Born in 1979 in Prague, he graduated from the composition department at the Prague Conservatoire and the Academy of Music in Prague in 2004 and from the Conservatoire National Supérieur in Paris in 2006 (with distinction). He composes orchestra, chamber and vocal music and works with contemporary dance choreographers. In his works, he combines elements borrowed from world cultures (Bali, New Caledonia, Japan, Andalusia) with meticulous attention to instrumental and vocal colours.
His music received such awards as Synthèse in Bourges (2002), Métamorphose in Brussels (2002 and 2004), 1st Prize of the Hungarian Radio (2004), Brandenburg Biennale (2006), the SACEM award for orchestral works (2009), Aleksander Tansman Award in Łódź (2010), and the George Enescu Award (2011).
In 2002 with the Gaara dance company, he authored the Abila project in Kenya, supported by UNESCO. He composes for Les Percussions de Strasbourg and the Lucerne Academy Orchestra; the world premiere of Endless Steps in 2008 was conducted by Pierre Boulez.
He participated in the 2004 forum with Nouvel Ensemble Moderne in Canada. His work Nôise for 27 musicians in February 2010 in Paris was performed by the Ensemble intercontemporain and Susanna Mälkki.
In 2007 Ondřej Adámek was artist-in-residence at the Villa Kujoyama in Kyoto within the Culturesfrances scholarship programme. Since September 2008 he has been a member of the artistic team of the Casa de Velázquez in Madrid. His works are published by Gérard Billaudot Editions.
Selected works: Inflexion for two saxophones (2001), Gouttes, petites gouttes for 18 instruments (2003), Cercle des rythmes vitaux, electroacoustic work (2004), Strange Night in Daylight for 20 musicians and electronics (2004), Rapid Eye Movements for string quartet and electronics (2005), Éclats de gamelan for orchestra (2005), Silent Touches for baritone and five instruments (2005), Falling Dreams for orchestra (2006), Shiny or Shy for orchestra (2006), Jardin perdu for three voices and orchestra (2006), Dusty Rusty Hush for orchestra (2007), Fishbones for six percussions (2007), Endless Steps for orchestra (2008), Ombre cri for trumpet, choir and orchestra (2008), Ça tourne ça bloque for 10 instruments and sampler (2007–08), Coups d’ailes, spatial wind octet (2008), Sinuous Voices for ensemble (2004–09), Nôise for 27 instruments (2009), Imademo for soprano, violin and sampler (2009–10), B-low Up for 17 instruments (2009–10), Lo que no’ contamo’ for string quartet (2010), Chamber Nôise for cello and double bass (2010), Karakuri. Poupée Mécanique for female voice and 14 instruments (2011), Dinner, performance for video, twelve musicians, painter and conductor (2012), Kameny for choir and sixteen instruments (2012), Nieuw Noise for 11 musicians (2013), Polednice for choir and orchestra (2013), Schamanenzauberei for air–sound–machine video, choir and orchestra (2013).
