Karel Boleslav Jirak

Karel Boleslav Jirák was a renowned Czechoslovak composer and conductor, born on January 28, 1891, in Prague, Bohemia. He studied under notable figures such as Josef Bohuslav Foerster and Vítězslav Novák at the Charles University and music academy in Prague. Jirák held significant positions, including Kapellmeister at the Hamburg Opera from 1915 to 1918 and conductor at the National Theatre in Brno and Ostrava from 1918 to 1919. He later became a composition teacher at the Prague Conservatory from 1920 to 1930 and principal conductor of the Czechoslovak Radio Orchestra until 1945. In 1947, he emigrated to the United States, where he taught at Roosevelt University in Chicago from 1948 to 1967 and later at the Conservatory College in Chicago until 1971.

Jirák's compositional output includes six symphonies, symphonic variations, numerous chamber music pieces, and works like his opera *Apolonius z Tyany* (later known as *Žena a Bůh*). His contributions to music education were substantial, as he trained many notable artists during his tenure in America. Despite his significant contributions to Czech music, Jirák faced challenges in his homeland, leading to his emigration and subsequent career in the United States, where he remained until his death on January 30, 1972.

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