Bio EN

Jan Blahuta Church Musician and Concert Organist

Born in Bratislava, Slovakia, Ján Blahuta enjoys a manifold musical career as a concert and liturgical organist, choral conductor and teacher. He passed his Church Music Diploma with distinction at the State Conservatory in Bratislava. He earned his Concert Diploma in organ and his Master of Fine Arts degree from the Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts in Bratislava. In addition, he completed his education in Gregorian Music, German Liturgical Chant and Liturgy at the Academy of Music and Dance in Cologne. To deepena his artistic skills, he attended the organ masterclasses with Jean Guillou, James Parsons, Ferdinand Klinda, Gregorian chant workshop with Godehard Joppich, liturgical practice workshop with Johannes Trummer, performance practice workshop with Hartmut Krones and the vocal masterclass with David Jones. He participated in several renowned organ interpretation and improvisation competitions (Schlägl, Chartres, Opava). He has presented himself in his solo organ recitals and on his concert tours (Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Spain, Italy, Czech Republic and Slovakia) since his study years. The organ improvisation in different styles is a firm part of his concert programs. His collaboration with various soloists, choirs and ensembles brought him to the stages and temples in Slovakia, Czech Republic, Austria, Hungary, Poland, Germany, Italy, Australia, USA and Mexico. He dedicated some time to teaching of organ playing, organ improvisation and organology at the State and the Church Conservatory in his native town. At the same time, he was head organist of the Dominicans´ church, the Jesuits´ church and the convent church of the Merciful Brothers. His successive artistic career brought him to Austria where he was active as a free artist. For almost two decades his performances could be attended in numerous temples of the city of Vienna. He was head organist of the Parish Church St. Michael and St. James ́s Church in Heiligenstadt, of the Kaiser Jubilee Church (the Mexico Church), of the Maltese Church and the convent church of the Merciful Brothers. He also served its historic parishes and orders, f.e. St. Mary on the Strand, Benedictine Abbey of Our Dear Lady of the Scots, St. Anna ́s Church, Franciscan Church, Schubertchurche Lichtental, monastery Klosterneuburg and Heiligenkreuz. He has many years of experience in the accompaniment of the Gregorian chant - concrete of the schola of the Benedictine Abbey of Our Dear Lady of the Scots and of the choral masses and hour prayer in the Maltese Church. Furthermore he conducted several vocal choirs with aim to enrich liturgical events. He also devotes his time to performing of profane choral works at various music festivals (Choir Festival Vienna, Christmas Singing at the Vienna City Hall et al.) His career path led to Germany where he first worked as a church musician of the Archdiocese of Cologne and the Archdiocese of Paderborn/Warstein. Since April 2023 he is a regional choirmaster and organist of the Diocese of Eichstätt. His official residence is in Neumarkt/Münster St. Johannes. As a chamber musician (organist, pianist, conductor and singer), he presents himself in the manifold projects. In a special way, his concert activity is marked by the teamwork with his wife Maria Blahutova, dramatic coloratura soprano. His creativity also grows through numerous performance guides, rich experience in the field of new organ creation and restoration work, CD and broadcast recordings as well as invitations to masterclasses at festivals and giving of private organ lessons (incl. organ improvisation).