Portrait of Jan Sedivka

Birthday profile

Jan Sedivka

Jan Sedivka, Czech-Australian violinist and educator (died 2009)

Born
September 8, 1917
Died
August 23, 2009
Zodiac sign
Virgo
Birth year
1917

About Jan Sedivka

Jan Boleslav Sedivka (in Czech: Šedivka) (Slaný, 8 September 1917 – Hobart, 23 August 2009), Czech-born, was one of Australia's foremost violinists and teachers. == Biography == Educated in Czechoslovakia (Otakar Ševčík and Jaroslav Kocián), France (École Normale de Musique, Classe Jacques Thibaud) and England (Max Rostal), Jan Sedivka made his reputation overseas as a soloist, chamber music player and teacher before coming to Australia in 1961. As a performer, Jan Sedivka gained special merit for his efforts on behalf of Australian contemporary music. In this capacity he introduced a number of important works dedicated to him, in particular concertos by Larry Sitsky (Nos. 1, 2, 3 & 4), James Penberthy, Ian Cugley, Don Kay, Colin Brumby, Edward Cowie and Eric Gross. His wife Beryl Sedivka is a noted pianist who often performed with him. == Writings == An Assessment of: “Bach’s Chaconne for Unaccompanied Violin - a Study in Interpretation” by Graham Wood, ds., Hobart, 1974 == Honours and awards == Member of the Order of Australia 1987 Honorary Fellow, Trinity College of Music, London Honorary Doctor of Letters, University of Tasmania Honorary Professor, Shanghai Conservatory of Music Memorial Gold Medal, Prague Academy of Musical Arts Honorary Fellowship in Music Australia Honorary Citizen, Royal City of Slany (Czech Republic) Honorary Professor University of Tasmania 1995 Distinguished Service Award Australian Strings Association 1998. === Bernard Heinze Memorial Award === The Sir Bernard Heinze Memorial Award is given to a person who has made an outstanding contribution to music in Australia. === Don Banks Music Award === The Don Banks Music Award was established in 1984 to publicly honour a senior artist of high distinction who has made an outstanding and sustained contribution to music in Australia. It was founded by the Australia Council in honour of Don Banks, Australian composer, performer and the first chair of its music board.

Biography source: Wikipedia. The profile adds birthday-specific historical context from the Celebs Birthday Today editorial database.

The world when Jan Sedivka was born

Jan Sedivka was born in 1917. The year snapshot below places that birthday in its cultural and historical setting: the music and films people were following, the headlines shaping public life, and the everyday prices families encountered.

Culture in 1917

  • Best-selling book"Mr. Britling Sees It Through" – H.G. Wells

Headlines and milestones

  • Major sports momentProfessional sports curtailed as America enters World War I
  • Top headlineUS enters World War I
  • Technology milestoneFirst practical military use of sonar
  • World population~1.77B

United States snapshot

  • U.S. leaderWoodrow Wilson
  • U.S. population100.8M

1917 versus 2026

These figures put everyday life in Jan Sedivka's birth year beside the site's latest United States snapshot.

Measure19172026
Gas$0.25$3.45/gal
Population100.8M341 million

Sources and editorial standards

This profile combines a biographical source with structured birthday and historical context. Sources recorded for this profile: Wikipedia, Discogs, Wikidata. See our editorial policy for sourcing, corrections, and review standards.

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