Májovák Karviná is a symphonic band whose founding dates back to 1908. Its aim is to represent the town of Karviná and educate young musicians as orchestra players.
The ensemble has recently been focusing on works of contemporary Czech and world composers of symphonic wind music such as Pavel Staněk, Evžen Zámečník, Václav Nelhýbel, Thomas Doss, Otto M. Schwarz, Philip Sparke, Bert Appermont etc.
The orchestra co-operates with the teachers of the Bedřich Smetana School of Arts in Karviná, who prepare young musicians for playing in the band.
Májovák regularly and successfully takes part in festivals and competitions in Czechia (international contest in Ostrava) and abroad (MID Europe Schladming) and collaborates with a number of excellent orchestras (Germany, Slovenia, Italy etc.). It also participates in events going beyond its genre, e.g. Janáček's Hukvaldy, St Wenceslas Festival, Colours of Ostrava, Pohoda Trenčín etc.).
In 2017, Májovák took part in the most important world music competition for symphonic bands WMC Kerkrade (Netherlands), where it won the gold medal.
