Czech-German Guitar Orchestra & Patrik Kleemola

The Czech-German Guitar Orchestra and Patrik Kleemola will perform at the Concert Hall of the Prague Conservatory on Friday, September 11, 2026, from 19:00 as part of the Guitar Shines festival.

Patrik Kleemola is among the leading Northern European classical guitarists. He is the winner of the International Guitar Competition "Takemitsu" in Finland and a laureate of the competition in Gargnano, Italy. He has performed as a soloist and with symphony orchestras in prestigious halls throughout Europe, South America, and Asia - including London, Milan, Rome, and Buenos Aires. His repertoire spans from 16th-century Italian Renaissance music to contemporary compositions, with over 60 premieres to his credit. He also specializes in performing early 19th-century guitar works on a period instrument - a René Lacote guitar from 1839 - particularly works by Fernando Sor. He teaches at the Turku Conservatory, leads masterclasses worldwide, and is the founder and artistic director of the Turku Guitar Festival.

The Chemnitz Guitar Orchestra "CGO" has approximately 25 active members ranging in age from 13 to 70. It has performed, for example, at the opening of the European Capital of Culture 2025 in Chemnitz and in television programs on MDR. Currently, it is working on a joint project with the Oulu Conservatory as part of the European Capital of Culture 2026 and collaborates with young composers such as Janko Raseta, as well as on inclusive projects involving musicians with disabilities.

The Czech Guitar Orchestra - formerly the Prague Chamber Guitar Orchestra (PKKO) - was founded at the turn of the millennium by teacher and conductor Vladimír Novotný. The repertoire has expanded from Renaissance songs and Latin American music to film music and arrangements at the intersection of swing and pop. The orchestra consists of classical guitars as well as soprano, bass guitars, and mandolins; the concert will feature singing, plectrum playing, and percussion instruments.