Miroslav Štefek was born on 7 March 1916 in a small village called Líně near Plzeň, in west Bohemia. In 1936 he went to study horn playing at the Prague Conservatory. He was admitted to the class of Professor Emanuel Kaucky (1904—1953), the well-known soloist, teacher, and composer. Three years later Štefek got his first engagement at the Land’s Theatre in Brno, where at the time Rafael KubelIk was a conductor. In 1942 Kubelik left for Prague and shortly after his arrival at the Czech Philharmonic, he offered Štefek the opportunity to play in the horn section. He played in the CPO for twenty-seven years and his influence has been evident up to the present time.

Joseph Stuchlý, trumpet player in the Czech Philharmonic said “I had the opportunity to listen and hear the horn players — predecessors of Štefek — and they did not play badly. However, Štefek’s playing at the time he came to the CPO was something new and very remarkable. He played clearly, accurately, and above all with high musicality.

In 1947 he became a member of the Czech Philharmonic Woodwind Quintet, and from 1949 to 1957 he taught horn at the Prague Conservatory.

Oboe player Josef Shejbal, Štefek’s colleague from the CPO and the woodwind quintet, says:” Miroslav Štefek was a man of modest nature, quiet and inconspicuous, yet very contemplative and sensitive in his heart; an introvert. His instrumental mastery was in contradiction with his ability to express himself verbally. He did not feel at ease at various banquets and receptions held after the concerts…and did not attach any importance to publicity concerning his person as well. However, diligence and artistic and human honesty were absolutely essential things for him. There were no technical difficulties existing for him, and the culture of tunes and musical expression were always in harmony with the highest demands.