Prague Music Performance Institute & Festival was founded by Czech pianist Jan Bartoš and late Zenon Fishbein (Manhattan School of Music in New York) in 2010. The project organically combines a festival with an educational institution. PMP thematically connects concerts, master classes, workshops, lectures, and residencies. The projects primarily focus on classical music, jazz, and experimental music. However, PMP also endeavors to include other fields of art such as the fine arts, film, or literary art.
The list of renowned artists PMP has introduced throughout its history includes Alfred Brendel, Anthony Braxton, Roscoe Mitchell, John Zorn, Uri Caine, Phantasm, Quatuor Diotima, Garth Knox, Barry Guy and Maya Homburger, Miroslav Srnka, Mahan Esfahani, Esperanza Spalding, Dave Douglas, Greg Cohen, Joey Baron, Ikue Mori, Robin Rimbaud aka Scanner, Mary Halvorson, Marc Ribot, Kenny Wollesen, Julian Lage, Peter Evans, Jon Irabagon, Gareth Davies, Thurston Moore, Adrian Belew, David Thomas, and many others.
For those who cannot afford to study at the world’s top music schools and academies, PMP offers an opportunity to work with the most prominent artists and teachers. Also, PMP takes part in or independently organizes benefit events for charitable purposes to artistically contribute to and support individuals and projects with diverse needs.
PMP closely collaborates with other art institutions such as the Czech Philharmonic, Prague Spring Festival, Strings of Autumn, American Spring Festival, National Gallery in Prague, Prague Academy of Performing Arts, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic, National Film Archives in Prague, Austrian Cultural Forum, The DOX Centre for Contemporary Art, Archa Theatre, and many others.
PMP is supported by the EEA and Norway Grants 2014-2021, the Czech Ministry of Culture, the State Fund of Culture, the Capital City of Prague, Stadler-Trier Music Foundation, and the Pamela Stacy Fund.