Invitation to the Vertical Voices concerts in the Czech Republic in 2026

Vertical Voices is a touring musical ensemble from the USA, led by the pastor and bass-baritone Michael Šust, who emigrated from the Czech Republic in 1986. In co-operation with the Czech Handel Society, two highly successful concerts were held in the summer of 2024 in the historic theatre at Kačina Chateau (13^th June 2024) and in the Wallenstein Loggia in Jičín (14^th June 2024).

Following up this success of two years ago, we are this year co-organising three concerts in three architecturally, historically, and acoustically remarkable buildings in North and East Bohemia:

1. Raspenava – Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary

Saturday 20^th June 2026 at 19:00.

50.8996547N, 15.1364203E

2. Humprecht Chateau, banqueting hall

Sunday 21^st June 2026 at 18:00.

50.4703303N, 15.1697828E

3. Jablonné v Podještědí – Basilica of St Lawrence and St Zdislava

Monday 22^nd June 2026 at 19:00.

50.7656419N, 14.7625078E

Programme

Selections from works by George Frideric Handel, Antonín Dvořák, Bedřich Smetana, Giuseppe Verdi, and Gaetano Donizetti.

Melodies from Broadway – The Greatest Showman, Les Misérables, The Sound of Music, The Phantom of the Opera, Secret Garden, Spitfire Girl…

About Vertical Voices

Vertical Voices is a touring musical ensemble featuring selected vocalists and instrumentalists drawn from larger permanent musical organizations and schools in the state of Florida, USA. The ensemble’s membership changes from year to year depending on participation in the European tour, and the countries visited likewise vary according to performance opportunities. This year’s tour will bring the participants to the Czech Republic and Austria. At the core of the ensemble is the Šust family trio, which has been performing internationally for over fifteen years. The Šust family has appeared together in numerous states throughout the USA and Canada, as well as in various European countries including the Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Poland, Slovakia, Romania, and Hungary. The ensemble is led by Czech-born bass-baritone, conductor, professor of music, and Protestant pastor Dr. Michael Šust, who emigrated from Czechoslovakia to the United States in 1986. A key role in organizing tours for various musical and artistic ensembles belongs to the nonprofit Christian organization Vertical Fellowship, founded in 2020 by Pastor Šust and his wife Colleen. Drawing upon extensive practical experience, the organization focuses primarily on bringing outstanding—mostly student—musical ensembles from the United States to Central Europe and vice versa. Earlier this June, members of the group sang and traveled throughout Europe together with the Palm Beach Atlantic University Choir.

At the June concerts organized in cooperation with the Czech Handel Society, the ensemble Vertical Voices will appear in the following lineup: Patricia Arrino, Erin Askew, Deborrah Charron, Teri Hughes, Christina Šust, Colleen Šust, and Michael Šust, joined by flutist Kimberlee Aliapoulios and her husband Mark Aliapoulios, pianist and organist, who serves as the ensemble’s accompanist. Media support will be provided by Ron Charron.

About Michael Šust

Michal Šust, bass-baritone, is a native of Hradec Králové, Czech Republic. Three years before the fall of communism, under dramatic circumstances, he emigrated to the United States. After a difficult beginning, he continued his work there as a soloist and opera singer. He studied at Boston University, where he earned the degree of Doctor of Musical Arts in 1997. He performed with opera companies in several North American states in roles ranging widely in character, from the buffo Falstaff (Nicolai: The Merry Wives of Windsor) to Frank Maurrant (Weill: Street Scene).

In 1993, his career took a new direction when he began serving as director of music ministries, soloist, and conductor in church circles. As a concert soloist, he performed in Rossini’s Stabat Mater (Arlington Symphony), Dvořák’s Biblical Songs (Brockton Symphony), Verdi’s Requiem (Paul Madore Chorale), Bach’s St. John Passion (University of Texas Chamber Singers), and Handel’s Messiah (Fayetteville Philharmonic Orchestra, Arkansas).

Michael Šust sang in the presence of President Václav Havel during his first post-revolution visit to Toronto, Canada. In 1999, he performed the world premiere of the cantata for baritone, trumpet, and organ, The Trumpet of Salvation. This profound spiritual work was commissioned by the Czech Heritage Society of Texas from composer Joseph Bertolozzi in remembrance of the tragedy of Lidice. Together with Antonín Dvořák’s Biblical Songs (still the only complete recording of the cycle in English), this composition became part of Michael Šust’s vocal profile album entitled Classic Praise.

Michael Šust represents Czech culture at various national events attended by distinguished American public figures, including a vocal performance for President George H. W. Bush. During the past decade, he served as Professor of Music at Missouri Baptist University in St. Louis. There he also performed leading roles in concert and stage productions, including Elijah in Mendelssohn’s oratorio of the same name, King Melchior in Gian Carlo Menotti’s opera Amahl and the Night Visitors, and Javert in the Broadway hit Les Misérables.

Michael Šust’s musical career has been deeply influenced by his spiritual vocation, including more than thirty years of pastoral ministry (with theological studies completed at Covenant Seminary in St. Louis). He currently serves as director of the Christian organization Vertical Fellowship, where he focuses on international collaboration with choirs and orchestras in Central Europe as well as in the United States and Canada.

Michael Šust and his musical family frequently perform together (with his wife Colleen and daughters Annie and Christy). The Šust family lives in the coastal city of West Palm Beach, Florida, where they enjoy family life with their five grandchildren.