In 1997, businessman and philanthropist Robert Schönfeld realized there was a lack of opportunity for both Czech musicians as well as would-be foreign music students living in the Czech Republic, so he decided to address the problem himself.

„I returned from a study period in Finland to find the Czech Republic, so renowned for its history of music, still didn’t offer a musical education in any language other than Czech,“ Schönfeld said. „At that time, only a few private teachers taught in foreign languages, but there was no way they as individuals were able to guarantee a professional level of teaching, nor a way to continue lessons when they were sick or away on concert.“ whole article