Jáchym Novotný (born 1986) is a graduate of the Jan Deyl Conservatory, where he earned his degree in contemporary classical composition under the guidance of Prof. Ondřej Štochl and later Prof. Jiří Lukeš. His musical journey is deeply rooted in a dialogue with those who paved the way before him—from the minimalism of Steve Reich, to whom he dedicated his thesis, to the spiritual depth of his mentors.

His artistic identity is a triptych: before fully committing to music, he mastered the craft of reproduction graphics, and for over a decade, he has been breathing life into wood under the tutelage of sculptor Magdaléna Mézlová. Today, he creates under the brand Lichošlap—a space where sound, word, and image merge into a single whole, shaped by the unique perspective of living with a physical disability.

Jáchym was born in Teplice, but his heart and youth belong to Prague and the village of Loužnice. He grew up in a home steeped in books and music; his mother, a boarding school educator for the blind and later a kindergarten teacher, opened the world of empathy to him, while his father, a bassoonist and teacher, instilled in him a sense of rhythm.

From an early age, Jáchym refined his perception at the piano with Petr Bazala, in drama clubs, and in the studio of Vlastimil Elšík. A vital part of his world is his sister Táňa—a gardener and horse lover whose connection to nature and the tranquility of tea ceremonies forms a counterbalance to his own artistic search.

Since the age of four, Jáchym has lived with congenital myopathy, a rare condition that brings muscle weakness and progressive barriers. He spent his childhood in the rhythm of stays at the Janské Lázně spa, which served as his first school of independence and social interaction.

In his life, disability does not function as a limitation, but as a specific filter—a different lens that allows him to see the world at a slower, more focused pace. Despite physical challenges, Jáchym maintains his independence and determination, drawing strength from regular rehabilitation and the hope brought by modern research in gene therapy.

After primary school, Jáchym was drawn to the world of visual communication. At the Secondary School of Polygraphy in Prague and later at the University of Pardubice, he delved into the technical alchemy of printing and graphic discipline. Although health challenges forced him to leave these studies in 2011, the precision and eye for detail he gained became the foundation of his later musical and artistic work. Music, which he once thought would remain out of reach, became his primary mission at this very turning point.

The year 2011 brought essential stability in the form of a position at the law firm Mašek advokáti s.r.o. This administrative background and new friendships provided him with the freedom to fully devote himself to composition. His talent was soon recognized with an award for his composition "How to Paint the Likeness of a Bird," and his regular participation in composition courses opened the doors to a professional artistic career.

The period at the conservatory was a time of deep emotional awakening. Jáchym found a kindred community there and, under the influence of post-war avant-garde, began to form his own unmistakable voice. Parallel to this, he became a key figure in the PostFest courses at the Forfest festival in Kroměříž. Under the guidance of the Vaculovič family, he had the honor of collaborating with figures such as Pavel Zemek-Novák, Jakob Ullmann, and Peter Graham, who helped refine his compositional style.

In his work, Jáchym explores the intimate dialogue between sound and word. He collaborates with renowned ensembles such as Konvergence or Ensemble Terrible and presents his compositions at festivals like Music Olomouc.

His imagination, however, does not end with musical notation; in literature, he is currently working on the fairy tale The Cat and the Bird and delving into the shadows of the novella Lichošlap. In his home workshop, he breathes life into wood—creating puppets, reliefs, and jewelry. Whether applying shellac polish or sewing clothes for his puppets, every gesture is a celebration of craft and tangible proof of a life lived through the senses.