conductor: Josef Surovík
The academic choir of the Faculty of Technology of Tomas Bata University Cantica laetitia was founded in Zlín in 2004 originally as a girls' selection from the children's choir Cantica. In this line-up, it has become one of the most respected choirs and has won high awards at competitions in this country (in Jihlava, Prague and others) and abroad (in Varna, Bulgaria, Krakow, Poland and Ohrid, Macedonia). The choir has been working in a mixed ensemble since 2012. Josef Surovík has been the choirmaster since the beginning, and Jan Nowak accompanies the choir on the piano. Cantica laetitia was awarded the designation of the academic choir of the Faculty of Technology of Tomas Bata University in Zlín in 2019.
The focus of the repertoire lies in music of the 20th and 21st centuries. The choir often performs works by the following composers: E. Whitacre, V. Miškinis, P.
Eben, Z. Lukáš, etc. It also focuses on premieres of new works. The quality of the performance is often rewarded at competitions with a prize for the interpretation of a particular piece. The composer Jan Vičar has adapted some of his works directly for the needs of the ensemble. The author's collaboration with the composer Tereza Surovíková, who is the wife of the choirmaster and also a member of the choir, is interesting and beneficial.
From a demanding and varied repertoire, a compact programme can be put together, which is a success with concert-goers and juries of international competitions, where the choir achieves excellent results. Cantica laetitia cooperates with the Bohuslav Martinů Philharmonic in Zlín and performs vocal-instrumental works independently (e.g. J. J. Ryba - Czech Christmas Mass, J. Pavlica - Missa brevis). The choir also cooperates with the Children's Opera Zlín.