Twice a laureate of the International Smetana Piano Competition and a winner of the Bedrich Smetana Prize, Johanna Hanikova studied piano playing at the Janacek Conservatoire in Ostrava with Professor Monika Tugendliebova. During her conservatoire studies she already made her name at national as well as international competitions- 1st prize at Prague Junior Note, 1st prize at Pro Bohemia, and laureate title at the Prague Conservatoire Young Pianists Competition. She is developing her concert activities as a soloist regularly with renowned Czech symphonic orchestras. For this release, she has chosen a programme of well-known composers Ludwig van Beethoven and Sergei Rachmaninoff, Czech composers Bedrich Smetana and Leos Janacek, and contemporary composer and pianist Adam Skoumal.