Significant Personalities

Heran Bohuš (* 6 February 1907 Ústí nad Orlicí, † 4 May 1968 Prague)

Czech violoncello virtuoso, concert master and soloist of the Czechoslovak radio symphony orchestra. In 1968, he helped to organize the first violoncello competition as part of the festival “Kocianovo Ústí”. Sadly, he passed away a few days before the start of the competition. The jury came up with the idea of naming the competition after him and organizing it regularly. The Heran Violoncello Competition is now held every two years. On 6 February 1967 the town Ústí nad Orlicí bestowed honorary citizenship on this significant local personality. Today one of the town streets bears his name (there is also his bust in the street).

Kocian Jaroslav (* 22 February 1883 Ústí nad Orlicí, † 9 March 1950 Prague)

Czech violin virtuoso, concert master, music pedagogue and composer. Already at the age of four and a half, he gave his first public performance at the Cecilian Musical Society festival. At the age of thirteen, he was accepted as an extraordinarily talented student to the Prague Conservatory. The international Kocian Violin Competition for young violinists together with the classical music festival have been held in Ústí nad Orlicí every year since 1959.

On 11 September 1926, Jaroslav Kocian was proclaimed an honorary citizen of Ústí nad Orlicí. The school of arts and the street with the house he was born in are named after him.

Kocián Quido Tomáš (* 7 March 1874 Ústí nad Orlicí, † 3 January 1928 Hořice v Podkrkonoší)

Czech sculptor and pedagogue who taught at the sculpting and stonemasonry school in Hořice, the author of works such as “The Dead Abel”, “Maternal Feeling”, “Piety” or “Sorrow”. One of the town’s streets is named after him.

Vicena Hynek (*17 September 1819 Ústí nad Orlicí, † 31 July 1911 Velvary)

Czech (amateur) theatre actor and National Revival figure. In 1896, the amateur theatre ensemble in Ústí nad Orlicí and one of the local streets were named after him.

Sychra Matěj Josef (* 21 December 1776 Ústí nad Orlicí, † 19 March 1830 Žďár nad Sázavou) Another proponent of the Czech National Revival and patriot, born in today’s town hall building. He was also the author of many stories and educational texts for children and youth. After his philosophy and theology studies, he was ordained as a priest in 1801. In commemoration of the 100^th anniversary of his birth in 1876, the municipality Ústí nad Orlicí organised a festival during which a memorial plaque for Matěj Josef Sychra on the town hall’s front was officially revealed. One of the streets bears his name as well.