Cellist Jan Ryska started his musical studies at the age of five. He graduated in cello performance major cum laude from the Prague Conservatory, the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague and at the Universität für Musik und darstellende Kunst in Vienna as well as from the prestigious European Chamber Music Academy.

Since his childhood Jan Ryska has become a laureate of many international cello and chamber music competitions – among some of the recent achievements with the Stratos piano Quartet we could name the 1st price in the Brahms International Chamber Music Competition in Austria, the 1st and the special prices in the Pinerollo Chamber Music Competition in Italy (member of the WFIMC) or the 1st and Grand Prix of the Beethoven Competition. His other activities include solo and chamber music concerts in different European countries as well as in Japan (Bunka Kaikan Tokio) or USA (Carnegie Hall) and recordings for the Czech, Austrian, Slovenian and Portuguese Radio Stations.

Since January 2012 is Jan Ryska engaged by the Vienna State Opera and performs intensively with the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra in all major world venues and festivals with the most distinguished conductors. In 2016 and 2017 he served as a Solo-cellist of the Tonkünstler Orchestra. By Austrian Ministry of international Affairs, he has been selected for the prestigious program “New Austrian Sound of Music”, too.

Jan Ryska plays on a Francesco Barbieri cello made in Mantova, Italy, in 1740.