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"Rybovka means Czech UNESCO for me. It is so typical of the Czechs that I think it is unavoidable. I remember playing this piece when I was 10 years old in the simplest version, and now I'm going to play it in the cathedral in Pilsen. It just belongs to Bohemia," said Albert Pechmann, one of the conductors of the Student Symphony Orchestra Pilsen (SSOP). "Jakub Jan Ryba would surely be happy as a teacher that his composition is being played by the student orchestra. Even today, there is certainly someone who does not know Ryba, but when you say "Hey, master", the person in question associates it with Christmas anyway," he added.

A violinist from Spain will also play the Czech Christmas Mass with the student orchestra at St. Bartholomew's Cathedral on Tuesday, December 17, at 7 pm. "Of course, she had never heard Rybovka before this moment, she didn't know it. She even signed up for the choir, so she is learning the pronunciation," Pechmann said.

The Student Symphony Orchestra Pilsen was founded in February this year as an ensemble of musicians from the University of West Bohemia, but also from Pilsen secondary and primary schools. Conductors Václav Pekárek and Albert Pechmann were at the birth of the orchestra. "The initial ideas for the creation of the orchestra came up on the train on the way from Prague to Pilsen, when we were both coming from the graduation ball of the Prague Conservatory. We said to ourselves that it was a pity that something like this was missing in Pilsen. So we joined forces and together we put the orchestra together," said Václav Pekárek from the Faculty of Education (FPE) of UWB and the Pilsen Conservatory. Albert Pechmann, a student of Charles University in Prague and the Pilsen Conservatory, added: "I planned to put together the ZUŠky, Vašek the academic sphere, so we combined these components and the result is in the world."

The orchestra is still recruiting new members, but some instruments are reported to be in a stop state: "We can no longer accept flutes and woodwinds, we are full there. Originally there was a problem with basses, for example, but now we need strings and percussion instruments," Albert said. "Our only requirements for musicians are volunteerism and independence. No one is going to lead you around by the hand. As long as those interested meet that, pretty much anyone can join us," the conductor clarified. For example, the youngest member of the orchestra is currently thirteen years old.

Lukáš, a viola player from the Faculty of Law of the University of UWB, also shared his impressions: "When I came to the first orchestra rehearsal, I did not expect that we would meet in such a large number. I was absolutely fascinated, as over 40 people gathered. Today we are around 70."

How difficult is it to combine rehearsals and concerts with studying? "By giving a regular date for SSOP rehearsals, always on Thursday evening, it is not a problem to always meet in large numbers," said violinist Magdaléna from FPE UWB.

The members of the orchestra set themselves partial goals, which they have so far managed to meet: "The goals are related to the instruments, the repertoire that we can play and that we can handle, but also the space. For example, we played our first concert this May at Branka, which is an iconic venue in Pilsen. That meant a lot to me personally. The same with our second concert on 17 November at DEPO2015. And Rybovka in the cathedral? That is definitely a dream come true for me," admitted Václav Pekárek.

The Czech Christmas Mass by Jakub Jan Ryba will also be performed by students of the Department of Music Education and Culture of the FPE UWB with the Student Symphony Orchestra Plzeň. Students, UWB employees and the general public are invited. Admission is free.