In July 2024, Ondřej took part in the 8th edition of the Ionel Perlea International Conducting Competition. Held in Perlea’s hometown of Slobozia, Romania, the competition covered both symphonic and operatic repertoire, including works by Mozart, Beethoven, and Mendelssohn.
From an original pool of some 80 candidates, Ondřej proceeds through pre-selection and three rounds to the final, where he wins third prize and a special prize. The televised final took place on 28th July 2024, where Ondřej performed Mendelssohn’s Hebrides overture and an excerpt from Mozart’s Così fan tutte.
Among the prizes, Ondřej received an invitation to conduct the Moldovan National Philharmonic in the 2024/2025 season.
Ondřej Soukup is an exciting young conductor specialising in Czech & Eastern European music. His repertoire counts 250+ works by men and women. Recently, he made music with BBC SSO, Czech Chamber Philharmonic, Bohuslav Martinů Philharmonic and others. In the 2023/2024 season, Ondřej conducts the Copenhagen Phil, The Danish Sinfonietta, Helsingborg Symphony, Ålborg Symphony, and Magna Sinfonia among others.