Jan August Vitásek (1770-1839) was a Bohemian piano virtuoso, cathedral kapellmeister and composer. His German name was Johann Nepomuk August Wittasek. He was one of the leading personalities of Prague's musical life and one of the most well-known Bohemian composers of the first half of the nineteenth century. After his first musical instruction with his father he studied composition in Prague after 1786, and thereafter functioned as composer and respected pianist. On the 1st of April 1814 he took over the post of cathedral kapellmeister at St. Veit church and was also active as director of the Prague Organ School. His reputation carried as far as Vienna, but he refused the position of cathedral kapellmeister at St. Stephan's Cathedral there. In 1837 he was made honorary member of the Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde (Society of the Friends of Music) in Vienna.
Vitásek wrote orchestral music, instrumental concerti, chamber music, piano music and many short compositions. He also wrote numerous church music compositions, including several masses and a requiem. His style was simple and accessible.
