Michal Smetanka

  • manufacturer of folk musical musical instruments, performer, pedagogue, multi-instrumentalist

Focused on manufacting native folk musical instruments that he plays since 1996. His musical instruments wandered through expositions and presentations on all continents, several of them are part of private collections of musicians and specialists home and abroad. In his repertoire dominate native songs from Spiš and Šariš region, mostly those related to shepards culture. As a solo artist, he cooperated and performed with several folk groups, performed at numerous music festivals and concerts in Slovakia and other European and Asian countries, (eg. performance for Queen Elizabeth II., various presidents, state representatives and other significant personalities). Author of 3 CDs and co-author of several publications and articles related to folk music culture. In 2008 he was awarded a prestigious title of European King of Folk Crafts 2008. He manages a unique museum of folk musical instruments whose collection is composed of interesting pieces from different native world cultures.