumby, Edward Cowie and Eric Gross.

His wife Beryl Sedivka is a noted pianist who often performed with him.

Writings

• An Assessment of: “Bach’s Chaconne for Unaccompanied Violin - a Study in Interpretation” by Graham Wood, ds., Hobart, 1974

Honours and awards

• Member of the Order of Australia 1987^[6]
• Honorary Fellow, Trinity College of Music, London
• Honorary Doctor of Letters, University of Tasmania^[7]
• Honorary Professor, Shanghai Conservatory of Music
• Memorial Gold Medal, Prague Academy of Musical Arts
• Honorary Fellowship in Music Australia
• Honorary Citizen, Royal City of Slany (Czech Republic)
• Honorary Professor University of Tasmania 1995^[7]
• Distinguished Service Award Australian Strings Association 1998.

Bernard Heinze Memorial Award

The Sir Bernard Heinze Memorial Award is given to a person who has made an outstanding contribution to music in Australia.

! |-| 1995 || Jan Sedivka || Sir Bernard Heinze Memorial Award || || |-

Don Banks Music Award

The Don Banks Music Award was established in 1984 to publicly honour a senior artist of high distinction who has made an outstanding and sustained contribution to music in Australia.^[8] It was founded by the Australia Council in honour of Don Banks, Australian composer, performer and the first chair of its music board.|-| 2004| Jan Sedivka| Don Banks Music Award| |-

Bibliography

• Philippe Borer, Aspects of European Influences on Violin Playing & Teaching in Australia, M.Mus. diss., 1988 (on Jan Sedivka's violin playing and teaching philosophies see Chapters III and IV) https://eprints.utas.edu.au/18865/
• Lyndal Edmiston, “The teacher as catalyst in the learning process”, in Festschrift Jan Sedivka, ed. by D. S. Mercer, Hobart, The Tasmanian Conservatorium of Music, 1982
• Jan Mařàk–Viktor Nopp, Housle, Prague, Hudební matice Umělecké besedy, 1944, p. 61
• Elisabeth Morgan, “String Teaching: an extended perspective”, in Festschrift Jan Sedivka, ed. by D. S. Mercer, Hobart, The Tasmanian Conservatorium of Music, 1982, pp. 100–109
• Elinor Morrisby, Up is down, a life of violinist Jan Sedivka, Melbourne, 2008
• Marina Louise Phillips, An assessment of the contribution to Australian string pedagogy and performance of Jan Sedivka, PhD diss., 2001

References

1. http://www.alumni.utas.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0005/50747/No.-36-December-2009.pdf UTAS Alumni News
2. Web site: University of Tasmania: UTAS tribute for Jan Sedivka, musician and pedagogue 1917-2009 . 1 October 2009 . 15 September 2009 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090915035342/http://www.staff.utas.edu.au/news/articles/utas-tribute-for-jan-sedivka,-musician-and-pedagogue-1917---2009 . dead .
3. http://www.utas.edu.au/library/companion_to_tasmanian_history/S/Sedivka.htm Companion to Tasmanian History
4. Mařàk – Nopp, Housle, p. 61
5. Web site: Lyrebird Press . 2009-08-23 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080828025640/http://www.lyrebirdpress.com/books/amr/amr010/ . 2008-08-28 . dead .
6. https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/870189 It's an Honour: AM
7. http://fcms.its.utas.edu.au/arts/music/pagedetails.asp?lpersonId=1564 University of Tasmania Conservatory of Music
8. Web site: Don Banks Music Award: Prize . https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20150818230200/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/119124/20150819-0902/www.australianmusiccentre.com.au/award/don-banks-music-award.html . dead . 18 August 2015 . . 2 October 2017 .