Juraj Bartoš

Juraj Bartoš is a highly respected Slovak trumpet player known for his dynamic blend of jazz and classical styles. Born in Bratislava in 1967, he studied music at the Academy of Performing Arts in Bratislava and began his career in the 1980s with the Bratislava Big Band. Over the years, he has gained acclaim as both a soloist with the Slovak Philharmonic since 1991 and an award-winning jazz musician, having won the Czech Jazzovy Kája talent of the year award in 1993. Bartoš also performs frequently across Europe, collaborating with notable artists like Štepán Markovič, Emil Viklický, and Karel Ružička, and serving as the artistic director of the Bratislava Hot Serenaders Orchestra, which specializes in jazz from the 1920s and 1930s.

In addition to his performance career, Juraj Bartoš has been active in jazz festivals and international ensembles, including founding the bebop band Hot House and joining the Gustav Brom Orchestra. His versatility is showcased by appearances with the European Broadcasting Union big band and his role as a university docent at the Academy of Arts in Banska Bystrica. Bartoš’s reputation as a gifted trumpeter is further highlighted by memorable moments such as performing on flugelhorn with U.S. President Bill Clinton at a Prague jazz club in 1994. His extensive contributions to Slovak jazz and music education mark him as a pivotal figure in contemporary jazz.