Quasi Trio was founded in Prague, where it is still active today. In 2021 the ensemble decided to change the instrumentation from the classical piano trio with violin to a clarinet trio. The trio has successfully graduated from the Master's degree in chamber music at the Prague Academy of Performing Arts, and all three members - David Šimeček (clarinet), Judita Škodová (cello), Kateřina Ochmanová (piano) - have also gained a lot of experience abroad and have won numerous international competitions and master classes. The ensemble completed a two-year internship at the CRR in Paris in the class of the world-famous Trio Wanderer and a postgraduate programme at the MDW University in Vienna in the classes of Johannes Meissl and Avedis Kouyoumdjian.
Although Quasi Trio tries to focus its activities mainly on the domestic audience, it also participates in international projects and master classes. It has won awards in the field of international competitions (B. Martinů Competition, International Plovdiv Chamber Music Competition, etc.), and is a two-time winner of the Best Chamber Ensemble Prize awarded by the International Summer Academy masterclasses in Reichenau an der Rax, Austria. As a laureate of this prize, the ensemble was also repeatedly given the opportunity to perform in the ORF Radio Hall in Vienna. Among the Quasi Trio's achievements are also several awards for the interpretation of Bohuslav Martinů's music, both in solo and chamber music.
In addition to their cooperation with leading Czech orchestras (PKF - Prague Philharmonia, Czech Philharmonic, Pardubice Philharmonic, etc.) in their chamber and educational series, the members of the Quasi Trio also perform as soloists, for example in the original violin line-up in L. van Beethoven's Triple Concerto accompanied by the PKF - Prague Philharmonia.
The Quasi Trio's repertoire includes classical works from the Baroque to the 20th century, and the ensemble also collaborates with contemporary composers such as Eliška Cílková, Lukáš Sommer and Zdeněk Merta.
In addition to the Quasi Trio, all members are employed by major Czech institutions - David Šimeček has a permanent engagement with the National Theatre Orchestra, Judita Škodová is a member of the PKF - Prague Philharmonia and Kateřina Ochmanová is engaged in teaching (piano, chamber music) and piano collaboration at the Pardubice Conservatory.
David Šimeček – clarinet
Kateřina Ochmanová – piano
Judita Škodová – cello *
* member of PKF – Prague Philharmonia
