Antonin Dvorak
Antonin Dvorak was born on September 8, 1841, in Nelahozeves, Bohemia, a little
village near Prague. He was born to a poor butcher and innkeeper. He studied violin
under a local schoolmaster. In 1857, he attended the Prague Organ School. Dvorak
graduated from it in 2 years. He became principal violinist at the new Provisuinal
Theatre orchestra that same year. With the positive encouragement of Brahms, Dvorak
started composing in 1871.
In 1873, he married Anna Cermavoka. Dvorak won the Austrian State Stipendium 3
times. He became a professor of composition at the Prague Conservatoire. From
1892 until 1895, Dvorak served as the director of the new National Conservatory
in New York City. He moved back to Prague in 1895 and resumed his position as
professor of composition at the Prague Conservatoire. In 1901, he became director
of the Prague Conservatoire.
Towards the end of his life, Dvorak started having financial difficulties because
he sold his works for too little money. He died in Prague on May 1, 1902, at age
62.
Hear his music