Petr Skopek

Mr. Petr Skopek conducts the FRYO Concert Strings and is thrilled to work with these talented and highly dedicated young students. Mr. Skopek was born in Prague, Czech Republic, where he began his musical studies at the National School of Music at the age of six. At the age of twelve, he moved to the United States with his family, and settled in Frederick County, Maryland. In High School, Mr. Skopek attended the Visual and Performing Arts magnet program at Thomas Johnson High School (currently the Advanced Music Studies magnet program). He attended the University of  North Texas College of Music where he received his Bachelor’s degree in Violin Performance. Mr. Skopek moved back to Maryland in 2002, and received his Maryland State Professional Teaching certificate in 2006. As a music educator, Mr. Skopek has worked as a private lesson instructor for the Texas independent school districts of Plano, Richardson, and Lewisville. In Maryland, Mr. Skopek is currently an Orchestra Director in the Frederick County (MD) Public Schools system. In conjunction with his public school duties, Mr. Skopek also devotes his time to serving as a conductor, clinician, adjudicator, and a coach, as well as working with many area youth orchestras, including The Frederick Regional Youth Orchestra, the Academy of St. Cecilia, and the Shepherd University Preparatory Orchestra. In addition, Mr. Skopek is a member of the faculty of FCC as a violin and viola instructor. As a violinist, Mr. Skopek is currently a member of two professional orchestras – The Maryland Symphony Orchestra and The Two Rivers Chamber Orchestra. Over the past several years, Mr. Skopek has performed with many professional orchestras and choral ensembles in Texas, Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania, including the East Texas Symphony, Richardson Symphony, Amarillo Symphony, Alexandria Symphony, Concert Artists of Baltimore, National Philharmonic, Washington Concert Opera, The Choral Arts Society of Washington DC, and the Shippensburg Festival Orchestra, at venues such as The Strathmore, The Meyerhof Symphony Center, and the Kennedy Center for Performing Arts.