Jan Pešta

Jan Pešta was a military bandleader, conductor and composer. He was a graduate of the Praha Conservatory, but worked as conductor in Przemysl and Gorica, in the summer launching resort concerts in Grado, Italy. During the war Pešta organized numerous charity concerts, then moved to Opava, where he led the famous Křížkovský Choir. In the years 1926-38 he was bandmaster of the 28th Infantry Regiment in Praha with the rank of staff captain.

Originally, Pešta had submitted two entries for the 1936 art competitions: Olympijské hry (Olympic Games) and Olympijské fanfáry (Olympic fanfare), both written for brass band, but he withdrew the latter prior to the Berlin Games.