VACLAV PALKA
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Vaclav Palka, born in the Czech Republic in 1992, is a drummer, composer, arranger, and educator based in Basel, Switzerland. In addition to his main focus, jazz drumming, he studied classical drums, composition, arranging, and producing in Denmark, the Czech Republic, and Switzerland.
Recent projects include various large ensembles - This Is What’s Love Big Band, Poens. (self-titled album released in 2020) and What’s Love Large Ensemble (including 7 horn players, a string quartet, and a rhythm section), a sextet, quintet, quartet, and a quartet LOVE with Lionel Loueke, Fabian Willmann and Lukas Thoeni.
Over the years, Vaclav has shared the stage and recorded with artists such as Sullivan Fortner, Mark Turner, Tineke Postma, David Virelles, Larry Grenadier, Jeff Ballard, Iva Bittova, Guillermo Klein, David Doruzka, Didrik Ingvaldsen, Sam Barnett, Melanie Scholtz and many others.
Vaclav began teaching during his college years in the Czech Republic and has spent over a decade honing his skills to inspire musicians of all ages to grow and discover their passion for music. He joined ICMS in 2017 with just three students, and through dedication and expertise, has built one of the school’s largest classes.