Jaroslav Kocian

Jaroslav Kocian (22 February 1883 – 8 March 1950) was a Czech violinist, classical composer and teacher. Together with Jan Kubelík he is considered as the most important representative of “Ševčík’s school”. He was celebrated as an interpreter of violin compositions of Johann Sebastian Bach. As a composer he is especially noted for his compositions for the violin, which have been recorded most often by his student Josef Suk. Life Kocian was born in Ústí nad Orlicí on 22 February 1883. His father, Julius Kocian, was a violinist, teacher and a former classmate of famous virtuoso Otakar Ševčík. Kocian’s three sisters were also gifted, but he surpassed them with his exceptional talent. He received his first violin at the age of four. He made his first public appearance in 1887 at the annual music festival in Ústí nad Orlicí. His first teacher after his father was Josef Zábrodský, who also prepared him for the conservatory exams. In 1893 Kocian went to Prague to take the exams for the Prague Conservatory, which he passed, but was not accepted to study due to his poor health and small stature. Only in 1897 he was accepted into Otakar Ševčík’s class. He also studied piano and composition w