Jiri Laburda has acquired his love for music from his parents and received elementary musical training in his native town of Sobeslav by prof. Josef Petr and prof. Emanuel Rataj. His attitude to music in general, and composition, in particular, was also shaped by the Czech composers Karel Haba, Zdenek Hula and the musicologist Eduard Herzog. Between 1952 and 1955, Laburda studied at the Pedagogical Faculty of Prague‘s Charles University and later on at the Prague Pedagogical University (1957-1960). In 1970, he received the title of Doctor of Philosophy, his doctoral thesis being entitled The Symphonies of D.D.Schostakovitch. His treatise, Didactic Problems of Modern Textbooks of Harmony, completed in 1973, is now part of his university textbook, Diatonic Harmony, Volumes I-III. Jiri Laburda taught at various teacher-training colleges and institutions in Czech towns until he joined the staff of the Pedagogical Faculty of Charles University in Prague. He is presently on the Conservatory of Music in Prague. In his early days as composer, Jiri Laburda devoted himself mostly to choral compositions which still assume a pride of place among his works. In composition, he draws on traditional means of expression. Stylistically, he ties on to neo-classicism, in particular. As far as modern techniques of composition are concerned, it is the small aleatoric and dodecaphony which are closest to his temperament. Over the years, Laburda has composed an impressive number of works out of which more than 200 compositions have appeared in print so far. Laburda‘s compositions are easily understandable and are very well received by the broadest sections of music lovers. He has always maintained lively contacts with musicians and amateur choirs for which he composed very comprehensible works. To date, he has produced many compositions for children, notably minor works which children can easily play or sing. Among his technically demanding compositions are the virtuoso 1st and 2nd Partita for Solo Violin, numerous Sonatas (10 for Piano, 4 for Organ, 4 for Accordion, 2 for Trumpet, 2 for Trombone, 2 for Marimba, Violoncello, Oboe, Clarinet, Tuba). Concertos (2 for Cello, Piano, Organ, Accordion, Viola, Bassoon, Trumpet, Trombone), Double Concerto for Violin and Cello, 9 Masses, Cantatas, 4 Symphonies, 4 String Quartets, 2 Saxophone Quartets, 3 Brass Quintets, Piano Quintet, Quintet for 4 Violas and Piano, 4 Sonatas da Chiesa, Quintets, Sextet, Septuor, Wind Octet, Nonet and numerous further chamber works etc. That Jiri Laburda‘s compositions are generally acclaimed and successful is corroborated by the countless prizes and distinctions he been awarded thus far at domestic and international musical competitions. As far as domestic events go, in the Jubilee competition sponsored by Czechoslovak Radio Prague, he won the prize for his Piano Concerto (1971), in the great competition sponsored by Slovak Music Fund Bratislava, he won the first prize for his Burlesca for Horn and Orchestra (1961), carrying away several prizes from the nationvide choral competition at Jihlava. At international music festival and similar events, he was awarded the Oscar Espla prize for his Missa glagolitica (1966); he won the Otto Spreckelsen prize in the city of Hannover, for his cantata Metamorphoses (1968); in 1974, his Prelude for Solo Accordion received the SACEM-UPAC prize in Paris. The Green Majeran for Mixed Choir received the first prize and also the Premio Cita di Trento on 1974. Prizes in international competitions Jihlava were received also in 1987, 1994 and 1996. More than 60 compositions by Laburda were recorded on the CD. Laburda was active in various duties like the member of the board of the Czech Composers‘ Association, Composers‘ Union „The Present\", chairman of the Composers Union Collegium 2001, president of the Choral Festivals Svitavy, honorary member of various czech choirs and member of national or international (IFAS Pardubice) artistic juries too.