His style is associated with other post-war Eastern European composers, such as Krzysztof Penderecki and Witold Lutosławski.
He graduated from the Music and Dance Faculty of the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague, receiving his Master's Degree in 1970 and the title "Aspirante", a degree considered equivalent to the Doctor of Musical Arts.
He served as Professor of Composition at the Florida State University College of Music in Tallahassee beginning in the 1990–91 academic year.
Teachers: Emil Hlobil, Karel Janacek, Jiri Pauer.
[1] This competition is held biennially under the sponsorship of Florida State University and awarded in conjunction with the same institution's Festival of New Music.