Šejna, Karel

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Šejna, Karel

Šejna, Karel, Czech conductor; b. Zálezly, Nov. 1, 1896; d. Prague, Dec. 17, 1982. He studied double bass with F. Cerný at the Prague Cons. (1914–20), and also took private lessons in composition with K.B. Jirâk. In 1921 he joined the Czech Phil, in Prague as principal double bass; later appeared as a conductor with it; in 1937 he was appointed its second conductor; was its artistic director in 1949–50; then second conductor again from 1950 until 1965; subsequently appeared with it as a guest conductor. He was particularly esteemed for his congenial interpretations of Czech music. In 1960 he was made an Artist of Merit by the Czech government.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire