Jiri Teml works at present as musical dramaturgist of the Czech Radio 3 - Vltava in Prague. Economist was his original profession. He studied musical theory and composition with Bohumil Dusek, later he was guided by composer Jiri Jaroch. Within a relatively short period of time, Teml achieved remarkable compositional maturity and individual expression. His musical speech is devoid of both conservative traditionalism and experimenting as a purpose in itself. He often uses polyphonic approaches, bitonal sections and, recently, elements of modern compositional techniques. Still as an unknown author Teml aroused attention in 1974, when his Fantasia Appasionata won a prize in the Prague Spring competition for a new organ composition. The latter composition is known today, mainly in the rendition of organist Jan Hora, in Japan, the USSR, Switzerland, Denmark, Austria, Sweden, Romania, etc.
This period in which the composer was still fathoming the ground of traditional modern music includes the Toccata for violin and orchestra (1974), the First Symphony entitled People and Springs and dedicated to the world-famous spa city of Karlovy Vary.
Concentrated study of the latest trends in contemporary music, especially the so-called "Polish School" led J.Teml to a new aesthetic standpoint. He began to verify his concepts first on chamber music: Three Bagatelles for violin, oboe, clarinet and piano (1977), the 2nd Wind Quintet (1987) and other chamber compositions. The new stage in his development was marked by a large-scale composition - the Violin Concerto written in 1979. After this experience the author no longer doubted the correctness of his new orientation. He considerably enhanced the colourfulness of his musical expression and its inventiveness and the path was open for the new and very personal style which crystallized and strengthened with every new work.
In his compositions from the 1980s Teml has added a distinctive Czech sound recognizable in melody and rhythm but also in the choice of instrumental combinations. From Teml's mature compositions let us mention the Fantasia for violin, harp and orchestra (1983), Three Promenades for Orchestra, dedicated to the Karlovy Vary Symphony Orchestra (1983), Concerto grosso ("Tribute to Handel", 1984), Concerto for organ and orchestra (1985), 2nd Symphony with the title named after the antiwar novel of Karel Capek ("War with the Newts"), 1987 and the 3rd symphony "Kafka". In recent years there was a successful premiere of his symphonic work Aenigma vitae dedicated to the memory of Leos Janacek. Aenigma vitae was written for an international composition competition on the occasion of 150th anniversary of Janacek's birth. The first performance of this work was acclaimed both by critics and audience at the overview of contemporary music 'Prague Premieres 2005'. His first children's opera The Emperor's New Clothes had its premiere on the 26th April 2006 in Prague, and was followed by The Tom-cat in Boots in 2008.