We want to be the best. JAMU has the ambition to be the leading hub of education, independent knowledge and creative activities in the field of dramatic and musical arts and to play a fundamental role in the artistic, scientific, cultural and social development of our society. We strive not only to educate our students, but to achieve this through the intensive development of creative activities, especially artistic and research.
Leoš Janáček is our role model. JAMU sees Leoš Janáček as an inspiration not only for its name, but for its whole direction, which is based on the personality and work of this famous composer – a unique artist who fundamentally influenced the development of musical art around the world and who throughout his life connected artistic activities with research and education.
Artistic activities
At JAMU, artistic activities are intensively pursued by the institution’s teachers, who are often extremely prominent creative personalities who significantly co-create the form of the contemporary Czech and global music and dramatic art in their fields and who then pass on their experience to students as part of their education.
Artistic activities are also an integral part of studying at JAMU. In addition to learning about the history and theory of their fields and culture and society in general, students constantly focus on their own artistic work throughout their studies, thus preparing for their employment in artistic practice and for their future responsibility for further development of art, culture and society as a whole once they graduate from JAMU.
The students’ artistic creations are presented to the public mainly at the Theatre on Orlí Street, the Studio Marta and during graduate concerts at the Faculty of Music. Faculties of JAMU organise a number of international competitions and shows, where our students can compare their skills with young artists from around the world and gain unique experience and establish personal contacts, such as the SETKÁNÍ/ENCOUNTER International Festival of Theatre Schools, the Leoš Janáček International Competition or the International Music Festival Setkávání nové hudby Plus.
Research activity
Research is an integral part of JAMU. The results of research and theoretical thought of our students and teachers are usually published by the Publishing House JAMU, which has already published hundreds of professional monographs, essays, memoir books and university textbooks.
Faculties of JAMU organise international scientific conferences and symposia, some of which are unique in their global context and are frequently attended by leading foreign experts, such as the JAMU Faculty of Music International Conference “JAMUsica” or the Conference in Theatre Practice and Theory at the Faculty of Theatre.
In recent years, JAMU has been developing artistic research, which is a methodologically progressive research field where artistic activities are researched and reflected by the artists themselves, who thus discover knowledge that is otherwise difficult to access using traditional methodologies.
Doctoral study programmes
Doctoral study programmes are focused on independent theoretical and creative activities in the field of art and they allow students to further expand their education in their respective fields and to develop their artistic talents and skills with the guidance of experienced tutors. A doctoral study programme can also be perceived as a preparation for future pedagogical work at art universities. The Faculty of Theatre offers doctoral studies in the study programme Dramatic Arts and the Faculty of Music offers study programmes Interpretation and Theory of Interpretation, Composition and Theory of Composition and Music Production.
Honorary doctorates
JAMU awards the doctor honoris causa honorary academic degree to the most important Czech and international artists who have made a fundamental contribution to the development of art. Awarded personalities include piano virtuoso Rudolf Firkušný, playwright Václav Havel, conductor Charles Mackerras, playwright Tom Stoppard, composer and conductor Pierre Boulez and theatre director Eugenio Barba.