Jiří Houdek (b. 1979) first took up trumpet under the guidance of his father,Jiří Houdek, Sr. He then studied at the Prague Conservatory and,subsequently, the Academy of Music and Performing Arts in Prague, before furthering his education by attending several master classes run by leading educators and interpreters in this country and abroad.
In 1995, he won first prize in a lineup of young Czech artists as well as overall first prize in the 30th edition of the Concertino Praga International Competition. As a soloist, he has worked with numerous Czech orchestrasincluding the PKF– Prague Philharmonia, Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra, Czech National Symphony Orchestra and others.
Early on in his career, as a seventeen-year-old, he made his debut CD recording of concertos by J.N. Hummel and J. Haydn, along with a double concerto by Vivaldi, in tandem with his father.
In 2014 he was invited by violinist Gabriela Demeterová for solo participation in an account of Brandenburg Concerto No. 2 whose trumpet part ranks among music literature´s most demanding.
Since 1999 he has been principal trumpet of the Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra, and since 2008 he has held the same post in the orchestra of the National Theatre in Prague.