Zita Petrak

Pianist and Composer Zita Petrak was born and raised in Prague. After graduating from Prague Conservatory (1976) she continued in her studies in composition. . She was teaching at Lidova Conservatory and performed with chamber groups and theater productions .

In 1981 she defected from communist Czechoslovakia to Canada . She lives in Toronto where her career has focused on teaching, performing and composition. 

Her first dreamy and passionate piano solo album "Reflections"  was released in 2010 .

In her album "Streets I knew" (2017) Zita takes us on a musical journey to the places of her past.

Masterfully creating a mosaic of musical styles and influences from classical to jazz Zita expresses her memories and shares the stories of her travels through each track . Collaborating for the first time with guitarist Brian Katz  ( Golden Orchid , Dancer in the Square , Mima ) she also draws on influences of guitar related genres, including flamenco.

On this album she is also joined by singer Lenka Lichtenberg (Prayer )and  percussionist Alan Hetherington (White Lies )

Zita's composing style focuses on creating mood and atmosphere which takes your thoughts to a very special emotive dreamy world evoking visual imagination as if in your mind you are watching film frames.

In her music she incorporates elements of classical, jazz and impressionist, lyrical ambient music .

Influenced by her classical training her effortless performing style puts an emphasis on tone and expression .      

Apart from her albums Zita has been collaborating with Lenka Lichtenberg on her Juno 2023 winning album "Thieves of dreams" (writing music for the song "Trick or Treat ,we're at your gate “ ) ,  "Songs for the Breathing walls "2012,  "Masaryk" 2018 .

Another way for her to express her emotions are her paintings which you can see in Painting gallery .