Matus Tomko
Matus Tomko (born February 4, 1978 in Vranov nad Toplou) is a Slovak opera singer (bass). He studied opera singing at the Church Conservatory in Bratislava, Slovakia (1998–2004) with Frantisek Malatinec. Since 2004, he has been a soloist at the State Theatre Košice where he made his debut as the Speaker of the Temple in Mozart's Magic Flute, directed by Miloslav Oswald and Igor Dohovic. In 2005 he won the third place at the 40th Antonin Dvorak International Vocal Competition in Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic. As a principal soloist at the State Theatre Košice, he has sung  many roles, including Brander in "Faust", Mícha in "The Bartered Bride", Samuel Ribbing in "Un Ballo in Maschera" the Marchese d'Obigny in "La Traviata", and Masetto in "Don Giovanni". In 2009, he performed the role of Jan in the worldwide premiere of the original Slovak opera, Šavol, by Slovak composer Vitazoslav Kubicka and librettist Teodor Krizka. The opera was performed by the Philharmonic Orchestra of Košice under the musical direction of Adrian Kokos in Košice, Kezmarok, Zilina and Nitra. Matus Tomko often performs at charity concerts. He was invited by a non-profit organisation - Centrum Slniecko (Little Sun Centre) to  sing at the charity concert on the World day of prevention of cruelty to children at the Nitra Synagogue in November 2010. On 26 November 2012 Matus Tomko was invited by the Church Conservatory of Music in Bratislava to take part in a concert dedicated to the 100th anniversary of birth of a great Slovak opera singer Anna Hrusovska, who was an excellent interpreter of the works of W.A. Mozart. Matus Tomko performed the arias of W.A. Mozart along with the other ex-students from the Church Conservatory such as Pavol Brslik, Martina Masarykova, Lenka Kotrbova and a chamber orchestra  ZOE under the leadership of Alan Vizvary.