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This week has been Eurovision Week at the English College! We are delighted that two of the five finalists in the race to represent the Czech Republic in Eurovision 2023 are alumnae of the ECP. Students and teachers alike were thrilled to welcome them both back into school to sing for us.
Patricie Fuxová graduated in 2010 and went on to study music at the Berklee College of Music. It was as a music student that she formed her band, Vesna, with whom she is competing for the honour of representing her country at Eurovision 2023.
Patricie said, “I think the reason the English College has produced so many Eurovision contenders is because students are encouraged to be creative and to follow their passion. Academic studies are very important, but it is also important for students to pursue their passion and to be given every opportunity to shine. I have seen in the music industry something else ECP students learn – that there is nothing wrong with making mistakes. It’s what helps us to learn and to develop as individuals and performers.”
Vesna’s song for Eurovision 2023 is called My Sister’s Crown. It was inspired by wanting to encourage women to have the confidence to shine. The band sings in Czech, English and Ukrainian and their rapper is Bulgarian. Many will find the Ukrainian lyrics of the chorus particularly powerful. The official video of My Sister’s Crown also features 2005 graduate Lilia Khousnoutdinova.
Michaela Charvátová is another ECP graduate performing in this year’s Eurovision 2023 as Maella. She graduated from ECP in 2015. Michaela studied songwriting at the BIMM Institute in London.
Her song, Flood, was written very quickly, she told students. She had been going through a rough time and felt sad at having to lean so much on her partner. But she said that the official video has a Latin beat to dance the sadness away. And to highlight the importance of the friends she made at the English College, the video was produced by 2014 graduate, Ruy Okamura. Ruy is in demand as a music video producer. He also produced Eurovision 2022 finalists DOMI’s official video Lights Off for another 2014 graduate, Dominika Hašková.
After the live final at the beginning of the week, voting began to decide who would represent the Czech Republic at Eurovision 2023 in May. The polls close at one minute to midnight on Monday 6 February, with the result announced the next day.
So until then, ECP is supporting both of our talented graduates. We are keeping our fingers crossed and thumbs held that we can make it two in a row at the Eurovision finals. And when you’ve made your mind up who it should be, you can VOTE HERE
The English College offers its warm congratulations to one of its Founder Governors, Dr Barbara Day MBE. It was announced in the Czech Senát recently that Dr Day is one of eight people honoured by the Institute for the Study of Totalitarian Regimes – Ústav pro studium totalitních režimů.
ÚSTR has honoured Dr Day for ‘her extraordinary contribution to the reflection of modern history’. Also similarly recognised was the dissident Tomáš Vrba. He is the editor-in-chief of the cultural reviews Lettre internationale and Přítomnost. Sabina and Jan Kratochvil received the award as well. In 2007, they founded the Museum of Czech, Slovak and Ruthenian Exiles of the 20th Century in Brno.
The Institute is a Czech government agency and research institute. Founded in 2007, its purpose is to gather, analyse and make accessible documents from the Nazi and Communist totalitarian regimes. It is a founder member of the Platform of European Memory and Conscience.
Dr Day said, “I’ve always admired the Institute for the Study of Totalitarian Regimes and the work they do, and am honoured to receive this award. I feel that the award is not only for me but for all those involved in the underground seminars passing on their knowledge to the next generation.”
A Founder Governor of the English College since 1994, Dr Day serves on the Education Committee. She is also Chairman of the School Council. She received the Commemorative Medal of President Václav Havel in 1998 and an MBE in 2002. You can read her full profile on the ECP website.