> Biography

Now in his fifth season as the Artistic Director of the Muncie Symphony Orchestra and beginning his first as Music Director of the Lake Charles Symphony, Czech conductor Bohuslav Rattay has gained a reputation as one of the finest talents of his generation, combining impassioned and virtuosic musicianship with a determination to bring great music into the lives of all people. He has been acclaimed by critics and audiences alike the world over for his fresh and inspired interpretations of works ranging from perennial concert-hall favorites to the contemporary, with special appreciation often given to his insightful understanding of the music of his native Bohemia.

An enthusiastic ambassador for classical music, Maestro Rattay is renowned for his unique and innovative concert programs, which have incorporated everything from special audience discussions to the inclusion of multi-media elements. In the same vein, he is a committed educator of the younger generations. He joined the music faculty of Ball State University in 2006 and is a frequent guest conductor of All-State and youth orchestras across the United States, where he is highly valued as an inspirational mentor both for his skill as a maestro and for his own youthful energy.

In addition to his permanent positions at Muncie and Lake Charles, Mr. Rattay is in great demand as a guest conductor across the United States and Europe. Recent engagements include the Virginia Symphony, West Michigan Symphony, Prague's Dvořák Symphony Orchestra, and the Charleston (SC) Symphony, where he received critical accolades for a "vibrant" performance delivered with "elegant panache." He has also conducted the National Symphony Orchestra as part of the National Conducting Institute and was selected by the American Symphony Orchestra League to participate in its Conducting Fellowship Program.

Maestro Rattay holds degrees from the Prague Conservatory, Rice University and the Peabody Institute of Music, and names Gustav Meier, Larry Rachleff and Neeme Jarvi as his most influential teachers.

Bohuslav divides his time between the United States and Europe, always continuing his quest to find new ways to bring great music into the lives of people on both continents.