Czech Senate President awards Romani musician Silver Medal for cultivating humanity and talent
The President of the Senate of the Czech Republic has awarded a Silver Medal to Ida Kelarová, the renowned Romani choir leader, musician and singer, as well as to 18 other figures; Senator Miloš Vystrčil expressed his appreciation to Kelarová for her life's work of cultivating humanity and talent. The elegant ceremony was held on the state holiday of 28 September (Saint Wenceslas Day) in the Wallenstein Palace.
“I was exceedingly pleased with how the ceremony was organized as a whole. I felt love and respect there,” Kelarová told news server Romea.cz, adding that she is glad Vystrčil knows about her work.
“It was neither a farce nor a pretense – personally I cannot stand pretense – I was greatly pleased with how the entire event was extremely human. All those who received awards were beautiful people who really are doing amazing things for our society,” the Romani musician said.
“I was moved. The main motivation for my work is that I want us all to live in a better world, as a society, and I hate injustice and lies, I hate discrimination and racism,” Kelarová told Romea.cz.
“I’m doing everything I can to create a better world and a better future for our children here together,“ Kelarová said. Other awardees were the journalist Lída Rakušanová; the co-founder of the People in Need organization, Igor Blažević; singer Dagmar Pecková; author Petr Hora-Horejš; dancer Yemi Akinyemi Dele and others.
The Silver Medal of the Senate President is a symbolic award bestowed by the President of the Senate of the Parliament of the Czech Republic since 2007. Senators nominate awardees and the President of the Senate approves the nominations.
The award is given to artists, athletes, scientists and others who have excelled in their fields or in performing special deeds. This year’s ceremony was the 11th time the Silver Medals have been awarded.
The 19 laureates of the Czech Senate President’s Silver Medal for 2022
- Yemi Akinyemi Dele For the courage to go beyond the everyday and seek the exceptional.
- Igor Blažević For the courage to protect human beings and promote humanity.
- Ing. Milan Hluchý, Ph.D. For protecting ways that are better and natural.
- Petr Hora-Horejš For the wonderful opportunity to wander against the current of time.
- Ida Kelarová For cultivating humanity and talent.
- prof. PhDr. Alena Macurová, CSc. For the gift of a language that allows everybody to be heard.
- Ing. Filip Maleňák For the option to save things with a single click.
- Mgr. Jakub Helebrant and Mgr. Karel Müller (Pastoral Brothers) For their original approach to the traditional.
- Dagmar Pecková For her strong voice and support of talent.
- Lída Rakušanová For her uncompromising defense of freedom.
- Petra Třešňáková and Petr Třešňák For their power to help and encourage others.
- Josef Jelínek, Jan Lála, Ing. Václav Mašek, Adolf Scherer, Mgr. Jozef Štibrányi For a success that nobody anticipated.
- prof. RNDr. Jan Žďárek, DrSc. For conserving the insect kingdom and bringing it closer to human beings.
