He was born in Nelahozevei (Nelahozeves) near Prague, where he spent most of his life. He studied music at the Prague Organ School, played the violin and viola well. He played the viola in the orchestra, but he had to live from the lessons, so he had little free time. in 1871 quit his job in an orchestra to write music. Having fallen in love with the student, he wrote the cycle of songs "Cyprus trees" for her, but after she married someone else, in 1873 he married her sister Anna Cermakova.
1892-1895 Dvořák served as director of the National Conservatory of Music in New York. Dvořák later returned to Prague. Since 1901 until his death he was the head of the Prague Conservatory. He had financial problems at the end of his life. Buried in Prague, Vyšehrad cemetery.
In addition to music, Dvořák was very interested in locomotives and pigeon breeding.
