Jakub William Gráf – cellist

Jakub William Gráf, born in Prague in 2001, began studying the cello at the age of five under the guidance of Mirko Škampa, later continuing with both Mirko and his son, Martin Škampa. Since 2020, he has pursued his studies at the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague with Michal Kaňka, while also learning from Raphael Wallfisch at the Royal College of Music in London. His development has been shaped by masterclasses with esteemed cellists such as Jens Peter Mainz, Wolfgang Emanuel Schmidt, Alisa Weilerstein, Marc Coppey, Jonáš Krejčí, Tomáš Jamník and Richard Aaron.

Gráf has had the opportunity to perform in a number of countries, including the Czech Republic, Germany, Austria, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Italy, Turkey and Israel, among others. He has appeared as a soloist with orchestras including the Prague Symphony Orchestra, Prague Philharmonia, the Moravian Philharmonic in Olomouc, the Bohuslav Martinů Philharmonic in Zlín, the Czech Chamber Philharmonic in Pardubice, the North Czech Philharmonic in Teplice and the West Bohemian Symphony Orchestra.

Performances at the Prague Spring, Smetana’s Litomyšl, Concentus Moraviae and Hamburg Kammermusikfest festivals, as well as performing in the Czech Radio Symphony Orchestra’s chamber series, are all part of one of Gráf’s biggest pleasures – being a member of the Suk Quartet, along with Daniel Matejča, Natálie Toperczerová and Bohumil Bondarenko.

Gráf is a prizewinner of the Bohuslav Martinů Foundation Competition, the Czech Radio competition Concertino Praga, the Talents for Europe competition in Slovakia, the Jan Vychytil Cello Competition Prague and others. Gráf continues to refine his artistry, with a focus on steady growth and deepening his musical expression.