About the Artist:
Tomáš Kaco hails from the small city of Novy Jicin in the Czech Republic. At the age of five, his father first exposed him to music, hoping that he would become a musician one day. Gypsy music, which is part of his roots and culture, greatly influenced him. He taught himself to play the piano by mimicking complex melodies and developed the skills to hear harmonic progressions from an early age. As he began performing on a more advanced level, he developed a passion for classical music and felt inspired and motivated to properly learn the technique. 

His first introduction to sheet music, scales, and technique was at music school when he was twelve. This was followed by studies at the Janáček Conservatory in Ostrava under the renowned Professor Pavel Motloch, whom Tomáš Kačo considers his personal mentor. His key teacher at the Academy of Music in Prague was Professor Ivo Kahánek. He then received a scholarship to study at the Berklee College of Music. 

Kačo has performed numerous recitals in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Belgium, Israel, in Washington, and Los Angeles. He has had a long-lasting collaboration with Ida Kelarová, including their joint 2010 album Romská balada (Romani Ballad). He works with several Czech symphony orchestras, for which he writes arrangements. He is also working on a long-distance project with Ondřej Brzobohatý. He openly declares that his stay in the United States is not just for his own sake – he wants his proverbial “musical tenacity” to serve as an example to other Romani children. Although his primary goal is music itself, music unlimited by genre or style, he trusts that it can also prove an effective weapon against racism and can help find common ground between majorities and minorities. 

For more information about the artists, please visit www.tomaskaco.com.

Event Details:
Date/Time: February 11, 2019, at 6 pm

Venue: Kennedy Center Millennium Stage
2700 F Street, NW
Washington, DC 20566

Admission is free. Tickets are not required.

This performance is featured as part of the Kennedy Center's free daily performance series on its Millennium Stage in the Grand Foyer: http://www.kennedy-center.org/video/upcoming

We regret that as the theater reaches capacity, seats cannot be saved for patrons who have not arrived or are not next in line.

No free parking is provided for this event.

DIRECTIONS: http://www.kennedy-center.org/pages/visitor/directions